We haven't posted in several years and are now coming back to this blog to share our thoughts and experiences with those of you who choose to read this blog. We enjoyed our time and experiences with Mercy Ships from 2002 - 2011. What a privilege to serve God with Mercy Ships.
Currently, we are caregiving for Denise's dad, serving our church and our community here in the Washington DC area for God's glory. We, also, still share about what's going on with Mercy Ships by speaking when we can to various organizations and any opportunity given.
We were challenged by a class we are taking on sharing your faith through social media to start a blog. Since we already have a blog, we decided to continue sharing our experiences and faith stories as an online journal. We will keep our blog content from our time with Mercy Ships as we still refer back to it from time to time for encouragement. We will just start again now with sharing what is happening in our lives by serving God through caregiving, relationships, and serving Him in our community.
We hope to share prayer points, experiences and other content that will be encouraging to our faith and yours. Please join us in this journey of faith by commenting and sharing with us your stories, too!
We are looking forward to see what God is doing and how we can bring Him the glory!
God's abundant blessings,
Denise and Rob
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2011
R & R – Happy to be Back in Sierra Leone and…..some News…..
|
This message was sent to mercywatch.robndee@blogger.com from:
Denise Miller | PO Box 2020 Africa Mercy | Lindale, TX 75771
|
Manage Your Subscription |
View this message in the iContact Community: View message Comment on this message Receive as RSS |
Share this message with others: del.icio.us Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon |
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Mosquito Nets
Malaria is something we don't often think about in the developed world, however, here in West Africa (we're in Sierra Leone this year) malaria is as frequent as a common cold. You don't ask someone feeling bad if they have a cold, you ask do they have malaria! I'm looking forward to giving mosquito nets to some of the partner organizations that we serve alongside! It's rainy season here and the need is great as the mosquitoes spread malaria to our day workers (local volunteers with Mercy Ships), their family members, and even to our crew.
One of our partners is Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) and they hold a medical clinic twice a week. Many children under 5 and their caregivers (usually their mother) are admitted to the mission for malaria. The sisters ensure the medicine is given properly and IVs are used, if necessary. Sister Josianne is a trained nurse and she holds the clinic. A local doctor comes to the mission once a week (more if needed) to check on the patients. They care mainly for malaria, TB and HIV patients. We visit the patients there on Wednesday mornings and sing, play games, do simple crafts and sit to talk with them.
Recently, an article was written about a donation from a church in England given to Mercy Ships for delivering mosquito nets to the people we serve here in Freetown, Sierra Leone:
In West Africa, over 3,000 children die of malaria every day; 1 out of every 5 childhood deaths is due to malaria.2 Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds in West Africa. 2 The disease can cause anemia and jaundice and, if not promptly treated, can cause coma, kidney failure, or death.
To make matters worse, the West African rainy season that begins in June will cause flooding that will aggravate the problem, since standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry the disease according to Robert Agyarko, UN Childrens Fund Specialist on Malaria for West Africa. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, it is estimated that between 60% and 70% of mosquitoes are malaria carriers.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that malaria can be controlled, and even prevented, using anti-malarial drugs, insect repellent, or mosquito nets in sleeping areas. UN Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers, reports, Mosquito nets are still the most effective tool for preventing malaria in West Africa.
One of our partners is Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) and they hold a medical clinic twice a week. Many children under 5 and their caregivers (usually their mother) are admitted to the mission for malaria. The sisters ensure the medicine is given properly and IVs are used, if necessary. Sister Josianne is a trained nurse and she holds the clinic. A local doctor comes to the mission once a week (more if needed) to check on the patients. They care mainly for malaria, TB and HIV patients. We visit the patients there on Wednesday mornings and sing, play games, do simple crafts and sit to talk with them.
Recently, an article was written about a donation from a church in England given to Mercy Ships for delivering mosquito nets to the people we serve here in Freetown, Sierra Leone:
In West Africa, over 3,000 children die of malaria every day; 1 out of every 5 childhood deaths is due to malaria.2 Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds in West Africa. 2 The disease can cause anemia and jaundice and, if not promptly treated, can cause coma, kidney failure, or death.
