Day 233 :)

Last evening, approximately 40 new and returning nurses arrived to the ship.  Hooray!!  Therefore, this week is orientation and meetings, meetings, meetings.  Wednesday, Feb 1 is our screening day at the stadium.  The hospital opens on Sunday, Feb 5, and surgeries begin on Monday, Feb 6. 
Please join us in praying for safety at the screening site.  We are also praying that only those whom God has a purpose for with Mercy Ships will come to the screening.  Also pray for hospital staff and the rest of the crew as we prepare for the hospital to be open and for the many Day Workers who are coming to join us in the work God is doing.

Day 225

I thought this was quite a unique find, as a lady from my church back home is named Ida.  Today also happens to be her 96th Birthday!!  Happy Birthday, Ida!

Port of Tema, Ghana

Day 218

196 Day Workers boarded the Africa Mercy today for a safety briefing by the Captain.  I was very excited to meet the Togolese people I will be working with for this next outreach.  Most of the 196 worked with us when the ship was docked here in 2010.  They return again next week for further orientation.

Hopefully everyone had a happy New Year.  The ship was in Ghana for the holidays, which was very nice.  Now we are docked in Lome, Togo, which is more developed that Sierra Leone, but still very poor.   The level of excitement is very high, even walking through town, with many people recognizing Mercy Ships crew members.

Happy Monday!!

Day 203

Merry Christmas!!

My first Christmas on the Africa Mercy has been very nice.  There is a very close-knit community feeling with mainly familiar, long-term faces onboard.  I joined in the tradition of putting a shoe outside my door to be filled by the other crew members on Christmas Eve.  This morning, the hallways were lined with Christmas gifts and goodies that overflowed the shoes.

The past few weeks have been busy with events and activities helping everyone to get into the Christmas spirit.  Christmas caroling, craft night, Winter Wonderland, classic Christmas movies-tonight it was "A Charlie Brown Christmas"- and a Christmas Eve service last evening just to mention a few.  Sunday evening church has been Advent, leading up to last night when the final candle was lit.

It's such a blessing to have a community like the Africa Mercy, where everyone pulls together to make it a Christmas to remember, regardless of how far away home is.  Thank you crewmates!!  Merry Christmas to all.

Day 181

Many changes have been happening recently.  Last Thursday we loaded things from Admissions into a container which will then be lifted onto the ship for transport to Togo. 

Friday we had a celebration for the Day Workers at which we bid them farewell.  The uncertainty of whether or not I will ever see some of them again was rather sad.  Our team in Admissions was a pretty tight-knit group, as we spent many hours each day in a small tent.  We learned so much from each other.  I learned small small Krio, that it is unacceptable to only smile rather than say "Good Morning" and ask "How did you sleep?", and I got in trouble if I tried to do anything on my own without asking Florence for help.  She says she learned from me how to grunt.  I didn't realize how often I just made noise rather than actually talking.   There's a grunt for "Oh, I understand," "No," "Yes," "Maybe," "I don't know," "I don't care," "Absolutely not," etc. 

Saturday many Mercy Shippers enjoyed the wedding of two crew members: Gregory and Becca.  It was the most fun I've ever had at a wedding.  It was West African style in that there was lots of hooting and hollering during the service, mainly during the exchange of vows, and the kiss.  While the couple and certain others were signing the register, some brave folks formed a circle in the front of the church and danced, waving their handkerchiefs in the air. 

Monday began with most of the remaining nurses scrubbing floors, walls, and ceilings of the hospital.  Everything is being packed down very strategically so as to keep things from breaking during the sail. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were also filled with cleaning and packing. 

 While some were inside working, others were working outside. The Orthopedic and Admissions Tents were washed, dismantled, and stowed away for next year.  The dock seems a bit empty now with them gone. 

On Thursday I moved to my temporary job of Crew Services-Housekeeping.  I'm finding out how grateful I am for the work Housekeeping does in keeping the ship clean.  It's no picnic. 

We also said our goodbyes to 26 crew members on Thursday.  Goodbyes aren't very easy, even when it is "see you later;"  I saw many tears on Thursday, not excluding myself.  We sent them off in true Mercy Ships fashion by lining up and waving until the vehicle(s) could no longer be seen.

Goodbye!!  The ship has been very quiet and empty the past few days...you are missed!

Day 165

Comfort, on her day of Admission.

Yesterday was the last day of Admissions.  Today was the last day of surgeries.  Tomorrow is a Ship Holiday, making for a long weekend to relax a bit.  The next several weeks will be busy with packing and getting things ready for the sail.  Today we spent scrubbing the tent, getting it ready for pack-down.  The hospital will soon close, and I have been advised that I am moving to Crew Services on my birthday, where I will remain until time to start up Admissions again. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped to give me this opportunity to meet people from around the world, to work with people that I otherwise would never have met, etc.  I pray God continues to change me and make me into the woman he plans me to be.  I was reminded today of my need to be a bit more culturally sensitive at times.  May I have a willingness to keep learning as we move onto our next service in Togo. 

~ Day 148 ~

Saturday, October 29, was Blessing's wedding.  He works with us as a translator in Admissions.  Such a fun experience to see how they do weddings here in Sierra Leone.

The happy groom, patiently waiting for his bride to arrive.

I think this was the ring ceremony.  If you see the aerosol can in the bridesmaid's hand...we tried to figure out what it was.  It was somewhat like artificial snow or feathers, but evaporated pretty quickly.  She sprayed it after each one said their vows, etc.  Guess it's possibly the equivalent to silly string :)

Re-entering after signing the "register," otherwise known as the marriage license. 

Florence and I :)