Disney's decision on "Ten Commandments"

As many of you know, inJesus.com is honored to partner with Promenade Pictures, in the release of "The Ten Commandments." I have had the opportunity to view the film in it's entirety several weeks ago prior to its release on inJesus.com. My children and I thoroughly enjoyed the film for its content and the superb animation. It is exciting to finally have a animated Christian film that is done with excellence.

Below you will find a email from one of the executives of Promenade Pictures and a link to Disney's response to the film. Please show your support as we strive to bring quality Christian alternatives to the families. Share this trailer and link with you friends and church.

-Thank you,

Dave Moore

inJesus.com

From: Ron Booth [mailto:mailto:rbooth@promenadepictures.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 2:49 PM
Subject: The Ten Commandments/ Fox News

Please check out this from Fox News that came out today regarding our film, The Ten Commandments.Disney Radio made us take out "chosen by God" in the ads. So who told Moses what to do, Tinkerbell? We open on Friday and please feel free to send this email to everyone! http://www.vmsdigital.com/MyFiles.aspx?Onum=53EC8A06-DB86-455C-AEF5-331A68B6EFD2

Ron

Suah's Story and we 'Celebrate Sight'

Sometimes we are not able to restore sight, but a prosthestic eye helps restore self confidence and dignity. Suah is no longer rejected and denied employment due to her blindness in one eye.

We recently held another Celebration of Sight with over 200 eye patients attending. An article and the story of Suah is included in the link below.

Liberians 'Celebrate Sight'

Here is a video of the Celebration of Sight!

Stories to Share

Mercy Watch

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September 2007

Hello Friends,

We would like to thank you for the opportunity each month to share with you a little of what is happening in our lives aboard the Mercy Ships’ Africa Mercy and in general here in Liberia. This month has seemed to go by rather quickly. We are including pictures taken by our Communication’s Department as well as some of our own. We are asked while here to limit our picture taking … so the Communication’s Department shares pictures with the crew. We thank them for allowing us to share these to help tell the stories of what Mercy Ships is doing here in Liberia and how God is working here through us!

This first picture is of the young girl we told you about last time…she seems to walk sideways as she walks…amazing that she can walk. We look forward to sharing an after picture with you later! There has been much activity onboard and off ship in many different areas. We’ll try and give to a brief update of some of these ministries:

Eye Surgeries continue and two operating theatres are dedicated to continuing them. We had another Celebration of Sight, recently. During the Celebration of Sight, the eye surgery patients return to the ship for possible laser treatment, if needed, to prevent the re-occurrence of the cataract. 100 patients were invited to come participate in this day of celebration and they may bring a family member or friend to accompany them. This is the second Celebration of Sight since our arrival in May. This picture is one taken at the first Celebration of Sight. Denise was able to help serve the patients after they had their treatments. They were given a Bible before they went home.

Reconstructive Surgeries - Plastics and Maxillofacial surgeries have begun a few weeks ago with Dr. Gary, Dr. Terius and Dr. Tony’s return to the Africa Mercy. These surgeries include tumor removals, cleft-lip and palate repairs, burn scar contracture releases and to correct complications of injury or infection. These patients receive counseling to help them cope and heal from emotional scars and also rehabilitation in physical and occupational therapy as needed.

Orthopedics have finished their 2^nd group of surgeries on the Africa Mercy and the rehabilitation team continues physical and occupational therapies both on the ship and in the patient’s homes. This picture is of Benedict coming down the gangway after screening and before his surgery on his right foot. He was born with club feet. He has learned to walk using his feet as best he can. It is so amazing to see how the Liberians adjust to their limitations and press through even in the face of great pain and suffering! The surgery on his right foot was successful and he will be brought to Sierra Leone next year for surgery on his left foot as well. We are so blessed in developed nations to be able to go to the doctor and have these conditions fixed as soon as possible where our children will not need to suffer for years or possibly their entire lives with a condition that is so readily fixed with surgery.

A Palliative Care team goes to visit and help those terminally ill that were unable to receive surgeries to help them and show the love of Christ to those suffering and their families. Some of these patients have wounds that need to be dressed and cleaned weekly or even more often. The palliative care team helps the family care for the terminally ill and then continues to visit and care for the family after the patient has passed on.

The Church Empowerment team heads up the Mercy Ministries for the crew to get involved with various ministries such as orphanages, disabled homes, prison ministry, the local pediatric hospital, etc. They also oversee the relationships with various churches and hold a pastor’s conference in October. A follow-up on the previous Pastor and Church Leader’s conference held earlier in the year in Buchannan, Liberia was held this past month and was well received with many of the pastors continuing to meet together and bring unity across denominational barriers.

