Hello and Greeting from Liberia!


Hello family and friends! Sorry for the Long delay in getting out a message. I Pray that this message finds each of you Well in Christ!


I am well here in Liberia and coming up on my final 2 weeks before leaving! It has truly been a journey with the Lord! I never imagined when I was first packing to come here that it would be 15 months. Our Lord is always full of surprises! As November 16 is approaching I have many mixed emotions!


I am just so Thankful for this time having served the Lord in Tema, Ghana and Monrovia, Liberia. I have met some of the most beautiful people and now have friends from literally all over the World. It is just amazing that no Matter how many Languages or different cultures are on this Ship- The Word of the LORD Remains the Same. So I have enjoyed it and I Praise God for this Chapter and Time in my Life.


I am so thankful to each of you for your love and support of me to be here in Africa! I AM FOREVER CHANGED! When I look back over the last 15 months and the challenges the Lord has remained Faithful and has opened my eyes and sustained me through…

- changing roommates several times- I currently have roommates from South Africa, New Zealand and United Kingdom

-learning to Respect Nurses from different cultures- with different ways of doing Medicine and seeing Medicine outside of the US

- learning to live in Community and have 400 people around you ALL the time

-having to Plan and Find time and places for my Time alone with the Lord

- not being able to just walk around outside alone

- not being able to jump in my car and go when I want

- and Most of All That it is NOT ALL about ME!!!!!! IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM- MY JESUS


My most recent patients - as all of them come with so many stories! One of our most hardening stories is one of our VVF ladies that for40 YEARS she suffered with leaking urine- after having her baby TORN from her during delivery!!! I have attached her story to the email. For 40 years she suffered being an OUTCAST for smelling of urine- BY THE GRACE of God- at the age of 60 SHE IS NEW by the Blood of Christ!

VVF ladies- Just Gorgeous!!!

I continue to see God's Grace as many of our patients with facial tumors and cleft lip/palate leave with Healing from the inside out. It is so evident that Before the Physical healing- Christ and the inner healing must come for our patients to truly be Healed. It is amazing to see the transformation and to see how some of their Faith Grows and even more Amazing to see those who did not Know Christ before coming to the Ship accept Him as their Personal SAVIOR. In Jesus they leave with Hope in the Mist of living in a War torn nation! In Jesus they learn that All things are Possible- Even the Healing of a Nation that was once Rich!

Children from the Ward- suffered from club foot, burn, and cleft lip

I have also continued to spend time at the Orphanage- God’s Children! They were able to come to the ship to visit. The children had an Awesome time. They went on a tour of the ship and then members of our group did a play for them on the Book of Esther followed by a picture presentation from our visits at their home, and then we had snacks. It was truly a Blessing to have them visit our home. They were so excited- especially to ride in the Big Blue Mercy Ships van as most of them had never been in one before. So it was an Awesome day!

But more exciting news is that a couple has on their heart from the Lord to return to Liberia to build a New Orphanage. We are really excited about this and are so LOOKING forward to see God's Hand in the Mist of their Ministry to the children. They have already started to build and will hopefully finish the first building before the ship leaves Monrovia at the end of the month. They will return in February to complete the building!






The country of Liberia is still in great demands for assistance-At this time the UN (United Nations) has extended their stay in Liberia. This is a huge Victory for the country as their is still some unrest and it is not fully stable. Here in Liberia- 75% of the population live below the poverty line which is less $1/day and DO NOT have access to health care- most do Not have electricity or running water! God is opening many doors with the new President Helen Sirleaf Johnson but it will take many years of healing to recover from the War!

As I read the facts and see what is outside the Ship on the street of Monrovia... I always come back to the fact that...........

We Serve a God that DOES NOT create sickness, illness, poverty, or suffering- BUT HE IS A GOD WHO CAN HEAL AND REDEEM ALL THINGS!! To God Be All the Glory!!


Their is so much need in this World. But each day I Pray to keep my focus on JESUS the ONE and ONLY that can direct my steps and show me My Place in His Kingdom here on Earth!


The more that I read the Word- everyday it is a reminder of my home churches' (Grace Bible Fellowship) theme is TO KNOW HIM and to Make HIM KNOWN- that is the reason for Life here on EARTH! So I am excited about coming home and even more to continue on this journey with the Lord!

It has been a Privilege to Serve here in Liberia- This Nation will forever be in Prayers!

On to the future- Gert Jan and I will marry on December 14, 2007 in Holland and have a ceremony in America on January 19, 2008. We are really excited to see what God has for us. At this time we have been in Prayer and have a huge burden on our Hearts for street children- so we are at this time going to Brazil in June 2008 to work with a street kids ministry within Youth With a Mission (Ywam). More details to come!!!

