our lifesong

beautiful things.

2011-09-19T19:00:00.000+02:00

This post has nothing to do with Africa or Mercy Ships, but since many of you have been praying for us, I thought I'd give you a quick update...

BIG things have been going on around here in the last couple of weeks! We both have recently become EMPLOYED!!! Praise God! Can I get an "Amen?" :)

Oh, I can't tell you what an enormous weight has been lifted, especially off my husband. And how relieved we are. Its been tough waiting. It sucks actually :) And I must confess that there were times when my flesh wondered what God was doing... when, Lord, when? I don't know if I "passed the test." I wish I had trusted Him even more. But, I CAN say I never doubted Him. Amidst the unknown, His faithfulness I clung.

So, today was my "first day." I sat in class for eight hours; computer training tomorrow and the next. Then to the real fun on Thursday. :) Tim starts on Wednesday!! Because of HIS timing, we were able to celebrate our 7th anniversary yesterday work-free! :)

All this to say, God turns beauty from ashes.

He is in the business of making beautiful things. Breathtakingly beautiful.

In His time. :)

(above photo by Marty Schwebel)

the necklace.

2011-08-30T13:30:00.002+02:00

This is the necklace my mom wore while we were

in Africa.

It is now in hanging from the

rearview mirror in my car.

I love this because I see it as a simple

reminder for me to pray...

... to pray for Africa and her people, the ship

and its crew, and the patients.

I see this when I get in and out of the car.

every. single. time.

And I say a short prayer...

Africa, you not only are forever on my heart and mind.

But in my prayers too.

sweetly broken

2011-08-25T22:21:00.016+02:00

... And my SOUL SINGS!

Total surrender.

Its a daily choice in every season. But why is it, that its so much harder to surrender during the times you need to the most? The times when we hold on so tight?

As I walk the desert, I have found some solace in a certain song. Three songs in particular.

They echo my heart's cry.

And I pray they encourage you as they have me... (But first, pause the music at the sidebar on the right to enjoy these songs).

If you don't want to listen to all three, listen to the last one, Savior King (my fave) :)

My portion is HIM. And I am MORE THAN blessed!!

I especially love these words from Savior King:

We love you Lord, we worship you
You are our God, you alone are good

I love you Lord, I worship you
Hope which was lost, now stands renewed
I give my life to honor this
The love of Christ, the savior king

Oh Lord, here am I, all of me; take my life, its all for Thee.

I holy surrender.

the desert

2011-08-22T20:06:00.016+02:00

Been home just over three months. And its been far from easy. The transition has been more difficult than either of us expected.

Tim's aunt and uncle died when we were in Sierra Leone. So immediately upon our return, Tim spent large amounts of time working through and dealing with what was left behind. Shortly after, our only car needed some work-up. We soon discovered that the new debit card that we had been waiting and waiting for was stolen from our locked mailbox?! Large amounts of money were withdrawn from our bank account and quickly spent all across town. Fortunately, the bank reimbursed us every penny. Thank God. But this caused a lot of paperwork and time for my amazing and hard-working hubby. We also moved back into our house, spending hours washing every piece of item because it had been in storage for almost three years. Oh, and painting (thanks to the help of my twin sis)!

Don't get me wrong, its been incredibly wonderful and sweet to be so close to family again! And to reconnect with friends that we have history with; that know us longer than weeks or months at a time. Yes, these are blessings. Rich blessings. I got to spend a few days with my big sis who came up from California. And my twin sis from Colorado was here for a whole month! TOTAL BLISS. And it was so much fun moving back into our house! I loved unpacking each item again and making our house into a home. Wow! We have way more than we need. And so much SPACE!! We practically live in only half our house. Thus, "the great purge of 2011." :)

Its just been hard. We expected to get jobs fairly quickly. At least I did. With nursing there's always a need, right? Not so much right now. After a couple months, we're both still unemployed. We spend most of our time searching and applying for jobs. And staying close to home so as to save on money and gas. We are together almost 100% of the time. I love my husband. But space is healthy. It has stretched us and our marriage. We are also looking for a new church. I know, another transition. We love our prior church, but it is so far away. We spent more time in the car than at church. :) We want to plug into a church more in our community. Every Sunday we go to a new one. Its exhausting. And lonely. I'm pretty sure Satan is working over-time on us. :) But don't worry, he doesn't stand a chance. :)

I guess I just feel dry. And empty. Right now I'm not where I want to be in so many ways. I'm not working. So I don't feel fulfilled in that way. I feel distant from the Lord. I can't help but wonder a lot of things. Did we hear Him right? Should we have stayed? He feels so far away right now.

I am now at a point where I can finally see pictures of Sierra Leone again. Before, I avoided it because it was too painful. So much of me wants to go back. At least there I was doing something. My heart was so full. Here, many things are so familiar. And yet others feel so foreign. My heart wonders if I am made for this. For a life that will soon consist of work, eat, and sleep again. I know there is more to this. I lived it over in Africa. How do I live it here?

I feel like the Israelites; wandering the desert, in need of direction. Waiting, and longing, for the Promised Land. Wondering if it will ever be.

For us, its a dry season right now. Just keeping it real, folks. :)

But, let me end on a positive note... God IS faithful! He has made that one very clear to us in this season we are walking. He continues to provide for us daily. From the almost-free-to-us 2nd vehicle, to the unexpected money coming our way; from the extra time with family and friends, to the temporary job the Lord just provided my husband.

God IS still GOOD in the desert. All the time.

touches of Africa

2011-08-12T23:58:00.022+02:00

Its hard to believe we have been home three months now... Seriously?!! Close to 100 days. Wowza! :) The transition and adjustment has been slow; difficult in some ways. I'm not ready to write about it yet. Still processing... 2 1/2 years worth. That is A LOT. I will put some of it into words when I think I can do it without tears rolling down my face because of the overwhelming flood of sweet, sweet memories...

But one of the things that has helped ease it, is bringing a little bit of that dear continent into our home since moving back into our house and settling in. The memories... mental images... everything... I still think about EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I hope I always will. And I think having these added "touches" in our home will be simple reminders to the eye on a daily basis.

These are not just "souvenirs" from a memorable trip/vacation once taken that's now in the past. Nope, to us, these are our favorites from a place we once lived, breathed, and experienced for a short 2 1/2 years that will forever remain in our hearts...