VVF surgeries have been put on hold for now. The VVF wards are now being used for the other surgery patients. The VVF surgeries will continue in October for 3 more weeks. These 2 pictures shows you the women in the ward recovering from their surgeries and then just before they go home to their villages, the Dress Ceremony! The Dress Ceremony is a celebration of their new lives without constantly leaking urine and usually acceptance back into their communities. These ladies stay on the ship recovering for at least 2 weeks and many have not been in an environment where love is shown to them unconditionally. You may notice the handmade crocheted Teddy Bears....some of these are the ones some of you made! Thank you so much!!! Almost 100 VVF surgeries have been performed since we began the end of June!

Adopt-a-Patient – We have adopted another patient and his father, Christian and Anthony. Christian is a 7 year old boy and his dad is his caregiver, staying with him and sleeping under Christian’s bed in the ward. They are from Grand Bassa, Liberia and walked 3 days to come for the surgery appointment for Christian’s foot. Christian was about a year old when he stepped into a pot of boiling water on the fire. His Dad said he thought it was a bath. Christian’s right foot was severely burned and as it healed the skin constricted, limiting the movement and also deforming his foot. Christian had to walk on the outside of his right foot and his little toe was completely covered in scar tissue, making it look like a knuckle.

Anthony asked us the first day, if the Doctor would be able to make a toe again for Christian. We explained that the Doctor would do everything possible to make Christian’s foot functional and normal looking, but we didn’t know if he’d be able to make a toe!

After the surgery, we talked with the Doctor and he was able to give Christian back his toe! We have found the parents here in Liberia to be so much like us, caring very much for their children, wanting the best for them, proud of them as they do their schoolwork, so happy when you take the time to say what a beautiful child they have and they even want to be able to count all their fingers and toes! Anthony told us that he cried when the accident happened and he is so happy that we are able to help Christian.

Dental clinic continues to serve the Liberian people, who have no dentist to help them. Throughout the field service 3-4 dentists are daily pulling, filling and restoring teeth! Basic dental education, opportunities for prayer and salvation are also offered through the dental clinic and the counselor on site with the team. Denise was privileged to go to the clinic to serve as a dental sterilizer for a day this past month!

Jesus Film – three times a week a team and crew members go out into the villages to set up and show the Jesus Film. About 15-20 crew members set up the screen, generator and equipment, play with the kids, talk to the villagers and then show the movie. After the movie, a time of prayer and an opportunity to ask Jesus into your heart is given. The crew enjoy meeting with the people and sharing one on one with them.

So as you can see from a small glimpse into the life both on and off the ship, you are having a huge impact upon the lives of the people of Liberia. God is doing incredible things here!

Recently, we were discussing some of the items we wanted to include in this month’s newsletter and thought we’d take this opportunity to look back over the past five years, as it is this month that we celebrate five years of service with Mercy Ships, so a little chronological recap.

We started with Mercy by attending a three month Crossroads Class at Mercy Ships International Operations Center in Texas and our class outreach in Nicaragua. This picture is of our class in 2002 when we were in Nicaragua. Yes, that is a volcano in the background!

Just this past week, we were able to have dinner with two of our classmates Don Wolven and Marleene Keefler. Don was here as the Company Safety and Security Officer to help us prepare for an audit that we will have later in the year with our insurer, Lloyd’s of London. Marleene is here on the ship with us and serves as the Technical Administrator for Deck and Engineering Departments.

One week after we graduated from our Crossroads Discipleship Training School (CDTS), we were crew on the Caribbean Mercy. We were privileged to serve in Engineering and Human Resources. In June of 2005, Mercy Ships laid the Caribbean Mercy aside and we went to the International Operations Center (IOC) to serve for 5 months in Engineering and in Information Technology. We joined the Africa Mercy during refit in Northeast England during November 2005. During the last 5 years, we have served in 10 nations and 10 cities in the United States!

As we look back at all of the various places and people we have had the privilege to meet , serve with and serve over these past five years we are very thankful for each experience. Each person has added a little more to our lives, made wonderful memories and helped us to grow.

We could write chapters on each area and tell of the many wonderful experiences we’ve enjoyed. We’ve tried to do some of this as we’ve gone along to keep you informed. You may at times wonder how you are a part of all of this…simply… you carry us in your hearts and we carry you in ours. We believe that as we share love and stories with those we meet and often times you are part of God’s love tapestry (His Story) as your stories are shared with others. The stories we tell are of our continued journey in following Jesus, and how each of you has been part of this journey. We share different parts of His Story as they seem appropriate.

