tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52102325575576133382024-03-20T17:29:18.987-07:00Director of International Police Training and Outreach Safe Harbor InternationalOur unique outreach is about reaching law enforcement and government officials in third world countries with teams of U.S. police officers and chaplains. By teaching Ethics, Community Oriented Policing and Child Protection lasting relationships are established. Then by networking with local pastors "Law Enforcement Appreciation" services are held where team members may freely share their personal faith in Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that Christ will be honored among the nations.Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-48472730567851833182017-02-10T09:07:00.001-08:002017-02-10T09:07:26.479-08:00February 2017 UpdateWelcome back to our Blog as we all launch into 2017. As you can see from the update on our home page at www.PoliceOutreach.com the McDowell household has changed dramatically with the adoption of Grayson Elliott McDowell (3 yrs. old) and Isaiah Joseph McDowell (20 months d). <br />
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We are preparing as a family to continue short term overseas outreach with our ministry and would appreciate your prayers for all that will go into that adventure. Would you pray for us as we continue to pour our lives into Grayson and Isaiah as we work with their special developmental needs. Would you also pray that those led by the Lord to be part of our developing financial support and prayer team would find their way to the Donate link on our webpage? We are going into a time of preparation where we will be raising outgoing and monthly financial support while maintaining our ministry contacts in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.<br />
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Watch for future Blogs as we record our journey from a personal perspective and with pictures. God bless you and thank you for praying!<br />
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Dave, Nancy, Grayson & Isaiah McDowell<br />
Safe Harbor International<br />
Dave - Director of International Police Training & Outreach<br />
Nancy - Director of Soul Care<br />
www.PoliceOutreach.com<br />
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<br />Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-65631417373158210082015-02-23T07:03:00.000-08:002015-02-23T07:21:38.025-08:00As I leave Liberia this evening...what I will remember the most will be the children!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-41016213064702402012015-02-19T08:40:00.000-08:002015-02-19T09:31:38.953-08:00Music to our ears!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Nothing better than hearing happy children in church on a Sunday near Monrovia, Liberia where there were no reported cases of Ebola. All because the little town of Marshall proactively did everything they could do to prevent it from coming to their town and families. </h2>
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Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-16999547315719663152015-01-29T09:25:00.001-08:002015-01-29T09:25:33.418-08:00Come To Me All Who Are Weary and Heavy Laden <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Cessna Caravan</div>
Dave with Samaritans Purse pilot Mike Kerls at Spriggs Airport Monrovia, Liberia. Five minutes later part of our SP team will be loading up for a 45 minute flight to Foya to visit the Ebola Treatment Unit. This is the ETU that just over 4 months ago was seeing hundreds of patients as the Ebola epidemic was expanding in Liberia. Today the Foya ETU is having a Commissioning Service as it is being changed from an ETU to a Transition Center. The local hospital will refer suspect Ebola patients to the location but the celebration today will be that currently there are no patients!<br />
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As you roll out onto the runway it is always comforting to see the helpful presence of the U.S. Military that has responded to assist with the Ebola crisis.</div>
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Sitting in the right seat I am itching to get some right seat time. As a single engine (very non-complex) pilot I know just enough to be very dangerous.</div>
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Dr. Natahlie MacDermott giving me that look, "You are not flying...right Dave?"</div>
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Final Approach Foya Airstrip </div>
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Foya Ebola Treatment Unit</div>
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With hundreds of patients just months ago the Liberian staff were stressed to the limit but courageously fought back the epidemic. One side was for suspected Ebola patients and the other was for confirmed Ebola patients. </div>
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The Sign says it all...DECONTAMINATION</div>
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The doctors, nurses and staff were working around the clock when the tragic day came that one of there staff contracted Ebola and died. Many staff could have left and the fear was real and could be felt all around them. <strong><u>They stayed</u></strong>. They not only stayed they did not give up and fought back this incredibly unforgiving virus that knows no people group, no boundary or international border. They are the unsung heroes. Today was a day to celebrate with the Commissioning Service to rename the Ebola Treatment Unit to the "Transition Unit." Today there were no patients being treated and we prayed that it would stay that way. </div>
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Just give me a few moments off camera to work on this photo...</div>
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Much better...almost 100% participation. The party began and you would have to see the video clips I have to see the dancing - including our SP staff!</div>
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From the Commissioning Service we left for some more serious business due to the possible need to do some contact tracing to confirm a potential Ebola case was not developing in the town. We drove to the Foya Hospital to check on a 9 year old girl who was in stable condition but in pretty bad shape due to a brutal rape. Another girl also 9 years old needed to be checked on in town at her home. The investigation did not lead to a concern for Ebola transmission but it did raise the concern of adequate care for both girls if they were left in Foya. Today we would transfer the 9 year old from the hospital with her mom back to Monrovia. Later in the week plans were made to bring back the other 9 year old that we spoke to at home. </div>
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The second girl may be pregnant. With gender based violence a severe problem in Liberia those of us in the West almost have to make sure we just read that correctly. 9 years old and possibly pregnant. Please pray for both these girls and the many other young children in Liberia that are at risk. The government with the help of many outside agencies is trying to slow these horrific crimes and improve the conviction rate through their judicial system. There is still much work to be done as many of these children have been through more tragedy already than most of us could experience in a lifetime or more. </div>
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The little girl pictured below probably had never or rarely been in a vehicle. Now she was siting in a big airplane about to fly to the large city of Monrovia which she could never imagine from her small corner of the world in Foya. She needed surgery due to her injuries, antibiotics due to infections and nourishment due to her malnourished condition. </div>
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Sometimes it is about just saving one life!</div>
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Please continue to pray for Liberia and the surrounding countries in West Africa. We are hearing good news of Ebola cases going down but are also aware that February 2nd school begins with all the fears that go along with it. Lessons have been learned and hopefully the world leaders that control the response to such world threatening epidemics will not again be slow to respond allowing a virus like Ebola to dig deep roots before it can be contained. </div>
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Now everyone is here and the current need is that the vast amount of supplies and financial support will be placed in the right hands to do the most good resulting in economic development for Liberia. Most importantly pray that spiritual development will result from the many families that are putting there lives back together. Many of them have little or no hope. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Come To Me All Who Are Weary and Heavy-Laden </span></h2>
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<span style="color: blue;">Matthew 11:28-30</span></h2>
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I believe the Lord wants us to reach out to those in need and that does not need to be all the way over in Liberia. I also believe that we need to offer others the true hope that lies within us as the result of becoming followers of Jesus Christ. In the end whether we live in a beautiful home in Newport Beach, California, the inner city of Los Angeles or the recovering country of Liberia our efforts will always fall short. That is because it is not about us! It is about Jesus living through us. Are we trusting Him because our circumstances are comfortable or are we following Him at all costs? I have been asking myself that a lot the past weeks. It would be much easier to say "Lord, you know I am not the one. I have messed up too much and failed more than I have succeeded." I really liked that line but then realized that I was again making it about me! Who am I to tell the Creator of the Universe that he is not capable of restoring my life and continuing to use me as he has planned before the creation of time? </div>
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Jesus died on a cross and gave everything to give me a free gift. Am I willing to give everything and follow Him? I don't think this is about "where" we are serving the Lord but I do think deep down we all know the answer to the question when the Lord asks, "WILL...YOU...FOLLOW...ME?" Some days I just feel like I am getting back up with my "go bag", dusting myself off and saying, "I'm in Lord...I'm coming." I picture the Lord always standing there with a smile saying, "No problem, lets go. Nothing will be more fulfilling, nothing as exciting and we will do it together." </div>