Brought from Africa (Benin, Togo, South Africa, & Sierra Leone) to our home:

Ebony wooden elephant from S.L on our living room mantel.

I love Sierra Leone from Sierra Leone :),

Hand-painted card of the country of Benin from Benin :)

(From our window sill above the kitchen sink)

Photo I took from an outdoor restaurant in South Africa.

(Kitchen counter)

Safari pics I took in South Africa.

(Dining Room)

My fave!! The African woman/momma... from Benin.

(Hallway Wall)

Photos of coconut I took in Sierra Leone... love, love, LOVE :)

(Another wall in same hallway)

Table runner from scrap fabric leftover from a skirt I had made in Togo.

(it needs to be ironed) :)

Fabric from Benin to hopefully be made to cover these leopard throw pillows.

(Basement Family Room)

Photo I took from Togo's arrival ceremony. Words are from a friend :)

(Office desk)

Love design not from Africa, but I fell in-love with it when I saw it...

printed it and then framed it.

(Mudroom towards basement)

My "overnight bag," water bottle carrier, and coin/cellphone purse :)

(Mudroom)

... Thanking God for these treasures.

faces of hope

2011-08-07T15:04:00.001+02:00

We recently made a photo video of all the "faces" of those who impacted our lives during our service with Mercy Ships: Benin, Togo, and Sierra Leone.

I've tried unsuccessfully to upload it to blogger...

Please go here and click on "Faces of Hope" to view the video.

Enjoy!

All Glory be to God...

Goodbye Africa.

2011-04-18T09:00:00.000+02:00

The time is here.

This part of the journey has come to an end.

Today we may be leaving Africa, but not without leaving a piece of our hearts behind.

We will be spending a few weeks traveling on the way home, so we'll be silent for a little while. We will be home come the end of May.

Thank you for walking this journey with us!! We are forever grateful.

nursing on the AFM

2011-04-16T19:09:00.006+02:00

Before I leave, I thought I'd finally write down (0r rather list) some of the quirky things that make nursing on the Africa Mercy unique, interesting, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. I came up with thirty, but I'm sure there are more. :)

You know you're a nurse on the AFM when...

1. Your coworkers are also your roommates.

2. You can roll out of bed 20 minutes before your shift starts, walk up to breakfast, eat, and still make it on time.

3. The commute to work is a less than five minute walk down the hall or down a flight of stairs.

4. It doesn't phase you that men, women, and children all share one big hospital room.

5. You ask your patient a question and the patient in the next bed answers it.

6. You find yourself using the strangest gestures to communicate with your patient.

7. Your patient's mother sleeps under the bed and it's perfectly normal.

8. You give ensure for the NG feed. And if it the tube is obstructed, you just pour down some coca-cola to remove the obstruction.

9. You give Lactulose like there's no tomorrow to keep "the bowels open."

10. Your coworker tells you she's "going for tea" (her lunch break, of course).

11. You have to share two to three vital sign machines between 20 patients cuz there just aren't enough to go around.

12. You work with nurses from all over the world.

13. The stethoscope feels heavy around the neck because you haven't used it in ages.

14. You check your patient's bags before discharge and they don't think anything of it.

15. Sometimes you use three-way translation to communicate with your patient. Like the patient two wards down who can speak to the patient's mother in the next bed who then can speak to the translator who speaks to the patient. Still following? :)

16. You instruct your patient how to make clean water for their wound care at home.

17. You give injectable Fentanyl by mouth as a premed. And Tylenol sounds funny because you've been calling it "Paracetamol" for so long.

18. You have to remind your patients multiple times not to sit on each other's bed.

19. You have to show your patient how to use the toilet and shower.

20. Singing and dancing are a daily occurrence.

21. You muster your patients every week for a fire drill.

22. You work days, evenings, and nights. And sometimes all three in the same week.

23. Sometimes you eat the patient food if there is leftovers because you like the African food.

24. Supplies change depending on what's donated.

25. You hand write everything because there is no such thing as computer-charting.

26. What's a pyxis?

27. Your patient has never been on a ship before, let alone seen the ocean.

28. Your oriented patient sleeps through the night.

30. You use betadine for everything, and a curtain with magnets for privacy.

Most importantly, Jesus is the center. He is the focus of what we do and why we are here. We share a common thread and we are here because we WANT to be. And prayer is ESSENTIAL. We begin and end each shift in prayer together. We pray with our patients and for each other. Because that's just what we do. And because we are wise enough to know we can't do what we do on our own strength.

Some of us nurses at my goodbye party

Sandra and Namina

2011-04-16T18:48:00.005+02:00

I first met Sandra while on Advance here in Sierra Leone. We instantly connected and she has become a dear friend of mine over the last six months. Her friendship has been a blessing and her heart for missions and 'Salone' is an inspiration. I will miss her.

-------------------------

Chapter One: Dr. Sandra Lako helps a child in need

Born in The Netherlands, Sandra Lako’s childhood years took an adventurous voyage across the African seas. Her family took a leap of faith and committed to long-term mission work onboard the Mercy Ships hospital ship, the Anastasis.

They served mainly in the impoverished countries of West Africa. So, from the tender age of two, Sandra was immersed in a lifestyle of serving the needs of the most deprived communities in the poorest nations. This was the life she understood and embraced. She recalls life on the ship as being contented and sheltered in some ways. Attending the ship’s academy enabled her to develop confidence and to find fulfilment in educational achievement.

Sandra’s unique upbringing offered opportunities that ignited her passion for medical work. At fifteen, she helped with some medical teams onshore. There had been a measles outbreak which left a trail of devastation in the health of the local population. Her duties were to help feed the malnourished sick children. On her first day, she witnessed children dying. That moment forever changed her life. She says, “There was so little to do to help. I felt helpless. It triggered thoughts that, medically, to have skills would actively help.”

That thought led eighteen-year-old Sandra to leave the ship, return to The Netherlands, and complete her education to qualify as a doctor. First, she achieved the International Baccalaureate qualifications needed for medical school before attending Nijmegen Medical School. During her studies, she visited The Gambia for her internship (elective), and then she went to Tanzania in her final year at medical school. Both experiences confirmed her passion to use her medical skills to help the poor. Finally, she completed a diploma program at the Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases. Now, she was primed and ready to practice as a doctor in Africa.

Shortly afterwards, in March 2005, she was presented with an incredible opportunity. Mercy Ships was planning to open a land-based facility in Freetown, Sierra Leone. They required a doctor to set up a clinic, but the scope of the services to be offered was undecided. Dr. Sandra valiantly took on the responsibility and immediately set about researching the priority health services needed.