Gert Jan and Batha- suffered from burns


MANY MANY Blessings to each of you and I so look forward to seeing everyone and just hanging out!! I love you and Pray the Peace of God with Each of You!!!

FOR HIS GLORY

STEPHANIE and Gert Jan

Continuing to Serve Him in Monrovia, Liberia!!! For His Glory! To Know Him and to Make Him Known!!



Hello Family and Friends and sorry for such a long delay in getting an update on my site. I Pray that each of you are well! I send greetings to you from Monrovia, Liberia. We are currently in the rainy season, so many of our days are with lots of rain and flooding streets around Monrovia! As I wrote earlier, it has busy with transitioning to the new ship! But finally it is complete and our first patients have arrived!!!

I worked on the first shift of the Africa Mercy! It was a Blessing to receive our first VVF patients- those suffering from Constant flow of leaking urine from a traumatic birth experience! These ladies were flown in from “up” country by the Red Cross! So these ladies have truly had a journey in getting here and finally have the Hope they have been waiting for to continue to live. Most of these ladies are outcasts and thought of to be cursed. They have a very foul odor from the leaking urine and therefore lose family and husbands. One of our patients that was admitted is twenty years old and was married at the age of 13 and is suffering from a VVF after multiple pregnancies. This young lady and all the women show an amazing gift of perseverance and determination! They did not give up on Life. I hope that you will join me in Praying that as each of our patients that come to this ship find physical but most importantly Healing from the inside out through Jesus Christ!!

As I continue in my service here in Liberia, the Lord continues to change me- I stand in Awe at How He loves us and that no matter the situation or where or how He is using us- it is universal and the same- that it is ALL about Him and the Cross. No matter where I turn or what I do or the struggles that I encounter, the Lord takes me back to the Cross and the Love that He has for me! He continues to remind me that no matter how much or how little we have- it is about Jesus and the Cross and how can we spread His Love so that others can experience Him and have Salvation! So I Pray for myself and for you as my Sisters and Brothers in Christ to remember the Cross in all that we do and to not be distracted or lose focus by what we have or don’t have but to allow the Lord to use us in Building up The Kingdom which is Eternal and everlasting! Other things will Pass but the Word and How we allow the Lord to use us here on Earth Stands!!


John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away

1John 4:9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

I Pray that you enjoy a few updated stories below, I was unable to put pictures!!! I will continue to try! I have pictures for each section

Many Blessings to each of you! I Love you!!!!

For His Glory,
Stephanie


We will continue our service serving burn patients, patients with tumor growths, orthopedic deformities, VVF-leaking urine, and eye patient!!!!!!!

At Easter:

Easter was an Awesome time of Celebration of Jesus! The ships Chaplin’s department made the time very special and a time to reflect on what Jesus did for on the Cross and the Power of His Resurrection! We had a room that was set up so that we could come and Pray, worship the Lord, wash each others feet, meditate on God’s word, and then to take communion. It was truly a Blessing. We also had the opportunity to participate in a Passover meal, which was new for me and truly a remembrance of our Lord!

Final Ward Celebration on the Anastasis:
We had a final ward celebration and closing of the Anastasis Ward for the final time! We had an awesome time of fellowship with the crew, nursing staff, and Ward Translators!!!

The Arrival of the Africa Mercy:
The Arrival of my New Home- The Africa Mercy! It was truly a time of Celebration and Rejoicing in the Lord and all the Great Things that He has done! The Africa Mercy has been a long journey for Mercy Ships- as it has taken 8 years for completion of this donated vessel to be released, completed and ready for service! So she is a true testimony of God’s Perfect Plan and His timing! So finally with the Lord’s release of the Africa Mercy from the United Kingdom that she arrived in Monrovia, Liberia in May 2007!!!! The Crew Celebrated as she sailed into the Port of Liberia along side the Anastasis!!! A long awaited arrival!!!

After the arrival of the Africa Mercy- the founder Don Stephens and many of our Sponsors arrived in Liberia for the celebration!! We had a passing of the Torch and Cross from the Bow of the Anastasis! The torch and crossed were passed from each crew member from one ship to the next!! It was an awesome ceremony and emotional for some that had served on the Anastasis for many years. Including our Chief Medical Director who has served for 20 years!!! The Anastasis will now Sail to a scrape yard in India for her final destination. The Africa Mercy takes over with New look, New theme of Mercy is on its Way but with the same Heart Beat of Taking Hope and Healing to the forgotten poor in the Name of Jesus Christ!!!!

