Crew Photo for the m/v Anastasis - December 2006 - following one of our fire drills - I have a bright yellow vest on as I am part of the Emergency Medical Team - I am near the foot of the gangway. We are about 300 adults and children serving on board plus another 80 local Ghanaians who are serving with us.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Lifeboat Drills
Gripes, Catapult Wire, Winch Gear, Man rope, twicing pendant, frapping lines, davit and painters - all words I know need to know about and their function in the launching of our lifeboats. I have been assigned to lifeboat #1 as the Standby Breakman and at the same time I need to learn some of the other roles of Breakman and Communicator - we have training on Mondays. Always something new and an adventure here. This is needed as we will be sailing the m/v Anastasis to Liberia in February.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Our International Lounge
View of the International Lounge on board the m/v Anastasis. We meet regularly on Thursday evenings and Tuesday mornings as an entire community. I am in there somewhere at this our International Thanksgiving Service.
Sat Night Car Racing Game Jan
Usually after dinner on Saturday nights, Jan Kronester and I go to the office so he can have an hour of playing car racing games on the internet. We have a good time together. His favorite site is:
freeaddictinggames.com
freeaddictinggames.com
Int'l Thanksgiving Service
m/v Anastasis International Thanksgiving Celebration 26 November
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." Ps. 136:1
Program
1. Opening Procession by African Female Crew.
2. Opening Hymn - We Gather Together
3. Opening Address - Judith Straub
4. Hymn - For the Beauty of the Earth
5. Scripture Reading - Psalm 146
6. Special Thanksgiving Song from Academy Children
7. Prayers of Thanksgiving: Productivity, Protection, Provision
8. Scripture Reading - Luke 17:11-19
9. Hymn - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
10. Scripture Reading - I Thessalonians 1:1-10
11. Hymn - Praise To the Lord, The Almighty
12. Message
13. Closing Hymn - To God Be The Glory
14. Benediction/Closing Prayer
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." Ps. 136:1
Program
1. Opening Procession by African Female Crew.
2. Opening Hymn - We Gather Together
3. Opening Address - Judith Straub
4. Hymn - For the Beauty of the Earth
5. Scripture Reading - Psalm 146
6. Special Thanksgiving Song from Academy Children
7. Prayers of Thanksgiving: Productivity, Protection, Provision
8. Scripture Reading - Luke 17:11-19
9. Hymn - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
10. Scripture Reading - I Thessalonians 1:1-10
11. Hymn - Praise To the Lord, The Almighty
12. Message
13. Closing Hymn - To God Be The Glory
14. Benediction/Closing Prayer
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Friends at the Birthday
There were about 20 of us sharing and celebrating Yvonne's birthday - to my right is Clementine from Togo/Ghana and Mathilda
from South Africa.
from South Africa.
Yvonne's Birthday Party
My friend Yvonne who I served with on the Caribbean Mercy is also here on the Anastasis and we went out on Wednesday night to celebrate her birthday. We were at a Chinese restaurant and when it came time for fruit/ice cream, the staff came in singing in English and also a verse in Chinese. It was a special night for her and we got to share it together.
Eye Patient #1000
Dr. Neil Murray is performing eye surgery on this patient - Adulai Shitu - he was our 1,000 patient for our time here in Ghana.
I was able to watch Dr. Neil do surgery on a woman named Mercy and she is 100 years old. He explained the procedure to me as I was viewing in the additional microscope. She was blinded by shingles in one eye and cataract in the other and so she was provided with sight once again with the cataract being removed.