To identify the optimal use for the new facility, she explored the local health system by shadowing doctors in local hospitals. Despite urgent medical needs for all the local population, Dr. Sandra discovered some alarming statistics regarding the high mortality rate of children – 1 in 5 children do not reach the age of five years old. She convinced the local community leaders that there was an over-riding need to provide a clinic for children. In May 2005, the clinic opened.

Early in 2009 a very sick child arrived at her clinic suffering from a condition commonly known as noma. This malicious and aggressive bacteria destroys the flesh. For most sufferers, it results in death. In fact, there is a 90% mortality rate.

This case was unusual. The little five-year-old girl, Namina Yillah had survived the condition for two months. Although her fighting spirit had avoided death, the severity of her symptoms was evident. Her face tragically displayed a gaping hole lined with decomposing tissue. To make matters even worse, her significant malnutrition was an imposing threat to her recovery.

Although the case looked impossible to treat, Dr. Sandra repeatedly asked herself, “How can we help?” This positive approach demonstrates the optimistic outlook and the resilience in the face of adversity that is so intrinsically in the heart of Dr. Sandra. She carefully evaluated every option for success.

There were no immediate solutions. Fundamentally, Namina had survived against all odds. Dr. Sandra decided to treat the wound and change the dressing every day. This intensive treatment was accompanied with improving Namina’s general health by providing multi-vitamins and cartons of milk.

After six months of daily treatment, the infection cleared and the wound stabilized. Namina was finally ready to receive surgery to rebuild her face. However, the local medical teams had little expertise and no facilities to perform this type of surgery. Only Mercy Ships could provide the treatment Namina so desperately needed. So the daily treatment continued for the next 18 months while waiting for the Africa Mercy to come to Sierra Leone.

During that time, Namina’s health remained in a delicate state. She was vulnerable to contagious bacteria and suffered from several illnesses, including malaria and chest infections. Dr. Sandra recalls, “She was a very sad little girl. We had to wait until the end of the day to do her dressing changes due to the pain. She was so brave.”

Finally, they received the news they had anxiously awaited! The Africa Mercy had docked in Freetown. The hospital ship . . . and hope . . . had arrived!

To be continued . . .

Story by Claire Ross
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell

salone snacks

2011-04-15T16:38:00.015+02:00

I've been meaning to write about what we'd refer to as the "walking Wal-Mart" on Advance (more for my documentation and memory). When sitting in traffic, people walk up and down the streets selling any and everything. You can purchase items (food, clothing, games, furniture) from your window without even stepping foot out of the car... you name it and they can find it for you :)

I love me some "sweet" popcorn in a bag.

And plaintain chips.

My favorite is coconut water. And its so good for you too. :)

....mmmmm. yum. The flesh is like the dessert after your meal. Love it!

noble things.

2011-04-13T22:19:00.024+02:00

A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

She selects wool and flax and

works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark;

She provides food for her family and

portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff and

grasps spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor and

extends her hands to the needy.

She has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household.

Her children arise and call her blessed.

He makes all things new.

2011-04-07T22:28:00.029+02:00

Life after the rain. Fresh start. New beginnings.

These words encompass the last few weeks of my silence, as well as my current state of heart, and what i believe is still yet to come.

Life after the rain. For all those of you who responded to my 'plea

for prayer' and did just that, thank you. The second screening was completely night and day from the first. The crowd was organized, calm, quiet, and things went very smoothly. We rejoice in the 300+ people who received surgery dates over the next ten months!! PTL!

Fresh start. We are finishing our fourth week of surgery! Does anyone else besides me think that's just crazy? :) Its been busy, busy, busy all over the ship as we have become "operational" again. Days have been full of getting the hospital up and running again, orienting new staff, starting surgeries, preparing for and hosting the medical reception, and then dealing with some challenges over some of the processes in place with our host country. Tim spent the last few weeks finishing up advance work, affectionately referred to as the "Container Expediter," a title he is glad to hand over. :) I have enjoyed being back on the wards, where my heart is. Although advance was a privileged experience, it reinforced my love of patient care over administration. Every day I see lives change before my eyes. Like Isatu, who wasn't allowed to go to school because of her cleft lip. She now smiles and is so excited to be able to go to school! Or Margaret, who said "those kids won't provoke me anymore" when she saw her face after surgery. Oh how I will miss this.

New beginnings. In just a couple short months we will be on American soil. Going home. A new chapter. Our minds are switching gears as we are talking about home now more than ever. And trying to get a handle on what that means and might possibly look like for us amidst the non-stop demands of our schedules. Truth is, we don't know. And quite honestly, for the first time in my life, I am okay with that. This way when God does reveal His plans, we are open to whatever, wherever, whenever. Over the last two plus years we have seen many, many people come and go. Countless goodbyes. Its surreal that it will soon be our turn. I don't think it will really hit home for me until months later, when the dust has settled, and there is some quiet to begin processing.

As for fun, last weekend we spent an adventurous day out with friends on Banana Island. After a two-hour car ride to the beach, we then took a sketchy boat ride across the ocean to the island. :) We spent a lovely afternoon on a secluded beach that included napping in a hammock and eating a delicious meal of fresh tuna, lobster, couscous, and hummus.

Plea for Prayer

2011-03-23T22:05:00.004+02:00

Dear Friends,

In three days Mercy Ships will be hosting another screening on Saturday, the 26th of May.

Can I please ask you to fall to your knees in prayer to our Father over this day? I can't help but feel like a soldier who is getting ready for war...We NEED prayer coverage as our battle is not against flesh and blood, but the powers of darkness. The Evil One does not want us to demonstrate the love of God through our surgeries.

Please pray for peace among the crowd; safety and protection over the people and our staff; and that we can see as many as possible.

Thank you,

h & t

the team.

2011-03-14T21:00:00.000+02:00

OR Nurses

(my ship BFF is the last one in the front row :)

Ward Nurses (Can you find me? :)

The guys, or "Murses" as they call themselves :)

The whole gang together (would you trust us to take care of you? :)

when there are no words

2011-03-14T20:30:00.002+02:00

Screening day: March 7th

We had our plans. But the Evil One had his. We had our hopes. And they had their dreams.

Please read about the tragic events that unfolded that day here.