The site of the Old Anastasis (on the left) and New Beginnings in the Africa Mercy with the Lord! The Old has passed and the New has begun!! God is always doing a New thing in each of us! But I have thought often about how we sometimes resist the new. But as we Grow in the Lord we must always remember that He is God and He is Good and What He has in store for our lives is always BEST!! So we should rejoice in ALL the Newness that the Lord brings our Way!!!!!!

The Moving begins:
After the celebration, we had to move lots of boxes and equipment from the Anastasis to the Africa Mercy! Many of the crew was assigned to what we called the G5 teams. We had long lines from one ship to the next to get everything moved over. Lots of physical labor but lots of work in the name of Our Lord Jesus! Even the founder Don Stephens helped in moving us over onto the new ship!!!!

The President of Liberia

The President came to speak to the Crew- Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She spoke with a soft quiet voice and thanked us for coming to Liberia and working along side the country to bring a form of Hope and Physical healing to the Liberia. This is Mercy Ships second time in serving the country of Liberia. The country has awaited the return of Mercy Ships; but my Prayer is the Liberians see that their true hope in our Lord and Savior! That He has sent us in His name! That they have the Power in Him to Heal their Land!

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

Screening:


We have had medical screening done here in Monrovia to find those patients that we can serve. People waited in long lines to see a nurse and then a Doctor. We were assisted by the UN and the local police force on this day due to the fragile state of Liberia since the war.

The New Ward:
We now have 65 beds including an ICU! We are Blessed and thankful for our new Hospital!!!! We have 3 low dependency Wards called Faith, Hope, and Joy and a High dependency Ward called Peace! So we are excited to have patients on these wards!!!

Streets of Monrovia
The streets of Monrovia are where most of the businesses take place. They have mainly large outside markets like our flea markets at home. They have some inside stores but no large stores like our Walmart at home!

Homes in Monrovia

Homes in Monrovia! This is the rainy season so many times they have floods up into their homes! You still see the results of the war and many places are unfilled and the insides have been gutted open and most of All of them have no electricity or water. They are run down but people still find places in them to sleep and live. The government is working hard to restore the country but it is truly one day at a time!
Many of the local Liberians make a living by fishing- It amazes me how these little rowing boats without motors go out so far!

God's Children Orphanage

As I noted in my previous emails my spare time is spent at local orphanage! The name is God’s Children Orphanage! It has 50 children! Along with other Crew we are assisting the owner in providing meals and water for the children. They have no electricity but we have been able to provide solar lamps for them to have light at night. Most homes in Liberia remain without water or electricity. The orphanages here need much support and Prayer as they have so many children in need and not many resources! So please Pray that the orphans of Liberia and all over the world have their needs met! The government is working to make all the orphanages legal and registered and will be able to provide minimal assistance! So Please Pray that the Government will Seek the Lord in bringing Restoration to this Land with Great Needs that Only He can Heal!


The Relationship
Gert Jan and I are continuing to Pray and seek the Lord about the future and how He will use us in Building up the Kingdom. I hope that you will join us in Praying for God to give us Wisdom and Revelation about His Perfect plan and purpose for our lives in Serving Him- to Know Him and to make Him Known!

The Lord has given us these scriptures as a couple- please join us in Praying:

Colossians2:2-3
That their hearts my be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the knowledge of the mystery of God both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

1Peter2:4-5: As you come to Him, the living Stone-rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him-you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

2 Timothy 1:7-10 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or ashamed of me his prisoner, But join me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

Many Blessings to each of you!! I will be in touch and I hope to add pictures!!!

FOR HIS GLORY

stephanie

Stephanie Serving the Lord in Liberia 2007
To Know Him and To Make Him Known


Dear Family and Friends,

Wow- it has been a long time since I have written! So much has happened in my life since December! Where do I start!

First I Pray that this letter finds each of you in good health and spirit for the year 2007. I Thank God for 2006! What a Year!

While in Africa serving on the Mercy Ship it was truly a Blessing and Privilege to serve the Lord!! I truly learned and saw the Grace of God and the deliverance and healing that He brought to the patients we served in Ghana! True healing from the inside out! We treated many patients with facial tumors and growths, goiters, cleft lip/palate, hernias, lipomas, burns, and VVF (leaking of urine after birth trauma). The testimonies from the patients of the years of suffering, the lack of medical care, and the Revelation to Christ is a Reminder of How Great our God is! I will try in emailing out some of our patient stories. I am unable to attach the stories to the Blog!! You can also read some of stories at the Mercy Ships website: http://www.mercyships.org/.