I was able to watch Dr. Neil do surgery on a woman named Mercy and she is 100 years old. He explained the procedure to me as I was viewing in the additional microscope. She was blinded by shingles in one eye and cataract in the other and so she was provided with sight once again with the cataract being removed.
m/v Anastasis Crew Bank
Yes some people really get excited when they go to the ship's crew bank - which is open on Monday mornings and Thursday evenings before our Community Meeting. Here is Ghana they use 'cedis' and it takes 9,160 of them to equal US $1 - so this is country where you can be a millionaire - only takes US $109.17 to obtain ONE MILLION CEDIS. The excited man is Dr. Keith who serves as our dentist.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Wofa's Family Visit
Wofa is the house dad and administrator at the Save Them Young orphanage where I have been going since June. Currently the home is one of our regular mercy ministry projects. Last night, the Kronester family and myself hosted Wofa, his wife Alice and their three children on board. We had tacos in our Pacific Dining Room.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
HIV/AIDS Teaching
Our HIV/AIDS program uses a three-phase approach which will be implemented in Tema and Ashaiman.
• Phase I – Sensitize/De-stigmatize – five, one-day sensitizing workshops (one per month) for faith community using the ‘Starting Over’ movie and training tool by Gospel Communications International as the basis for planned discussions.
• Phase II – Strategize – five, two-day capacity building workshops (one per month) for church volunteers to learn care and support program planning and design.
• Phase III – Empower – five, two-day training workshops (one per month) that will provide training in each city in the following areas: one palliative care work shop, one foster care of OVC workshop, one prevention and peer counseling workshop. Training tools are also provided such as prevention movies, peer counseling interactive CD’s and a comprehensive life skills prevention curriculum.
I have gone out with the team as we continue to work with the local church and this important issue.
• Phase I – Sensitize/De-stigmatize – five, one-day sensitizing workshops (one per month) for faith community using the ‘Starting Over’ movie and training tool by Gospel Communications International as the basis for planned discussions.
• Phase II – Strategize – five, two-day capacity building workshops (one per month) for church volunteers to learn care and support program planning and design.
• Phase III – Empower – five, two-day training workshops (one per month) that will provide training in each city in the following areas: one palliative care work shop, one foster care of OVC workshop, one prevention and peer counseling workshop. Training tools are also provided such as prevention movies, peer counseling interactive CD’s and a comprehensive life skills prevention curriculum.
I have gone out with the team as we continue to work with the local church and this important issue.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Mohammed looking at the camera
Little Mohammed was brought to the Save Them Young Orphanage about 7 months ago. His father was not able to take care of him alone. He has polio. Save Them Young Orphanage is one of our mercy ministry sites and one that I have been involved with since June, my first month in Ghana. We took him today to pick up some braces that will help him to learn to walk. He couldn't resist looking up at the camera!!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Tuinier's baby Isabella Oct 06
My friend Elizabeth from the Dominican Republic and her daughter Isabella, husband Jan is not in the picture, probably because he took the picture. She had major complications at birth, though she is doing much better. They will be rejoining the crew of the Africa Mercy in January and soon we will see them here in West Africa.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Opportunities Binder
In Programs here on the m/v Anastasis, we have many different things going on. With permission from the council on board, I created an Opportunities Binder that is located near to the gangway. Inside there are many sign up sheets on what the crew can be involved with – from visits to orphanages, hospice, psychiatric hospital to helping on Saturday at the construction site. I am hosting groups on Wednesday to take them to 4-5 of the off-ship ministry sites – so for those on the ship, they can see for themselves what is happening in the various locations. There are other opportunities to sign up to share your testimony with the patients and to adopt-a-patient who will be in our wards.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
AFM Crew
Our friends on the Africa Mercy up in northeast England celebrated as they met together to have their community meeting on board the vessel itself - this was a special event, regular meetings will start once they all move to live on board in December. Here is a photo that a friend sent to me of them. They are still in the shipyard and thus need to have their steel-toe boots, helmets and glasses on. We are planning to move out of shipyard next month.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Carrying goods on their heads start early
As I walk around town and in the countryside, I am amazed at the variety of different things that the African carry on their heads – from a simple platter with peeled oranges to sewing machines and tables. They learn while they are young and get such balance. Some use a cloth on their head to help with the balance, but others without. I can’t balance a book on my head and walk any distance.