Absolute desperation. We are grieving. They are searching. Please pray we can find the ones who desperately need our services.

There. Are. No. Words.

it came.

2011-03-14T20:15:00.002+02:00

After 4.5 months of intense preparation, and two weeks later than its original due date, the ship did come. Yes, eventually. February 27th. Oh happy day!

I can't tell you how much relief, excitement, and anticipation I felt watching the big white ship come sailing into port that day. How moving it was to be on the other side of the dock this time too; to welcome and receive it. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride too. All the work and time spent to get the ship here. And we were a part of it. :)

Walking up that gangway again and stepping onto the ship felt like coming home in a way. Our humble cabin has never looked so good. And we are reunited with our ship family and friends.

Life is good. Real good.

Its good to be back.

awareness.

2011-02-20T18:00:00.000+02:00

The top three killers of Africa:
1. Malaria
2. HIV/AIDS
3. Tuberculosis

Education is power.
Health is wealth.

{love}

2011-02-16T20:42:00.004+02:00

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.

25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Psalm 136

Happy "Love" month, friends!
HIS love is the greatest love of all!!

where did January go?

2011-02-06T15:35:00.015+02:00

I'm not sure where January went? :)

I was home for a total of one and a half weeks in the entire month. The rest of the month I spent upcountry participating in five different screenings. Tim's plate has been full managing the team's growing finances, dealing with changes in the port, coordinating immigration and passports, and much more. We have had over 12 people come and join the team in just the last couple weeks. Our first Mercy Team is here. Our HR team is very busy with the pre-hiring of day volunteers and a team is hard at work renovating the facility that will become the Hospitality Center. On top of all that, we just MOVED houses this weekend :-) But, we are still here. Just a little behind on blogging. :-) Oh, and did I mention that the ship comes in just THREE weeks?!!! This means its crunch time around here, folks :-)

For those of you who are new to the blog, Mercy Ships holds a mass screening shortly after they arrive into a new country to select patients for our surgeries over the entire ten months. This year, for the first time, we held five screenings upcountry before the ship arrives to reach far and wide; to reach those who don't have the means to travel to the big city. Hundreds of people come with great hope that they will be selected.

Between all the five sites combined, we saw over 7,000 people. We would show up at the hospital between 8 and 9 am and leave between 6 and 7 pm. We stayed at each site two to three days. If there was time on the last day, our doctor would do some minor operations where he removed small facial cysts or tumors. I got to be second assistant where I helped set up the tray with the supplies and be available where needed. I enjoyed it, but it reminded me why I didn't like my OR rotation in school: the long hours on my feet and the heat under the mask. :-)

Being a part of the upcountry screening was incredible in every way, but also one of the hardest things I've ever done. It wasn't easy pre-screening. I hated the words This is not something Mercy Ships can do, I'm sorry. And I said it OVER and OVER again. Yet, I was amazed at how easily most of them took the news. They accepted it and left. Almost too easily. Like they are a people who accept the fact that there is no medical and surgical services. Its for the rich. They are used to not being able to have it because they can't pay for it. They've lived with their condition for years, so what's a few more, right? Oh, but so very, very WRONG! I have seen some things I will probably never forget. I am amazed at what these people have lived with.

Seeing the crowd, the large numbers, it was easy to think that we wouldn't even put a dent into it; the need is SO great. The DESPERATION so real. Yet, we are going to help 350 people. That is why we are here. And that is the number I must focus on. And there are SO many, many, many more on a waiting list. Such hope. Many traveled days to come, just to hear I'm sorry. Yet I hope, desperately hope, they saw the love in each of our eyes and heard the compassion in our voices.

I don't remember a time when I have LONGED more for the Lord's coming than during these screenings. Because when He comes, there will be no hurt, no pain, no injustice, no need. Men will be whole and stomachs will be full.

May you, with me, rest in the truth that the Father is the Great Healer. And NOTHING is too great or too small for Him.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

village life.

2011-01-21T22:00:00.001+02:00

Disclaimer: Most of these photos were snapped from the road in a
very fast moving vehicle on a very bumpy road :)

The homestead.

Children are responsible for many of the household
duties and helping take care of their siblings.

Charcoal for cooking.

Wood for fire/cooking.

Charcoal and wood are left on the side of the road
because nobody will steal them. The poorest of all sell them, so
it is believed that one who steals from them will be cursed.

Drying the picked rice from the fields on the asphalt
under the sun.

Cow crossing :)

I love this picture because I think it represents Sierra Leone so well:
the beauty of the lush mountainous terrain surrounding a mosque...
so many of her people are imprisoned by their faith in a false prophet.

Fetching water multiple times a day is a way of life here.

Making chop chop :)

Women and children pound the food inside
these wooden pots with a large, solid stick.

Motorbike ambulances for laboring women
in an emergency! Ingenious or dangerous?! :)

Hitching a ride! This is quite typical. We waved, and then
was quite relieved when he smiled but didn't wave back :)

An African sunset.
Africa truly has the most beautiful sunsets.

up-country.

2011-01-08T23:00:00.000+02:00

The month of December brought busier days for me. My schedule picked up with the hustle and bustle of helping coordinate the five up country screenings (I leave for the first three tomorrow!).

I took three trips up country in three weeks. Two trips up north and one down south with the mission to liaise with the hospital (screening site), local police (for security and crowd control), and getting the word out with the resident ministers, district medical officers, and city councils. I went with a load of flyers and posters and came back with none. Mission accomplished :)

Although the days up country were full, going from here to there with no inbetween, I enjoyed getting out of the crowded and noisy city. The drive was VERY bumpy along unpaved, pot-holed roads, but it was a breath of fresh air as my eyes took in new scenery. I am intrigued by the village life.

Myself and the team leaves tomorrow for ten days. We will hold three screeenings. We expect a large number of people.

Can you please pray for us? Pray for strength as we endure long days. Please pray for patience and compassion towards those we serve. Pray that those who need these surgeries will know about the screening and be able to travel to them. Please pray for unity and team work among the four of us. Pray for wisdom as we make the hard decisions of who we can help. We only have so many spaces on the OR schedule. And lastly, we will be doing a LOT of traveling during this time. Please pray for our safety.

Thank you for covering us in prayer dear friends! So many of you go with us by your prayers.

Blogger is not letting me upload photos right now, so I'll post them when I return. :)

2 years.

2011-01-05T10:00:00.003+02:00

Two years ago today my husband and I embarked on a journey that would forever change our lives...