To make matters worse, the West African rainy season that begins in June will cause flooding that will aggravate the problem, since standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry the disease according to Robert Agyarko, UN Childrens Fund Specialist on Malaria for West Africa. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, it is estimated that between 60% and 70% of mosquitoes are malaria carriers.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that malaria can be controlled, and even prevented, using anti-malarial drugs, insect repellent, or mosquito nets in sleeping areas. UN Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers, reports, Mosquito nets are still the most effective tool for preventing malaria in West Africa.
Mosquito nets are infused with Permethrin, a long-lasting insecticide that acts as a barrier to prevent mosquitoes from penetrating the nets. It drives away the mosquitoes and kills the ones that land. Unfortunately, only 40% of households in Sierra Leone have an insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN). 2
Deck Hand Steve Sesay receives the shipment of mosquito nets onboard the Africa Mercy in Freetown, Sierra Leone. |
St. Marys Church in Olveston, Bristol, United Kingdom, is taking a stand against this deadly killer. They have donated 5,000 to Mercy Ships for the distribution of mosquito nets at the HOPE Center in Freetown. This land-based facility houses patients who are awaiting surgery and those recovering from surgery onboard the hospital ship, the Africa Mercy.
Day-workers Patricia Kamara and Fatmata Parker install mosquito nets at the HOPE Center. |
When the patients are discharged from the HOPE Center, they will each be given a mosquito net and told how to use it properly.
They will also receive additional information on how to prevent malaria. This promising strategy will make a difference in fighting this deadly disease.
1 WHO 2003 Africa Malaria Report
2 WHO 2010 Africa Malaria Report
Patients are enthusiastic about showing off the new mosquito nets at the HOPE Center. |
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell
Monday, April 25, 2011
Christos anesti! Alithos anesti! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Happy Easter to all our Family and Friends!
We have had a wonderful Easter and Holy Week on the Africa Mercy. We’d love to share our Easter with you… Click here to see some pictures and videos----Easter 2011 on the Africa Mercy if you click on “show info” you will see the descriptions as you look through these.
We have certainly hit the road running since our arrival here in Sierra Leone. We are sorry that we haven’t been in touch for a while. When we looked at the last update we realized it was just before our first screening. It was extremely difficult here on the ship after that day for a while. The screening went terribly wrong and we were only able to be at the stadium for a few hours. There was a huge crowd of people estimated between 10,000 and 15,000. About mid-morning after a few hours of screening, there was a huge push of people at the gate and the gate broke down, and one man died and several were injured.
This picture below was taken at the Hope Center of some of our patients before and after surgery. The Hope Center is a place just outside of the port gate where patients and their Caregivers can stay when they come from outside of Freetown before the surgery or afterwards if the patient needs physical therapy or wound care ongoing.
Our hearts were broken as we had to leave quickly from the stadium after trying to get the crowd under control without success. It was one of the hardest things to do….to leave without being able to help those that so needed our help. We were asked not to communicate about it and then focused on how to hold another screening that wouldn’t put our potential patients or us in harm’s way.
Fortunately, we had several previous screenings up country so we had plenty of patients for a while. Our communications team made the video below to help explain about the need in Sierra Leone. The pictures and video come from our 2nd general surgical screening on March 26th.
We had a successful second screening day on March 26th. Rob and several other guys went about 2 pm the day before to manage the line and see that those we couldn’t help would not be waiting in line for a long time. They had pictures of the types of conditions that we can help with. Rob and the guys stayed there at the site all night walking the line to ensure peace and give confidence to the people that they would be safe. The second screening went very well and we were able to schedule most of our surgeries. We may do another screening in August….we’ll have to see if its needed.
Our time here has been good, but we certainly keep busy. Denise is loving her new role as Mercy Ministries Coordinator. It keeps her busy six days a week visiting with the different partnering sites. We visit the prisons, an old peoples home, a home and school for handicapped children, the Blind school, the Missionaries of Charity, Don Bosco’s for the street boys and other sites.
The picture above is of one of the Mercy Ministries visit to the Hope Center during a singing time. We go there twice a week and have a great time with the patients. Denise was commenting the other evening at dinner that while visiting the Hope Center she was amazed at a young boy (in the picture below) who had cast on both of his legs due to club feet. This didn't slow him down though, he was crawling all over the center. He'd managed to almost wear through at the knees where the cast had become soft from all of his crawling.
