Josephine

Josephine had had her fistula for 5 years, having had a previous failed repair before she came to the ship in Benin. During that outreach the Mercy Ship surgeons operated on her, not once but twice. All three repairs had failed. Before Josephine went home from the ship to her home in Benin, she was given a card to return to Togo for more surgery.
So last week Josephine had her forth surgery, all in an attempt to fix the hole between her birth canal and bladder. With each repair the likelihood of success reduces; there is more scar tissue and less viable tissue to work with to close the hole. This surgery went well, after a few days with a catheter it was removed and Josephine remained dry. For the first time in 7 years she could stand up and not have urine running down her leg or flies collecting over her head. That afternoon that the catheter had been removed I was looking after Josephine, she knew the pad beneath her was dry, but she didnt dare hope that all was ok. But it continued to remain dry and as the hours of the afternoon shift progressed the joy in my heart increased minute by minute. I sat on Josephine's bed and in my sign language and her understanding she just knew what i was confirming to her. Josephine's was dry. She raised her thanks right where it was due, and with her arms raised to heaven she said over and over again...'merci Jesus, merci Jesus'. tears ran down my face and hers as we both hugged and sat on the bed praising our Father, who gives good gifts to his children.
During her dress ceremony, Josephine stood and gave a beautiful testimony of faith and healing. Thankyou Jesus.

 

josephine in her brown dress on the left.

as Josephine looks in the mirror for the first time; seeing her crown of beauty instead of ashes.