We boarded the plane that would take us to the ship. This ship would become our home for two years; The crew would later become our family away from family.

The experiences would shape us.

The people would leave their imprint.

The continent would break us (in a good way) and leave a lasting impact.

Two years ago, two years seemed like forever. I can't believe its already here.

Thanks be to God for his sweet and perfect will. He IS good.

Kroo Bay.

2010-12-28T17:00:00.001+02:00

Kroo Bay

The shanti slums of Freetown.
The poorest of the poor.

Here, homes are built too close to the ocean in the lowest part of the city... when the rains come, this community is flooded over.

Word Made Flesh, a ministry that reaches out to street children in this community, holds an outreach every Saturday for a couple hundred children living here. Each week they bring the children into the church where they pray, sing songs, hear about Jesus with a Bible story, and memorize a scripture.

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to go. I was very touched by this ministry. The ones who help lead the program for the little kiddos, are the very ones that were ministered to off the streets. You see, Word Made Flesh takes these young men and women and mentors them. These youth grow in their faith and later help minister to the next generation. Pretty incredible to watch. At the end, they pass out one hard boiled egg and chewable vitamin to each child. They are made to eat it then and there, so as to prevent them from saving it and taking it home to their families or to be sold off the streets. Pretty sad. For some, this may be their only source of protein for the week.

I was most honored when I was asked to help pray for the children. Before the children are dismissed, the staff take a couple rows and pray with each child by name. These sweet children sat so still, bowing their head as I prayed for them.

Lord Jesus, please provide food for these children and their families. Protect them from harm and evil things. Give them each the means to go to school. Keep them healthy and strong. And most importantly, Father, may they come to KNOW you and your love.
Amen

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T00:00:00.000+02:00

my african name

2010-12-20T19:00:00.003+02:00

Being in charge of "all things medical" for the advance work to the ship's arrival, I frequent the Ministry of Health at least once a week. :)

On this last week's visit I ended up waiting extra long for my appointment. I was chatting with Mariatou. We soon started talking about names. Mariatou asked me what my african name was. Being that I didn't have one, she spouted off different names for me. Since the meaning of the names are significant here, I asked her the meanings. I wanted to like the meaning of my name.

She replied, "Okay, your name is Rouba. It means blessing." That's it. LOVE, love, love it! :) As a nurse, my prayer has always been to be a blessing to my patients and their families.

I then asked her what her name is. "Sina, it means Twin." (because she's a twin). I of course piped that I'm a twin also. :)

So, now I have two names... Rouba-Sina.

I think they're pretty fitting. :)

spreading the word.

2010-12-14T12:00:00.003+02:00

For five screenings throughout the provinces... less than a month away!...

500 fliers dated and printed.

Check.

150 posters dated.

Check.

Whew!! :)

Now on to hand delivering them all... my work has only just begun :)

(Disclaimer, the fliers and posters were designed by our talented marketing team.
I am only the printing press and soon-to-be courier) :)

traffic woes.

2010-12-12T22:00:00.001+02:00

My documentation of our life here would not be complete if I didn't mention the TRAFFIC. It would be a huge omission of Freetown. :) Plus, its just part of life here. And since a big chunk of our day is spent in the car because of this, I thought I'd dedicate a post exclusively on it.

I have concluded that there are four main contributing factors :)...

Number One. The narrow streets and pot-filled roads. After living here, I am that much more appreciated of our excellent Oregon roads. I have vowed never again to curse road construction. :) The streets are two-laned(one lane each direction). Its unbelievable, and sometimes nerve-wracking, how cars can squeeze around each other in such small spaces! During the rush hours of the morning and evening, the two-laned streets make for a very long and slow drive. The drive to town can take up to two or three hours!! Add an accident or broken down vehicle... there is no such thing as a towing agency, so if a vehicle breaks down in the middle of the road both directions go around it. Not to mention if cars are parked on the side of the narrow road. Driving is tricky! I'm so glad I'm not driving :)

Number Two. People. Freetown is a mini New York City in terms of its number of people! It is incredibly concentrated. People walk/run/dodge around or in front of your car everywhere. Of course there are no sidewalks. But its how the city ticks. You just drive through the crowd, honking your way through. And this is normal. Granted, for the most part, people drive slower here. You just never know when an oncoming car is going to come your way, or when a pedestrian will decide to cross the road. I'm amazed that there aren't more accidents or fatalities.

Number Three. Public transportation. The poda podas (taxi vans) and taxi cars stop at anytime in the middle of the road to pick up people. No, they do not pull over. They simply stop, pick up the person, and go on. It is the most frustrating thing when you are behind them. There is no warning. And you are just expected to drive right around them.

Number Four. Street vendors/markets. The streets are lined with vendors. I love these (in fact, I'm going to write a separate post about them), but they contribute to the traffic because if you see something you want, you stop in the middle of the road and purchase it real quick. :)

All this to say, the drive is certainly not boring! There is lots to see. :) You just have to laugh. And that's what we do. We plan our appointments around the rush hours or factor in the drive time, and try our best to avoid it whenever possible.
Thank God for air-conditioned vehicles! :)

chop chop sweet!

2010-12-09T10:01:00.001+02:00

Plaintains are my most FAVE food in all of Africa! :) They are not the healthiest, being fried and all, but they sure are DELISH!

Or as they say here, "chop, chop sweet!"

our friend.

2010-12-09T10:00:00.001+02:00

Meet our friend "Doxy."

Since we've moved on land, we meet every day for breakfast.

So far the relationship has gone well; no unpleasant results yet (thank God).

We are pleased to say that he's kept his end of the deal thus far (no malaria).

We, however, hope to never live a day here without each other!

Yet, somehow, he's one friend I'm not going to miss.

broken world.

2010-12-05T10:00:00.007+02:00

This past week I received bad news from home concerning those I loved. A family member's marriage is ending, along with a high school teacher that I admired.

A dear friend back home is still fighting a custody battle for her foster daughter.

Another friend's former husband just remarried.

We live in a broken and fallen world. In a world where the sacred bond of marriage is defiled and families are broken; where the foster system and orphanages exist because we have such thing as orphans. It's here and back home. My twin sis and bestie back home both have little students who go to bed hungry.

Its ugly. Its messy. Its uncomfortable.

One of the hardest and most uncomfortable things here, compared to the other West African countries that we've served, is the beggars.

