Astou

 

Astou’s story has shadows of pain but ends with great joy. When Astou was only 20 years old, she tragically lost her son during childbirth. While struggling with the pain of loss, Astou discovered another heartbreaking reality: the trauma of her strenuous and prolonged labor led to the development of an obstetric fistula, leaving her incontinent. What followed was 20 years of living with an injury that caused continual embarrassment and shame.

Loss and heartache continued for Astou. Soon after the stillbirth, her first husband left her due to her condition. She then lost her job and was forced to move back in with her parents. Astou’s story is not uncommon in the areas we serve. In fact, an estimated two million girls and women live with obstetric fistula in Africa. Many are shunned and abandoned by their communities because they’re often perceived as unclean.     Though Astou felt shame for her condition and the way it made her live, she was blessed by her family, who continued to stand by her side. That support even led to a new love.     During a family event, she met Mamadou, who asked her to marry him. Astou immediately told him about her condition, expecting him to change his mind, but instead, Mamadou made an oath: “It won’t stop me from marrying you and doing everything I can to get you help.”    After their wedding, Mamadou kept his promise and started saving up to take her to a hospital. A local doctor confirmed her condition was treatable — but it would require surgery, something the couple had no way of affording.     So, the newlyweds waited and hoped. Despite her condition, Astou became pregnant and soon the couple welcomed a new member to their small family — their daughter.   Unfortunately, during this time of waiting, another shadow began to weigh on Astou. A small goiter began to grow on her neck. While Mamadou and Astou worried that this new condition could cause trouble for her future, they still lacked the resources to find healing.  Ten years after the goiter was discovered, hope arrived. Astou and Mamadou heard that Mercy Ships was coming to Senegal to offer free surgeries. The couple went for an appointment, at first only seeking treatment for the goiter but while on board, Mamadou decided to take a leap of faith. He asked whether Astou could receive surgery for the obstetric fistula as well.

For them, the news was a miracle: ​​​​​​After 20 years of burden, Astou would receive surgery — for both conditions! “After the surgery, when I looked at myself, I felt that I was not like before,” marveled Astou. “I can’t wait to go back home to my family feeling healthy.” Mamadou is also thrilled with his wife’s transformation, knowing that her healing runs deeper than the physical.

“Since she has been treated, she is free and happy,” he shared. “She can go out and welcome whomever she wants at home with happiness and joy.”

The very first patient

Diacko

 

Childhood should be a time filled with laughter and playing with friends. But as Diacko’s legs began to bow terribly outwards, every step became painful.

Diacko was about 3 years old when his weakened legs began to bend unnaturally due to malnutrition. As he grew older, Diacko struggled to walk, every step causing pain and shame. Eventually, he quit venturing far from his home for fear of being mocked. Even his friends would tease him, calling him, "Diacko, the bowlegged boy!"  His mother, Youma, knew surgery could heal her child, but the medical care Diacko needed was not available in their village. She feared her son would live in pain forever.  “We didn’t have money,” Youma said. “So, I stayed home, waiting for something to arrive from God.”

One day, Youma saw a television advertisement about Mercy Ships and knew she would do everything she could to get her son to the ship. For the first time in years, they had hope that Diacko might find healing. They traveled 300 miles to reach the Africa Mercy.  Once on board, thanks to the support of faithful friends like you, Diacko received free surgery to finally heal his legs.     And his healing didn’t end with physical ailments. While on board, Diacko met other children who suffered from similar conditions and for the first time in his life, he realized he was not alone.

Now, Diacko is ready to step into his future!

Sira's Story

Contrasting . . .

The news that the NLFS First Care Center in the Phillips neighborhood was vandalized last night hit us hard.  We spent last Sunday with the F.O.O.s - Matt and Micah's family of origin and just this week had gotten a note from New Life thanking us for a special gift we had sent to them.  "We are so grateful for your willingness to share . . . with us . . .it is so sweet to see that your family has been blessed by the ministry of New Life.  I rejoice with you at what God has done!  We are thankful for the opportunity to continue to working with incredible people . . ."

May this just be a blip and not a block.

May God continue to work mighty ways in the Phillips neighborhood . . . 

for His glory.  Amen.   

Breaking our hearts . . .

 

Our First Care center in the Phillips community of Minneapolis was targeted by pro-abortion activists and badly vandalized last night. They broke windows and sprayed graffiti on the walls threatening, “If abortions arn’t safe neither r u.”  

Our First Care centers provide 100,000 diapers, baby clothes, car seats, strollers, and other supplies every year to families in need. Our licensed social workers support more than 2,000 women each year through the challenges of motherhood, including many who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or mental health crisis.    

All of this is provided at no cost to the families we serve and is funded entirely by private donations.   

This First Care center was built with private donations and houses a separate non-profit medical clinic providing low-cost medical services to families and individuals living in South Minneapolis. The founders of the non-profit clinic are medical doctors who emigrated from Africa and are committed to making affordable health care accessible in the community.  

We are fully committed to continue serving the Phillips community, as well as at all our centers, with the holistic compassion and care families deserve. 

This video was taken by our President, Carl Nelson, who was onsite early this morning.

 

Love this picture!

 

And some day, I want to serve on the BIGGEST ship!