Rice Farming Man
During a visit to a more remote village one evening, I was met by Richard and here he is telling me of all the types of rice, harvesting and marketing. I guess I really never thought about the different types of rice or their nutrition value – they have one here called ‘red rice’ and it is much higher in nutrients than most of the others.
Movie time in the village
One of our programs to aid women and getting them started in their own micro-enterprise (small business) is beekeeping. We are in partnership with the Ghana Forestry department and have 52 women enrolled in the program. Though for the Africans and my former neighbors in Indiana, bees can be scary and fear of being stung. So as part of the program, we visit each of the women’s communities as a form of follow up to see her set up and then for the entire community we show a film on bees so that they understand better and are more welcoming to bees and the woman’s business – in the photo I am setting up the screen. This has really ministered to these women and will allow them a way to earn money without much time invested everyday so not to take them away from their families.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Dr. Mike Visiting Mobile Eye Patients
We had the opportunity to host Dr. Mike Barrington from Rotary for a couple days last week. Here we are visiting with some patients who came to see the Mobile Eye Team in the community of Ashaiman. Usually about 150-200 people come each day to see the Mobile Eye Team.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Special Birthday Photo
An email arrived with this photo attached. This is what I received - from my nephew Jeremy and my neice Jaylie for my Birthday.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Life Guide Bibles
We received a container from the Netherlands and I was encouraged to see that there was an entire pallet of New Testament Bibles. They were produced by Health for Life, a project initiated by VVHS/BKV, International Bible Society and Mercy Ships-Netherlands. Their aims is to provide people in developing countries with in-depth information for healthy lives, both spiritually and physically. Primarily they will be used by the HIV/AIDS educators who are working with the local churches to create mercy coalitions. They have given us 250 for use by our disciplers and crew members as they are in relationship with, prayer and ministry with people here in Ghana.
Children at Well Drilling Site
This village has no electricity or water – they walk a good distance to another village to a well to obtain water. For these children, the well drilling rig is great entertainment as they had just started and were drilling through sand and it was flying up in the air. School is just starting up next week and so they were enjoying the show. Our team will usually work in a village for a week and besides the well drilling and sanitation lessons, they have time with the people and especially with the children to share our Father God’s love for each of them.
Well Drilling Cap Off well
We have partnered with Ghana Water and Sanitation to help impact 38 communities. We will be drilling water wells, constructing demonstration latrines, teaching on community hygiene and training 3 residents in each community on water well maintenance. We have a great team together to be in these villages helping to provide the basic necessities of life and sharing their heart and faith with them. They have had some technical problems in the beginning, but they are up and going now.
Land Rover 4x4 KRB Driving
Are you envious? I was driving to several of our well drilling sites – about an hour and half from the port city. The night before, it had severely rained and so the ‘roads’ were not too good. The ship has about twenty Land Rovers which are used by all the teams working at off-ship sites and all the business and activities of the ministry. Some are in better shape than others. I was hosting the captain, chief engineer, and second engineer as I wanted to share with them what is happening in Community Development Services (CDS) with well drilling and sanitation. The vehicle before me had our executive director, her assistant, CDS manager, and one of the communications photographer – she took the photo.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
President Kufuor
This morning we prayed particularly for the leaders of the nation. We prayed for President John Kufuor, his wife Theresa, the various Ministers who are serving here - particularly for the Minister of Health, Manpower, Transport and the Members of Parliament who have helped and continue to help with our time and the people of the nation of Ghana. President Kufuor, a devout Roman Catholic, is in his second term and the next elections will be in '08.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Fountain Head Work Day
One of our Community Development Services projects is to construct another building for the Fountain Head Christian School here in Tema. The directors are from the Youth With A Mission base and they were needing to expand to have junior high grades. On Saturday, we invited general crew to join in and help. We had over 20 people volunteer and we painted chairs, moved the desks and chairs, haul rock for the foundation of an additional classroom and that is where I am heading with this wheelbarrow – thankfully my friend Rene from Guinea was there to help me. Good to be a part!!!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
President of Liberia
Our meeting on the 17th of August with the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. I am at the far left of the photo. She graciously welcomed us; we presented a report on the accomplishments in her nations during the two past visits by the m/v Anastasis and our proposed activities for ’07. She reviewed them and then she asked how she and her government could help make that possible. The Minister of Health then spoke of the protocol – our official welcome and the arrangements and agreements between Liberia and Mercy Ships.