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Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-62396527706116593182015-01-20T12:31:00.000-08:002015-01-20T12:31:02.300-08:00Some Needed Good News in Liberia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pictured below Liberian National Police on patrol in downtown Monrovia</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicarVe6wv9sAVDp84RKzNFoLDeB_w4FqDKeVldm12Xi-cEiAdi1ieSKCHyP7McLf13rLVk8SMRAh2Lb9eKfZjlodsLMGpUa9ZLH13u6O8F28HzWnvs2VkmrtnOc0NlimG0S0ZuaAnnLeI/s1600/DSC_1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicarVe6wv9sAVDp84RKzNFoLDeB_w4FqDKeVldm12Xi-cEiAdi1ieSKCHyP7McLf13rLVk8SMRAh2Lb9eKfZjlodsLMGpUa9ZLH13u6O8F28HzWnvs2VkmrtnOc0NlimG0S0ZuaAnnLeI/s1600/DSC_1661.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Outside the Ebola Treatment Unit on the Samaritans Purse Compound. Today as I drove by I witnessed a group singing worship songs (pictured further below) celebrating a man who was about to be released from the unit confirmed to have survived Ebola and now free of the virus. His family would be arriving soon to take him home. At this time this past week we officially had zero patients on the confirmed Ebola side of the unit.<br />
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A partial view of the Samaritan's Purse Campus in Monrovia, Liberia</div>
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Before going into our daily staff devotion at the SP campus a photo of a healthy little guy named "Andrew" the son of a local pastor.</div>
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One of the first things I wanted to do was begin to meet with our local security guards dedicated to guarding the Samaritans Purse Campus. Pictured below are 15 of the 65 guards assigned to our campus. We have a total of 121 guards working for SP throughout Liberia. These men and women have worked hard sometimes over long hours to keep the staff and property protected. <br />
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Meet Norman pictured here in front of Dr. Kent & Amber Brantly's home on the SP Campus. Norman was assigned to the Brantly's residence before and during the time the horrible news was delivered that Dr. Brantly was confirmed to have Ebola. Norman continues to this day to patrol the property around the Brantly home hoping that he will once again see them return to Liberia. </div>
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The Worship Team that brought gifts of food and sanitation buckets to the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) celebrating the soon release of an Ebola free patient.</div>
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Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-57821456977416482962015-01-12T10:17:00.000-08:002015-01-12T10:17:08.034-08:00Ground Zero ~ Why would you come?<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">Sunday January 11, 2015 Isaiah 58:10</span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">"And if you give yourself to the hungry</span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv"> and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">then your light will rise in darkness </span><span class="passage-display-bcv">and </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">your gloom will become like midday."</span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong>"Ground Zero"</strong></span></span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">Some of our housing at the Samaritans Purse compound in Monrovia, Liberia is right on the beach. Standing on the sand looking out at the crashing waves of the Atlantic you have to remind yourself of the reality of what is happening. Closing my eyes I might think I was back in Huntington Beach, California next door to Westminster where I spent my law enforcement career. It is only when you open your eyes and turn around the reality hits you. Those of you in the U.S can read the recent copy of Time Magazine to read the story of the "Ebola Fighters" and gain a sense of where our team is at work. In fact we are at "ground zero."</span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">Today I had planned to take a run around a portion of the compound and then begin to walk the property talking to our security guards as I met them throughout the large sprawling compound. As I was making my first security assessment of our actual compound the blog sent to me by one of the doctors here came to life. She had been completely in the center of those initial Ebola outbreak days back in the summer and I was now slowly walking toward the two hospitals on our compound. The hospital on the right is for regular patients and is quite busy while just down the road a little further the Ebola Unit sign in bright red letters stands as a warning to all. This is where suspected and confirmed Ebola cases are being treated here in Monrovia, Liberia. </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">As I walked toward the security entrance to talk to one of our specially trained security guards for the Ebola Unit I felt the hair begin to stand up on the back of my neck. After more than a quarter century of responding to police calls I had never sensed anything like this. It was a beautiful day with a light breeze and although hot and humid no one would ever know what was now just a few yards beyond a cinder block wall. </span><span class="passage-display-bcv">Today I am told two patients are confirmed to have Ebola and eight others are waiting for test results. As we are talking some police officers drive up with lights and siren with a patient in the back of there truck for the regular hospital adjacent but a safe distance from the Ebola unit. </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">At this mornings staff worship and devotion a Liberian mom shared a prayer request concerning the upcoming question on everyone's mind in Monrovia and beyond..."Should I send my children back to school?" Despite encouraging signs of Ebola cases going down in number a new concern is presented in that people may begin not paying attention to sanitation safety procedures. No one shakes hands, hugs, or touches each other here and before going into any building you wash your hands at a bleach station and dip the bottom of your shoes into bleach before entering. How do you insure that children are not going to share everything they own and eat at school? Most children are staying home...at least for now. </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><strong>Why did they come?