I continue to stand in Awe of our Lord and Who He is!! As many of you know that I will be serving on the Africa Mercy until December 2007. I arrived back in Africa on Feb. 4. Since that time the ship has left Ghana and we sailed to Monrovia, Liberia over a 3 day sail and arrived on March 1.

So we are now here and getting ready for surgeries to start on Monday March 19!! When we arrived in Monrovia we were greeted with a huge Celebration on the dock with the Vice President and many local churches cheering us into the Port. It was a Blessing! When we arrived we were not able to get off the ship until 24 hours later after clearing immigration.

In learning the history of Liberia it makes my heart heavy because of the suffering that occurred and is still present because of the 14 years of war!!! 75% of the population live below the poverty line which is less $1/day and do not have access to health care. At this time, the majority of the health care is provided by Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), humanitarian, or Christian organizations. If these organizations were to pull out and leave Liberia the people would have limited or no access to health at all (most of the NGO’s will leave Liberian in 2008). I hope that you will join me in Praying for this Nation and for a special Anointing and Blessing!! I Pray for the Year of the Lord’s Favor in the country of Liberia!!! Please see below for some Liberian history.

I will continue as a Ward Nurse on the Anastasis until the New Africa Mercy arrives in mid May!! At that time we will have a time of transfer for 2-4 weeks onto the new ship!! It will be an Amazing Time and Celebration in the Lord!
The other news that I want to tell everyone, is that there is someone that God has Blessed me with!! His name is Gert Jan and he is from Holland! He has been serving with Mercy Ships for 2 ½ years in the Deck Department.

It has been an amazing journey in getting to know each other and the cultural differences. We have been and continue to be in Prayer about our future together. We met on my first night in Ghana! It was not Love at first sight- sorry for you romantics!! On my first night here for those of you that have read my blog know that we had a flat tire on the way from the airport. It was an adventure. We remained safe and the Driver- Gert Jan was full of jokes and remained calm as he had 5 women to assist him! Praise God that He sent some locals to help us in changing the tire on the Range Rover in the Rain!!!

After that, we became friends and started with a group of others going to an orphanage. Our friendship continued and developed as we spent time together talking, praying, and getting to know each other! It has been a time of laughter, fun, and joy in the Lord as we have Prayed together and encouraged each other on our journey with the Lord!

As most of you we know, we were able to experience each other families over the holidays! We were in USA and Holland and spent time meeting and getting to know each other’s family and friends! It was lots of fun and an amazing experience! I Praise God for the opportunity! We are excited and we ask for your Prayers as we seek the Lord for our future. We are keeping open minds and hearts!!

Last, as I am away, I am standing in agreement with my Church Home (Grace Bible Fellowship, Cary NC, Pastor Norman Peart) and the Theme for our church family:

Beyond all Limits with the Lord- To Know Him and to Make Him Known-

Phillipians3:8
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,that I may gain Christ.

I Pray that I will be used by God without limits in Liberia in the name of Jesus!

Blessings to each of you!

Love
stephanie

Liberian History
A question of freedomSix thousand miles from the United States lies a country whose flag bears a striking resemblance to the American one: alternating red and white horizontal stripes and, in the upper left-hand corner, a dark blue square. Against this blue background is a lone white star -- the star of liberty. The flag is a symbol of the history of the Liberian state, its relationship with America, and its search for its own identity.
The present-day Republic of Liberia occupies 43,000 square miles (slightly more than Tennessee) in West Africa. It is bordered on the southwest by the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast. From antiquity through the 1700s, many ethnic groups from the surrounding regions settled in the area, making Liberia one of Africa's most culturally rich and diverse countries. Settled in the early 1800s by freeborn Blacks and former slaves from America, Liberia, whose name means "land of freedom," has always struggled with its double cultural heritage: that of the settlers and of the indigenous Africans.

After the War

After the war, most of the country's infrastructure and public buildings were destroyed. Two hundred thousand people were killed, and another 800,000 displaced from their homes. Close to another 700,000 became refugees in neighboring countries. Recent reports from international political, environmental, and humanitarian groups point to Liberia's sky-high unemployment, continuing human rights violations, and the uncertainty of the upcoming 2003 elections.
Today, the Liberian people are just beginning the slow process of recovering from the economic, social, political, and psychological trauma of the war. The world waits and watches to see if the cycle of clashes between different populations has truly been broken, and if Liberia can rebuild itself as a unified nation to achieve the promise of its star of liberty.

Thanks!

Hello Family and Friends!!!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!! I Pray that this entry finds each of you well and Blessed in the Lord!!!

