|
|
Dear Friends, Family, and Prayer Warriors,
Hard to believe, so much time has passed since our last newsletter; it has been a whirlwind after arriving in Congo, celebrating the wedding, then returning - you may need to fasten your seat beat; as we try to recap only some of what has happened...over 350 life transforming surgeries in 6 weeks!
Royal Diamond Shellbacks
Let it be known to all sailors and land-lovers alike, that we did what few have done - crossed the equator and prime meridian at the same time; thus we became Royal Diamond Shellbacks in August. It did however come with a price... All "Polliwogs" had to kiss a raw fish. Luckily we didn't have to go through the standard crossing-the-line initiation.
For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony Pam's dad crossed the line 69 years earlier and she saw his framed certificate when we were last month. He sure would have been proud of his little girl. When crossing the equator things go the opposite direction...does that mean we start to get younger...
Ground Breaking First for Mercy Ships
On August 9, 2013 history was made as the Africa Mercy sailed into the port of Pointe Noire, Congo. This is the first field service in Central West Africa for Mercy Ships and we were greeted by the Don Stevens, President of Mercy Ships, and an entourage of government officials from the Congo. The fanfare was a sight to behold and a very exciting moment for all of us.
Set-Up Begins
Arrived in Congo mid-August, with welcoming festivities; then two weeks of intense set-up; on ship, dock-side hospital facilities, as well as our dental, eye clinics, and HOPE Center sites, located in town. But not too busy to take a break and celebrate Harry's 59th birthday.
Wedding and State-side visit with family and friends
After all the flurry of activity to get everything ready for the 1st day of Surgery on 2 September, we boarded the plane for Lydia's wedding, the highlight of our trip. Harry and Lydia were beaming as they danced to "Butterfly Kisses." Jimi and Lydia (Porter) Hall will continue to live in Bristol where she works as a nurse at Bristol Memorial Hospital.
While home we had a little time to visit with friends and family. Thankfully, Harry's mother, Jean, who had just gotten out of the hospital, was able to make the long trip to TN. Many of you had been praying for her recovery from a long hospital stay after breaking her hip last year. Thanks so much! She looked like the queen mother getting to ride in a BMW convertible that one of our friends let us use while in the States...how fun was that...for all of us! I kidded Harry, traded one mission for another...Mercy Ships, to a 007 car! We hesitated pushing any buttons, not knowing if "Q" had installed an ejection seat or any other surprises!
It was wonderful to be able to give our thanks in person to many of our donors in Tennessee. Hopefully this summer we will be able to do the same with everyone in Texas.
Return to the Africa Mercy - going full speed ahead
Everything is so fast paced on a field service. Missing 2 weeks, is more like missing a month or more. U pon arriving back in Congo we had to hit the "deck running," so to speak. The following statistic are just some of what the Lord has allowed our team to accomplish so far in the field service:
-
350 life-changing surgeries
-
2700 Dental procedures
-
270 Health Education Participants
-
Not to mention other Acts of Mercy in the community and Spiritual encounters that are too numerous to report.
EYES...Incredible...
It was time to see the results of the first eye surgeries in Congo and the air was charged with anticipation and excitement! The Day Crew, who had worked for 2 months training; screening many patients; and scheduling surgeries, were not sure what would happen. The patients waited and prayed; hoped and waited; and waited for healing,...and now the moment had arrived to “see” the results.
As the first local day workers slowly and gently pulled off the first eye bandage, each second seemed to last forever. I was holding my breath, then all of a sudden, papa sprang up, like a “Jack in the Box,” with his hands in the air, shouting “Hallelujah!” “Hallelujah!” Nancy, one of our local workers, quickly held up 5 fingers and asked papa how many fingers she was holding and he correctly said, “ cinq” (five). She continued to hold up different amounts of fingers and papa answered correctly. With each answer, everyone in the tent area would celebrate - cheering, clapping, and some with dancing. Then papa broke out in a song of many “Hallelujah’s!” He didn't want to stop or sit down. His face was beaming.
Then the next mama, actually our first eye surgery patient here in Congo, jumped up in response to being able to see and also gave correct counts of fingers! Another mama, in response to being able to see, was requesting her Bible! The air was filled with excitement, clapping, and praising, and as I glanced around, I noticed some of the crew (both local and missionaries) were wiping tears from their faces, totally speechless. 
A little later, as the patients were walking to get their eye exams, one mama looked up at the big white hospital ship and gasped in amazement, voicing an equivalent to “Ai yai yai, I didn't know the ship was so big." The day before, she was unable to see the ship at all.
Finally, upon entering the eye room, several mamas broke out in song and dance, celebrating their sight. It was an awesome, inspiring, spontaneous Celebration of Sight, orchestrated by the patients themselves in delight and joy at their new-found sight.
Our ophthalmic tech said that in the 30 years she has worked in the field, including many places in U.S. and around the world, she had never seen such miraculous results; both in ability of patients to see overnight, and the uninhibited response of joy with the patients! What a day of rejoicing it was...but surely it is just the tip of the iceberg, of what we will get to experience in heaven; when we get our glorified bodies, for eternity. I can only imagine the praising, singing, clapping, and dancing...what a day of rejoicing that will be!!!
Thanks for helping make it possible to give sight to the blind! "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see!"
Floating on Mercy,
Harry and Pam
tentmakersonthego@hotmail.com
1-954-538-6110 ext 4319 (stateside number)
mailing address letter/cards 1oz or less
Harry Porter - Mercy Ships/AFM
VIA CREW MAIL
15872 State Hwy. 110 N.
Lindale, TX 75771
Packages and mail > 1 oz can be sent via container
Harry Porter - Mercy Ships/AFM
VIA CONTAINER
15872 State Hwy. 110 N.
Lindale, TX 75771
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment