Thankfully I had found a few other Mercy Shippers on the plane so in total there were 42 of us when it came to go through customs. Immigration was a little scary; for such a small airport there was a man dressed in a white coat standing ominously to the side of the arrivals queue to check yellow fever certificates. If you didn't make the grade you would be pulled into the room to the side and given your vaccination there and then, though a veteran of Mercy Ships assured me that she wouldn't let this happen to any of us!
Finally we arrived at the ship's docking, amongst numerous containers, in the port and caught our first sight of the ship.
A long orientation programme ensued including a photo for the ID badge we need to carry at all times; just what was wanted after much sleep deprivation! The security here is very in depth with a team of nepalese gurkhas manning the dock and gangway at all times, as last time they found people would attempt climbing up the ropes and that the local security teams could be bribed.
The main part of the programme starts on Wednesday with the main screening for surgical patients. We are expecting a few thousand and this is being held in the main football stadium. An important part of this is the patient life team; a group of togolese nationals who seek to proclaim God's love and glory to the patients during all contacts with Mercy Ships. When serving the in patients they offer prayer, hold bible studies and organise a weekly ward service on a Sunday. Obviously we won't be able to help all of those who come to the screening with surgical aid but we aim to show all of those who come that they have value being made in God's image and to speak of his love for them in the gospel. This is why there will also be a designated prayer team and area.
About the need in Togo...
- Togo is 162 out of 187 according to the human development index
- Life expectancy at birth: 57 years
- Average daily wage $2.13 (38.7% live on less than $1.25/day..approximately 80p)
- 18 dentists for 6 million people in Togo
- 318 doctors for 6 million people (1 doctor per 18, 868 people)
Mercy Ships last sent a team here in 2010 for 6 months but was unable to complete the full service because of generator problems. This means there is already a waiting list of people who did not have their operations last time. These are the patients I began to see on Thursday and we are expecting more this week.
A verse which the whole crew was given in the main meeting this week and one which I feel really sums up our responsibility wherever we are:
Ephesians 2 v10
"We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"
Ephesians 3:20
ReplyDeleteNow all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Best Wishes FI,
Mark Townsend