In a few months’ time, the Africa Mercy will appear on the West African horizon, as Mercy Ships continue to follow the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to even more patients like Diacko.
When he was three years old, his legs began to bend under the pressure of his growing body. Others in his village started to mock him and called him “Diacko Bowed Legs”. With no solution in sight, his mother Youma held on to the hope that her son would one day be healed. After hearing of Mercy Ships, her hope of healing became a reality.
It is a heart-warming story and you will see it on video on Sunday. It is also a reminder of why St John’s supports this organisation as it both trains medics in Africa and brings volunteers from across the world together.
In the book of James, we read ‘the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. We have a great story of a praying mother for Mothering Sunday. Now, more than ever, Mercy Ships needs our prayers as they prepare to head back to a nation that has weathered the tiring storm of the pandemic.
Please will you join us in praying for:
- Wisdom for the leaders of Mercy Ships as they tackle Covid and recruit crew members for Senegal later this year
- Safety and health for the crew on board, as they prepare to return with the ship to support in-land advance teams
- The ongoing provision of PPE, donations and training, for African hospitals and medical workers in 11 nations
- For the final stages of the fitting out of Global Mercy – a new ship, that will double their ability to change lives and train medics in Africa
Not only are Mercy Ships on of our four big mission partners, but Bill has himself been on board the Africa Mercy. This should bring back warm memories for Bill and for us as we recall the videos from the ship.