Medical Center
Some members of a local Baptist church wanted to do something in their community to help address the medical care needs of the people. They purchased a land and are working on the drawings and thus we are planning to come alongside them with the constructions and equipping of a medical clinic for their community. We are pictured in the rain going over the plans and reviewing the goals and expectations of those involved.
Open Bible School
One of the projects for ’07 for our Community Development Services crew is to come alongside Open Bible Church in the construction of a two level school building. I met with the school director and they have made progress already, though when we arrive we can contribute to the completion of the school. During the long civil war in Liberia, most schools were closed and thus we have a generation now that missed out on 14 years of schooling. The building will be used by both children and adult students. Each of their days will start out with a time of devotions, worship and/or prayer.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Bibles in local languages
Our fellow Mercy Ships crew/staff who are in England with the Africa Mercy gave us an offering in £ for local Bibles which I converted into cedis = 5,019,200. I was able to purchase locally 120 Bibles and 3 children's Bible lessons packets. The local languages are Twi-Asanti, Ga, Ewe, Twi-Akuapem and English. We will share these with locals who we have established relationships with - some are patients and others are at the various sites.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Alcoa / Ghana Health Services
We have partnered together with Alcoa and Ghana Health Services to construct and equip and youth health centre in Ashaiman. This is one of the communities we have targeted for our services. After review of our proposal, Alcoa has donated the funds for the building and Ghana Health Services has the property and will staff and operate the health centre. We all came together last week on board the m/v Anastasis.
Airport Runs
Have you ever arrived in a city,state,country,continent and came out of the airport and wondered what if there is no one there to meet me? I have had the concern and I have had that situation that no one was there. The airport here in Ghana is about an hour drive from the ship – depending on traffic. Since arriving here myself in June, I am average 2-3 trips to the airport each week to pick up new crew/guest or to drop off friends as they head home or elsewhere. Thankfully the motorway is good between here and the airport. The picture is of Marleene who just arrived last night – her first time in Africa!!!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Kakum National Park
There is some remaining rain forest here in Ghana. I went with 19 other friends to the Kakum National Park and the Canopy Walkway. It was rainy as we started on the first of seven long bridges – about 60 meters above the ground. We didn’t see any animals except for some birds. Beautiful nature that God has created and has asked us to care for.
Elmina Castle
Many of us know of the slave trade that existed between West Africa – Europe and the United States. We visited Elmina Castle which is the longest standing castle that was used as a slave fortress by the Dutch, the Portuguese and the British. We had an excellent guide who took us on an hour tour. This photo is taken at the exit where the slaves (who had survived) would leave the castle and be lowered to small boats and taken to the slave ships. Very sobering – we had a moment of silence while in this room.
Pauline & Ellie
For all my friends who know and love Paulina Rick – this is her baby, Ellie. She got her just before Christmas. I thought you would like to see the picture.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Well Drilling Rig
Our Well Drilling team had a slow start here in Ghana with delays in getting the well drilling rig, but they are on site now at the first location. We have been provided 26 locations from the Ghana Water and Sanitation Agency. We plan to do 38 wells while we are here and this is the same drilling rig we had on the Caribbean Mercy. Helping to provide potable water for the people in villages in Ghana.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Nephews & Grinding Wheel
My nephews (from left to right - Evan, Dustin & Jeremy) out with the grinding wheel placed in the wooded area in front of my parent's home. My father owns Brinkman Precision Grinding and so this was a special gift for him and the grandsons are learning the 'trade'.
