Friend Ships - Annual Activities Report 2002

Activities Report: October 2004

PORT MERCY 1019 North First Avenue, Lake Charles, LA 70601 E-mail: info@friendships.org

AID TO PENSACOLA, FL! Friend Ships has just returned from a disaster relief mission to Pensacola, Florida where the Coast Guard and port authorities opened the channel and the Port of Pensacola (closed to all commercial traffic) just for Disaster Relief Ship “Hope” to deliver her supplies. The crew quickly set up base camp at a location near three of the hardest hit communities where people had no power or running water. We kept busy distributing needed supplies as up to 20 cars and trucks at a time pulled into the camp to load up with much appreciated heavy vinyl tarp material for temporary roofing, clothes, mattresses, blankets, bottled water and personal care items we had to distribute. We also prepared and served hearty cooked meals. Thank you for helping us to be able to help the people of Pensacola.

We were able to assist the fire department in delivering water tanks to areas without water and provided tarp to cover their station which had lost its roof (photo at right). Thousands are still without power, refrigeration and useable water. Our response teams drove our 6 x 6 truck (photo above) into the communities offering door to door service of free roofing materials, prepared meals and prayer. We provided hundreds of cooked meals for government workers and relief workers as well as for the residents in the community who suffered damage by Hurricane Ivan.

So many have been affected by this terrible hurricane season. Rich and poor alike were in need of the items we had to distribute. Many have lost all of their possessions. People receiving goods were so very grateful for the free supplies and services. Many people were happy to receive prayer and ask the Lord to help them through these circumstances. Some have said that “we are like angels sent to them in a time of need”. Again, a special thanks to you, our support team, who make it possible for us to help people in times of trouble.

In late July, Friend Ships completed six weeks of medical outreach with our ship MV HOPE and helicopter ANGEL OF HOPE. In 40 days, we were able to treat more than 12,000 patients in Honduras. We worked on the island of Roatán, and the mainland in the cities of Choloma, Tela and Tegucigalpa. There were 21 full days of medical services with 5 to 6 teams at work each day. We worked in seven locations over the course of 6 weeks. People in each place were very much in need of medical assistance and we saw many minor medical problems that had become major problems because of the lack of timely medical care or medicine.

Our equipment consisted of two 20 foot shipping containers, 6 medical tents, one large all-purpose tent, several generators, a mobile water tank, cook trailer, six port-a-potties, 2 double hand wash stations, more than 500 chairs, a TV and VCR, two transport trailers that double as stages, sound equipment and lights, a bus, a pick-up truck, two shore boats, a helicopter and of course, one ship where we can produce water, carry supplies, house, feed and care for 58 people at a time. Because of this fine equipment, we were able to operate with self-sufficiency, as we have to do in a disaster, generating our own electricity, hauling in water, etc.

Medical Outreach to Honduras 2004. At times, the ship was tied to a dock adjacent to the medical site. Other times we were many miles away or at anchor. Each new situation created good experience for future missions where we will be called on to respond to disasters with unpredictable circumstances. Most locations provided space to set up 5 to 7 medical tents and our large tent that serves as a waiting room. In the evenings, the waiting room was transformed into a church. We held 13 services, most with dinner served for all. Guest speakers from the US, Mexico and Honduras flew in for various meetings. Some services were leadership seminars with pastors and church leaders attending, some meetings were women's ministry, crusades or more intimate pastoral gatherings. This mission was very special in that it was truly a cooperative effort between Friend Ships and the people of Honduras. Our team, the federal government, "Bomberos" (Firemen) and the local church community all worked together in unity.

Friend Ships crew and guest workers included people from north, south, east and west US, Canada, Mexico, France, Sweden, New Zealand, Guatemala and Honduras. We had seasoned medical staff, relief workers and ministers. We had others who experienced their first time on the field. We had pastors and church leaders from various cities in Honduras, all working together with our US, Canadian and Mexican ministers to advance the Kingdom of God. We had the federal government providing all permits, Honduran police guarding us by day and night, firemen organizing patients, giving security, providing housing when needed and helping transport equipment. We had the mayor's office in each city arranging locations, trucking and a myriad of support services for us. It was as it should be - people working together to help others with a great sense of unity between church members, local and foreign, and a government administration that is in support of a mission that lifts up the name of Jesus.

At each location, we first offered a 1 to 2 day course created by the World Health Organization concerning general health care. When the clinics began each morning, we opened the gates and brought in 400 to 500 patients for a day's work. People registered for service and while awaiting treatment they viewed the movies "God's Story" and the "Jesus" film for adults; "Veggie Tales" and "The Jesus Film for Children" for the youth. Many times we were able to provide lunch for everyone. There were ministry and games to occupy the children as they waited for service. Patients received medical care with medicine dispensed to them as needed. Many received dental care. Many had eye examinations and were fitted with much needed glasses. Each patient received individual prayer with the staff of medical providers that attended them and afterwards, a consultation for their spiritual needs with a team of local church leaders. Hundreds made decisions to follow Jesus.

PORT MERCY

Before sailing to Pensacola, we were able to be involved here in Lake Charles with hurricane disaster relief by helping FEMA with mattresses and bedding to house people evacuating from New Orleans in the threat of “Ivan”. Now that HOPE is home from Florida, we are considering disaster relief missions to Haiti and/or Grenada.

Plans for the next mission to Israel are in full swing. You can help us collect supplies. Many churches are already involved in doing so. If you would like to know how, check out the website at www.friendships.org and click on Friend Ships to Israel, call our office for information or mail back this enclosed card. If you would like to support the effort to help Israeli charities, Social Services, the Association for the Welfare of Soldiers and the work to excavate the original City of David, check the website for updates.

LOS ANGELES

StoreHouse One in Los Angeles continues to collect and distribute food to the needy in Southern California and Mexico through local ministries each and every week. The team there also continues to collect goods for shipment overseas and food to feed our crew throughout all of our operations.

ROATÁN

The ship’s crew and Roatán team, having completed the work on Hope’s medical mission, hosted an 87 person evangelistic group under the direction of Jerry and Marilyn O’Dell at our facility. For three days, the team went door to door throughout many areas of the island, preaching the Gospel and presenting evening services. When they were finished more than 2000 people had made a decision to follow Jesus! An exciting women’s conference was held with very good attendance. The Friend Ships Art Academy started sessions in a classroom facility provided by

the First Lady of Honduras in the downtown area of the Islands main city. Classes for single mothers to learn to create and market souvenir and gift items have started. The ladies are learning to draw and paint, and are also being taught the Word of God and basic principals of hygiene and health. The women are so grateful for all they are being taught that they are already expressing concern about what will happen when the class is completed. Thank you for helping us offer people hope and opportunity. Together, we can do great things in the name of Jesus!