Here is a wonderful story and the reason I took 2 more months in Africa after Ann left Mercy Ships to go home.
I came to be a friend and help Osman Kamara. You need to read his story because it is inspiring AND YOU can be part of it.
I came to be a friend and help Osman Kamara. You need to read his story because it is inspiring AND YOU can be part of it.
Osman
comes from a family of 4. His father passed away but his mother,
sisters, and brother are alive and live in Freetown, Sierra Leone. His
background is Muslim and he was raised with the Islam teachings and
still knows many of the prayers and chants.
When he was a child he was severely burned when a leak in the gas in the house caught on fire. He had a long and very painful recovery which left his arm and leg movements restricted because of the scarring. He told me his arms were locked at 90 degrees for full extension.
When he was a young teen he was having such serious issues with the wounds and inability to get around that he was taken to the hospital where they wanted to amputate his legs due to the healing issues and scarring.
We
fabricated 5 wheelchairs from the designs in his head and the designs
in the mind of Kevin Abrahams, the ship Machinist from South Africa.
Wheelchair Team Guinea 2018-19
With the help of10 crew members team, all 5 wheelchairs were done and given to the people Osman had screened.
When he was a child he was severely burned when a leak in the gas in the house caught on fire. He had a long and very painful recovery which left his arm and leg movements restricted because of the scarring. He told me his arms were locked at 90 degrees for full extension.
When he was a young teen he was having such serious issues with the wounds and inability to get around that he was taken to the hospital where they wanted to amputate his legs due to the healing issues and scarring.
Hope
He had a friend challenge him that if he believed in God, He would provide an answer rather than have his leg amputated. About that time it was announced that Mercy Ships was coming to Freetown. He went down for the screening but was not selected because the focus was on the repair of those who lost limbs in the civil war.
Healing
He was very discouraged by the initial answer, but he was encouraged to go back toward the end of the field service. He went back and an opening was available. Dr. Tertius Venter is a Plastic Surgeon on the ship today and served on it when Osman came for surgery.
He was able to free up the limbs and do skin grafts so that Osman could have free use of his arms and legs. Again a long and painful recovery. He went on to finish high school and worked for people earning money for his family after his father died.
He had a friend challenge him that if he believed in God, He would provide an answer rather than have his leg amputated. About that time it was announced that Mercy Ships was coming to Freetown. He went down for the screening but was not selected because the focus was on the repair of those who lost limbs in the civil war.
Healing
He was very discouraged by the initial answer, but he was encouraged to go back toward the end of the field service. He went back and an opening was available. Dr. Tertius Venter is a Plastic Surgeon on the ship today and served on it when Osman came for surgery.
He was able to free up the limbs and do skin grafts so that Osman could have free use of his arms and legs. Again a long and painful recovery. He went on to finish high school and worked for people earning money for his family after his father died.
Serving
He heard the Africa Mercy was once again coming to Sierra Leone 2011. He signed up and was selected as Day Crew working in the physically demanding Engineering department. I was told he did not let them know of his past, he just came to work.
It is there that he heard more about Christ and saw the Jesus movie a number of times to better understand who He is and why He came. He accepted Christ, which could have put him at odds with his family who would have normally disowned him. They love and support him even though they are still Muslim.
He went to Conakry the next year to see if he could get on as a Day Crew member and was accepted. There he trained and became an Able Seaman. He stayed on as regular crew and eventually through training and practical experience became the lead plumber on the ship. Again I am not aware that anyone knew his story or if they did it was not widely shared.
He heard the Africa Mercy was once again coming to Sierra Leone 2011. He signed up and was selected as Day Crew working in the physically demanding Engineering department. I was told he did not let them know of his past, he just came to work.
It is there that he heard more about Christ and saw the Jesus movie a number of times to better understand who He is and why He came. He accepted Christ, which could have put him at odds with his family who would have normally disowned him. They love and support him even though they are still Muslim.
He went to Conakry the next year to see if he could get on as a Day Crew member and was accepted. There he trained and became an Able Seaman. He stayed on as regular crew and eventually through training and practical experience became the lead plumber on the ship. Again I am not aware that anyone knew his story or if they did it was not widely shared.
Giving
He wanted to give back for all that God had done for him so starting in Madagascar in 2013 he designed and fabricated wheelchairs for people who laid on the street and begged because they could not stand. He made 5 that year and quietly distributed them. He has done the same thing for the past 5 field services with Mercy Ships.
I met and got to know him a little because he is so outgoing, positive, and encouraging. After hearing about the wheelchair project from the Director of Finance, Kevin Cook, who was helping him. I asked Kevin how I could help. They were almost done with the fabrication and I didn't have the time to help with the painting. He said he was most concerned about funding for the project because it seemed to be so hit and miss.
He wanted to give back for all that God had done for him so starting in Madagascar in 2013 he designed and fabricated wheelchairs for people who laid on the street and begged because they could not stand. He made 5 that year and quietly distributed them. He has done the same thing for the past 5 field services with Mercy Ships.