Jonas Surgery
I met Jonas during our screening days for surgical patients. We talked both days and he is scheduled for surgery 30 of August. We have an Adopt-A-Patient program and I have selected Jonas. He is from Tema Newtown, a very poor area near to the port. You can't see the tumour as it is covered by the doctor's hand. Please pray with me for his restoration of health.
Erb Wedding
Wedding photo of Eric Erb & Aresa Samuel along with many of our Mercy Ships, Caribbean Mercy friends who were able to attend their celebration.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Programs Team ANA
This is our Programs Team here on the Anastasis. From the left to right - Jean Campbell, Healthcare Manager, Udo Kronester, Program Officer, Mark Coleman, Community Development Services Manager and myself, the Program Administrator.
Baby Tuinier
My friends Jan & Elizabeth Tuinier welcomed their baby daughter to the world on July 10th. Due to complications, Elizabeth had to have three more surgeries. Please pray for her complete health restoration. They are in Rotterdam, Holland. Their daughter's name is Grace Isabella.
Living Bread Missions
Since my first Sunday here, I have been attending Living Bread Missions church in Ashaiman. Ashaiman is one of the poorest communities in this area and one that we have targeted with some of our various programs. We have met with the pastor and looking for opportunities of partnership.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Udo Ghana Screening
The man holding the girl is Udo, our Program Officer - he is the one I work for here on the ship. He had been our Executive Director on the Caribbean Mercy. The picture was taken during our Ghana surgical screening days. The man in the picture is our crew doctor, Gareth from the UK.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Ashaiman Youth Health Centre
I'm visiting one of our community development sites. In partnership with Ghana Health Services, we will construct a youth health centre in Ashaiman. For my Hoosier friends, that is corn behind us growing in the field.
MS Friends Reunion NC
Some of my former crew mates gathered together for a reunion in North Carolina. Great having friends in and from all around the world.
Screening
Beautiful Smile!!! This girl is one who captured my heart and I wrote about in my KRB Update. She was patiently waiting on the first day of surgical screening. Some of our musicians were playing some songs and she was dancing with the music – she would catch your eye and give you this beautiful smile. She has one of the most common birth defects in this area, but not for long as we are doing her cleft lip and palate surgery. Please pray with us that all goes well.
Beekeeping
Bees!!!
When you think of bees you probably think of getting stung by a bee. We are actually partnering with an educator/trainer here by the name of Kwame Aidoo. We are partnering with him and the Forestry Commission of Ghana on a training program for women in beekeeping as a supplemental income for them. This is a photo of us at his home and farm as he is demonstrating many aspects of bees to us – I am in the far left of the photo.
When you think of bees you probably think of getting stung by a bee. We are actually partnering with an educator/trainer here by the name of Kwame Aidoo. We are partnering with him and the Forestry Commission of Ghana on a training program for women in beekeeping as a supplemental income for them. This is a photo of us at his home and farm as he is demonstrating many aspects of bees to us – I am in the far left of the photo.
Pastors Church Leaders
Pastors/Church Leaders Reception: One of our first receptions or events we hold in a country is one with the pastors and leaders of the local church. Following a time of refreshments and talking with the crew, we have a presentation of who we are and what we are planning for our time in their nation. This photo is one taken while we were giving them a tour of the ship. We have met with them early on during the assessment process, but this is a time to honor them and to request their assistance and partnership with us. I enjoy these times with those God has called to lead His people in the area.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
m/v Anastasis
This is the ship I am on now - my last time as crew here was in spring '91. Due to the delays with the Africa Mercy, we are using the Anastasis to start the outreach here in Ghana. The Anastasis has just finished up her second outreach in Liberia. This is a time of transition as many are leaving and others have come and more are to follow. Once the Africa Mercy arrives, we will move over and the Anastasis will be retired from her service which started in '82 after renovations in Greece.
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