</strong></span></span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">So why did many fly from various parts of the world to the epicenter of the most deadly disease on the planet while many other medical personnel, aid workers and businesses were fleeing the country? </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv">From the blog of one of our doctors here on our team...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">"</span>On July 14<sup>th</sup>
I travelled to Monrovia, Liberia with Samaritan’s Purse International Relief to
assist with the response to the Ebola epidemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had approximately 10 days notice of the need for me to travel and so
had spent that time desperately trying to obtain time off work and gather the
necessary essentials for the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
neonatal unit at ..................Hospital, where I was working, were kind and granted
me 2 weeks of unpaid leave to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
time the Ebola epidemic had barely graced the news headlines but I had been
following the situation since February/March time due to my interest in
infectious diseases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong> </strong></span><strong>It was very
apparent to me during those few months that the epidemic was different from
previous epidemics and was evolving on a rapid level.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong> </strong> (emphasis mine)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When I was
requested to travel to Monrovia I didn’t hesitate to volunteer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong> </strong></span><strong>I knew it was where God wanted me to be and
though this may sound crazy to many, for me it was simple – if I didn’t
volunteer, along with the many others who already had and would in the coming
months, this epidemic was going to be completely out of control before the
world woke up to it.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (emphasis mine) </span>I could not sit
knowing what was developing, and the level of suffering involved, and not
act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also it was an opportunity to work
with a disease that most doctors only get to read about in their careers, an
opportunity to gain further understanding of a pathogen I had long had an avid
fascination about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I got on a plane. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I knew
before I went the risk I was taking and that medical evacuation in the context
of Ebola was, at that time, essentially impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew if I contracted Ebola whilst working
in Liberia I would likely die a painful and lonely death in Liberia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no experience of managing Ebola and no
formal training in personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontamination
measures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trained by Dr Kent Brantly, Dr John
Fankhauser and Dr Debbie Eisenhut, three US physicians who had been working in
Liberia long before Ebola ever arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had set up a small isolation facility at the ELWA mission hospital as
they were acutely aware Ebola would at some point arrive on their doorstep; at
the time there were no treatment facilities in Monrovia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of June Ebola did land on their
doorstep and that is where this story really begins."</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><strong>The Task Ahead</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Having said all this I believe my main tasks are going to be driving into town to network with police officials, the United Nations, U.S. Embassy, NCIS, the Emergency Operations Center for all NGO's (Non Governmental Organizations) and others. All for the purpose of maintaining oversight of security on a national and local level to provide the best up to date protection for the many SP staff working in Liberia. We currently have approximately 95 security personnel throughout Liberia with the majority of them here at the Samaritans Purse Monrovia base headquarters. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I would appreciate your prayers that during the networking with police officials that we may see in the future an opportunity to bring U.S police officers to help train and integrate the officers with the needs of the Liberian people through our work with Safe Harbor International. I will try to post some pictures in the coming days of the SP Compound along with portions of Monrovia and its people. I may not be able to pick up children and hug them but I can take lots of pictures. Pray for these children. First that they stay safe and free from further spreading of Ebola and second for the start to the healing of the long term trauma they have gone through losing friends and loved ones.