Screenings Have Begun!

In an email from Annie in Sierra Leone:

We screened some patients today at the national stadium here. It is estimated that 10,000 people lined up to be seen.

In a blog update from Mercy Ships:

Mercy Ships is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred today during medical screening at the Freetown National Stadium when a crowd stormed the gate resulting in several injuries and one life lost.
Mercy Ships personnel working at the site attended the injured and accompanied them to local hospitals.


"Our hearts and prayers are with the individuals and families of those affected by today's events. The occurrence of this incident in the course of activities intended to restore lives is tragic. We move forward with tremendous sadness, but great determination, to assist as many people as possible in the next ten months," stated Mercy Ships Founder, Don Stephens.


Mercy Ships exists to serve the forgotten poor and has served Sierra Leone five times over the past two decades, also helping establish two land-based health care facilities. For the next ten months, Mercy Ships will be providing surgeries for qualified patients while working alongside the Sierra Leonean Government to support its five-year healthcare plan and strengthen the functions of the national health system.


Please keep the people of Sierra Leone and the Mercy Ships crew in your prayers, not just today but in the months to come.

I can't even begin to understand the emotions Annie is experiencing seeing such a large number of people in need of health care. I would think that one of the hardest thing is having to turn people away. Please keep her in your prayers!!! Keep us, her parents, in your prayers as well. Reading something like this has literally made my stomach turn over. I'm not overly worried about her. She is in the best hands possible, the hands of our God! But I am a Mom!!!

She also indicated that the poverty is staggering! Take a moment to praise the Lord for the abundance we have in this country. I think that we take for granted all that we have right at our fingertips. We have more than we could even ask or think!