FIRST THREE WEEKS IN TOGO

During the first week of the medical pre screenings myself and our communications team bounced from pre screening site to prescreening site. The General Medical screenings are taking place in 3 different locations, 3 times a week for 10 weeks. The Orthopaedic pre screening-was held on February 22nd with another in a few months.   The Eye Screening is held in three different locations four days a week. Our Dental clinic is in full swing five days a week. At each screening site 1000's of people line up daily hoping to be seen.

The pre screening process is a very emotional time for me. Crowds of people gather with extreme medical problems. I saw young children with cataracts, crossed eyes, bow legs and clubfeet. People young and old with maxillo facial tumors that consume faces, cheeks and jaws. Some in critical danger of dying due to the limited capacity to breath and eat properly.  Bilateral cleft lip and palate babies-malnourished and premature. People young and old show up with spinal bifida, polio amd many other diseases and deformities. The good news is we can help; the bad news is we can't help everyone.  We have to trust and thank God that he has brought the right people along at this time and season.  With the free surgical treatment that is provide by our skilled medical teams, we must hope and pray for a better quality of life that will bring about lasting transformation not only for each patient, but for their families and communities as well.

We must put our hope in the healing power of Jesus! The blind see, the lame walk and the mute speak.

Patients are now in the ward and sugeries have begun. I love it when the wards are full. I never enjoyed  going into a hospitals at home, but here, as a communications photographer, I have the honor and priviledge to visit the patients and spend time with them during their recovery. The Togolese people love to express their appreciation for the free medical treatment Mercy Ships is providing for them. It is such a blessing to meet patients that I've talked to or interacted with at the screening sites, now in the ward. An instant bonding takes place when I see them. They remember me from the screening day which is the first process in building a trusting relationship with them.  Someone that took the time to love on them, talk with them rather than at them. That alone breaks down the barriers.

We have started a new Infant Feeding Program as well. Pre mature and malnourished babies, cleft lip and palate.  We have a set of twin girls, one born with club feet.  Our skilled Ortho doctors just performed surgery on the youngest child to have the new Ponsetti casting procedure done on the ship . The baby is so small she fits in the palm of my 2 hands and I have small hands. This program began last year. The babies are soooo tiny, less than 2-3 lbs.  The children will be in the ward until they have gained enough weight to have their surgery.

On another note: March 6th: As a safety precaution, a no shore leave policy is in place until the results of the Presidential election (March 4th) have come in. The streets have been quiet, businesses closed and the port workers have shut down. Please be praying that after the announcement of the elected President that peace will remain in the nation.

Isaiah 49 8-9: This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you: I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritancs, to say to the captives, Come out; and to those in darkenss, Be Free."