I met and got to know him a little because he is so outgoing, positive, and encouraging. After hearing about the wheelchair project from the Director of Finance, Kevin Cook, who was helping him. I asked Kevin how I could help. They were almost done with the fabrication and I didn't have the time to help with the painting. He said he was most concerned about funding for the project because it seemed to be so hit and miss.
About
the same time, I talked with Osman at length when he came in to update
his donor page and get some help improving it. It was there I heard
about his amazing story and realized not many knew about his past as a
patient and why he was so committed to bringing mobility those who lay
on the street begging. I told him his story was a huge blessing to
others on how God works and he needed to share
it more, especially his heart for beggars with no ability to earn
money. It needed to be shared because it is such a blessing on how God
works.
I helped write a brochure for him so the ministry could be publicized and to raise funds. We also updated his donor page to better reflect how God worked in his life. God blessed the work he was doing in a number of ways. I told Ann about him and she did an interview at one of the Community nights about his story and the wheelchair ministry. We put the flyer in the activity book so everyone could learn about what he felt God had him do in each country. As a result, almost overnight his donations from crew members went for a few hundred dollars to over a thousand.
Osman and I became good friends through this process and he needed a new person to help him since Kevin Cook was leaving. I joined Osman and another crew member to start building chairs in Guinea this past year. We worked many Saturdays and I continued to publicize what he was doing to get more crew members involved and help with the work
I helped write a brochure for him so the ministry could be publicized and to raise funds. We also updated his donor page to better reflect how God worked in his life. God blessed the work he was doing in a number of ways. I told Ann about him and she did an interview at one of the Community nights about his story and the wheelchair ministry. We put the flyer in the activity book so everyone could learn about what he felt God had him do in each country. As a result, almost overnight his donations from crew members went for a few hundred dollars to over a thousand.
Osman and I became good friends through this process and he needed a new person to help him since Kevin Cook was leaving. I joined Osman and another crew member to start building chairs in Guinea this past year. We worked many Saturdays and I continued to publicize what he was doing to get more crew members involved and help with the work
Wheelchair Team Guinea 2018-19
With the help of10 crew members team, all 5 wheelchairs were done and given to the people Osman had screened.
We
were blessed to have this occur while the Mercy Ships International
Board was onboard for their meeting. They had the opportunity to share
in the experience created through Osman’s vision.
A Major Life Change
In the spring of that year, Osman complained of leg pains and about the time we were ready to paint the chairs so he went to the Crew Physician about his leg. It was determined that he needed to get expert help and was sent to Cape Town, where Dr. Tertius lives, and where the Mercy Ships South Africa National Director, Brenda van Straten, could sponsor him for a medical visa.
He saw a specialist in Cape Town. His tumors were removed and they grew back, almost over-night. The cancer is very aggressive.
Finally, he had to make the hard decision to have the leg amputated above the knee to prevent grown glands and spreading.
Brenda has been his sponsor, advocate, and champion to the insurance company, the country of South Africa, and to many of us who have helped pitch in. She and several others here in Cape Town such as Trudi Venter and members of both of their churches have been faithful prayer warriors on his behalf.
In the spring of that year, Osman complained of leg pains and about the time we were ready to paint the chairs so he went to the Crew Physician about his leg. It was determined that he needed to get expert help and was sent to Cape Town, where Dr. Tertius lives, and where the Mercy Ships South Africa National Director, Brenda van Straten, could sponsor him for a medical visa.
He saw a specialist in Cape Town. His tumors were removed and they grew back, almost over-night. The cancer is very aggressive.
Finally, he had to make the hard decision to have the leg amputated above the knee to prevent grown glands and spreading.
Brenda has been his sponsor, advocate, and champion to the insurance company, the country of South Africa, and to many of us who have helped pitch in. She and several others here in Cape Town such as Trudi Venter and members of both of their churches have been faithful prayer warriors on his behalf.
God has been so good through this whole thing, especially with helping Osman deal with the loss of his leg.
He also learned that his future with Mercy Ships is not possible (due to Malta maritime regulations) and as a result, he cannot send money home to help his mom and family because of not working on the ship.
He also has the loss of future income earning in Sierra Leone because his leg prevents him from doing plumbing and HVAC work.
That is a lot for one person to go through in 3 short months.
He also learned that his future with Mercy Ships is not possible (due to Malta maritime regulations) and as a result, he cannot send money home to help his mom and family because of not working on the ship.
He also has the loss of future income earning in Sierra Leone because his leg prevents him from doing plumbing and HVAC work.
That is a lot for one person to go through in 3 short months.
God
has provided his insurance for the procedures. Mercy Ships has agreed
to help him get to a point where he can return home. God provided a
prosthetic company that went out of their way to contact the prosthetic
provider in Freetown to understand their capabilities to support a
variety of legs. This way they could help identify a leg that Osman
would use to actively work and it could be serviced there if needed.
God has provided many people in his life that want to help him in some way. God worked in a mighty way with South African Immigration who normally send a person home after they have been stabilized and can travel. He heard that his visa has been approved through Feb 2020, this is almost UNHEARD OF. They also opened the door if he needed more time for treatment and recovery.
