​Greetings to our blog friends and prayer partners!

It is hard to believe it is already Monday. Realizing that we have answered the call to our Lord and Savior to be in service to Him, we are calling ourselves Team Jesus. We attended devotional and staff updates at Mercy Hospital. Some of us completed rounds with Dr. Amara attending to 8 patients. A pregnant woman in labor arrived early Sunday morning. The labor did not progress as expected. Dr. Amara was called in and an emergency c-section was performed at 2:30 am. For this to happen, the anesthesiologist had to be picked up from home, other staff was called in and the maintenance coordinator, Mohammed, was called in to fire up the generator  to provide enough power to be able to administer the anesthesia. All obstacles were overcome systematically and efficiently with the arrival of a big baby girl. Mom and baby are healthy and happy with plans to discharge home Wednesday. (insert photo). Other patients were evaluated, all doing well and progressing as expected.

One man checked himself out from the hospital in Freetown to transfer to Mercy Hospital in Bo where he preferred to receive his treatment. After a week of care at Mercy, he is feeling better, his vitals and symptoms are improved and he is expected to discharge home today. When we entered the room of our last patient, she immediately began praising God and Mercy hospital for improved health. She continued to tell Dr. Amara of her improved symptoms. Following evaluation, Dr. Amara agreed and she should be ready to discharge home today. It is evident that the Mercy staff is a well-oiled, professional caring team that works together to provide best patient care.

​If you would like to support Mercy Hospital or join us on a medical mission team, follow these links: 
Learn more about Mercy Hospital.  
Learn more about mission teams.

Team Jesus work continues with maintenance issues, teacher collaborative program and outreach.
​And He called His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, heal every disease and every affliction. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Matthew 10:1,8.
Mercy Hospital heals 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

For the love of His children,
Vicki and Karen

Two busy days and what a fabulous time! We have had some internet connection challenges so haven't been able to post until now. 
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So far we have toured the facilities and had orientation to the programs. Doug and Debra conducted 2 days of Advanced Programming, Budgeting and Training Techniques workshops. Wonderful exchange of ideas. Julie and Kerry have worked with the Child Rescue Centre social workers and gone on a school visit. We have had a chance to purchase fabric at the market, and gifts for our sponsor children, whom we will this weekend. Chris, Sonja and Kristen have been observing the different areas at Mercy Hospital, culminating in the birth of this beautiful new baby girl this afternoon, who the parents named Sonja. And here she is just 20 minutes old.

​Having done so much already, it seems like we have been much longer. And so much more to come.

Outreach team ready to head out to village.

Today we went with the Mercy Hospital team on a Village Outreach to Selenga. We met with the local chiefs to learn about some of the needs of the community, and we toured the village and school. Afterwards, we observed the Mercy Hospital team complete medical examinations and assistance to the residents. We had five stations: 1) Registration, weight, and height measurements; 2) Labs to test for HIV and malaria; 3) Meeting with the Community Health Officer to assess health needs and prescribe medication; 4) Pharmacy to deliver medication; 5) Prenatal screening and prescribe medication for pregnant women. 

After the Village Outreach, we met with two different non-governmental organizations (NGOs), World Vision and Caritas, to learn what those organizations are doing to serve the Bo community, and how we can partner with them. 

The pictures below include a baby who was born at Mercy Hospital yesterday, the chiefs and community leaders of Selenga and surrounding villages, Scott and Katie with Sister Augusta- the matron nurse at Mercy Hospital, the mission team at the Village Outreach, and the Selenga Community Center (where we did the Village Outreach). 

- Katie Lewis, Associate Pastor, First UMC of Colleyville

Below: Prosthetists with the prosthetic limbs they recently created for patients at Mercy Hospital. Students at the primary school in Selenga. ​

Another sunny, hot day in Bo. Katie commented that there has been rain in the forecast every day, and it has yet to rain. This was echoed by the Director of another facility we visited, SOS, who has a number of family homes that leak, but due to global warming she never can predict when it is going to rain.
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This was a day the team went off in different directions. Melody went off with our Hospital Administrator to visit Rotifunk Hospital, at the request of Catherine Norman. It was a long brutal bumpy 4 hour drive each way (Google maps claims just over 2 hours—they have not seen the roads).

In the morning Katie and Scott visited two UMC schools; Leo worked on some project planning, and Rob went off with Kim and two Mercy staff to meet with the Bo District Medical Officer and his staff to discuss their goals and wishes for Mercy to support health needs in Bo District. Then on to another NGO, CEDA, who also does work in the District villages, to share the scope of our programs. In the afternoon there were visits to two other orphanages, SOS and Jonathan's House, to discuss their progress and issues with transitioning children to their forever families.
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In between was there were three great meals from Fudia at the MTC, including lunch with the CRC Senior staff, and purchases from the woodcarver Ali of gifts and carvings for the Bo-tique.
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- Rob Duston, Helping Children Worldwide Board Chair  

Going on a visit to the home of a Child Rescue Centre student with JJ, Sponsor A Child coordinator.

Scenes from around the Bo campus.

Worshiping at Leader United Methodist Church on Sunday.

Today was our Team’s first full day in Bo, and it was extremely busy, and more importantly extremely successful.

The Team sat in for morning prayers with both the Mercy Hospital Team, as well as the Child Rescue Center Team.

Bishop Yambasu arrived shortly thereafter and greeted the Team, then began an epic / marathon meeting with Rob and Melody that lasted until almost 7:00 PM.

Rev Katie, Rev Scott and Leo toured the entire facility, with particular interest in the new surgical wing.  We also had the opportunity to go into downtown Bo and visit the local market.

The entire team had the opportunity to dine with Bishop Yambasu, then held our team devotional and headed off to grab some well deserved sleep...

- Leo Fox, Helping Children Worldwide Board Member