Absolutely unbelievable! Anticipating the holiday season is a lot like watching a large storm front move in. If you are prepared, you have nothing to worry about. However, as the clouds move faster and the sky darkens, there is not much time for decision making. In my 28 years, I have yet to learn and apply this principle to my Christmas time preparation. I prefer procrastination, and rely on the stale "I do better under pressure" theory. During these pre-Christmas months, the added pressure of locating and purchasing gifts usually leaves me feeling less than festive. I get caught in "the storm." Endless lines of cars in frigid weather filled with anxious consumers that are obsessed with finding "the perfect gift (at the lowest price)." Check out lines teeming with eager folks, plastic in hand, just waiting to spend that dollar. There I am. Waiting.



This year is different for me. There is no mall with food court here. There is no snow here. There are festive colored lizards, and jumbo-sized cockroaches here (they serve as great stocking stuffers!). There are endless lines of cars in Monrovia. Most of them are over-filled taxis because 85% of Liberians are unemployed, and can not afford a car. It is hot, dirty, and dark here (no electricity). Christmas lights must be powered by noisy generators that use costly petro-fuel to run. Not too many native pine, spruce, or fir trees around to decorate either. But Liberian Christians are not discouraged during this season. They understand that God's gift of life through His son Jesus Christ surpasses all worldly gifts. The birth of Christ is God's promise of HOPE to those at the end of their rope. Thank you Father-- for giving us your Son; a gift we can treasure, nurture, and cherish forever.


Things here on the Anastasis are interesting. A lot of changes are in the works for this old Italian luxury liner. This coming June, she will be taken out of service. Her maintenance outweighs her productivity. She has served tens of thousands of African people over the last 25 years, and leaves behind hundreds of broken-hearted crew in the wake of her retirement. I am deeply honored to be a part of God's last project for the Anastasis. In June, much of her equipment and supplies will be transferred to a newly renovated hospital ship called the Africa Mercy. After the Liberian outreach is completed, the Anastasis will sail one last time to Ghana, where the transition will take place. Please pray for the hearts of those who may be lost and hurt in this delicate time of change. Many have committed their lives to this ship, and not all have been accepted as crew of the African Mercy. Trusting the Lord with the uncertainty of their personal futures, these folks will be scattered throughout the world again.

Yesterday I was given the privilege of observing/helping in the OR. I was able to see a 63 year old Liberian man (Anthony) receive an operation to release burn contractures of his right elbow and axilla. The entire right side of Anthony's upper torso had been badly burned about 8 months ago. Without proper wound management, the body heals itself and replaces the burned flesh with thick fibrous scar tissue. Often, burns occur on or near important joints, and the fibrous tissue pulls the joint into a constant state of flexion and immobility. Anthony's right armpit was burned badly, and he could not raise his arm or hand above his hip. The thickened scar tissue is not elastic like our normal skin, and limits the range of motion needed for functional joints such as arms, legs, and elbows. The result is referred to as a "burn contracture." The plastic surgeon simply releases that contracture by severing the fibrous mass of scar tissue and extending the joint. This of course results in a large, open surgical wound that needs to be covered by something! The patient's own skin is then harvested (usually from their thigh) using special machines and techniques. The pieces of living tissue (skin grafts) are then carefully laid into the surgical incision made upon releasing the contracture (called the "bed"). God created the human body so that our skin can regenerate itself-- and that’s exactly what it does!-- only this time-- the healthy donor skin graft will allow for normal healing and the restoration of function to the joint. So I'm watching this surgeon do all of this (and he does it all in about 35 minutes!), and I'm talking to him-- asking about his kids and his family. God is so amazing!! Anthony will now have partial function of his right arm again-- which is vital to a man in this environment. God is using this surgeon for his purpose! Praise God for only He is worthy. Thank You all for your support and friendships!! God Bless