At the root of many of the medical conditions we see on the ship is lack of proper nutrition. Besides filling immediate healthcare needs by providing surgeries, we hope to build capacity in Benin so that more people can eat healthfully and avoid diseases brought on by lack of nutrients. Mercy Ships agriculture program focuses […]
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Have you ever been desperate for an appointment with a dentist? While in the US, it’s common to see a dentist for a check-up once or twice a year, here in Benin some cannot see a dentist until they have a major issue in need of surgery. Most cannot afford treatment even then. This results […]
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When we came to Benin, we joined a local church. There we met a sweet and shy teen named Esther. Although her legs were normal at birth, they began to bow as she grew. By the time we met her, Esther’s legs were about 2 feet apart at the knees. She longed to play with the […]
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A couple of weekends ago, we took a small boat ride to a stilt village on a lake called Ganvie. As the story goes, the people of a certain village were being chased by an army who wanted to kill them or sell them into slavery. So, the tribe’s leader looked out across a big lake […]
Read More »People are much more important than numbers! That being said, sometimes we get discouraged by the enormity of the problems we see. It’s good to reflect on what’s been accomplished, what God has done through our time here. Here are some of the statistics on what’s happened since the Africa Mercy docked in Benin (as […]
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Benin’s history is steeped in slavery, and it is perhaps one of the reasons the country is still struggling today. It’s hard to understand modern Benin’s culture without understanding their legacy of slavery. Benin is part of what was formerly known as the “Gold Coast” which then didn’t take long to be know as the […]
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At the end of January, the King of the region of Abomey invited 40 Mercy Ships volunteers to come visit him and have lunch. Benin is a democratic country, but there are still regional monarchs through whom influence and wealth is passed down. The King invited us to thank us and honor us for the […]
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How often do we associate the word “manager” with the word “servant?” In Matthew 20, Jesus says: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, […]
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Surgery can be a scary thing. It’s especially frightening for children, particularly when it takes them far from their cultural comfort zone. You would think that recovery is the easy part, but for many patients who are getting used to their new look, learning to walk again or still dealing with casts and bandages, the […]
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In the bible Paul tells us that everyone who is part of the church has a unique function. Some people are really great at preaching, some are great at teaching, and some are great at greeting others or sharing their faith. Until recently it wasn’t always clear to me where I fit into this puzzle. […]
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