Marla

We read, watch, and feel we have a grasp on what life is like for the millions on the other side of the world who live in war torn countries, however our imagination cannot even come close to what reality is for these individuals living lives in these areas.

There was a man named Marla that shook me to my core, and left me in tears and praying a number of nights. Meeting him before his surgery, I learned about his story.

Marla was a business man, his work lead him to cross between the Guinea and Sierra Leone border on a weekly bases. Even once the RUF (Rebal United Front) started patrolling the boarder Marla had to continue with his travels to continue to provide for his new bride. The date was the early 2000's. One day on a routine trip crossing the boarder the RUF arrested him and proceeded to torture him. They were demanding information from him and continued to torture him until he lost conciousnes. when he awoke he was left with a padlock in his face. The boys and men had smashed his hard pallet (the roof of his mouth) with a knife and put the padlock up his nose and out his mouth, crushing his bone and teeth. This was their way to stop Marla from talking about what he had witnessed and gone through.

Marla on his second visit to Mercy Ships for a couple more surgeries.

An aid organization in Sierra Leone found Marla and took him to local hospital in attempt to remove the padlock from his face. They were unable to remove the lock, he was moved from one hospital to another, but no one could help him. He was left with this giant medal padlock attached to his face crushing his tissue. Finally the aid organization brought him to Conakry, Guinea and payed for his addmitting fee to the hospital and promised reconstruction surgery. In the hospital they ware able to remove the lock, leaving behind a mangled face. However the aid organization left him to cope on his on, providing no help in locating his family if they survived or with any follow up surgeries. He was left alone in Conakry and remained around the area since.

Three years ago Marla arrived at a screen in Sierra Leone for a Mercy Ship screen. This started his road to recovery. Marla has had several surgeries reconstructing his crushed face. March is when we welcomed Marla on board the ship once again. He was smiling and so happy to be on the ship.The surgeon was able to reconstruct his nose out of a forhead flap through a series of operations. In addition he placed a metal plate on the roof of Marla's mouth to reform his hard pallet.  Marla was so thankfull for all the care he was receiving and would lift his hands and praise God for his blessings. He was a man of strong faith. But how? How can he be? He has seen the bottom of humianity, he has been treated like a cripple ever since. We are sitting in our confotable lives, having our faith never being tested and we find it terrifying to share the gospel or even show others our hearts and love for God on a daily bases. We have it easy, we should be giving thanks daily, not just after a difficult time. Marla raising his hands in praise will forever be a reminder of how we are told to be bold with our faith, and give thanks allways.

Marla had his last surgery a week before the ship closed the hospital. He was given two nosterals in his reconstructed button nose. When I walked up to him on the unit after his surgery he called me over and demonstraigted how he was able to exhale through his nose! He was so excited and proud of his new face. I love that I was able to witness his stregth and faith through his recovery. He is going home with two nasel trumpets in place (they hold the airway open until the nose has healed) He will remove these in a few weeks time. Such an aazing story of a man overcoming the circumstances given to him. I was only his nurse, he was an example of faith being bold and Gods amazing Love. I feel so blessed to have been a part of his story and will miss Marla very much, he will forever be in my thoughts and prayers.

Marla a few days before leaving the ship with a fellow nurse Joe-ella.