I am thankful that we did have a Thanksgiving celebration on the Ship the Sunday afterwards. We did not have turkey but had all the other traditional fixings and spreads- one of my favorites- sweet potato pie!! It was good! and made all the Americans feel at home!! They decorated our dining room, so it was Awesome!!!!

Since being here I have continued to be able to visit orphanges and love on the children, visit villages sharing the Love of Jesus, and attend many differnt African Churches, and go on an excursion to Cape Coast! Cape Coast was very nice and I was able to see a part of the African history. The Castles were owned by the Dutch then the British! It was emotional to see the deep dark places and how small the areas were, where they kept hundreds of slaves without food, water, bathrooms, or much ventilation. It was touching and heartbreaking to hear how the ladies were sent up and/or chosen to be Raped and beaten. It was as if you could still smell the odor and feel the oppression as you walked through the Castles!! I was able to Leave with Peace and remember that We serve an Awesome God and even then, He heard the crys of our brothers and sisters as they endured and suffered much!!!

I can't believe that I will be coming home on December 16!!

So many things have happened since I last wrote! First of all, let me say that the Lord is Good All the Time!!! Since I have been here in Africa He has continued to speak to me about His Love, Grace, Mercy, and Most of that He will never leave me! I am so thankful for this time that I have had here in Ghana! I think that I have learned more and been Blessed more than what I have given. Some of the patients that I have had the privilegd to take care of have taught me about Faith, Trust and Joy in the Lord in spite of the suffering and pain that they have endured without treatment and lack of medical care!

Before I left I had a sense that more meant better and that why couldn't some of the patients have more- ie ..home without dirt floors and one with running water and electricity! Coming from a World where More and Bigger is Better it is hard to see past that They need these things and then all things will be solved!!!

At the end of the day I serve the same Lord that these patients from across World from me serves and no matter the situation God has a purpose and a plan for all of our Lives!!! Our job is to be obedient,persevere, listen and to allow Him to grow us, change us, mold us and get us to His predestined Plan for our lives!

So I really came to understand that the time here on earth is not about where we live or how much we have or don't- It is about Jesus! And if we can look Past our current situations and Look to Jesus- He will answer! This life is temporary and where we live is just temporary geography! Eternity is Waiting and Jesus is Coming Soon!!!

I Praise God that He loves us and has counted the numbers of Hairs on our Head!!!

So I say all this to say That I Love the Lord with all of my heart, mind, and soul and He has put on my heart to stay with Mercy Ships until December 2007! So I will come home on Dec 16 and return to Africa on Feb 4 2007! I have resigned from my job. My boss has been very supportive and understands the calling on my Life. Although I will miss seeing/talking to you all on a regular basis- I have much Peace from the Lord and it is Pure Joy to be Resting in His Will at the present time in my Life!!! He is truly Awesome in all that He does!!!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them!

So I Thank Each of you for sowing into God's ministry!! I Pray Many Blessings over your life and for the coming year in 2007!! Thanks for your emails, Prayers, and support!

Please be in Prayer with me for the year 2007 for physical, spirtual, emotional, and finacial stability in the Lord!!!

For anyone reading that does know for sure that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior or wants to know who this Jesus is that is doing such a work in my life!! I Pray that you would contact your local church or email me at

stephanieghana2006@yahoo.com

I Pray that you would not let another day go by without knowing and finding out about this Man Called Jesus! He has a purpose and Plan for your Life!!! He loves you and is waiting on you!!!

If you have a Bible to Read Romans 10: 9-11.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, You Will be Saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to Shame."

For His Glory!!!
love
stephanie
thanks friends and famil- you are in my Prayers!!!


Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, evem to the end of the age.

PLEASE SEE ADDED PICTURES BELOW!!!!

Sunset!

Time of love and tender care to our patients!

Ghana beats the USA in the World Cup!! A huge celebration in the streets!!!

Cape Coast- Slave Castles

Time Off! Games on the ship!!

Our Fireteam on the Ship!

Crew Members are able to Adopt a Patient!!!

Me and some of our patients!!

For all my nurse Friends- We have limited IV pumps and feeding pumps- It is to Gravity/Drip Rates!!!!!

Nurse Prayer time- shift change!

Ward rounds with the Dr. Gary- our Medical Director!

Nursing care on the Ward!!!

Eunice- One of our many miracle patients on the Ward!!!

My travel partner Amanda- sharing the Love of Jesus Christ!

Life on the Ward!!

Friends on the Ship- Juile and Caroline

Me with one of our burn patients!