A Modern Day Leper

Ward A on the Africa Mercy is full of ladies that are currently getting treated for VVF. Vesico Vaginal Fistula is a hole between the urinary tract and the vagina causing a continuous involuntary discharge of urine. Urine leaks from these ladies all the time all day long. This condition is common in women here in West Africa who are A: very young pregnant woman whose bodies are not developed or ready to carry a baby causing a rip or B: women who endure days and days of very painful childbirth often times in the deep bush hours and even days away from medical treatment causing great pressure and a rip. This disorder and it victims just break me. These ladies communities, friends, and families often outcast them for having this “disease”. They are shunned and left to fin for themselves broken and “ruined”. Being equivalent to a leper...... A modern day leper.

Often times the babies of these ladies do not survive leaving the women with great sadness and pain with nothing to show and nothing left to live for.

I refer to these ladies as leaking but I think that might give you a sugar coated image of what leaking really means. Female readers imagine just for a moment what it would be like to have a continually flow of urine flowing from your vagina 24-7, and for treatment you use old cloths to soak up the wet discharge. Male readers imagine for a moment living with your wife who is always wet, and smells of urine. I would like to say that if this was a problem in the US that we would accept these ladies. That we would truly live out what it means to love like Jesus. That we would be less superficial or more accepting, I however am not sure. I think our society has a long way to come before we can truly say we love like Jesus.

The stories of these ladies are heart breaking.

However…….. There is a happy ending to some of the ladies that are currently sleeping and living on board the African Mercy. Doctors and nurses on board the ship are working very hard to treat as many of these patients as physically possible. A 15 minute surgery can change the lives of these leaking women, giving them a new start. The ladies leave here and are often accepted back into their communities and families.

Last Tuesday I was able to attend a dress ceremony for a few of the ladies who were about to embark on their new lives. The dress ceremony occurs when a lady is “cured” and ready to go home. She receives a NEW dress that symbolizes her new start. As I stood there and watched these ladies celebrate to new beginnings. I thanked God for giving me a new beginning through Jesus and also for sending skilled Jesus loving people to West Africa to be His hands and feet to these people. I prayed for strength and courage for the ladies. I prayed for healing physically and emotionally, and I also prayed that maybe just maybe one of them saw HIM through the healing that had taken place on board the Africa Mercy.


The ladies who were going home leak free at last Tuesdays dress ceremony. These smiling faces represent stories and pasts that will break your heart. Thank God for healing and a new beginnings.