We hope that as we share with you, that this to will give you different stories to tell as God brings those needing to hear into your lives. Please send us an email, card or phone call to share a story of your lives with us! We love to hear from you! 1Peter 3:15 says “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have.”

As the sun goes down here in Monrovia…the day continues in the west and so we pass our love and blessings on to you in each new day!

God’s abundant blessings,

Denise and Rob Miller

M/V Africa Mercy

Mercy Ships

Sunset in Monrovia

DSC03643
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

It has been raining and raining...too cloudy for a beautiful sunset....so we haven't seen one in too many days. But tonight...it was amazing! Beautiful! So we wanted to share it with you!

Beautiful Sunset in Monrovia
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

And the sun goes down....

The entire sky is a pink hue
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

The entire sky is a lovely pink hue! This is looking to the east!

Hurricane Felix and Central America

Our friends in Central America are dealing again with a hurricane which could cause potential disaster and Mercy Ships has it's eyes open for potential needs in the area. In 2004, we were in an area of Honduras with the Caribbean Mercy Ship that was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, six years prior. The devastation was still quite evident. Mitch to was downgraded, but lingered over the area dumping much rain and causing flooding and mudslides. We pray that Hurricane Felix will pass on by and not be a storm of note. To read more about this, click on this News story from a Tyler, Texas newspaper.

"Who am I?"

This video was sent to us by a friend and it really speaks to us as we were a part of a drama group who did black light at our home church in Jacksonville, Florida, years ago! We know all the practice that this takes and how much it is an example of the Body of Christ --- each of us have our part to do and if one is missing.... the picture in God's mind is not complete without that one! So... we hope this short video and song from Casting Crowns will speak to you and how you too are an important part and God loves you so much!



Casting Crowns - Who Am I lyrics LyricsMode.com

British TV Coverage of the Africa Mercy in Liberia

For our UK friends in the North East of England:

The Africa Mercy video coverage filmed onboard the Africa Mercy
in Liberia last month will be broadcast on Northern Eye
Friday, 31 August on ITV Tyne Tees at 8pm.

We wish we could see it as well! Please let us know your thoughts about it after viewing!

Email us at denise.miller@mercyships.org or robert.miller@mercyships.org

Thanks!

Rainy season travel in Liberia

017
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

We were going down the road to Bernard's Farm and it seemed to be more like a small river .... making driving a real challenge!

Some of the Reception Team

Some of the Reception Team
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

Training two new receptionists and two more come into Reception! This is from the left.... DJ (the Netherlands), Leena (South Africa), Jenni (USA) and Paris (USA). the rest of the team include Cindy (South Africa), Ann (UK) and me (USA). Unfortunately, Ann is on vacation for a few more weeks and DJ is going home this coming week! So we'll be still one receptionist short! It isn't easy to get us all in one place at one time since we serve at this desk 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! I think Cindy was on night's and sleeping when we took this picture.

Community --- Common Unity

Mercy Watch

August 4, 2007

Hello Friends,

Surgeries have begun; actually, they’ve been ongoing for over a month. Sometimes as we walk along the corridors of the ship, it takes a minute to realize that just over 2 months ago we were transitioning into the vibrant community we are today. In our last newsletter, we spoke much about transition and change. There has been much change, but as we’ve been through this, one axiom for community comes to mind and this is “common unity”. With the Holy Spirit empowering us, we are given the strength and the extra measure of grace required to be a member of this “Common Unity”.

I (Rob) must confess that on some days I’ve caused others to use their full measure of grace to allow me to grow within our community. Thankfully, God’s still working on me and within this community many old issues are being healed. Funny isn’t it…We come onboard a hospital ship to bring “Hope and Healing to the poorest of the poor” and sometimes we are the ones who receive the healing and are given a new measure of hope. So, it is as we begin this newsletter; we’d like to share with you a little of what life aboard the Africa Mercy has been like over this past month and as you read, we hope you’ll see what God can do through a community serving together.

First, just a bit of background, the Anastasis arrived in Liberia in March 2007 and we stopped surgeries and most ministries while we transferred crew, equipment and supplies during most of the month of June. We will be in Liberia until December 2007 and are serving here in a country where there has been a 14 year civil war ending in 2004. The Anastasis was here in March-June 2005 and in Nov 2005 – May 2006, so this is Mercy Ships 3^rd time here in Liberia.