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jesus says a lot about helping the poor and the afflicted. It is encouraging to see fellow believers willing to demonstrate radical love by pouring themselves out for so many in desperate need of care and protection. </span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-58-10"></span>Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-30507817008839875132015-01-10T17:12:00.001-08:002015-01-10T17:12:17.778-08:00First Impressions Ebola Emergency Response Team Monrovia, Liberia West Africa<div style="text-align: center;">
December 10, 2015</div>
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"Walking on Sacred Ground"</div>
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Pictured Above: Samaritans Purse Helicopter</div>
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Disclaimer: All comments and personal opinions expressed are the sole opinion of the author and do not in any way serve to represent official news or statements from Samaritans Purse. Some specific details such as names or exact locations in Liberia may be omitted for security reasons.<br />
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I arrived via Brussels, Belgium in Monrovia, Liberia West Africa this past Monday evening just after 9PM. I had accepted a 51 day assignment with Samaritans Purse to serve as their Regional Security Manager alongside of the SP Ebola Emergency Response Team. As the Ebola crisis unfolded before the worlds eyes no amount of following Fox News coverage or research would prepare me for what I would begin to see, hear and experience once the sun rose on Tuesday.<br />
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My first three days were full with training and handing off of security protocols to me by the outgoing Regional Security Manager. The Samaritans Purse base in Monrovia, Liberia is large and a hub of activity with staff from Liberia and places like Canada, the U.S. and Switzerland to name a few. The staff starts each day with worship and devotion in the campus chapel. There are numerous personal stories among the Liberian staff some of whom have lost loved ones to the Ebola virus as well as tremendous empathy, compassion and the love of Christ shared by the expatriate staff serving day after day often with little or no rest.<br />
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This point of reference to the staff's devotion and commitment is what I want to impress you with in this first journal entry. Although there is much human desire and exertion of energy on behalf of those in desperate need of physical and spiritual healing it is not the source of their strength. Unmistakably the sole source of energy, grace, empathy, caring and compassion of these dear staff has come from Jesus Christ! It is absolutely and confidently why I can tell you that in just these first few days I have been ...<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">"Walking on Sacred Ground"</span></em></strong></div>
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One of the pilots and his wife serving here once attended the same church with us in Southern California. They were very involved with other staff back in July when two of SP's medical personnel contracted Ebola and thrust Liberia and SP into a news spotlight worldwide. Just today driving back from a job site Wendy was reading to Chris and me from a recently published book from an SP staff member describing the unimaginable chaos, extremes of emotion and grace of God experienced by all this past summer. We all took turns shedding tears as Wendy read during our very typical bumpy African ride. We shed tears because all of this was extremely real and personal to so many. God has sent angels through Samaritans Purse to be Jesus to these suffering moms, dads and precious children. <br />
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A doctor here has shared her blog with me of her journey through the most difficult days of the Ebola outbreak. In coming days I may be able to share some small appropriate samples. In all this we see the Liberian staff here loudly and confidently praising the Lord through the sharing of his word and worship. <br />
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My days will be filled with networking with police, government officials and other humanitarian aid groups working in Liberia. This week I attended the Liberian Emergency Operation Center networking meeting and met with a security group at the United States Embassy. Please pray with me for the ongoing safety for the staff here in Liberia.<br />
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Thank you for praying!!<br />
<br />
Dave<br />
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Pictured Above: The "Pod" trial assemble and load test for future Ebola patient transport if and when approved by Samaritans Purse</div>
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Pictured Above: Creating the sterile environment of the Pod</div>
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Pictured Above: Preparation for helicopter patient loading</div>
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Pictured Above: SP medical personnel inspecting components of the Pod</div>