Men, women, and children. Children who beg with their blind parent for money and food. Who aren't in school because they escort their relative around pleading for money.

I saw them in Benin and Togo. But not in these numbers. They are everywhere. Here, because of the war, there are so many war victims in wheel chairs or without a limb(s).

The hard part is that they come up to your window when it stops in traffic. Different ones. All the time. And especially because of my white skin (which signifies wealth here).

I struggle with this. The need is so great, how do you know which ones to give? I can't give to them all. Where do you draw the line when the need is everywhere? Some of them I assume (right or wrong) are doing it because they can, even though they are able-bodied to work. Consequently, because of the overwhelming need, I tend to swing to the extreme and rarely give at all; I smile, turn my head and look away until they leave, moving to the car behind me.

When Jesus said to feed the hungry and clothe the needy, what does that mean here? What does it look like?

Just some of my heart ponderings...

...but, I do know THIS!...

on a lighter note...

2010-12-03T09:00:00.001+02:00

...We got serenaded last night with Christmas music by musicians from the local Police Division!! The band of six had one trombone, saxophone, tuba, and three trumpets and were going around the neighborhood bringing Christmas cheer and greetings. Having been in marching band through high school, I was quite impressed with the number of songs they had memorized! :)

Aren't they cute? :)

Can you believe it's December already?!

I just love this and had to snap a picture :)

Hope you have a great weekend!

muchas gracias.

2010-12-01T23:00:00.000+02:00

Thanks dear friends for your sweet comments on my last post.

You have encouraged my heart so. I feel so loved. :)

Thanks, thanks, THANK YOU for your prayers... please keep them coming, they are truly carrying us through.

We couldn't do this without each of you!

Hugs,
Hannah (& Tim)

too comfortable.

2010-11-28T23:44:00.010+02:00

Each day here I am reminded of how much I have.

I step out of our concrete-walled house, and exit through our walled compound safely secured by a guard and I see it.

All.around.me.

I see our neighbors sitting outside their one-roomed homes made of metal scraps.

I see it through the tattered, old, simplistic clothing that covers them and their children. Bras are for the rich.

I see it in Margaret’s 3-roomed orphanage with maybe 10 beds for 17 children without a mom or dad.

I see it in their diet. Vegetables are for the wealthy, referred to as “rich food.”

I see it in the lack of water.

I see it in the men (and children) who pound rock into tiny pieces all day for money.

I see it in adverts along the road for HIV treatment

I see it in the children on the streets selling stuff to earn money instead of being in school earning an education.

I see it in eyes of the beggars that surround my car everywhere I go.

I see it in our guards who don’t take a single day off because they can’t afford to.

I saw it in our friend who almost died of malaria.

And just this last week I was beginning to feel sorry for myself. We have been without running water for a week now. I’ve had bucket showers the past few days for the first time. And let me tell you, it’s a little tricky. I can't get over the stench of the toilet from not being able to flush it. At times it can be inconvenient to filter water or boil it. I’ve been longing to go for a run by myself somewhere, anywhere. Or to get back into a regular exercise routine in a gym. I’ve been craving a vegetable salad with broccoli and craisins, and all the various things I love in a salad. Or even fruit (other than pineapple and overripe bananas). Just the other day I was aching for home and all the things I get to do… eat… go… the conveniences.

Then, all I have to do is step out of our house and I am ashamed. I have become too comfortable. I have been so blessed to live such a cozy life (of which I'm SO thankful for). Where unlimited, clean water is for granted. Where we can choose our diet. Like whether we want (or need) organic and vegetarian. Meat is a treat here! Inside I too often want to complain at how hot it is when the majority don’t even have electricity (let alone a/c). I get a little perturbed when the internet is too slow, or even down.

Yet I get to eat three meals a day, sleep on a matress atop a bed, mostly have a proper shower, and drink water whenever I am thirsty. Tonight I have a light bulb to aid my reading or guide my steps to the bathroom, air-conditioning to keep me comfortable, and the internet to stay current with friends on Facebook (or blog) :). They have a small flame. For cooking, for light…for everything.

It’s just that in my excess; my convenient and comfortable lifestyle has brought me discontentment when stripped bare.

I have... Too much. I live... Too easy. I am... Too comfortable.

May you count your many blessings with me this holiday season!

Giving thanks

2010-11-26T22:00:00.005+02:00

Thanks to our friends at the U.S. Embassy, we were invited to a Thanksgiving meal and celebration with local Peace Corps residents.

We were surprised at all the food! We may be in Africa, but that won't stop Americans from getting their turkey :) Not only was there a turkey, but THREE turkeys!!

We were blown away at their generosity and hospitality. This year we were not with our families (at home on the ship or at home in the states), yet we were surrounded by those who share a heart for the world outside of "the American dream."

Although we have only been here just over a month, we feel the strong sense of community here among the nationals and the ex-pats. People take care of each other here. They look after one another. So many we have met have connections with "this person" or "that person" who can help us with this or that. So quick to help.

I love that.

I am so thankful and blessed to live in Africa. Not many have this opportunity. Very few can quit their jobs, leave their home, and say good-bye to friends and family (who are supportive!). I have experienced so much in these last two years. All the things my eyes have seen and the emotions my heart has felt... all the memories created... I would not trade them for the world.

I may not have seen a paycheck or increased my bank account, but I have seen and experienced more than what money could ever buy and have increased my capacity to love. God is showing us and teaching us so much.

I am forever changed.

For this, I give thanks.

loot.

2010-11-22T18:00:00.002+02:00

Le10,000 is the highest bill of currency here...

...too bad that's only worth $2.50!! :)

(Still can't help but feel a little loaded with a purse full of "10,000" bills, or feel a little surprised when the cash register reads at total of a hundred and something thousand!) :)

oh happy day!

2010-11-20T17:15:00.000+02:00

We FINALLY got the container cleared!!!

After weeks and many HOURS and LONG days at the port pushing to get the process moving, my amazing husband's hard work paid off :)

Can I just say I am married to one incredible guy! He put up with so much over these last weeks, and with SUCH ease and wisdom through it all.

It was an early Christmas around here when we opened the container from Texas and found items like this one! :)

Now we have things like cereal, tea, jam, chips and salsa, ecetera that will last us a really long time!

A BIG shout-out to my husband
and a HUGE "Thank-you" to our "family" at the IOC who stocked us up real good!! :)

the seamstress.

2010-11-19T17:30:00.000+02:00

house guest.

