The story begins: Our own pastor David Dodd in 2006 was in Tanzania when orphaned Baby Esther was placed in his arms to take to the Fountain of Zoe in Moshi, tanzania. Esther was born with a rare birth defect called imperforate anus. Lanisse Cantelmo in 2008 visited the Fountain of Zoe while there on a short term mission trip. Lanisse’s love from the Lord for Esther has encouraged her to initiate the project called 'Mercy Project for Esther' in January of 2010. Lanisse researched and gathered the medical information that would best correct Esther’s condition that was potentially life threatening if uncorrected. Working with the Colorectal Center for Children at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center it was determined that $91,545.00 (US Dollars) was needed for the surgery in Ohio. At that time the only place this surgery could only be done in the U.S.
Then in March of 2010 Lanisse launched the official 'Mercy Project for Esther' kick-off fundraiser event. The event at her little church on a Saturday was a big success. They raised $4,600 as a result of the benefit spaghetti supper there in Lenoir, NC. With this encouragement we with Lanisse made the appeal to our friends and supporters of the children here in the U.S. We raised an additional $5,705.00 through mid September 2010 for a total of $10,305.00. More importantly all over the United States we were praying for Esther and her surgery. The government of Tanzania was putting pressure on Pastor Glorious and Josephine to do a rather crude surgery in Tanzania. The deadline was the end of September 2010.
Then Lanisse working with the doctor in Ohio learned he had trained a doctor in Ghana, West Africa, and the staff there could do the surgery that Esther needed. Immediately contacting this doctor, without knowing how much money we had, the hospital and doctor there, would do the surgery for $10,000.00. We rejoiced what seemed to be an impossibility our God had now made possible! We needed to get Esther and her caregiver, Mama Wia, to Ghana. The airfare God provided with a sponsor donation of $2,400.00.
Five-year-old Esther had the surgery in October 2010 and today January 2011 she is fully recovered and back in school in New Life Nursery School. Praise the Lord! Our God is an awesome God! To Him be all the glory!