The people of Liberia are precious and friendly; however, they have many issues concerning the trauma they have been through. Many of the young men were child soldiers and the violence they have seen is tragic! Also, there was no schooling for many during the war and many adults are unable to read. Monrovia is the capital city of Liberia and even here there is no electricity or running water in most houses and businesses. Generators provide electricity in some churches, businesses and government buildings. Prior to the war, this was a beautiful and modern city.

Liberia has just celebrated, on 26 July, their 160^th year of Independence. The Liberian people are very happy for the peace in their nation at this time. We are reminded with the presence of the UN soldiers that the peace is very fragile. Most of the population here claims to be Christian...but the African Traditions have also made their way in as well. In serving with the Liberian people, please pray that God would give us opportunities to help restore hope to these precious people and to show His love for them.

We are very busy now as always, but it is so good to finally be here and in ministry to these lovely people in Liberia! We are able to serve side by side with them on the ship as there are about 100 day workers serving as translators in the Hospital, serving in housekeeping and in food services. Most of these day workers are from the area's many churches. There are translators in the Hospital 24/7 as many of the patients speak local languages (most in addition to English - which is the country's primary language) Sometimes the English they speak to us is difficult, at best, to understand. Some of the patients come from a village away from the capital city of Monrovia and speak a native language, especially when they are in pain and don't know the English word to explain themselves.

We find it amazing to see all of the different types of services that Mercy Ships is able to offer to Liberia. We will try to describe some of the ones we were able to participate in this month.

Adopt-A-Patient

Eye Surgery was the first surgery done on the Africa Mercy on Monday, June 25th and then the next day we began VVF surgeries. I (Denise)was able to adopt a 36 year old VVF patient, Bendu. She had been leaking urine for 20 years...since she was 16 and lost a baby while still in her womb. She does have 2 children born before this 3rd one was lost. She had her VVF surgery on 29 June and she is doing great!

She was a bit frightened that the surgery may not have totally made her continent, but the surgeon said that was not true, she had developed a urinary tract infection and so she had been urinating more frequently. But the bladder is holding tight as it should! Her bladder was not use to holding tight and that gave her much pain as it would spasm before she went to the toilet to relieve the pressure. The spasms frightened her and so she wouldn't want to get up to go to the toilet, so she was a bit tense and that just complicated the matter! I’ve since learned that it is their belief that if they lay down then they won’t leak, so this explains why she didn’t want to get up and walk around. So I tried to help her to relax and just praise God that He had healed her!

On 7 July 07, Bendu had a wonderful celebration day and her dress ceremony! I was so excited for her! The dress ceremony was wonderful! She looked lovely and after the ceremony found out that she would be able to go home as well and when our communication photographer took the ladies on the gangway for pictures of the 6 lovely ladies... Bendu saw her family waiting on the dockside...she was so excited! Many more surgeries will be done on the Africa Mercy for VVF. We have one Operating Theatre dedicated for this type of surgery.

Mercy Ships organizes the dress ceremony and makes the dresses for the ladies and also provides them with a card to have a C-section at a hospital here in ELWA. This is the only hospital in Liberia that can perform a C-section - the hospital is run by a Christian inter-denominational organization called ELWA.... Eternal Love Winning Africa! They also have a radio station here. Bendu will give God the glory (she is a Christian)...she was given a Bible and a little pocket mirror at the ceremony and Clementine (one of our disciplers) told the 6 ladies that they had been given these Bibles to share the Good News with their people. The pocket mirror was for them to be reminded of how much God loved them!

Rob adopted a patient, Kolee and he went home a week ago. He was an orthopedic patient that had a broken arm from about 6 years ago. We found out that it happened during the war and the x-ray showed a strange form in his wrist as well. Well, when Dr. James operated on it, there was actually a piece of shrapnel (metal) about 6 inches long, a 1/2 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick! Dr. James removed it and it just kept coming out! There was also a sack of infection around it and Dr. James was able to get it all cleaned out and fix one of the bones in Kolee's arm. He couldn't do anything for the other bone...but he assured us and Kolee that his arm would be much better.

Kolee is from Lofa which is a long way from here (up country) and the Red Cross brought him to the ship by airplane. He needs to come back to the ship for a few follow-up appointments. Fortunately, Kolee’s sister lives here in Monrovia, so he will stay with her until he is able to go back home to Lofa. He loved sitting outside on Deck 7 with Rob and they would talk about all kinds of things! He also is a great checker (draughts) player.

