Dear Friends, Family, and Prayer Warriors,
Does God answer prayer?
Ever wonder if your prayers do anything? The other day, a patient in ICU was declining rapidly and close to death. Medically, it was hopeless. Death certificates were being prepared. But medical staff and others kept praying for a miracle. There was nothing else that could be done and it didn't look good; but God answered and a medical miracle happened. Just 2 days later the patient was actually sitting up in a chair...Praise the Lord!! It is so exciting to be allowed to see miracles such as this. Thank you for your prayers and being a vital part of this ministry. Below is another story of how God is answering your prayers and the prayers of those who suffer from major deformities.
Step by Step...
The plane’s shadow followed the trail of the Congo River to the wide Atlantic – to the ship, they said, that offered free surgery. Vivianne held tightly to the two government-purchased travel tickets as she prayed for her wide-eyed, beautiful daughter, Ravette, who sat beside her and stared out the window with fascination.
Maybe, just maybe, the ship would save Ravette. And, in the process, it would save Vivianne, too.
The two have traveled light. They left much behind – the disappointment over the lack of medical care; the brutal breaking of Ravette’s legs by the traditional medicine man; the lifelong ridicule; the helplessness; the hopelessness – all of this was too heavy to pack.
Ravette has lived her eleven years of life with a deformity known as genu recurvatum, which loosely translates as “backward-bending knee.” It is a congenital dislocation of the knee. Ravette struggled to walk, to sit in a car or chair, to climb a staircase, and even to attend school.
The most remarkable thing about Ravette is not her deformity. It is her beautiful, ever-constant smile. No matter what goes on, even if it’s painful or tedious, Ravette is always smiling.This glowing smile illuminated her face when she met Dr. Frank Haydon, a Mercy Ships volunteer orthopedic surgeon from the United States. Dr. Frank smiled back as he cast an expert eye over her legs and made his assessment: “At this age, the knees are now deformed and won’t bend normally, but we can make them straight.”
Ravette and Vivianne were shown before-and-after images of a boy named Abel, who came to the ship during the Togo field service. Abel had the same severe case of genu recurvatum. They watched a video of Abel walking down a hallway with straight legs. “It was then that I believed my daughter could really be saved,” said Vivianne.
Prior to surgery, Ravette’s legs were placed in the first of a series of specialty orthopedic casts that would gradually stretch her legs. This process would increase the bendability in her soon-to-be-straightened legs.
Surgery has since come and gone for Ravette. Hobbling around the wards with her crutches, she is always finding ways to have fun. Whether she’s playing with the Paint program on an old computer or mimicking her crew friends’ English in a singsong voice – “I’m fine, ow are yooouu?” – she creates smiles and laughter.
There are many more steps ahead on Ravette’s road to recovery. Gradually and progressively, casts and braces will be removed until the bones are strong enough for Ravette to walk with straight legs and no assistance.
You may be wondering what’s next for Ravette and her mother as they board another plane to go home. Ravette is clear about her plans for the future, as she states firmly, “I want to find a job in an office working on a computer. I will be a boss!”
And then she adds, “But, first, I will tell other people who suffer to come on the ship to be saved like me.” Her mother smiles and replies, “Yes, and so they can be saved like me, too.”
Yes, step by step, cast by cast, Ravette is making her way to a brighter future
On a Personal Note:
We have not had a senior pharmacist for a few months; so Harry has been trying to do his job and cover for the senior pharmacist as well. He has really enjoyed being in the pharmacy! This was what he had been wanting to do ever since we started looking at Mercy Ships back in 2004. With such a tremendous need and as this was his passion from the beginning, he made the decision to move to the Senior Pharmacist role beginning next Field Service. Many are excited with his up coming move too, and feel that he has even more to offer, with his 35+ years of pharmacy experience. Please keep him in your prayers as he will continue to be multitasking with both responsibilities for the remainder of the Congo field service. Also pray that the Lord brings the person he wants to serve in his current position as Ancillary Services Supervisor.
Some of the Eye Team members that live nearby, took us on a sightseeing tour. We enjoyed getting off ship, to see some of the Lord's beautiful creation!
