a voice for those who cannot speak...

I have been keeping up with all the news on Terri Shiavo. Personally, I agree with the president's statement on this one, when there is so much doubt on what she wanted in regards to living in the state she is in then we should err on the side of human life. I think it's good that there is so much press and blog posts on this issue. Christians in the US and beyond are getting involved through writing, protesting, praying, and/or demanding that the government get involved. For me, it is good to see the church take a strong stand on this issue.

But my question is what about all the people starving to death in other parts of the world? Shouldn't the Christians be protesting, praying, writing on this too? Some do but not to the degree I see for Terri. Shouldn't we demand our government get involved by changing our trade policies that literally cause people to starve to death? Is it just the people in the US that we should be a voice for or is it for the whole world?

I am deeply moved about what is happening to Terri. I am outraged at the injustice, I just wish that the passion and engagement I see (from the church) with this one person would carry over to the thousands of people that starve to death every day because of the decisions of man.

Goodwill?

Over at Mission Safari there is a thought-provoking post about what happens to the old clothes we donate to charities and the effects it has on the textile industries in developing nations.

To read more about where our Goodwill and Salvation Army donations can end up click here.

Liberia: Impressions, Thoughts and IDP Camps

Currently I am in Liberia. This is the first time the ship has visited this country, a country that has been at war for 14 years. Think about that. Children who are under 16 years old only have lived life in the midst of a war, they know nothing else. This was not just any war but a bloody civil war where there are no rules. It doesn't matter if you were a woman, child, or non-combatant, they killed at random.

It is too difficult for me to write about all the things going on in my head right now about this country. So I will attempt to make short posts as I go along. So much of it seems unreal until I go out into the streets and see all the bullet holes in lightposts, signs, and buildings, until I meet people and hear their stories.

The war has ended but so much more needs to be done. There is no electricity or running water in the country, even in the capital of Monrovia. Because of the war many people had to flee their homes. Some go to other countries while others go to IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. I have read estimates from 500,000 to 800,000 people were displaced due to the war. The aerial photo is of some IDP camps in Liberia.

Our photographer on the ship, Scott, has captured images of one place that people have made into a home to temporarily live out their daily lives. Check it out:
Monrovia's former luxury hotel Intercontinental. Now home to 1,500 displaced persons


Please pray for the efforts taking place now to assist people to get back to their homes or start new ones. You can read about what took place this week here and about other efforts on ReliefWeb.

Medical Screening Update

The medical screening on Saturday went very well. It was peaceful and we were able to see everyone waiting. Over 250 people were scheduled for surgery during our 3 month stay here in Liberia. Thank you all for your prayers.

The surgeries began yesterday. Young Abraham (in the photo) was the first surgery(cleft lip) and is now recovering in the hospital ward on board the Anastasis. To view more photos of the screening you can click here.

Medical Screening

This past Tuesday a medical team of 15 was flown up-country via a United Nations helicopter to Ganta. Ganta is near the Guinea border in Liberia. Upon arriving to Ganta hospital 200 people were in line to be screened by our team to assess if they are canidates for a surgery on board the Anastasis in Monrovia.

57 patients from Ganta were scheduled for surgery during our stay here in Liberia.

The bigger screening will take place tomorrow here in Monrovia. We hope to schedule the remaining slots for surgeries.

Please pray for all that will be involved in the screening tomorrow. That it will be peaceful and that God's plan for each person there will prevail. This is a country that has just been through a 14 year war, may God's peace and hope be evident even to the ones that we will not be able to help physically.

School in Royesville, Liberia

A Mercy Ships team will help rehabilitate Royesville School, a long one-storey building in need of a new roof and refurbishment before teachers and students can return. It has been out of commission since the rebels sacked it during the war, now in anticipation of the building project, 200 children are registered to return to school.

"Friday's" Story

The ship and Anastasis crew have arrived to Liberia safely. More to come.....

In the mean time I'd like to share the story of "Friday". One of several types of surgery that is done on the Anastasis is Maxillo-Facial. During our 4 months in Benin, 369 Max-fax surgeries were completed. "Friday" is just one story of a life changed.

Scott Harrison is our ship's photographer and he writes about "Friday" here. A word of warning to the squeamish, this contains some graphic medical photos. If you do watch be sure to click on morph at the end.

Other Statistics from our 4 months in Benin:

Total OR Procedures: 691
Eye Procedures 332
Maxillo-Facial/Plastics 369
Ob-Gyn/VVF 31

Dental:
2,575 Total Patients
5,381 Total Procedures

HIV/Aids Awareness:
Individual Lessons:558
Training of Trainers:192

Nurse Mentorship Training: 44

Literacy Training:
Classes Taught: 153
Teachers Trained: 28

Jesus Film Viewings: 82

Community Development:
Fresh Water Wells: 3
Latrines constructed: 14
Basic Hygiene Participants: 59

Building Projects(done alongside local people):
Maternity Clinic
Residential Building

This is what man can report, only God knows how many lives were changed by proclaiming and demonstrating His love. What a privilege it is to be able to be involved in what God is doing.