Orphanages

Rob and I also went to an orphanage and played with the kids one Saturday. The kids just want to be held, we sang with them and played with them and of course, we held them. We love it and so do they! I've gone to another orphanage a couple times and met a young man about 15-16, named Tommy that is interested in computers. He has been in the orphanage since he was 3 ½ years old. I asked him if he had worked on a computer and he said no, he doesn’t have a teacher. So a couple weeks ago, we went to the Internet cafe in his village. He had only ever watched people on line and he went on line for the first time! It was quite exciting! I believe the Lord has linked me up with him and that he will be able to go to school and learn computers and fulfill his dream! He is so excited to have a teacher and I am thrilled to be able to help him learn a life skill!

Community Development Services

This ship community is just incredible to say the least and the work in so many areas that can be done through it is amazing! I (Denise) was privileged to go out on 31 July and see some of the work in progress with a Vision Team. A vision team is a group that Mercy Ships sponsors to come see the work being done while on field assignment. The group pays their own expenses and Mercy Ships arranges their time on board to really get a good look at the various ministries that we are involved in on and off the ship. They are usually here for just a week or sometimes not even that long. Anyway, I was able to go out and see some of the projects with them. We visited the prison agricultural project, a school building project for a church in Monrovia, a medical clinic building project for another church in Gayetown and another agricultural project in a village called Bernard's Farm.

I am always so impressed with the work planned and completed by Mercy Ships! It is just so excellently done! From the planning through the completion you can see God's hand in it all! The initial assessment trips search out projects that are sustainable and ones that we can come alongside the community and really help them achieve what their felt needs are.

Just an example of this is the school at Congo Town in Monrovia....(wording is from the proposal for this project - click here for a look at the Mercy Ships proposal) "The state of education in Liberia suffered greatly during the war. Congo Town, a war-torn area of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, is one such community. Many times during the course of the civil war, children of Congo Town, like others throughout the Liberia, would start a school year and then have to abandon their studies due to the fighting and unrest. Sometimes children weren't able to go to school at all for several years. Congo Town has a considerable population of ex-combatants, which complicates the social structure. These young men and women were some of the child soldiers during the war. Many were taken forcibly and trained to commit terrible crimes, including murder and rape.

The young people of Liberia – many who have missed years of education – are now trying to put their lives back together. Open Bible School, founded by Open Bible Church, is based in Congo Town and has been in existence since 1976, albeit tentative at times due to the war. The school operates a biblically-based learning facility for 650+ students in kindergarten through 12th grade with evening classes for adult education. Open Bible School is currently based in a rented facility in an escalating rent environment which is threatening the financial viability of the school. There are other schools within the surrounding area, but the need is greater than the combined capacity to provide educational services."

The church has had drawings done by an architect who is a member of their church for 3 wings of a school building. Each wing has 4 classrooms in it. So they started building it. The way they build buildings here is they buy the materials as they build and so they stop when they run out of money...raise more money and start again. So the church had begun putting up the walls of one wing of the school. Mercy Ships determined that this would be a good partnership as they were willing to be involved and the project meets Mercy Ships criteria for being sustainable.

Mercy Ships came alongside them in March 2007 and agreed to put up the other two wings of the building (just one floor - with preparations for the 2nd floor). So working as they do, and alongside them with only tools that are available to them and buying local materials ... we help them build the building.

So it is now at the stage to paint and it really looks nice! It is complete with a stairway to the roof (what will be the second floor one day) and a good solid roof to hold the 2nd floor (one day), complete with rebar wire for the support columns on the second floor. These 2 wings will be ready for classes beginning in September! They will have 2 sessions of classes, morning and evening... the evening is for the adults to learn as they didn't have school when they were school age due to the war!

Some of the adults are former child soldiers that were forced to fight. They are so happy to be going to school now!

Rob would like to get more involved in the Community Development Projects...especially water wells and water well drilling. So we'll see what the Lord has in mind! We are not drilling wells here in Liberia as the water table is so high...the hand dug wells are a better fit here. The Liberians don't have the machinery or money for machinery, but can dig a hole to get water, so that is more sustainable here! We are doing much more education training for them, such as where to dig a well (not too close to your toilet, etc.) and the importance of clean water.

Life in General

Rob’s job on the ship is basically doing similar to what he did on the Caribbean Mercy. Finding the parts that the engineers need and keeping up with the computerized scheduling of maintenance. The engineers bring him parts that need replacing or he determines the consumable items and orders them for scheduled maintenance work.

Sometimes the parts are quite challenging to figure out what they are….see the picture on the right of some of their latest parts needing to be replaced. To me it is amazing that he can figure these out and actually find new or replacement parts! The engineers will bring the part they need to replace and ask for “one just like this” ….Rob says “Ok…I’ll work on it” and then brings them the new part and says…”Sorry I couldn’t get one just like the old one, but I hope this new one will do the job.”