Floating on Mercy,
Ever wonder if your prayers do anything? The other day, a patient in ICU was declining rapidly and close to death. Medically, it was hopeless. Death certificates were being prepared. But medical staff and others kept praying for a miracle. There was nothing else that could be done and it didn't look good; but God answered and a medical miracle happened. Just 2 days later the patient was actually sitting up in a chair...Praise the Lord!! It is so exciting to be allowed to see miracles such as this. Thank you for your prayers and being a vital part of this ministry. Below is another story of how God is answering your prayers and the prayers of those who suffer from major deformities.
Step by Step...
The plane’s shadow followed the trail of the Congo River to the wide Atlantic – to the ship, they said, that offered free surgery. Vivianne held tightly to the two government-purchased travel tickets as she prayed for her wide-eyed, beautiful daughter, Ravette, who sat beside her and stared out the window with fascination.
Maybe, just maybe, the ship would save Ravette. And, in the process, it would save Vivianne, too.
The two have traveled light. They left much behind – the disappointment over the lack of medical care; the brutal breaking of Ravette’s legs by the traditional medicine man; the lifelong ridicule; the helplessness; the hopelessness – all of this was too heavy to pack.
Ravette has lived her eleven years of life with a deformity known as genu recurvatum, which loosely translates as “backward-bending knee.” It is a congenital dislocation of the knee. Ravette struggled to walk, to sit in a car or chair, to climb a staircase, and even to attend school.
The most remarkable thing about Ravette is not her deformity. It is her beautiful, ever-constant smile. No matter what goes on, even if it’s painful or tedious, Ravette is always smiling.This glowing smile illuminated her face when she met Dr. Frank Haydon, a Mercy Ships volunteer orthopedic surgeon from the United States. Dr. Frank smiled back as he cast an expert eye over her legs and made his assessment: “At this age, the knees are now deformed and won’t bend normally, but we can make them straight.”
Ravette and Vivianne were shown before-and-after images of a boy named Abel, who came to the ship during the Togo field service. Abel had the same severe case of genu recurvatum. They watched a video of Abel walking down a hallway with straight legs. “It was then that I believed my daughter could really be saved,” said Vivianne.
Prior to surgery, Ravette’s legs were placed in the first of a series of specialty orthopedic casts that would gradually stretch her legs. This process would increase the bendability in her soon-to-be-straightened legs.
Surgery has since come and gone for Ravette. Hobbling around the wards with her crutches, she is always finding ways to have fun. Whether she’s playing with the Paint program on an old computer or mimicking her crew friends’ English in a singsong voice – “I’m fine, ow are yooouu?” – she creates smiles and laughter.
There are many more steps ahead on Ravette’s road to recovery. Gradually and progressively, casts and braces will be removed until the bones are strong enough for Ravette to walk with straight legs and no assistance.
You may be wondering what’s next for Ravette and her mother as they board another plane to go home. Ravette is clear about her plans for the future, as she states firmly, “I want to find a job in an office working on a computer. I will be a boss!”
And then she adds, “But, first, I will tell other people who suffer to come on the ship to be saved like me.” Her mother smiles and replies, “Yes, and so they can be saved like me, too.”
Yes, step by step, cast by cast, Ravette is making her way to a brighter future
On a Personal Note:
We have not had a senior pharmacist for a few months; so Harry has been trying to do his job and cover for the senior pharmacist as well. He has really enjoyed being in the pharmacy! This was what he had been wanting to do ever since we started looking at Mercy Ships back in 2004. With such a tremendous need and as this was his passion from the beginning, he made the decision to move to the Senior Pharmacist role beginning next Field Service. Many are excited with his up coming move too, and feel that he has even more to offer, with his 35+ years of pharmacy experience. Please keep him in your prayers as he will continue to be multitasking with both responsibilities for the remainder of the Congo field service. Also pray that the Lord brings the person he wants to serve in his current position as Ancillary Services Supervisor.
Some of the Eye Team members that live nearby, took us on a sightseeing tour. We enjoyed getting off ship, to see some of the Lord's beautiful creation!
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?"
Micah 6:8
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