Looking Back, Sailing Ahead

This past Monday we left the country of Benin. The departure was delayed a week due to technical problems but we are underway now heading towards Liberia. Late into the first night of sailing, somwhere off the coast of Togo, a fire alarm went off on the ship. As the group I' m with mustered outside it was very quiet and pitch black. We do drills at least once a month and every time we set sail, but this was the real thing. There was a fire in the engine room, which can be a little scary when you are out in the middle of the ocean. Praise God it was contained quickly and we were able to return to our cabins around midnight. And as I was writing this another alarm went off. There was another fire in the engine room but it was quickly contained. We would appreciate your prayers for the technical crew on board and for protection.

As the ship departed from the dock in Benin, I had bittersweet emotions. This is the third time I have been to Benin with the Anastasis so I had made close friends that I said good-bye to, but I also felt it was time to move on. I know God is calling us to the war-torn country of Liberia. I will give an update soon on the final statistics from our 4 months in Benin.

Right now the ship is off the Ivory Coast. We stopped this afternoon and anchored as we waited for a ship to come and refuel(photo) and are back underway. Our expected arrival into Monrovia, Liberia is Friday morning.

The Least of These

This post is in response to this week's Vox Apologia "The Least of These" over on Amy's Humble Musings Check it out if you get a chance it should spark some interesting thoughts.

Matt. 25:31-46; The Sheep and the Goats

This passage begins with all the nations gathered before the Son of Man in His glory(v.32). All the nations are there, that includes those in far off lands. It's easy to see the needs right in front of us and not go beyond what is in our scope. I believe Jesus understands our tendency to do so but probably longs for us to reach out beyond our carnal limitations, prejudices, and convenient stereotypes(e.g. "the poor are that way because they don't know Christ"). Statements like this give us an easy out to actually respond to the need.

He commands His followers throughout scripture to come to the aid of the "least of these". In the passage of Matt. 25, I find it interesting what the criteria are to separate the sheep and the goats. It was how they responded to "the least of these". Not how many souls they have won to Christ. I am not saying telling people about our Savior isn't important. In fact, I believe it does no good to just feed someone without explaining where this love comes from and the hope that is available to them. What I am saying is the scriptures are full of what our responsibility is to the poor and needy and I don't see it given as much emphasis in the church as say, evangelism. It's another program that you can get involved in if it is a program offered at all. But scripture shows us that it should be a part of who we are as followers of Christ, it is not optional or just the missionaries job.

Why is there not an emphasis on it? One reason I can think of is the cost. Not a monetary cost. A cost of time, convenience, preference. We are called to be actively involved in the least of these lives. Not just sending money, though that has its place, but to "look after the sick, invite the stranger in, visit the prisoner". This costs more than just money.

Some have interpreted Matt. 25:36-44 as a faith + works passage. I read some of the arguments and these have valid points but in my opinion that's not what this is about. Jesus made it clear that if we are his followers we are to respond to nakedness with clothes, imprisonment with visitation, hunger with food, thirst with drink. It doesn't matter if it's what gets us saved or not. In fact, if that is our motivation then we should question it or pray for a heart that goes beyond a motivation of conditional love(1Cor13:3). "I will do this for you because it will get me saved." This is not the kind of love that Jesus modeled for us. In the passage of Matt 25, the sheep didn't even realize that they did something special. They had to ask, "When did we see you hungry and feed you?" They were humble in their service. Their motivation obviously wasn't to make sure they were saved.


Are we willing to count the cost and do what we are commanded to do? Let's not just talk about it but take action. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."(1John 3:17-18). This verse tells us how to tell if the love God is in someone. Take action in truth. I believe the founder of World Vision said the following: "For hope to be credible in the future, it needs to be tangible in the present." The world is literally dying to hear about and see a tangible love and hope to "the least of these".

Off to the Races

Good news! We have received the parts for the generator and the engineers have been working hard. We're scheduled to sail this Monday, the 7th, at 1500 to arrive in Liberia on Friday.

Praise God! Thank you for your prayers.

In the mean time the rest of us seek to amuse ourselves while waiting. Our recent event was yesterday when we decided to have races with our life boats. I'm not sure what our neighboring ships and fishing boats thought about it but I believe we weren't the only people entertained yesterday.

After 2 races the boat I was racing in won (or tied for first place). I am just a little sore today!

P.S. I'm in the black shirt in the photo to the right.

Photo Finish

photo finish
Originally uploaded by vothj.

Baaaaack seat driver

One of the many reasons why I love Africa!

Anastasis