He also heard from Brenda that through the efforts of many, the insurance broker TTc has graciously agreed to fully fund a prosthetic leg that will allow him to walk and work in jobs that don’t require ladders or where balance is critical. It is a fully functional leg, nothing fancy, but more than would be available to him through Sierra Leone or basic insurance funding.
God has provided many people in his life that want to help him in some way. God worked in a mighty way with South African Immigration who normally send a person home after they have been stabilized and can travel. He heard that his visa has been approved through Feb 2020, this is almost UNHEARD OF. They also opened the door if he needed more time for treatment and recovery.
He also heard from Brenda that through the efforts of many, the insurance broker TTc has graciously agreed to fully fund a prosthetic leg that will allow him to walk and work in jobs that don’t require ladders or where balance is critical. It is a fully functional leg, nothing fancy, but more than would be available to him through Sierra Leone or basic insurance funding.
New Beginning-With Your Help
First, he has an immediate need for support to pay for the extra parts and maintenance required on his new leg. The prosthetic team here contacted the organization in Sierra Leone to establish what they know and can do.
The group here will train Osman on preventative maintenance, replacement of common pieces that break over time, such as a suction ball. Additional parts are also listed that he will need to take to Sierra Leone to prolong the life of his new leg. The total costs of these components are $8,000.
First, he has an immediate need for support to pay for the extra parts and maintenance required on his new leg. The prosthetic team here contacted the organization in Sierra Leone to establish what they know and can do.
The group here will train Osman on preventative maintenance, replacement of common pieces that break over time, such as a suction ball. Additional parts are also listed that he will need to take to Sierra Leone to prolong the life of his new leg. The total costs of these components are $8,000.
Osman
is full of hope and has a strong desire to continue to serve God, be
responsible as an in-come earner, desires to help his family, especially
his elderly mother and youngest sister. In order to do that he has
identified several career options available to a person who is extremely
mechanically inclined, has very good math skills, and wants a career
that provides stable income in Sierra Leone or that is in demand in another country.
He has identified two career areas that meet the requirements for growth potential and employability in multiple countries and Sierra Leone. They are with the estimated costs of tuition and living expenses:
• Biomedical Technician-an excellent program that Mercy Ships sends the crew to is available in Dallas Texas. Cost with housing $40,000.
• Prosthetic Technician-an excellent program, with the most widely recognized certification, is in Oklahoma. Cost with housing $20,000.
He has identified two career areas that meet the requirements for growth potential and employability in multiple countries and Sierra Leone. They are with the estimated costs of tuition and living expenses:
• Biomedical Technician-an excellent program that Mercy Ships sends the crew to is available in Dallas Texas. Cost with housing $40,000.
• Prosthetic Technician-an excellent program, with the most widely recognized certification, is in Oklahoma. Cost with housing $20,000.
Finally,
Osman wants to seek God’s direction on how to keep the Wheelchair for
Africa program going. It could be in conjunction with Mercy Ships or as
a separate ministry.
He still has a very strong place in his heart for those who cannot earn a living or live life with the same degree of freedom that others have, especially in the poor countries of West Africa. He will be praying about:
• Clear direction
• Help from a team to form a non-profit
• Direction on when/where in the world this might be
• Funding to reproduce the ministry in countries and have them become self-supported as they provide wheelchairs for those in the most need.
He still has a very strong place in his heart for those who cannot earn a living or live life with the same degree of freedom that others have, especially in the poor countries of West Africa. He will be praying about:
• Clear direction
• Help from a team to form a non-profit
• Direction on when/where in the world this might be
• Funding to reproduce the ministry in countries and have them become self-supported as they provide wheelchairs for those in the most need.
How can you help?
1. Pray for Osman as he continues the painful process of preparing to receive and use his new leg.
2. Pray for God’s direction on careers and other alternatives. His foremost desire is to be obedient.
3. Pray about funding and God’s provision.
4. Give what you feel led to provide. This is best done through the Mercy Ship Crew funding site. The address for his donor page is:
https://
5. Post this on your Facebook page and/or LinkedIn pages.
6. Give praise for all that God has done and provided.
This whole thing continues to be “a God thing”, a demonstration of His gracious and caring support of His children.
Thank you for reading through this and for any help you can provide.
If you have questions or have ideas please contact me. My personal email is jon.heinrich3103@gmail.com
1. Pray for Osman as he continues the painful process of preparing to receive and use his new leg.
2. Pray for God’s direction on careers and other alternatives. His foremost desire is to be obedient.
3. Pray about funding and God’s provision.
4. Give what you feel led to provide. This is best done through the Mercy Ship Crew funding site. The address for his donor page is:
https://
5. Post this on your Facebook page and/or LinkedIn pages.
6. Give praise for all that God has done and provided.
This whole thing continues to be “a God thing”, a demonstration of His gracious and caring support of His children.
Thank you for reading through this and for any help you can provide.
If you have questions or have ideas please contact me. My personal email is jon.heinrich3103@gmail.com