2010-11-19T17:15:00.000+02:00

Unfortunately (for him), this one didn't survive the visit. :)

i'll race you. :)

2010-11-18T20:00:00.001+02:00

sneak peek.

2010-11-18T19:55:00.000+02:00

lovely day.

2010-11-16T17:00:00.002+02:00

Saturday afternoon spent at a BEAUTIFUL beach together

WHITE sand and crystal clear, WARM ocean

doing absolutely NOTHING

one LOVELY day.

Tel God Tenke

2010-11-14T18:00:00.003+02:00

I've been meaning to write this post for over a week now. Its just that our internet connection is so hit and miss most of the time.

The end of our third week here, God MOVED in big ways for us! And all at once I might add! :) ...

We'd been struggling with getting our containers cleared through custom. Its just a SLOW process here, one thing after another. Many items on it, like a BIG refridgerator, were greatly needed. Not to mention how it would make our lives so much easier. :) We'd also been needing a very important document signed by the V.P that would ease cooperation from the different governmental bodies, allowing us to move forward in many areas. Unfortunately, however, it wasn't appearing to be a priority (according to OUR timeline, I should say). In addition, we had our eyes and hearts set on the PEFECT location for our hospitality center and dental sites. But, were meeting some resistance and unrealistic demands. Oh how we desperately need, and must depend on, HIM!!

On Thursday we sent an email to our entire ship family, sharing with them the above challenges and ASKING for PRAYER!! And they did just that. They spent a special time in prayer over these requests. The next morning we had our first weekly prayer meeting with some local pastors to lift each other up in prayer. Again, we shared these needs. What a sweet time of fellowship and prayer together! These are godly men, the church, who want to serve along side us and help in any way. I was so encouraged by this time with our "brothers." The Lord was already at work...

From our prayer meeting began the day that just wouldn't seem to END! :) We joined Tim at the port, where he'd been coordinating all morning with the port and customs' officials to get our containers out. But first, we met with a certain powerful individual who basically said the site we were wanting was ours! Two hours later we heard that our letter of cooperation had been signed! TWELVE hours later (since Tim arrived), we drove out of the port followed by the truck carrying our CLEARED container!!

Yes, the day that never seemed to end. But it did. And with blessing after blessing.

The. power. of. prayer.

AND, I'm not even done yet :) Just TWO days later I spoke with my family and learned that we have new RENTERS!! Our home had only been vacant by a matter of WEEKS!! Oh, the Lord is so good to us!

Just thought I'd let you all know the FRUIT of YOUR PRAYERS!!! Thanks for being such a CRUCIAL part of what we are doing here. xoxo

Tel God Tenke!! (Thanks Be To God! in Krio)

therapy

2010-11-08T22:05:00.002+02:00

I have found my spot...

The two mile trek up hill (from our house) releases stress and provides some exercise.

The incredible views and lush landscape bring wonder and renewal.

The excited "Hello!" from the children I pass along the way, bring a smile.

The quiet solace brings me peace.

The time alone with my husband brings contentment and joy.

And the best part is, its practically in our back yard.

...Medicine to my soul.

the 'Saah Josephs'

2010-11-06T16:30:00.002+02:00

Just three days after I wrote my last post, Tracy and I met four men from Rotary International for dinner. It was just what I needed.

Several years back they started a small school, church, and medical clinic in a neighboring village. The best part of the evening was hearing from Saah Joseph. He is from Liberia, but has moved here to Sierra Leone because he has a heart for his people; all over Africa. Joseph was once a refugee of war, first fleeing Liberia's war to Guinea and then here to Sierra Leone. He has started schools and churches in each of those countries. He has a heart full of compassion, desiring to meet the needs of his people. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his words.

Hearing his story and his heart, put back in me the faith for Africa, for Sierra Leone, and her people. There may be many thorns, but there ARE the roses. There are many more men and women like Saah Joseph who are not living out of selfish gain and dishonesty. No, they want to give back and make a difference.

The next day I met with the director of one of the local hospitals. He may be the chief medical doctor of the hospital, but one of the most humble men on this planet. Despite his very busy and demanding role, he dropped everything to see us with eagerness. He is excited for what we will be doing and is more than willing to help in any way that he can. Another Saah Joseph. More faith.

Two days later, Jeremy and I visited the Don Bosco boy's home. Don Bosco was a italian Catholic priest in the 1800's who had a vision from God to start homes for boys living on the streets. There are now Don Bosco homes all over the world. Talk about a phenomenal ministry. The boys from ages 9 to 18 are taken in off the streets, given a home, community, education, and counseling for nine months. They are then followed-up with a social worker for three months as they get integrated back into their families and communities. To briefly meet these boys was music to my soul. We were even invited for an ENORMOUS and DELICIOUS african meal with the father and some of the staff members. Again, my heart was encouraged to see the locals stepping up and out to reach their youth in need.

Africa, I am beginning to believe in you again.

Seventy times seven

2010-10-31T21:00:00.002+02:00

Whenever you work closely with any government or country, your eyes become open to a new reality. The strengths and weaknesses of the government become known and any corruption is exposed.

The corruption has been the hardest for me to digest; to fully accept. Naively, I wasn’t expecting it; nor prepared to work through it.

I can’t help but feel angry when the paperwork we need processed or the supplies we need cleared keeps getting “delayed.” We are told that if we pay “so and so” or “this and that” we can get what we need. Not only are we here to help, but we are going to be providing thousands of free surgeries to their people, and their still trying to get money illegally from us! I can’t help but feel a little violated and used. Or discovering that the food from the world food program somehow “goes” to certain people first. Disgusting.

Then it makes me very, very sad. The sin--the corruption--has imprisoned this nation. They are trapped in this never-ending cycle. I have only lived in Africa just shy of two years now. I don’t, nor will not, claim to know everything about this dear continent. But, I believe part of their poverty as nations, even as a continent is in part due to the roots of sin and the corrupt ways of those on top. I use the word part, because there are of course many factors contributing to the poverty. I guess what I am feebly trying to say is that God honors honesty and casts his judgment on sin. He will bless righteousness. We see it all over the Old Testament. He loves righteousness and hates the wicked (Psalm 45:7). One reaps what one sows. And I am seeing it in a new way here.
(Please, don’t misinterpret. I am by no means, making a generalization. Not all of Africa’s leaders are corrupt. There are those in leadership positions who are desperately working to reverse this cycle. I know the USA isn’t entirely innocent either. )

I mentioned it in my last post…within our first week here we got fuel siphoned out of our generator-- by our security guards. Yes, the ones who are supposed to be watching over our house to prevent theft. Ouch! Even though theft is a big problem here, I didn’t see that one coming. I will admit my flesh wanted us to fire the guys then and there. We didn’t. But it got me thinking. What does it mean to really love? To truly forgive? God doesn’t call us to love and forgive when it’s easy. No, instead, He commands us to love when our whole being wants nothing but.