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Pictured Above: Full Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) trial run. My role if a call out was approved would be to assure security at loading site in partial PPE flying in alongside of the full PPE team. Trial was to be familiarized in case an emergency arose requiring full PPE gear use.</div>
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Pictured Above: Each meticulous step of putting on full PPE gear and taking it off along with sterilizing spray at each step is always done with a buddy system to insure that not one step is missed.</div>
Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-88347968608357839122014-12-25T23:26:00.002-08:002014-12-26T01:10:05.769-08:00Liberia Blog Samaritans PurseBeginning the week of January 5th entries will begin to bring updates on the ground from Monrovia, Liberia West Africa. I have been asked to serve as the Program Manager for Safety and Security for Samaritans Purse. Please pray for safety for all of Samaritans Purse personnel involved with the Ebola Task Force and that the Gospel will continue to be proclaimed.<br />
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My hope is to share with you an honest open report of what is actually happening on the ground in areas of Liberia which has recently gained attention in world news. Due to security needs and protocols requiring some need for confidentiality there may be some day to day activities not shared. However, the reality of the suffering and needs in the areas served may be shared along with the stories of hope and steadfastness of a people who have suffered much over the past decade and longer. <br />
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The Gospel is a point of light that I hope to witness first hand penetrating the deepest levels of fear each child, mom and dad may endure in the face of the Ebola virus. Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-59439940695782216282012-01-03T10:30:00.000-08:002012-01-03T10:30:00.096-08:00Updated photos from South Sudan & Uganda!Check out our new photos on our home page and in our photo gallery along with an update of our latest trip into South Sudan & Uganda! Go to: <a href="http://www.policeoutreach.com/">www.PoliceOutreach.com</a>Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0Bend, OR, USA44.0581728 -121.3153095999999843.9961253 -121.38137509999997 44.1202203 -121.24924409999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-70430381029371456402010-10-09T14:56:00.000-07:002010-10-09T15:03:59.317-07:00Panoramic 360: Photo of Sudan HomecomingApril 12, 2010 United Kingdom:<br /><br />This is a great article from BBC. Here is an intro:<br /><br />"About two million have returned to their homes in the south since the 2005 peace deal. The BBC's Lucy Fleming visited the village of<br />Mathian Dit in the province of Northern Bahr al-Ghazal, where more than half the population is made up of returnees."<br /><br /><a href="http://neews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8609304">http://neews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8609304</a>Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-55205897345375588162010-10-09T14:42:00.000-07:002010-10-09T14:44:31.369-07:00History of Police Outreach in Sudan with Safe Harbor InternationalCheck out our "History of Police Outreach" revised section on our website at: <a href="http://www.policeoutreach.com/">www.policeoutreach.com</a>.Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-72276141733405398702010-05-31T19:50:00.000-07:002010-05-31T19:52:00.015-07:00Recently Returned from Sudan & Uganda!Go to the "Latest News" link on our home page for a full report of our three week trip working with the police and community in both Sudan and Uganda. We arrived home to the U.S. on April 16th. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.policeoutreach.com/">www.policeoutreach.com</a>Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-6739489401302731992009-10-14T15:22:00.000-07:002009-10-14T15:28:51.348-07:00Update on next trip to Sudan!We are in the process of putting together a team of police officers and chaplains to return to Sudan March 27 - April 10, 2010. I am raising $2000 which will provide for the rest of the need for this trip and a start towards the need for our next trip. My goal is to be able to take teams into Southern Sudan once a quarter for up to two weeks at a time. <br /><br />Our team will be working with Sudanese Police Officers and Command Staff in Juba, Southern Sudan. Our training will involve child protection programs, ethics, officer safety, mangement training, and community policing techniques. We also plan to take the team to Nyimbuli also in Southern Sudan where Safe Harbor has an ongoing work providing medical and food relief to surviving victims of the ongoing Genocide in Darfur. <br /><br />You can read more and participate in helping us by going to our website at: <a href="http://policeoutreach.hqters.com/">http://policeoutreach.hqters.com/</a>Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-41173010226293331762009-10-12T10:39:00.000-07:002009-10-12T10:57:26.888-07:00Killers Sentenced in Khartoum, SudanOur team arrived in Khartoum in 2008 shortly after the murder of Mr. Granville and his driver. Some have asked if these men were really the killers since they were tortured. We do know that our FBI had agents working directly with the Sudanese Police when we arrived and that they did have some leads. Our hope is that they did sentence the right men. <br /><br />The story is an example of why we covet the prayers of many when we travel in Sudan attempting to make a differnce and assist in helping the surviving victims of the continued genocide one man, woman, and child at a time. Visit our website to participate with us at <a href="http://policeoutreach.hqters.com/">http://policeoutreach.hqters.com/</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sudanese to hang over US killing</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The four men said their confessions had been obtained through torture. A Sudanese court has upheld a death sentence against four Islamists who shot dead a US envoy on 1 January 2008. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />John Granville, 33, and his Sudanese driver Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama were killed as they returned from a New Year's Eve party in Khartoum. Mr Granville's mother had earlier asked for the death sentence to be passed. Under Sudan's Islamic law, the family of a murder victim can either request the death penalty for those convicted, forgive them or ask for compensation.<br /><br />A death sentence was originally passed in June but some members of Mr Abbas' family then pardoned the killers, reports the AFP news agency. The four have always protested their innocence, saying their videotaped confessions were extracted under torture.<br /><br />Mr Granville was shot five times while travelling in his car. After the sentence was read out, defendant Mohaned Osman shouted: "This sentence is not credible," and said the US had murdered Muslims, according to Reuters news agency. In a letter read out to the Khartoum North court on Sunday, Mr Granville's mother formally demanded the death penalty in order to "safeguard the lives of others from those who killed her beloved son". There was no option of life imprisonment. <br /><br />The FBI had sent agents to help investigate the murder of Mr Granville, who worked for the US Agency for International Development. The incident shocked many people, including the small Western community in Khartoum. The Sudanese capital had previously been considered one of the safest in Africa. The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says there have been some concerns that the incident could prove damaging for the already fragile relationship between Sudan and the US. The Sudanese authorities condemned the attack immediately, and seem to have made resolving the case a priority, our reporter says.<br /><br />Reprinted from: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8302410.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8302410.stm</a><br /></span>Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-57702550582654501152009-09-08T12:20:00.000-07:002009-09-09T14:58:04.781-07:00An Open Door to Southern Sudan through Nairobi Kenya!I am excited to share some new developments that have a direct connection on our continued goal to train the police in Southern Sudan beginning primarily in Juba. The door is still open to not only provide training in areas such as ethics, officer safety, community policing and child protection but also to start a Police Chaplaincy program as well. Many of you know that this has been a time of waiting for increased financial support to once again begin making trips back into Sudan. With a difficult economy in the U.S. it has been hard for many non-profit organizations to raise funds. However, know that we are remaining patient knowing that the Lord will provide in His timing.<br />With current events in Sudan over the past several months it has become increasingly more difficult to enter Northern Sudan as an NGO (Non Governmental Organization). Because of safety concerns Safe Harbor made the decision not to maintain an office in Khartoum. The President of Sudan has kicked out several NGO’s accusing them of being spies for those outside of Sudan who would like to have him removed for crimes against the people of Sudan in Darfur.<br /><br />Safe Harbor recently made the decision to maintain their office in Nairobi, Kenya and I was asked to consider including our outreach to Kenyan police officers and authorities. Two goals are being developed out of this request. The first is to prepare for the day that we can have Christian Kenyan Police Officers, Pastors, and Chaplains join our teams to reach the Sudanese Police Officers in Juba and surrounding areas in Southern Sudan. Kenya as a nation has always been supportive of the South and would like to see them become successful in their quest to succeed from Northern Sudan. The second goal is to renew my previous contacts with the Christian Police Association of Kenya. I had the honor of being the keynote speaker at the University of Nairobi to assist in the launching of this organization in 1995. It would be exciting to see the development of an indigenous African outreach into Sudan through the help of Kenya.<br /><br />The financial connection mentioned earlier is the fact that it is much easier to find reasonable airfare from the U.S. into Nairobi. With just a few additional financial supporters we would be close to having the ability to make routine trips into Nairobi to launch this new approach to not only reaching officers and their families in Kenya but in Sudan as well. We have always been able to enter Southern Sudan from Kenya without having to deal with the authorities in the North. More details will follow but please for now begin to pray that the basics could be put into place to start this unique work.