"Celebration..."

Tonight we celebrated with Alisia...she finished her finals!!!  Because we are leaving on Monday for our vacation/fundraising time, Alisia has spent this last week (Tuesday thru Saturday) writing her finals...after school.  We have been so proud of her...she went to school during the day and then she had to write her finals after school.  Then she had to study for the next days final.  She worked vary hard!

So as a celebration we took Alisia, Joshua, and friends to the "Festival de Glace" for ice cream!  What a treat!!

We ordered ice cream sundays...they were amazing!

Well done Alisia...we are proud of you!!

"It's Been Amazing..."

Well, today we celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary.  (We actually got to go out for Chinese dinner-just the two of us!)  What an incredible journey we have been on for the last 16 years.  During our wedding ceremony, we publically dedicated our marriage to the service of the Lord.  Little did we know what plans God would have for us.  We have moved from Washington State, to Colorado, to Montana, to North Dakota, to California, back to Washington State then to Africa.  God has blessed us with two wonderful children-but most of all we share an amazing relationship!

...If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12

"Eye Clinic..."

Yesterday, eleven students and four mom's piled into two Land Rovers.  We  made our way through the streets of Lome to the Hospitality Center where Mercy Ships has an eye clinic.  The purpose of the trip-to get the students eye's checked.

First they had to read the directions of the letter "E" on the wall...pointing the direction to which way the letter was printed.

Mom, honestly, I'm not playing around! ;)

Then the students were escorted into a room, that had air conditioning (a definate bonus since the A/C is not fully functioning on the ship), to get another test on their eyes.

The final step was to meet with Woody-who did the vision test.  It was really remarkable how Woody and his Day Volunteers checked and tested eleven students eyes in about 1 1/2 hours. 

Then we just had to wait for everyone to finish!  "Great time for Phase 10".  Great job and thanks Woody and Team!

"Mike's Day..."

Today  was Mike's ## birthday.  Actually we started by celebrating last night.  We went out for dinner with Tim and Sharon...enjoying a quiet meal, just the four of us.  It was an amazing meal of steak and potatoes (chicken for Deb) and an even more incredible dessert!

Then today, the family got all dressed up in our matching outfits (to honour Mike's birthday) and headed off to church.

Mike, once again. was given the honour a delivering the sermon today.  They blessed Mike with a special birthday prayer full of blessings for wisdom, health, and joy.

Then this afternoon, two of Deb's day volunteers came with family members to tour the ship and to celebrate Mike's birthday.

We had a wonderful dinner with them and then spent a quiet evening in our cabin.  It has been a most memorable birthday for Mike.

"Choose Life..."

Yesterday was one of those days....long.

The night before I ran into one of our doctors who tells me about a young man on the ward who did not want to have a blood transfusion.  I told him I would talk with him the next morning-which was yesterday.

The morning began as usual, devotional and prayer time with my team of crew and day volunteers.  We prayed for the day and prayed for the pending conversation with the young man.

I took a few moments to talk with my day volunteers briefing him on the conversation we were going to have.  The young man is 20 years old, father died of AIDS, he does not want a blood transfusion, he does not believe in blood transfusions, he's scared...

We walk down the hall of the wards and head to the young man's bed.  The smell coming from the tumor protruding from his mouth fills the whole ward.  As we near his bed the smell is stronger, like rotting meat.  I pray, "God help me to love this young man, not smell the odor, to look into his eyes and not at his tumor." 

As I sit down next to him, I look into his eyes, tell him my name, and introduce my translator to him.  I ask him if he would mind talking with us in a quieter place.  We move down the hall to the old ICU, I place my hand tenderly on his back.

Seated in the old ICU, I start asking him questions about where he lives, his family, his parents, siblings, and church.  His shame is so evident, he does not want to look at me or my translator in the eyes.  We try hard to make him feel comfortable.

Finally, I talk with him about surgery and tell him if he does not consent to a blood transfusion, the doctor will not operate.  "Our surgeons will not let you bleed to death in the operating room...we protect life." 

He now is faced with the most difficult decision of his young life.  Does he give permission for the blood transfusion and live, or does he refuse and sentence himself to death in 1-2 months.  We pray with him, and give him time to think.

During the rest of the morning and at lunch we are in constant prayer for him.  A verse of scripture comes to mind, I thank God for giving me the verse and quickly after lunch I take a translator and give the verse to the young man.

Later that afternoon, I receive a page.  " We need a decision about his surgery in fifteen minutes."  My translator and I pray.  We go to him and let him know, we need a decision.  We watch him struggle.  We pray while he thinks...will he choose life?  Or will he choose death?  He looks at me, and motions that he will sign the papers to okay the blood transfusion, if needed.  I have my translator read the paper to him to ensure he understands...he hesitates...he signs....

