You know I have a list of things I want to blog you: My missions booklet write-up I wrote for my Church’s Missions weekend; so many patient stories, pictures of my blog and cabin, what’s happening with our off-ships programs; statistics from Sierra Leone ( I think I might pass on those at this point since we’re almost finished our Togo outreach and will just post the Togo stats when we get them.:)), and you know…thoughts! But today, I am just going to blog you about my week – what a week!
I’m going to start with two praise reports: First of all, I’ve had constant pain in my right shoulder for about 4 months now. Starting from my neck streaming down my right shoulder into my shoulder blade.I woke up on Monday morning, sat up in my bed and instantly knew something was different! Within a few minutes I realized I didn’t have any pain in my right shoulder! Halleluiah! During my morning preparations, I was thanking the Lord for my healing when I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to pray for this healing and asked God for forgiveness for my negligent prayers when the Holy Spirit instantly responded and said “I know what you need!” Wow, believe it! It reaffirmed so many things for me about what I believe about our relationships with the Lord. I won’t expound though and will let you draw your own interpretations. This is the second definite healing I’ve experienced from the Lord (that I’ve been aware of.) My faith has prospered! Additionally, as many of you are aware, as I’ve sought out your prayers (and you have seen me…lol); I’ve been wanting to lose the weight I’ve put on since joining Mercy Ships (MS) and have been very focused towards that goal (including prayer. :) :) Over the past 2 months I have lost a total of 14 lbs. I feel great! My cup overfloweth!!!!
On now for my second praise report: On Friday I had the privilege of being the driver for Dr. Lyn Westman who teaches for our Mental Health program. ( She is the program.) I don’t always get to be a part of what some of our off-ship programs entail, and I was truly blessed and again awed at how far-reaching MS is in what services we provide within a country. On this particular day she was finishing a 2 day workshop teaching 20 mental health professionals at a psychiatric hospital that houses long-term mentally ill patients as well as out-patients. She has extensive training in the medical field ending with a Doctorate in Psychology, with the added benefit of being Medical Practitioner as well as an ordained Minister. She is a committed missionary and follows up with every country we work in. She embraces the church and widely teaches the leaders that shepherd churches as well as many other professional and holds children’s camps. Here in Lome, we have partnered with Pastor Samuel who works alongside Lyn while we are here and is a valuable and indispensable assistant to her. Anejo, Togo is approx. an hours drive so I was also able to see some of the country outside of Lome. It was great! And great to be off the ship during a work day! lol
Below: Dr. Lyn and Samuel
Meanwhile on our ship in the hospital Chantelle passed away. Chantelle has been in the hospital since screening day. She was passed to the front of the line on screening day because she smelled so terrible – she had a very badly infected wound. When we were in Togo In 2006 Chantelle came to us badly burned. Her burn extended over the upper half of her right side including her neck, shoulder, and axilla(underarm). She ended up with contractures. However, several skin grafting surgeries later, as well as, intensive physio she was released to go home to start a new life…And she did just that, she married and she had a daughter. In 2009 she started to encounter problems with the grafting; her axilla grafting started to breakdown and create openings(the underarm tends to get dry and thick, so it continually needs to be moisturized), and eventually became infected. When we saw her in February 
the infection was extensive; it was open and very stinky, it had also spread across to include some of her breast closest to the armpit. To complicate matters she was HIV positive! She’s been in and out of surgery since screening day. She is very tiny (and beautiful), and coupled with the aids she was not able to fight off the infections, nor did she have the strength. For the last couple of weeks she had become a palliative patient and was going to be released to go home…Everyone loved Chantelle (I didn’t know her – only of her, and it’s only because of a good friend of mine sharing her story with me that I can share it with you.), and the nurses loved on her bigtime! We have the most amazing nurses all the time! 
Chantelle leaves a big part of herself behind – she was a beautiful spirit and though she was always in pain she found it within her to smile - a lot! I think because she received ‘love in action’ from our God-fearing missionary nurses; 2 weeks ago, she herself choose to accept Christ as her Lord and Saviour! Is that a combination of a blessing and a miracle, or what? She is now safely at home with our Father in heaven healed and in a new body.
We will see her again – someday….
I’ve been asked not to post a picture of her wound as it is quite graphic and actually, quite horrifying!!!
Please keep her widow and her daughter in your prayers!
And on a more joyful note (excuse the upcoming pun – ha, ha, ha). We were honoured with a local choir troupe on the ship today (Sunday). They are a group we would spend money on to see perform at home. They were fabulous and sang in English. Our socks were blessed off! lol It was a great time. Some of my friends took a video, I’ll see if I can post one when we get to Tenerife in the summer as I can’t do that from the ship. For now here’s a picture:
How many praise reports did I say? LOL
Wow, what a week!
Que Dieu vous bénisse! (May God bless you!)
Love Carol xox
