"(the Lord) has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives...to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of despair...Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion...and everlasting joy will be theirs" Isa 61. Jesus applied these verses to himself but I think we too can claim this as a calling...to bring Hope to the broken. Lately I have clung to the promise that Jesus will replace people's shame and pain with joy. Just this week six boys were rescued who were about to be secretly shipped from the port, sold into child slavery. Also this week fourteen women arrived to our hospitals "holding area" from villages very far away, two weeks EARLY for surgery. They all suffer from vaginal fistulas which have made them outcasts of society, modern day lepers. Their husbands have abandoned them. They said they wanted to come because this is the first place they have been where people don't run away because of their stench and where they can have clean, dry bedding without question. Almost every one of our patients is disfigured and ostracized but what a joy it is to show them that Someone loves them just the way they are. Quite humbling. On another note, ship life is fun, always busy. It's like living in 60 different countries at once. We recently celebrated Dutch and Norwegian holidays with games and food :). There are always people to explore and adventure with, including the Africans themselves. I recently got to visit my tailor's house! I also have a long weekend coming up where a group of Brits and Aussies and I were going to try to explore Ghana. We were in the middle of getting visas when we found out it wasn't very safe so we have decided to travel in the opposite direction instead. Should be fun. Also...get this...next week we are going to the president of Benin's house for dinner!! How cool! He wants to thank us for our service so we and ambassadors from most of our represented countries are invited to a banquet! :) Good times. Thanks again for your prayers. Je suis tre tre content! :)