It is not as hot here as I had expected. The wind is usually blowing some and the temperature is in the low to mid 80s. It is even cooler, if it's been raining! So it's quite nice outside. I've been able to explore a little off the ship with some of my girlfriends. We went shopping and for lunch one day. That was an experience! Shopping here is very different! The vendors sell mainly from small stands, wheelbarrows or plastic tubs.

Some of the larger shops in downtown Monrovia have a space inside a building that has a narrow doorway and then the goods laid out on tables. Usually, no electricity!

So that means only the sunlight that comes in through the narrow doorway lights the shop area. I did get some fabric to have a couple dresses made and a couple shirts made for Rob.

Soon after we sent out the last newsletter, we learned of the death of one of our former crew members, Dallas. He worked with us on the Caribbean Mercy several times and also in Newcastle, UK on the Africa Mercy earlier this year! He passed away suddenly in May from an apparent heart attack. Last Sunday, a crew member here on the Africa Mercy in Liberia, drowned at one of the beaches here. Collin was 21 and he was our Assistant Dental Coordinator. He chose to volunteer in Liberia for 6 months after graduating from Texas A&M. Collin wrote on his application to Mercy Ships, "I have two options. I can start a meaningless job that I would soon have to leave to continue my education, or I can do something that will have a profound and meaningful effect on my life while glorifying God and helping those in need. I choose the latter." To see a short Mercy Ships video in memory of Collin please click, here.

Also, soon after our last newsletter, our oldest son, Jason, had a mini stroke and lots of tests. Jason is doing well now and is working on some lifestyle changes to reduce his stress. I think more golfing is his favorite! This next year is critical to see that he is ok and is handling stress alright. Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray that he is able to put some good stress management skills into practice for his health's sake! Jill, Jason’s wife, has been so supportive of him. Knowing that they have a strong marriage and love each other so much is a blessing to us!

We are going to fly to Orlando on Dec 16th and stay with Jason & Jill until January 16th. The ship will be in Tenerife, Canary Islands at that time and we thought we'd fly to Florida and have the holidays with our family! The ship will leave for Sierra Leone about the 25th of January. So we'll be back in time for the sail to Sierra Leone.

We have just begun a new website, www.mercywatch.org and we are moving some of the information on our other site, www.mercywatch.com to our blog or the new site. We had some difficulties earlier in July with the old website. The provider had a major server crash and couldn’t fix the buttons on our website, and also lost about 4 hours worth of work to update it. It has been sort of flakey since then, so we decided to go with another provider. Since our internet connection here is so slow, it takes quite a bit of time to update the website, so please bear with us as we create the new one. Add it to your favorites and check out there to see the new features. The blog is a bit easier to update and that is why it gets updated more regularly and with more pictures! Our newsletters are being dated where they should go chronologically on the blog so that we have the history out there. The address to our blog is http://mercywatch.blogspot.com.

As I worked in reception the day before the Orthopedic Surgeries began, there was a screening for orthopedics....oh my! Many people came through reception with limbs that were out of shape, club feet, broken feet that hadn't healed. Wow! It was amazing. One little girl, I think ... maybe about 7 or 8 years old walked sideways but forward. I've never seen it before, but her hips must have been broken somehow. Her clothes were very loose so you couldn't really tell unless you looked at her legs as she walked. One man walked with his foot laying on it's side. Many had strange breaks in the limbs that had healed and were now bent. One little boy had a foot that was a club foot and he walked on it and his foot pointed about half way around backwards. One lady had a shorter leg, but only the tips of her toes touched the ground and she walked on them.

I was reminded of how fortunate we are to have medical care when we are injured or born with a deformity. We just can’t imagine the pain and perseverance that these people have been through as their life was changed by an accident, the war or even since birth.

We are very excited and blessed to be a part of this crew field service to Liberia. Thank you so much for your part in everything here in Liberia as you are a part of all of this too! Please continue to pray for us as each day brings new opportunities and challenges! “May the God who give endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:5-7 (NIV)

God’s abundant blessings,

Denise and Rob

Contact information for us (Hint…please email, write or call! We love to hear from you):

denise.miller@mercyships.org or robert.miller@mercyships.org

http://mercywatch.blogspot.com (for up to date info of what’s going on in our lives and those we serve)

Phone: US number – 954 538-6110 ext. 4423 (our cabin), 1002 (Denise’s office), 1215 (Rob’s office) We are GMT…4 hours ahead of EST and 5 hours ahead of CST

US Post:

Rob and Denise Miller

Africa Mercy

PO Box 2020

Lindale, TX 75771

UK and Europe Post:

Rob and Denise Miller

Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships Holland
Strevelsweg 700/317
3083 AS Rotterdam

First Surgeries on the Africa Mercy! Click here to view a brief video!

