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!!!!!!!
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!
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!!!!
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!!!!
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.
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.
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!
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
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
posted by Stephanie @ 12:04 PM
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