"Celebration of Sight" Worship at Hospitality House

Our visits officially ended today with a trip to the eye screening location in Lome' and a time of worship at the Hospitality House. Eye screenings take place in a sanctuary at a school of theology. About a thousand candidates for eye surgery arrive at the screening center twice a week where they are evaluated for treatment. Those who need surgery or treatment will then go to the hospitality house where they will be cared for or prepared for surgery. Those who have eye surgery are sent to the ship for the procedure and then return to the hospitality house to recover.

The hospitality house is used as a place of recovery once people who have had more serious surgeries have left the recovery wards of the ship. Their family members, who have also stayed with them on the ship, stay with them at the hospitality house.

The "Celebration of Sight" worship occurs every Friday. There was a small celebration today for us since we were present. There was singing of praise to God and dancing. With a translators help I learned that they were singing "Holy Spirit, come down" and "What God is so great that He does these things." It was a tremendous blessing to be a part of the celebration. I think that it was another highlight for us.

It is hard to tell in a still picture, but the people are singing and dancing. May Jesus Christ be praised!

We head home tonight and will arrive back in Tyler tomorrow evening. We hope to get some sleep as we fly to Paris through the night and then plan on staying awake as we cross the ocean gaining multiple hours on the way home.

This, most likely, will be my final blog for this trip. Thanks for following us. We look forward to telling the story of Mercy Ships when we arrive back at Marvin. Thanks again for sharing the adventure. I have attached a few more photos to enjoy:

A Drop in the Bucket

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..." Colossians 3:23

Our team has been in a sacred place this morning and I am sure you will be reading more about it as the other team members share their reflections.

A common question of many: "Is what I am doing really matter when there is so much more to do?" Small acts of kindness seem like tiny drops of water in the bucket of life, and yet to those who step back and reflect on the greater picture, we know that through faith and the mystery of the Lord's blessing, these tiny drops of water cause ripples that go out and change a person forever.

Today, I had the privilege to meet a five year old whose life has been changed through the Mercy Ships ministry. This little girl was severely burned and disfigured in her face when she fell into a cooking fire. She is barely able to see through one eye. She lost her nose also in the accident.

We had the privilege to visit her in the recovery ward. She faces another surgery at the end of the week to reconstruct her nose. What is impressive about this young lady is not the medical miracle that is happening through her multiple surgeries or the future that is being given to her, but her joyful spirit.

Though currently disfigured in appearance, she is beautiful in spirit. In fact, she has learned from those who care for her to say, "I am beautiful!" She repeated this several times while we were with her, and it is absolutely true.

As our beloved senior pastor said upon leaving the room, "People look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart." When God looks at this young lady, I am sure that God smiles. Her joyfulness is contagious, and despite her circumstances, she is full of life. She will share much love throughout her days. She has started her ministry at a very young age. The ripples that will go forth from her transformed life will be many.

My sincere affirmations to the nurses and translators who serve in these wards every day. Their patient love and care, their playfulness and joyful hearts are making a great impact in the lives of others. What makes this possible? The Great Physician to whom we all owe our lives.

I came to Mercy Ships to observe their ministry and offer encouragement to the many team members who serve here so faithfully. Today, a little girl ministered to me. Laughter, living in the moment...a simple drop of God's love into my heart.

Doug

Meet the Eye Team onboard the Africa Mercy

Mercy Ships is excited about the partnership with Marvin United Methodist Church and their vision for the MercyVision program.

The primary focus of the MercyVision program is educating medical professionals to increase access to eye care.

Our goal is to reduce the prevalence of blindness/low vision due to cataract and pterygium, and to build the capacity of the Togolese eye care system to achieve 13% of the Vision 2020 goal of 15,000 cataract operations per year.

In addition, all our surgical and curative programs aim to improve quality of life and ability to be productive (family and society).

Behind every program there is a dedicated and committed team whose desire it is to serve.

(photo to be added)

Dr. Glenn Strauss – Director of MercyVision and Director of Medical Education
Kim Strauss – Perioperative Ophthalmic Team Coordinator
Woody Hopper – Eye Specialist
Juan de Jesus Gonzalez - Operation and Material Coordinator for Eye Team
Shannon Hickey - Eye Team Coordinator
Linda James – Ophthalmic Technician

To learn more about each of these Eye Team members and how you can get involved, please click on their names.

Tuesday's Dental Clinic Visit

This morning we visited the Mercy Ships dental clinic located in town. The patients are screened on Mondays and Thursdays with dental work being done in the afternoons and on the days in-between. The dentists were mainly performing dental extractions of badly decayed teeth. Upon arrival at the clinic, the patients receive education on dental hygiene and some discipleship teaching. Following this, they are taken upstairs into the pictured room where they receive treatment. Each dentist has two chairs where they work on their pateints. There were eight chairs in all.

I met today and prayed with two of the patients. The dentist from the UK said that he prays with each person before he begins to work on them. He invited me to offer the prayer for the man before he began his work.

My most meaningful moment today is pictured below. I noticed as one of the men was having his teeth extracted that his hand was being held by one of the Mervy Ships crew members. As we were leaving, I said goodbye to Amanda and remarked how I had noticed her compassionate hand holding. I asked her if she was a dental assistant back home. "No," she explained, I am a second mate merchant marine officer. I was on the bridge yesterday during your tour."

Amanda's servant heart is just one example of the Mercy Ship crew. Everyone here is wiling to do what is needed to get the job done. More importantly, the work that is done is done with the love of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for the privilege of being here to represent Marvin.

Peace,

Doug

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Worship Treasures

God is moving in Africa! Yesterday we were blessed to be in several different worship settings - in the fishing village at a church meeting under a tin roof over the sand, with the entire Mercy Ships crew on the ship and then with the West African crew members who sang and shared their stories and friendship. My heart is still full!

Today we get to see the hospital in action. In addition to observing surgeries, we get to visit the recovery wards. I can't wait!

Melissa

Dr. Robbins with Dallas Cowboy Great Charlie Waters