This little boy…I call the “hello” boy! He comes over to the ship to have his casts removed and put back on or physical therapy and my (office) is across the hall from the Physical Therapy and cast removal area – Ward E. We can always tell when he’s waiting in the passageway….as we can hear his little voice parroting “hello!”
In this picture below he is on the move at the Hope Center!
We are ever encouraged when we see the renewed hope and joy in the patients when they're awaiting their surgery and when they are recovering from the surgeries. The surgeons can repair their physical conditions, but only Jesus can repair their hearts. Many have been outcast and marginalized for so long from their families and communities it is very hard for them to feel accepted and included.
They soon learn they are valuable as a part of this community onboard by our acceptance of them and the love we share with them. As they heal from their physical conditions as wonderful as this is...many times the greatest healing is inward as their hearts are softened. God will take our hearts of stone and give us a new heart, a heart of flesh. One softened by His love. And as we've received His love and forgiveness likewise we can share this same love with others.
We are excited to share this news with you … We just got our tickets back to the United States for about six weeks during June and July and look forward to seeing many of you. We hope to be able to share with as many of you as possible.
We’d love to have an “open house” in different locations to be able to share and interact with small groups. If you are willing to host us for an “open house”, please let us know and we will put it on our schedule. Also, if you’d like to meet with us individually, please let us know and we will try to schedule that as well. We’d love to see as many of you as possible. Please contact us if you’d like to have us speak at your church or to a group and we’ll also get that on our schedule! We will be leasing a vehicle so this increases our ability to visit at many more places!
We plan to arrive on June 7th at Dulles and fly out of Dulles on July 15th. We have a tentative plan to be in the areas below during our time back in the US:
Delaware and DC area – June 7th through June 12th
Virginia – North Carolina – Georgia - June 13th through June 17th
Florida – June 18th – July 10th
Back up to DC area – July 11th – July 15th
Visiting our friends Jan and Elizabeth in the Netherlands – July16th and back to the ship on July 21st!
We’re not going to be able to make it to Tennessee and Texas on this trip. We are so sorry for that! We look forward to hearing from those of you in the areas we will be in and how we can meet up!!
Thank you for your continued prayers, letters, emails and support. We are humbled by your faithfulness. Thank you for being a part of the hope and healing here in Sierra Leone!
God's blessings,
Rob and Denise
We have had a wonderful Easter and Holy Week on the Africa Mercy. We’d love to share our Easter with you… Click here to see some pictures and videos----Easter 2011 on the Africa Mercy if you click on “show info” you will see the descriptions as you look through these.
We have certainly hit the road running since our arrival here in Sierra Leone. We are sorry that we haven’t been in touch for a while. When we looked at the last update we realized it was just before our first screening. It was extremely difficult here on the ship after that day for a while. The screening went terribly wrong and we were only able to be at the stadium for a few hours. There was a huge crowd of people estimated between 10,000 and 15,000. About mid-morning after a few hours of screening, there was a huge push of people at the gate and the gate broke down, and one man died and several were injured.
This picture below was taken at the Hope Center of some of our patients before and after surgery. The Hope Center is a place just outside of the port gate where patients and their Caregivers can stay when they come from outside of Freetown before the surgery or afterwards if the patient needs physical therapy or wound care ongoing.
Our hearts were broken as we had to leave quickly from the stadium after trying to get the crowd under control without success. It was one of the hardest things to do….to leave without being able to help those that so needed our help. We were asked not to communicate about it and then focused on how to hold another screening that wouldn’t put our potential patients or us in harm’s way.
Fortunately, we had several previous screenings up country so we had plenty of patients for a while. Our communications team made the video below to help explain about the need in Sierra Leone. The pictures and video come from our 2nd general surgical screening on March 26th.
We had a successful second screening day on March 26th. Rob and several other guys went about 2 pm the day before to manage the line and see that those we couldn’t help would not be waiting in line for a long time. They had pictures of the types of conditions that we can help with. Rob and the guys stayed there at the site all night walking the line to ensure peace and give confidence to the people that they would be safe. The second screening went very well and we were able to schedule most of our surgeries. We may do another screening in August….we’ll have to see if its needed.