I watch a tear trickle down his face.  I give him a big hug and tell him how brave he is, how proud I am of him.  I realize it was not an easy decision...I take the papers to the ward and say:  "He chose life..."

Today I walked this scared young man to the operating room.  Prayed with him and released him into God's hands.  Six hours later, I went down to the ward to see if his surgery is complete.  The charge nurse says to me:  "Have you seen him?  You're going to cry."  I walk over to his bed with tears running down my face I look into the face of a happy young man.  I told him he did not have to have a transfusion and he says:  "Praise God"!  I told him God has honoured him for choosing life.

Duet. 30:19-20

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

WE'RE COMING HOME for vacation/fund raising

The Jacobsens taken on a beach in Lome.

After almost a year on board Africa Mercy, we have been given the opportunity to go home, catch our breath, relax,  do some fundraising then return to the ship.  Thankfully, we enjoy driving and it is relaxing for us because we are going to be driving through Washington, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and then back to Washington.  We are looking forward to seeing friends and family but this also gives us a unique opportunity.  We can introduce people to Mercy Ships.

We have a counter on our blog and it has been encouraging for us to see how many people are following us.  However, we don't have names, only states and provinces.  But from that we can tell there are a lot of people in the areas where we will be travelling who may not have had the opportunity to hear the story of Mercy Ships first hand.  We would like to provide that opportunity.

Below is a rough schedule of our time back home.  If you are interested, we would consider it an honor and a privilege to present the story of Mercy Ships to you, an organization you belong to, or a church that has a passion for helping the world's poor.  Please feel free to send us an email introducing yourself, giving us an idea of what we can do for you, and we will try and schedule a visit when we are home.  We will answer by return email.  Our email is:  m.d.jacobsen@juno.com

Our schedule is:

Arrive Seattle/Bainbridge Island, WA 1 June

Arrive Victoria, BC 5 June
Arrive Lynden, WA 12 June
Arrive Medicine Hat, AB 19 June
Arrive Williston, ND-Froid, MT area 26 June
Back to Victoria 7 July
Back to Seattle/Bainbridge Island, WA 12 July
Fly out of Seattle 15 July

We look forward to meeting many new friends.

"Gape Aloyi finale..."

This might be a bit of a longer blog...I really want to finish our journey...So, here we go...

We handed out our presents and then we headed back over to the dispensary/hospital to drop off some things we brought for them.  I was left outside with Joshua, Alisia, and Nathaniel...the village kids warmed up to us and started mobbing the Nissan.  The kids love to have their picture taken and then like to look at their picture.

Even some of the village Ma-Ma's like to have their pictures taken.  We had more fun with these ladies...They said that next time we return to the village we are to be pregnant with more babies!

Speaking of babies...while we were at lunch the Ma-Ma who was expecting her twins gave birth.  While we were back a the dispensary/hospital they brought out the twins...both boys!

Twins are not unusual in West Africa - boys are a double blessing!

Proud Pa-Pa.  The whole village was rejoicing!!

So, it was finally time to say good-bye.   But wait...we have to make one more stop...the chief's brother wants to show us his place.

This is the brother of the chief's family.  (The brother is the shirtless one.)  He then had to show us around his place and the "job" he does. 

Eric showed us the teak plants.  When you take the tender leaves and crush them they make this dark red stain that is used in coloring and gives teak it's wonderful color.  The brother is growing a teak forest as his "retirement".  But his main job is a Palm Wine distillary.

 Palm Wine basically smells and tastes similar to rubbing alcohol.

They bottle the Palm Wine in water bottles.  Fortunately, Mike took a sniff before tasting.  We were given several bottles of it...and passed them onto Eric.

Finally...after one more present...We think it was a yam root...

We headed home.

It had been an amazing day.  One we will never forget. 

"Gape Aloyi pt 4..."

By now, I have absolutely no idea what time it is.  We have gone through 2 liters of water,a granola bar, and a sleeve of Ritz crackers that Sharon had in the diaper bag.  Lunch must be coming soon! 

We then leave the school area and walk toward a cinderblock structure.  On the way to the cinderbloack stucture we pass by this incredible termite mound.

As we approach the cinderblock structure, we figure it is the chief's residence.  We are all seated at a long table made of planks, covered in a white table cloth.  How they keep their whites so white is beyond me!

Several ladies come around with serving bowls and scoop food onto our plates.  We cannot tell them "no" it would be rather insulting to our host.  We just let them laddle out as they see necessary.  While the ladies are placing food on the plates, two other people come around with wash basins of soapy water and clean water so we may rinse our hands.

