Mercy Ships^®

Just a couple of years ago, I walked out of the dentist's office with a significantly lighter wallet. Unfortunately, yesterday I found myself in the same situation! I needed to get more dental work done.

Initially, I was extremely frustrated and annoyed. I thought I had taken good care of my teeth - why did I have to spend so much time and money (not to mention the stress and nerves) on my teeth again? It took some time, ice cream and some movies, but it struck me that I am an extraordinarily fortunate person!

Let me explain. Not only ...

My favorite Christmas memory wasn't made in the comfort of my home or even in church - it was made in a leper colony!

For many years, my family joined a local church in Hong Kong the day after Christmas and visited a leper colony in China. We brought these men and women, each of whom were missing various body parts, gifts and shared the gospel message. The team of doctors and nurses that came with us treated their wounds and provided medical care. It was certainly a wonderful time for both the lepers and us!

What was most rewarding ...

I love it when people smile because it makes me smile too! Studies have proven that smiling is contagious, helps relieve stress and boosts the immune system. This is in addition to the fact that smiling boosts my mood! (Check out more interesting facts about smiling here!)

This Thanksgiving, there will be more than 10,000 people in Sierra Leone who will be smiling more confidently than ever before because of the dental care provide by Mercy Ships^®! The 34,000+ procedures will not only give these smiling men, women and children a better smile, but a hope for the ...

It occurred to me today that I am blessed with incredible health. I don't have any serious injuries or health issues. For this, I'm extremely thankful! If, however, I were to get into an accident, I have confidence that I would receive medical care from trained professionals in a timely fashion. Again, I am grateful for this!

A woman in Sierra Leone, however, had to wait for 30 years to get medical attention! Previously unable to walk because of severe burns to her leg, ankle and knees, this lady finally received medical care from a trainee plastic surgeon ...

Ahoy there! Are you up for a challenge? Test your knowledge of "Mercy Ships^®" and if you are one of the first three people who emails me (kiyong@ambaa.com) with all the answers correct, I'll send you a copy of  "A Mercy-ful Christmas," a delightful and uplifting Christmas music CD produced by Mercy Ships^®.

What are we waiting for? Let's begin!

1. Mercy Ships^® was founded by . . .
   1. Mercy Me
   2. The US Navy Hospital Ships
   3. Don Stephens
   4. Donald Trump
2. Mercy Ships^® has been operating since . . .
   1. 1964
   2. 1968
   3. 1978
   4. 1984
3. Mercy Ships^® has been endorsed by:
   1. Nelson Mandela - Former President ...

Just for fun, I asked some friends to guess how much money was in a bag of change. Full of quarters, dimes and pennies, as well as couple of dollar coins, this was a difficult challenge. The guesses varied from $12 to over $80! The only consistency was the question - "what's the prize?"

Many of us are driven by rewards. I'm certainly geared that way. I do things because there's something 'in it' for ME. Jesus, on the other hand, acted out of a compassionate heart. He wasn't motivated by prizes . . . He simply wanted to reconcile ...