Our time here has been good, but we certainly keep busy. Denise is loving her new role as Mercy Ministries Coordinator. It keeps her busy six days a week visiting with the different partnering sites. We visit the prisons, an old peoples home, a home and school for handicapped children, the Blind school, the Missionaries of Charity, Don Bosco’s for the street boys and other sites.
The picture above is of one of the Mercy Ministries visit to the Hope Center during a singing time. We go there twice a week and have a great time with the patients. Denise was commenting the other evening at dinner that while visiting the Hope Center she was amazed at a young boy (in the picture below) who had cast on both of his legs due to club feet. This didn't slow him down though, he was crawling all over the center. He'd managed to almost wear through at the knees where the cast had become soft from all of his crawling.
This little boy…I call the “hello” boy! He comes over to the ship to have his casts removed and put back on or physical therapy and my (office) is across the hall from the Physical Therapy and cast removal area – Ward E. We can always tell when he’s waiting in the passageway….as we can hear his little voice parroting “hello!”
In this picture below he is on the move at the Hope Center!
We are ever encouraged when we see the renewed hope and joy in the patients when they're awaiting their surgery and when they are recovering from the surgeries. The surgeons can repair their physical conditions, but only Jesus can repair their hearts. Many have been outcast and marginalized for so long from their families and communities it is very hard for them to feel accepted and included.
They soon learn they are valuable as a part of this community onboard by our acceptance of them and the love we share with them. As they heal from their physical conditions as wonderful as this is...many times the greatest healing is inward as their hearts are softened. God will take our hearts of stone and give us a new heart, a heart of flesh. One softened by His love. And as we've received His love and forgiveness likewise we can share this same love with others.
We are excited to share this news with you … We just got our tickets back to the United States for about six weeks during June and July and look forward to seeing many of you. We hope to be able to share with as many of you as possible.
We’d love to have an “open house” in different locations to be able to share and interact with small groups. If you are willing to host us for an “open house”, please let us know and we will put it on our schedule. Also, if you’d like to meet with us individually, please let us know and we will try to schedule that as well. We’d love to see as many of you as possible. Please contact us if you’d like to have us speak at your church or to a group and we’ll also get that on our schedule! We will be leasing a vehicle so this increases our ability to visit at many more places!
We plan to arrive on June 7th at Dulles and fly out of Dulles on July 15th. We have a tentative plan to be in the areas below during our time back in the US:
Delaware and DC area – June 7th through June 12th
Virginia – North Carolina – Georgia - June 13th through June 17th
Florida – June 18th – July 10th
Back up to DC area – July 11th – July 15th
Visiting our friends Jan and Elizabeth in the Netherlands – July16th and back to the ship on July 21st!
We’re not going to be able to make it to Tennessee and Texas on this trip. We are so sorry for that! We look forward to hearing from those of you in the areas we will be in and how we can meet up!!
Thank you for your continued prayers, letters, emails and support. We are humbled by your faithfulness. Thank you for being a part of the hope and healing here in Sierra Leone!
God's blessings,
Rob and Denise
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Up date on Screening, yesterday...
So sad to think of the people we came to help that we weren't able to screen today! Please pray that God will make a way for them. Please pray today for our Leadership as they look for a way forward to see those we couldn't yesterday. We were able to do several hours of screening. We do have plenty of patients to begin the surgeries with, so it won't affect the surgery schedule as far as I know. We had a good debriefing meeting last night. Lots of questions...working on the answers. Seeking God to see His way! Our hearts are broken for the people of Sierra Leone. Thank you all for your prayers! Link to the article about the Screening Tragedy ---> Here.
View of the ship from outside the Port
Our ship is surrounded by containers and just down the road from the Hope Center (where our Dental Clinic and Hospitality Center are). This is the view from outside the Port.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Please Pray for Screening Today!
Screening Day - Togo 2010 |
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Where are we?
We are headed to Sierra Leone and currently we are in the Atlantic Ocean well off the coast of Angola! I'm thinking that we will soon be as far into the Ocean as this ship has ever sailed! We are having a wonderful smooth sail and most of the crew are really enjoying it! Last night they played sock golf and Friday night was Karaoke in the cafe! Thanks for all your prayers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)