The first surgeries were performed on the Africa Mercy! It was a day of celebration - June 25th - in Monrovia, Liberia!

We awoke to the first eye surgery patients arriving and the ladies gathering for the VVF (obstetric) screening on the dockside.



We soon heard singing and praising coming from the dockside where the patients were waiting!

You can view a slideshow by clicking here! Be sure scroll down, if needed to read the captions and click next on the upper right hand side of the photo to go to the next slide. In the video and slideshow...you can see the jubilation as our first patient celebrated being able to see again!

During the day, we would pray and watch the patients carefully escorted down the stairs for surgery and after the eye surgery they were gently escorted up the stairs and down the gangway to await the next day's removal of the eye patch!

Many of the ladies for the VVF surgery were taken down to the ward to await their surgeries in the coming week. VVF surgeries began on Tuesday, June 26th!

I am privileged to be able to adopt-a-patient, Bendu Johnson! She is approximately 36 years old and has leaked urine for many years. She speaks and understands some english, but she mainly speaks a native language. She lives far away in a village and doesn't read. She is a Christian and has asked me to read her Bible stories. She is a beautiful lady and had her surgery on Friday, June 29th! She is doing well and normally VVF patients are in the ward for 2 weeks or longer. We are able to go visit in the ward as they recuperate. Bendu doesn't have any family with her for support, so I enjoy spending time with her on my off time from reception duties.

We are so blessed to be here and a part of the realization of the vision for the Africa Mercy! And to have a small part in the restoration of so many lives here in Liberia!

The Anastasis Leaving the Dock in Monrovia, Liberia

On June 29, 2007, the Anastasis and a crew of 39 set sail from Monrovia, Liberia. It was a difficult site to see her sailing off on the last sail. She has a wonderful legacy to leave for this ministry! I don't think there was a dry eye after watching her sail off. You can watch her sailing off by clicking on the arrow below the picture.


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[http://mercywatch] Transition Time is almost over! Surgeries will soon begin!

Mercy Watch

Hello Friends,

Just a note of explanation...we wrote this newsletter a week ago....but couldn't send it out till now...so the timing is a bit off.

We’ve now been in Monrovia, Liberia for a little over a month. There has been much activity amongst the crew, as we’ve worked together to transfer equipment, furniture, offices and many crew’s homes from the Anastasis to the Africa Mercy. The picture below shows the transfer of items via a train of crew from a broad perspective.

The items flow off the ship on the right side (the Anastasis) down one of the gangways through the tents (for safety reasons – note the forklift on the dock moving heavier gear). And then up the gangway to the ship on the left (the Africa Mercy).

Each box, item and piece of equipment weaves through the Anastasis to one of the gangways or to a place where a crane can take it to the dock to continue the journey to the Africa Mercy.

Our crew formed G5 (Groups of 5) teams from all departments which worked tirelessly for 3 weeks to complete the transfer of everything actually one full week ahead of schedule!

As each item reached the dock, it must be carried or moved to the gangway or to the crane of the Africa Mercy and then up the gangway or to deck 8!

Once each item reaches the, the teams must then ensure it goes to the proper deck and is placed in a cabin, office or in the hospital on deck 3! So again, the items weave their way to their proper place.

The planning and implementing of this massive project was nearly flawless. This has been an amazing process and God has blessed us greatly by holding off the rains of the rainy season here! In fact, there was only one day cancelled due to rain! We have had rains but mainly at night or after the day’s work! God is so faithful!

So....the boxes and all are on the right ship....now to unload and setup! In the midst of all the moving and transferring, there have been many last and many first events for the crew.

This is a picture of one of the two eye surgery operating rooms…ready for surgery on 25 June 2007!

Monday, June 25^th, the first surgeries are scheduled onboard the Africa Mercy. The theme would seem to be first and last, and at this time there seem to be many in our lives, perhaps they are in yours too.

We’ve held the last community meeting aboard the Anastasis on aft deck (with Don and Deyon Stephens speaking and had the last dinner.

We’ve had the first meal and first community meeting aboard the Africa Mercy. The Anastasis is now scheduled to set sail on Friday, June 29^th to her final destination. And we had a surprise party for our 34th Anniversary! Thanks to all who send ecards a emails! It was a Huge blessing to us!

