Carol in Africa: August 2011

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Off-Ship

Hi there,

I will be returning to the ship (from time home in June/July) later than planned and will be taking a bit of time to catch up when I get back, so I don't expect to blog again until mid-Septemberish....

Boy, do I have a bunch of good ideas to blog you. I look forward to sharing my/our future with Mercy Ships with you.

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace!”

Talk to you in Septmeber!

Love,

Carol :)

P.S. If you would like to visit past blogs you can keep scrolling down from this one straight down to the bottom and click on "older blogs," or you can go to the end of the side bar on the right and chose a past blog by: year, month and title! Please feel free to pass on your feedback at any time. Enjoy!

How to Partner With Me Financially...

All crew are required to raise their own financial support while serving onboard the M/V Africa Mercy. There are many ways for you send one-time, monthly or annual donations:

Online: https://connect.mercyships.org/page/outreach/view/crewmates/Carol

By Snail Mail:
Mercy Ships Canada
ATTN: Donor Services
Unit 5 -3318 Oak Street
Victoria, BC V8X 1R1

Please indicate on a seperate piece of paper that you would like to give to Mercy Ships project # 2551. (That's me :)) This is in compliance with CRA guidelines: The name of the individual missionary worker (me :)) cannot appear anywhere on the cheque.

By Telephone:
1.250.381.2160
(again please refer to my project # 2551)

NOTE: Mercy Ships Canada will provide you with one tax deductible receipt at the end of the year for all donations made within the same year. If you do not require a tax-deductible receipt please make a deposit to my personal Mercy Ships account thereby bypassing administrative charges and unfavourable rates of exchange (CAD to USD):

In Person:
My Bank: Vancity
To: Carol Tanzola
Branch # 34
Account # 132605

I cannot tell you how much it means that you want to partner with me to bring hope and healing to the unwell, rejected and/or cast out poorest of the poor peoples of West Africa. Together with Mercy Ships we do make a difference!

There was a little boy and girl playing on the beach one day. The little girl was walking along throwing starfish that had been washed onto the beach back into the water. The little boy asked why she was bothering as there were so many it wouldn't make a difference to which she replied "it makes a difference to this one!"

Thank you so much from the ones we make a difference too, and from the countries we are able to show the love of Christ!

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant;' I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will stenghten you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:9-10

...And Prayerfully

-for us to be able to reach & help the right people (dental, eye, maxillo facial, orthopaedics, pastics and general); for us to find them or them us

-for sufficient supply of water to the ship and for the crew to be able to take regular ship showers (2 minutes) including hot showers

-to rise to the challenges of my new job in humility, time management, organization and creativity

-for the diving team to be safe as they dive throughout the day in low/high tide to clear the garbage from the vents which controls our vacuum system, generators and air conditioning

-for my personal health & finances (including the additional expense of coming home in June/July)

-for the safety and well being of all the crew

-for my 6 great nieces and nephews ages 2 -11 who are still in foster-care

-for my mother who hasn't been all that well of late

-for all the projects that have been created as a result of the huge amount of work that was done in the Republic of South Africa to be able to be completed financially and getting parts as needed

-for all of our various ministries, off-ship programs, training and hospital to be a blessing in every way to the people of Sierra Leone, each other and to God

...And Encouragingly

Home, family and long-time friends (pre Mercy Ships (MS)) are far away and although I love the work God has called me to do and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else - it can get lonely, very lonely!

It is so exciting and uplifting when I get mail or even an email from home, so please send me a line every now and then. And, please don't forget to send me your prayer requests. You are not only a part of my life, I am also a part of yours, and I consider it a great privilege to be able to pray into your life!

Here's how to reach me:

Carol Tanzola
Mercy Ships
M/V Africa Mercy
PO Box 2020 Lindale, TX 75771 -2020 USA

NOTE: Anything under a pound gets delivered to me free of charge. However, if ever you send something over a pound please put "FOR CONTAINER ONLY" on it and then I won't be charged .55 USD an ounce, but just so you know I also won't receive for it upwards of 2-3 months (that's okay :)).

OR email me at carol.tanzola@gmail.com Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you!

Where Has Carol's Journey With Mercy Ships Taken Her, And Where Will She Go Next?

13 Sept 09 - 20 Sept. 09
Introduction to Mercy Ships in Texas, USA

16 Jan. 09 - 14 Feb. 09
Gateway Training Texas, USA

15 Feb. 09 - 5 Mar. 09
Field Service in the Dominican Republic

6 Mar. 09 - 24 July 09
Fundraising

28 July 09 - 5 Dec. 09
Republic of Benin

18 Dec. 09 - 31 Jan. 10
Tenerife, Spain

10 Feb.10 - 15 Aug. 10
Republic of Togo

1 Sept. 2010 - 14 Feb. 2011
Republic South Africa

27 Feb. 2011 - Dec. 2011
Sierre Leone, West Africa

Dec. 2011 - Jan. 2012
Ghana, West Africa

Jan. 2012 - June 2012
Republic of Togo

July 2012 - Aug. 2012
Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, Spain

Aug. 2012 - June 2013
Guinea, West Africa

A Few Sierra Leone Facts For You...

-Official Name: Republic of Sierra Leone

-Sierra Leone is a predominant Muslim nation, though with a significant Christian minority.

-Religions: Muslim, locals beliefs (aka traditional which combines African and Christianity), and Christianity.

-Languages: English (official), Mende, Temne, Krio (mostly what is spoken in Freetown (other than English)

-Currency: Leones (keep watching my blog space for pictures of the money.)

-Sierra Leone [was] an important centre of the transatlantic trade in slaves until March 11, 1792 when Freetown was founded by the Sierra Leone Company as a home for formerly enslaved African Americans.

-In 1961 (after a series of Political changes) Sierra Leone gained independence.

-National Day: 27 April, Independence Day (This year is their Jubilee year and big celebrations throughout the city are underway.)

-The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people ..(about one-third of the population). (It has been said that the displaced people moved to Freetown (where I live) which had a population of 200,000 and now has a population of over 2,000.000. It can take 2 hours to move 6 km - no kidding!!!)

-Population is estimated 6.2 million.

-In August of 2007, the presidential and parliamentary elections were held. No presidential candidate won a majority of the votes, causing a runoff election to be held in September. Ernest Bai Koroma was elected president.

-Sierra Leone is rich in Mineral resources possessing some of the rarest and most valuable mineral types in the world, many of which are found in significant quantities. Sierra Leone is one of the 10 top diamond producing countries in the world. Diamonds and other mineral exports are the main source of income; in addition to being a major producer of gold. (There are very strict laws in place against Diamond mining and we (Mercy Shps crew) have been told not to even be in the vicinity of a mine! This has been asked not only for our own saftey, but also for the politics that our Captain would have to go through if one of us were incarcinated and that is not guaranteed to turn out good.)

-Although Sierra Leone has seen economic success over the past several years, there are still significant economic challenges – particularly high unemployment. Columbian drug cartels are moving into Sierra Leone, using it as a base to ship drugs to Europe.

-Despite [the countries] natural wealth, the vast majority of its people live in poverty. (A poverty like I have never seen anywhere; including on TV.)

-Sierra Leone is the twelfth-lowest-ranked country on the Human Development Index and eighth-lowest on the Human Poverty Index. [They are also] suffering from endemic corruption and suppression of the press.

PLEASE PRAY OVER THE ABOVE POINTS AS YOU FEEL LED!