One Love

If I had to choose one photo to sum up my time so far in West Africa- this would be it. One love. The red words caught my eye every time I walked by the warehouse on the dock in Togo. Not only is love the greatest commandment, whatever we do should be out of love or its counted nothing. I tried to show the love of Christ to each patient I came in contact with on the M/V Africa Mercy. Love by cuddling a baby with a cleft lip, by holding a hand of an outcast, or praying with them before surgery. This is why I am here and will continue on… that means to Sierra Leone in 2011. It is because of your continuing love and support I am able to do this. I thank you“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18

Happy New Year Everyone! This was my annual newsletter and if you did not receive one in the mail and wish to be on my mailing list please contact me. With One Love, Allison

How Many Kings

Through the craziness of the holidays, its important to take time out to ponder this question- How many Kings? Christian band, Downhere, wrote this amazing song and we sang it tonight at Mid-Cities Bible Church Christmas Eve Service. As I sat with my parents & sister and surrounding us was my church family that I have known over my years as I come and go. It is a small group, but I can hear how they sing with their whole hearts. We praise the Savior that was born on that holy night to save the us from our sins. How many kings would do something like that for us? Just one.

"Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe after all we’ve projected

A child in a manger

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl

Just a child

Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior

All that we have whether costly or meek

Because we believe

Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer

Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?

It’s who we’ve waited for

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me

All for me

All for you

All for me

All for you"

-How Many Kings, Downhere

Wordless Wednesday: Guatemala again!

Thanks to Rodney Claborn for the pictures. I sure hope my camera shows up in Continental's lost and found. :(

Sarstun

Sarstun, Guatemala. It is so remote, you can't find it on a map. I have heard- "its where the devil threw his shoe." I'm not good at cliches, but I think its easy to say this place is in the middle of nowhere. Which makes me even more excited about going! Three hours on a plane, six hours on a bus, two hours on a boat, and one hour climbing a mountain- the medical team and I will arrive in Sarstun on Monday morning. I will be helping with surgeries Tuesday thru Thursday. I am look forward to venturing into the jungles of Guatemala and experiencing village life. Sleeping on air mattresses covered in mosquito nets. Savoring pineapple and filling up on homemade tortillas. More than anything, loving the Mayan people that are suffering from lack of healthcare and clean water. I thank you advance for your prayers for the team and myself for the next week while we are in Sarstun. As my friend observed- my heart beats faster in Guatemala more than anywhere else. Muchas Gracias! Dios Bendiga!

The team will stay one night in Puerto Barrios (East coast) and take the boat to Sarstun.

Crew

I was going to post this picture as a Wordless Wednesday, but could not bring myself to do it. To leave a picture of this magnitude without words would be crime. It was taken after a fire drill on the dock in Togo in July. I miss these people more than anything. I would like to introduce you to the Africa Mercy Crew.

Missionaries from all over the world.

Engineers, Nurses, Cooks, Housekeepers, Doctors, Electricians

College Students, Families, Couples

Youth kids, Little ones

Teachers, Photographers, Writers

Sisters & Brothers in Christ

Members of Dental & Eye teams

Chaplains, Officers, Deckhands, Security Guards

Sales staff, Computer Experts

Prayer warriors, Encouragers of the faith

Movie night buddies, Speed scrabble competitors

Tea drinkers, but mostly coffee addicts.

My family when I am away from my own.

Friends for life.

The body of Christ.