As sometimes there are lots of changes going on, we look for the familiar…the smile of a child in the morning as they greet you at breakfast, the dining room staff being so faithful in their duties…the soft touch of a friend’s hand and a knowing smile…the sweet melody of conversations as the crew prepares for another day….checking email or a snail mail call and a special one is there from a friend or family member…or back to the cabin and a phone call or message! Even in the midst of change there is the familiar.

We had reunion of Caribbean Mercy crew on pool deck of the Anastasis. It was so good to get together and connect with our crewmates! The Caribbean Mercy was a very special place and we were privileged to be a part of the crew there! Now we are getting to know our new crewmates that have come over from the Anastasis and building special relationships here as well. We are so privileged to be a part of the Africa Mercy crew!

We’ve changed from our familiar Park Methodist Church family that loved and supported us in Jarrow, England for the past year and a half. We’ve changed from our weekly routine of visiting with Jean Taylor and sharing her loving home and garden, peaceful company and service with her to local churches. We miss the smile and warmth of our many friends at Park Methodist, our time with the girls in the Jarrow Girl’s Brigade and friends at the shipyard in Hebburn. We miss making new friends in Blyth and the friends we made there. We miss the walks we’d take to the market, or just rambling about town and the shipyard that became a familiar place to us. Even the small flat we shared with several crew for a year has pleasant memories.

We struggle with desires to reconnect with our loved ones and friends in the US. We miss attending our home church of Lakeshore United Methodist Church. We long to get emails, a phone call or letter from our family and friends. As we receive each one…it brightens our day! It seems the Lord knows just when we need a bit more encouragement! Thank you for listening to Him and all that each of you are too us!

When we were there in England we longed to be sailing away to Africa. Now we are in Africa, things aren’t familiar, and some of the familiar is changing as the crew settles in and we find ourselves in the midst of living with more crew. Our crew has grown in the past month from just about 100 to over 300 and more coming several times a week. As we begin our field service to Liberia, the crew will build to over 400! This is what we have been praying for and looking forward to and the field service is just about to begin! Praise the Lord!

New crew arriving in reception!

We thank God that He forgives and gives us grace when we may be confused a little or anxious in an indecision as we learn new ways to do old things. As we learn to work with new systems in new places and with new crew members, we can easily long for the familiar. Or is this just another way of saying…”slow the change down…. I’m not keeping up” or “would someone give me the play sheet please?”

In the middle of all of this we find ourselves focusing on our “job” because there is much to be done and seemingly little time to get it done. Prayer and quiet time can become a luxury we don’t afford ourselves, because after a long hard day at our “jobs”…. we’re tired.

Denise has had to help remind me of our focus. Seek God and trust Him to direct our paths. Commit ourselves to our Lord, Jesus Christ and allow Him to strengthen us. In our own strength, we will fail. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in us to empower us.

This past Thursday morning (21 June), the technical departments met together in the International Lounge for devotion at 0745 to start our day with the right focus. During this time we watched part of a video. In brief, the story was of a man who had dreams. Before he could realize many of those dreams, he contracted polio and was paralyzed. Now many of his dreams seemed impossible to fulfill. As the video played out, he testified to God’s healing power in his life. He was able to realize his dreams, and to continue to dream with God’s help.

So, I have been reflecting on some of my dreams and some of the dreams Denise and I share together. I’ve reflected on the dream we have to share God’s word, with His people. To be a witness for Him and to testify to the hope that is within us. We are thankful for the opportunities God has given us and in the midst of change, there is the familiar. The familiar word of God, encouraging us, comforting us, inspiring us, teaching us, strengthening us, guiding us, equipping us, and always stretching us.

We pray today, that as you experience the changes in your life, as you are faced with “first and last”, that you will find comfort and strength in God’s word and with His people. We thank God for you and all that you are to us!

God’s abundant blessings to you,

Rob and Denise

Hebrews 6:10-12 and Hebrews 10:36-39

Contact information for us (Hint…please email, write or call! We love to hear from you ):

denise.miller@mercyships.org or robert.miller@mercyships.org

http://mercywatch.blogspot.com (for up to date info of what’s going on in our lives and those we serve)

Phone: US number – 954 538-6110 ext. 4423 (our cabin), 1002 (Denise’s office), 1215 (Rob’s office) We are GMT…4 hours ahead of EST and 5 hours ahead of CST

US Post:

Rob and Denise Miller

Africa Mercy

PO Box 2020

Lindale, TX 75771

UK and Europe Post:

Rob and Denise Miller

Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships Holland
Strevelsweg 700/317
3083 AS Rotterdam