Mercy Ships Mission Trip tag:missions.fbcc.org,2010-05-08:/mercyships/12 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z Movable Type 5.01 Thank You from Mercy Ships tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.150 2009-10-27T21:03:10Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z The Mercy Team from my home church, First Baptist, Carrollton, arrived here on Friday, Oct. 16 and left the ship on Friday evening, Oct. 23. The week was packed with activity. They worked with the Dental Team, going to local... FBCC Communications The Mercy Team from my home church, First Baptist, Carrollton, arrived here on Friday, Oct. 16 and left the ship on Friday evening, Oct. 23. The week was packed with activity. They worked with the Dental Team, going to local schools teaching dental hygiene, physical fitness, teaching the Bible story about Daniel eating the right foods and becoming stronger, coloring pictures, and singing songs. The children and teachers were fascinated and loved having the team in their classrooms. I was able to go out with them two of the four days they visited the schools and loved every minute of it. The entire Dental Team was so appreciative of the team’s teaching because it freed them to treat more patients at the clinic. God truly blessed every effort the team put into these children’s lives. I personally want to thank everyone who had a part in this trip – whether it was in raising money for supplies, givin g supplies, making bandanas, helping team members with the cost of the trip, or praying for them as they served here in Benin. Your money, time and prayers have played a huge role in what they were able to accomplish during the week. The team left here hot, tired and happy! Thank you for helping make this Mercy Team’s mission trip such a blessing – for the children they served, for all of us as crew on the Africa Mercy and for them as a team. I can’t begin to find the words to tell you how much it meant to me for representatives of my home church to come to the ship and help us do what we do here in Africa . I had so many of my fellow crew members tell me that they wished they could get a group to come from their church. As a team, they each contributed their talents and worked together to teach young children about God’s love and how to take care of the bodies God has given them. The team was also able to participate in the fun things we do here on the ship t o “let down our hair” after many months of hard work. They arrived on the weekend of our “Benin Olympics” – a wild and wacky day of fun and games for our crew. They worshipped with patients on Sunday morning during our Ward Service in the hospital ward and despite the language barrier, were able to water paint, color, play games and interact with the patients one afternoon. They went into the operating theaters to watch surgeries, counted pills for the pharmacy, participated in our weekly Community Meetings and visited with Africa Mercy crew members. Thank you, FBCC Mercy Team, for how you allowed God to work through you to impact the lives of everyone you touched. God is certainly honored through your hard work, compassion and love.

As October rolls into November, we are looking to the end of this Field Service in Benin . It seems we only just arrived here! The months have gone by so quickly. Our last surgeries will take place around the 24th of November and then we’ll begin packing up for the sail on December 8th to the Canary Islands . But there is still work to be done here and God is still changing lives both physically and spiritually. Please pray for us as we continue to serve the people of Benin .

Thank you for all your prayers and support for me, and for the work of Mercy Ships as a whole. God uses all of us, no matter where we are, to live out the gospel!

Love
Karen

Karen Farmer
Mercy Ships International
m/v Africa Mercy
currently docked in Cotonou, Benin (West Africa)

]]> Complexe Scolaire Avotrou A-B schools tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.149 2009-10-22T21:39:23Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z God is good all the time. He is Awesome and Holy. As our leader, Joy Taylor, said, “Today was an amazing day!” We spent the whole day at the Complexe Scolaire Avotrou A-B school, which is 3 schools in... FBCC Communications

God is good all the time. He is Awesome and Holy. As our leader, Joy Taylor, said, “Today was an amazing day!” We spent the whole day at the Complexe Scolaire Avotrou A-B school, which is 3 schools in one complex, with approximately 1200 students. Truly we were and are blessed.

The rain came shortly after we arrived so all activities, including physical health, were in the classrooms. We discovered that 3 of the classrooms were little more than lean-tos that were pieced together just off of the courtyard, and susceptible to the weather. The amazing thing is that there are students in those rooms, and learning is occurring.

This is our last update. Tomorrow includes a visit to the Hospitality Center, where patients requiring additional treatment are housed. And then the journey home begins! Please continue to pray for us. The team has felt each prayer lifted on our behalf. We love you!

]]> La Grace Ecole Maternelle tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.148 2009-10-21T17:56:03Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z Today was a great day! We went to a private preschool, Ecole Maternelle La Grace, to teach 150 students about dental hygiene. We especially enjoyed this school because of the young ages. No one was over 4 ½ years of... FBCC Communications Today was a great day! We went to a private preschool, Ecole Maternelle La Grace, to teach 150 students about dental hygiene. We especially enjoyed this school because of the young ages. No one was over 4 ½ years of age and each was simply adorable. For the physical health session of the training, Michelle had a chance to say what is written on the balls we brought, “Smile, Jesus loves you.”

We’ve been impressed with the love and care provided by the teachers in these schools we’ve visited. While they have very limited resources, they do their jobs well and with great love and care. Tomorrow we have our largest and longest day. At three public schools we will meet with over 1200 students. We covet your prayers for God’s grace and our strength.