<br /><br />My passion has always been to reach those in places of authority with the Gospel through extended friendship followed by a sustained local effort for growth. The opportunities that this unique outreach allows flow far from simply reaching those in authority. In the past we have seen permission given to us to enhance other types of outreach such as helping those in and around Darfur in Sudan. In 2007 our team was allowed housing within the United Nations base in Northern Darfur because of our law enforcement connections. It would have never been allowed otherwise. In many third world countries the connections between law enforcement, government, and the military are almost seamless when certain people are your friends. Many times this provides for opportunities to process “red tape” that normally can take weeks to months to accomplish.<br /><br />Did you know that only 3% of missionaries on the field today are working with unreached people groups? Can you imagine the excitement I had to be part of a team in 2006 that walked into a large group of Arab Muslims near Darfur who had never heard the claims of the person of Jesus Christ? We had walked eleven miles in 120 degree heat where we heard these people were gathered after fleeing the genocide in Darfur. The conditions were horrible and yet the men still sat on the straw mats they had carried and served us tea! I just have to repeat that...they served us tea! With the exception of the leader of their group who had seen the British in the 1950’s the rest of the men, women, and children had never seen a white person or heard about Christianity! This is just how desolate and isolated some parts of Sudan can be and you allowed us to be their with your support in finances, prayer, and encouragement. I will never forget the words of their leader before we left. “Even if you are never able to return to us with medical supplies we will never forget your coming to us today!”<br /><br />There are 16,000 people groups in the world today and 6,000 of these groups are unreached. That equals one third of our world’s population! I am hoping to begin setting up this new strategy of outreach with a small team traveling to Nairobi within the next six months.<br /><br />I love a quote from William Wilberforce while drained of energy was once again attempting to overthrow slavery in England said, “Having seen all of this you can choose to look the other way, but you can never say again I did not know.”<br /><br />Will you in faith be part of going or sending and above all praying?Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210232557557613338.post-19934232859435186222009-05-14T22:50:00.000-07:002009-05-14T23:13:32.901-07:00Preparation through NetworkingI have found myself busy the last several months following up on great contacts received through social media connections. To give you some highlights of those contacts I have to tell you about a tremendous couple in Seattle, Washington. Joe and Heidi both battle with cancer and yet they still find time to help others. Joe volunteers his time on weekends to design and host websites for people who volunteer their time to help others...such as helping children and their parents in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Darfur</span>, Sudan. Thanks to Joe <a href="http://www.policeoutreach.hqters.com/">www.policeoutreach.hqters.com</a> is now up and running!<br /><br />Then there is Chuck Paris who I met through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Linkedin</span>. Thanks to Chuck our website is now featured on his site at <a href="http://www.leadercoaches.com/">www.LeaderCoaches.com</a>. I am very excited about how that connection might lead to getting the word out more effectively on the needs in Sudan. <br /><br />Finding people interested in helping us by giving financially or becoming team members or helping spread the word to others encourages us to move forward in our plans to return to Sudan . <br /><br />I want to comment in future BLOG postings about the specifics of what we can do through police consulting and assisting with humanitarian aid work throughout Sudan. My dream is to be able to travel with small teams up to four times a year to begin the long term process of establishing a work that runs without our frequent presence. The work involves giving the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sudanese</span> people a passion to carry on the work we help establish. <br /><br />There is much work to be done and although it is still very dangerous on the ground in Sudan I want to go as often as possible. Establishing our continued presence now will help tremendously when the region becomes more stable. I wish you could have been with me to see the difference between 2006 and 2007 in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Juba</span>. Southern Sudan is rebuilding and the Sudanese are proud of what they are doing to establish freedom from an abusive government and the ability to practice any religious expression they choose. <br /><br />The people of Sudan have suffered greatly and there hope and future are their children. I am looking forward to holding those children again. Making children laugh is worth the airfare all by itself. Children have not been laughing in Sudan for a very long time. There is much need for more of it and I am looking forward to holding many children again to look into their eyes...to see the hope for the future.Dave McDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386497153830898457noreply@blogger.com0