Hittin' the Books

The kids finish their school year next week.  I've got six weeks left in my term!  Yes, that's right, I've gone back to school.  Through much prayer and discussion Dara and I decided that it was time.  I am seeking a degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, a Christian university in Virginia Beach.  I didn't get a degree out of high school, though I did take some community college courses that have transferred over.  I am technically a Sophomore.  Regent offers several degrees that are entirely available through online learning.  It has been a bit of a challenge to adjust to non-classroom learning but I'm getting used to it now. 

My first session I took Public Speaking, which was a significant challenge as it required uploading recorded videos of the speeches I delivered.  Seems straightforward enough - except that our incredibly narrow satellite internet bandwidth doesn't support large uploads or any streaming media.  Thankfully our Information Services department took pity on me and made a few timely exceptions.  Last session (Regent has a semester system that they then break into two, eight week session each) I took Academic Research and Writing and Making of the Christian Mind (a Christian worldview course).  I got 4.0 in all three courses.  I am currently taking Shakespeare, which is proving my most difficult class so far, and Introduction to Christian History and Thought.  These classes, as you can see, are general education requirements and are not Organizational Leadership specific.  I am taking a hiatus from classes for the second summer session but will take my first Organizational Leadership course in the Fall along with French. 

The kids start their Summer Program soon.  It is sort of like day camp.  They do art projects, games, go on field trips, etc.  They start school again in August.

We pay school fees for the kids and tuition, of course, for my university courses.  I have received the Pell Grant which covers a fair bit of the cost but not all of it.  And there are still books to buy, which we have to ship via international mail at a very high cost because the required course book list is not published early enough for us to have them shipped via container.  If you are interested in helping to cover school costs for the kids or me, you can do so via this web page: http://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/koontzp/.  There is a note section where you can write in what the donation is for. 

We would also appreciate your prayers, both for our current courses (Grace has finals next week) and the next school year.

Perfect Timing for Romeo



Romeo in 2010 very malnourished.

In 2010, one-week-old Romeo Touloulou was one of the youngest patients ever to board the Africa Mercy hospital ship. Romeo, born with a cleft lip and palate, was in dire condition. He was unable to take nourishment. Weighing only 5.75 pounds (2.61 kilograms), he was on the perilous brink of malnutrition.

Romeo was immediately put under the tender care of volunteer nurse Melissa Davey in the Mercy Ships Infant Feeding Program. Melissa and Romeo’s mom, Badokideou, worked hand-in-hand. They were very patient as they gently encouraged and helped Romeo feed on infant formula from a plastic cup. Spectacular progress was achieved. Romeo gained the weight needed in order to have surgery to repair his cleft lip. Following his successful surgery and now very proficient at feeding from his cup, Romeo soon tipped the scales at 13.5 pounds (6.12 kilograms). Everyone was overjoyed at the progress of the smiling and chortling baby boy.

Romeo’s mother felt deep gratitude. “My Romeo was blessed with perfect timing. He was blessed to have been born at a time when the Africa Mercy was in port in Lomé, Togo. Thanks to Mercy Ships, Romeo is a now a healthy and happy five-month-old boy,” she said happily.



Romeo's cleft palate visible.

However, Romeo’s cleft palate, a hole in the roof of his mouth, could not be repaired while he was still so young. Nurse Melissa was ecstatic when she learned that Romeo would be a Mercy Ships patient again during the 2012 Togo field service. Once more, Romeo was blessed with perfect timing.

“It was wonderful to see Romeo’s name on the admissions list for a cleft palate repair. While Romeo would not remember me, I recalled his sweet smile as if we had seen each other yesterday,” Melissa remarked.

Badokideou, Romeo’s mom, recalls that, “within minutes of being with Melissa, Romeo was smiling and eagerly reaching for his welcome hug.” 

For this visit to the Africa Mercy, Romeo was under the gentle care of dietician Jessica King in the Infant Feeding Program. She shared the joy of following Romeo through his cleft palate surgery. “Being here for moments such as this to witness Romeo’s triumph over a very hard challenge is so special. I am so glad for Romeo and his family to have the peace that comes with this restorative surgery,” she explained.


For Romeo and his family, there is much happiness and more gratitude for the second blessing of perfect timing. In the words of Romeo’s mom, “Thank you, thank you, Mercy Ships!”

Story by Joanne Thibault
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell, Lesley Buffington, JJ Tiziou, and Melissa Davey

Humpty Dumpty

Xavier 'playing dead' with a fat and bloody lip.

So, I (Peter) managed to drop Xavier on his face.  Needless to say, I felt horrible.  We were up at the pool and he wanted me to wrap him up in his towel with his arms in.  I had him in one arm and his life jacket and pool toys in the other.  I carried him safely down three flights of steps.  The fall didn't happen until after we got into the cabin.  I had just walked through the door and he is so used to just wiggling to get down that he did just that.  However, his arms were wrapped up inside the towel and I had stuff in my other arm.  In an instant he fell flat on his face on our cabin floor.  He split his lip open and knocked one of his front teeth a bit out of alignment.  Less than a week later his lip is almost nearly healed now and his tooth is fine.  He cried for a solid 45 minutes when it happened, though and looked like he lost a prize fight. 

Easter

We had a great Easter onboard the Africa Mercy.  It is always a fantastic experience and we joyfully celebrated the resurrection of our Savior.  Here are some photos of our Easter:

Easter Egg Coloring in the Dining Room

More Egg Coloring

Happy Birthday Malachi!

Malachi is now one year away from double digits.  Our little man turned 9 on Friday the 23rd.  He had a cowboy themed party complete with a hunt for a bandit. 

Tough Day at the Office

Togo Smiles!

Imagine living in a country with only 1 dentist for every million people!  Imagine finding relief from pain for the first time in your life!

Thanks to the Mercy Ships Dental Team, thousands of residents of the West African nation of Togo will smile again in the coming months. 

Mercy Ships conducts free mobile dental clinics onshore in the communities around where the ship is docked. The Africa Mercy arrived in Lome, Togo on January 5, and the Dental Team has wasted no time in reaching out to those in need of their services.

 

During this January-June field service in Togo, Mercy Ships plans to serve approximately 4,000 patients.  This translates to approximately 11,000 necessary dental procedures

because of tooth decay, infections and oral lesions.  Dental hygiene services will be provided to around 450 people, and up to 340 patients requiring replacements will receive dentures.

Already the Dental Team has conducted 1,716 procedures and basic oral health education has been provided to 225 students and another 752 patients visiting the dental clinic.  Equally important, 8 residents of Togo  have participated in the Mercy Ships mentorship program to learn about the various aspects of assisting, sterilizing and teaching oral hygiene.

The Mercy Ships Dental Program tangibly demonstrates God's love for people by increasing access to dental care among the underserved poor of this and other nations. Please remember the dental team in your prayers!