]]> Avotrou Primary School tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.147 2009-10-20T20:22:56Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z This morning we were very busy with the Avotrou Primary School public school. The classes could hardly wait for us to start meeting with them. We did exactly the same as we did on Monday but we had 800 total... FBCC Communications This morning we were very busy with the Avotrou Primary School public school. The classes could hardly wait for us to start meeting with them. We did exactly the same as we did on Monday but we had 800 total students. And that all occurred in the morning!

This afternoon we attended Mercy Ships ward activities, which is an hour visiting with the patients at their bedside. We colored with crayons, painted with water colors and played tables games with them. They were instantly involved and happy to do whatever the activity in front of them.

Overall, today we spent up-close and personal time with both the students and patients. Each one was excited to see us as noted by our hands being kissed and the hugs each one of us received. The team asks you to continue to pray for the Lord’s blessings on our efforts as we serve tomorrow at a private nursery school with 125 students.

]]> New Covenant American School International - Monday tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.146 2009-10-19T18:48:25Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z Today was a great day! We held our first in-school dental hygiene training at the New Covenant American School International. There are around 65 students at this private school. We have 5 teams to keep all of the students... FBCC Communications

Today was a great day! We held our first in-school dental hygiene training at the New Covenant American School International. There are around 65 students at this private school. We have 5 teams to keep all of the students occupied at the same time. The first team is the Mercy Ships dental hygienists of Donna Barthlomew and Jessica Campbell. The other teams, manned by the FBCC members, are the music team, the arts and crafts team, the evangelism team, and the PE team.

Tomorrow morning we’ll go to a public school of 800 students using the same format. This school is secular. Please be in prayer as we share the love of Christ in all of these different activities. We are particularly excited as Karen is able to participate the whole day with us; she said "I'm so excited you are here!" In the afternoon we will go to one of the Mercy Ships wards to do arts and crafts. This is a particularly great opportunity to hear and see patients up close.

]]> Sunday tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.145 2009-10-18T22:57:50Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z Sunday started with worship at the Mercy Ships ward church where we sat on hospital beds or chairs next to patients in beds. A woman from Ghana was the preacher for today and she preached on the Parable of the... FBCC Communications Sunday started with worship at the Mercy Ships ward church where we sat on hospital beds or chairs next to patients in beds. A woman from Ghana was the preacher for today and she preached on the Parable of the 10 Virgins and that everyone needs to be ready for the Lord’s return. We enjoyed participating in exuberant African worship, which included festive music and dance (notice our worship team representative vigorously participating).

For the afternoon we shopped at the local craft market. Many vendors welcomed us aggressively, and we were happy to see all of the wares. One was a lady of peace and she was a joy and we bought many things from her. She was kind and posed with us with her grandchildren and son-in-law (see picture below). At supper we were able to celebrate Mark's birthday for his 39th-and-holding birthday. Finished the day off with on-board Sunday evening worship service.

Tomorrow begins our time with the dental team. We are training in the morning for the week’s activities which is in-school dental hygiene training. Our first assignment is the local American school. Continue to pray for us as we now meet students from Benin.

]]> Team picture tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.144 2009-10-17T22:19:34Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z In the picture (left to right): Karen Farmer (Mercy Ships missionary), Mark Nevels, Barbara Stem, Theresia Banks, Jerry Gardenhire, Shari Rogers, Michelle Chapman, and Joy Gibson.... FBCC Communications
In the picture (left to right): Karen Farmer (Mercy Ships missionary), Mark Nevels, Barbara Stem, Theresia Banks, Jerry Gardenhire, Shari Rogers, Michelle Chapman, and Joy Gibson.

]]> Benin Olympics tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.143 2009-10-17T22:07:14Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z We have finished our first day on the ship and it was full of excitement. We spent the day assisting the Benin Olympics which is fun games for the crew (400 persons of all ages) to form teams and do... FBCC Communications We have finished our first day on the ship and it was full of excitement. We spent the day assisting the Benin Olympics which is fun games for the crew (400 persons of all ages) to form teams and do funny games. Each of us was able to not only assist in running the games, we also spent one on one time with individual crew members, visiting about why we came to Benin and mostly listening to their story and journey in coming to Mercy Ship.
 
Sunday is filled with Mercy Ship church in the morning, and the afternoon visiting the local markets. Please pray for us as we interact with local vendors, that they will see Christ in us, and that God loves them deeply.

]]> We made it! tag:missions.fbcc.org,2009:/mercyships//12.142 2009-10-16T22:03:31Z 2010-05-09T02:48:44Z Hello from Cotonou, Benin, Africa. We made it and it was the smoothest international traveling ever! All fourteen checked bags made it straight through to Cotonou. Yes, that is 14 bags! Plus the carry on luggage we needed to also... FBCC Communications Hello from Cotonou, Benin, Africa. We made it and it was the smoothest international traveling ever! All fourteen checked bags made it straight through to Cotonou. Yes, that is 14 bags! Plus the carry on luggage we needed to also bring made it through all of the checkpoints. Most of this luggage was filled with dental supplies and teaching aids to use in 4 schools with ages from 2 yrs to 17 yrs. We look forward to sharing dental hygiene with all of these students, and we trust God to use us to touch them spritually as we share practices to touch them physically.



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