Lunch.  On the left are mazie cakes (made out of ground corn) what we guess is spaghetti noodles, and under the noodles in the sause, as we thought...goat...almost the whole goat...nothing is wasted.  The sauce the goat was cooked in was very delicious...a nice balance of unknown spices.  Sometimes unknown is good.

Dessert is green oranges...they are incredibly sweet and juicy and bananas. We find the fruit in Africa is generally amazingly sweet. 

After lunch, we exchange our gifts with the chief.  Captain Tim is presented the hind end of the goat...raw...which Eric graciously placed in the back of his vehicle.  Although I have heard that Eric froze it for when we are able to come over and they would cook it for us....I hope we are on vacation then! ;)

The chief also presents us with bottles of roasted peanuts...yum...

We present him with pens for the school, candy for the kids, some medicine for the dispensary, scrubs, a Mercy Ships shirt and hat.  We all guess it is time to leave...however...one more surprise awaits us.....

"Gape Aloyi pt 3..."

After dancing, dancing, and more dancing...it was time for speeches.  The speeches were given by the chief, in the local language...translated into French and then English.  The chief told us of his plans for his village and how important education is to him.  Now there are about 240 children in the village.  The chief has 5 wives and we never did find out how many children...at least 20-30.  His desire is for every child in the village to be educated.  He believes education is the key to success.  He is a very wise man with great plans.

Then our friend Eric, the French Naval Officer, gave his speech.  He told the chief and the village how he is hoping to help build a school in the village emphasizing in agreement with the chief about how important education is for the children.

Then it was Captain Tim's turn to give a speach.  His emphasis was on what Mercy Ships ministry is and how we do everything because we love and follow Jesus and how we bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor of West Africa.  Then it was time for a tour of the village.

The first stop was the Dispensary/Hospital.

Another NGO (non governmental organization) had previously help the village by starting to build the dispensary.  Unfortunately the NGO ran out of money and was unable to finish the job.  The people of the villiage decided they would complete the much needed clinic building themselves.  The only electricity in the villiage is a small generator attached to the clinic, when they run it they have to decide which room needs light.  One room is dedicated to the operating room, another recovery area, and another for what limited medical supplies they have.

This pictures shows the extent of the medical supplies.  While we were visiting the hospital area, we were told a woman was in labor with twins.  A very tense and exciting time for the village. 

Then we continued onto the school.  Right now the school consists of four hut type shelters. 

With a black board at the far end of the shelter.  We wondered what happens when the rainy season comes.

Then the school children treated us to a treat and sang us several French songs.

We walked around the village a bit, noticing how primative it was.  This was one of the "nicer" huts.

With what little they have, they take great pride in their surroundings.  There was very little garbage like we see in the city area. Like the picture above, attempts were made at landscaping with trees and cactus.

Then it was time for lunch...

"Gape Aloyi Pt 2..."

As we exited the our wonderfully air conditioned vehicles, we are immediately assaulted by the heat of the morning (and it's only around 10 am or so...).  We did not have time to put on bug spray, sun screen or even have time to grab our water bottles, before we were mobbed by the villagers.  The town continued to greet us with dancing and singing, as we were ushered over to where the chief of the village was waiting for us to meet him.

The chief welcomed us to his village while the priest talked and offered some kind of drink in honour of our arrival, which he purposely spilled it on the ground.

After the welcoming ceremony was done, we followed the chief through the village.

As we passed by this hurd of goats...I knew what we were going to have for lunch.

We gathered in a sheltered area where the town all gathered around.  There were many kinds of dances done in celebration of our coming to the village.

Captain Tim, Mike, Eric, and a few of the other Ex pats sat in the front row...while Sharon, the kids and I sat in the second row.

Not too long after we arrived and were seated, the chief took this one ex pat lady, and Captain Tim around to the side of the shelter.  He then came back and presented them to the community-dressed in African outfits.

The fabric that Captain Tim is wearing is only made by virgin men.  It was a very thick and regal looking fabric.

After more dancing, and more dancing, and yet again, more dancing...it was our turn...to dance.  Now, keep in mind the African people are born with a sense of rhythm.  They dance in the womb, dance while on the ma-ma's back, dance even when they first begin to walk...it is in their blood.  So, the only thing to do is swallow your pride...dance and laugh...and they really laugh at our lack of rhythm.  (I just cannot move my body the way they do without hurting myself!!  =)  )

Mike dancing...

Deb and Sharon dancing...

Alisia dancing...(Joshua was spared the experience)

Me telling Alisia how proud I was of her for trying to dance! (One of my most favorite pictures...)

Anyway...after dancing there were...check in tomorrow for part 3...