So, what does that look like for me? Even though it sometimes takes everything in me, we continue to bring them tea in the morning and our left-over dinner in the evening. I greet them with a smile and ask how they are doing.

Seventy times seven.

first impressions

2010-10-27T23:42:00.006+02:00

We have [only] been here a week and a half, and in some ways it seems like much longer! :) I guess that what happens when you go from one meeting to the next. :) I had intentions to post sooner, but we haven’t been able to get internet connection at the house until today.

There is so much to share. I wish I could show you its beauty; introduce you to its friendly people; and share with you all the other things that are quickly capturing my heart for Sierra Leone… but due to time constraints and poor connection I have briefly summarized our first couple weeks with a list of our first impressions. The highs (blessings) far out weigh the lows. Glory to God!!

Lows

Inconsistent and VERY slow internet
Exposure to high corruption practices
Theft--Tim and Tracy both caught pick-pocketers trying to steal their flashlight and cellphone in the market, but - to the assailants' surprise- the two former Marines made their attemps unsucessful :) We also got fuel siphoned from our generator. :(
Waking up to the call for Mosque at 5am (high Muslim population here)
Minimal availability of fruit
High traffic—it can take up to an hour to drive anywhere

Highs

Safe arrival
Air conditioning at the house!
Eating plaintains again (our fave!)
Green, tropical climate/landscape (in contrast to the more desert climate of Benin and Togo)
Beautiful warm beaches
Donating blood at the AWC for a laboring momma
Vehicles cleared
Meeting contacts
Lead on off-ship sites
Better driving practices
Mandatory seat belt law
Very friendly people
Learning Krio words
Mercy Ship friends at the AWC

Thanks for all your prayers! Please keep them coming. :)

S.L. Prayer Requests

2010-10-16T10:00:00.001+02:00

In just a few short hours, we will be flying to Sierra Leone! We need, depend, and value your prayers for our success with this great task ahead of us. For all you prayer warriors, we would like to share with you our prayer needs over the next four months...

1. Safe arrival to Freetown, S.L.
2. Release of the containers with our needed supplies
3. Open doors
4. The right contacts in all areas to liaise with who are willing, eager, and honest.
5. Good relationships with local systems
6. Communication will be clear and smooth, speaking in truth and love.
7. Health (protection against malaria, food/water diseases, etc.)
8. Protection
9. Unity and teamwork among our team of four
10. Completion of the ship's projects
11. Timely arrival of the Africa Mercy
12. Renters for our home in the states

Thank you... Merci beaucoup... or Tank-ee, as we will soon say in S.L :)

P.S. I will blog updates once we have internet access. I don't know how consistent our internet will be over the next few months, so blogging will depend on our connection. Keep checking in, though, for updates and prayer needs! :)

Q: What is the ship doing in South Africa?

2010-10-14T10:01:00.006+02:00

A#1: Africa Mercy Generator project Update

Mercy Ships state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, has recently entered dry-dock in Durban, South Africa. Built in 1980, it had become essential to replace the onboard power generators in order to provide the vessel with a reliable supply of power and enable it to remain in service. The ship is receiving four 5L21/31 type MAN engines, each with an output of 1,000 kW (1,360 hp). The new generators will be mounted in such a way as to cause minimum vibration, as any vibration transmitted to the operating theaters could make the surgeons' task more difficult.

The Africa Mercy entered dry-dock on Saturday, September 25^th. Approximately 40 shipyard employees are working on the ship. Senior VP of International Operations, Jim Paterson, believes the project timeline is on track,“The shipyard is confident that we are on schedule for our completion date.”

At this stage in the project, the workers have cut a hole in the side of the ship and removed the old generators: four Frichs diesel generators and two B&W Alpha diesel generators. Currently, the foundations are being prepared before the workers lift the new generators into the ship.

Other than the project manager and project supervisors, the Africa Mercy crew is not working directly on the generator project. They are, however, providing ample support for the ship yard during the project. There are roughly 80 Mercy Ships crew members still living on the ship working simultaneously on other projects. The ship being in the ship yard created an opportunity for the crew to repair areas that cannot normally be worked on when the hospital is in use. Projects include replacing the Main Engine Control System, doing a Main engine overhaul, and painting the dining room. There are also some hospital modifications being done.

When the project is complete, Mercy Ships will be able to reduce its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20%. It will serve as a substantial cut of annual fuel costs. Founder Don Stephens is pleased with the amount of money that will be saved, and ensures those savings will directly benefit patients onboard the Africa Mercy in the future.

The Africa Mercy enters dry-dock in Durban, South Africa.

The ship sits on these little blocks. Propped up so the shipyard workers can begin removing the generators!

Above, the hole cut in the port side to remove the old generators. You can see the Frichs generators inside.

The remains of one of the harbor generators being removed from the Africa Mercy . It was moved inch by inch onto a platform outside the hull, and lifted onto a waiting truck by the shore crane.

One of the four new MAN generators awaiting installation. The shipyard workers are currently making bases for them – The three red structures on the right.

2010-10-14T10:00:00.004+02:00

A#2: Mental Health Training Seminar

“This helped me to understand people's problems, but first it helped me to understand myself,” said Beatrice Nhleko, speaking of the Mental Health Training Seminar led by Dr. Lyn Westman, Mercy Ships Mental Health Program Administrator. Mercy Ships partnered with the KwaZulu Regional Christian Council to offer 45 hours of training in basic counseling skills and mental health assessment to help pastors assess the problems of their parishioners. Beatrice, a pastor and hospital chaplain from the far north village of Ubombo (close South Africa's border with Swaziland), attended the week-long seminar in Pietermaritzburg recently with 31 other northern area pastors.

In the far north region, people commonly seek their pastors' help with all their problems – partly because they trust them, but also because they lack funds to seek help from health care professionals. Many people are victims of human rights abuse caused by a lack of understanding of mental problems.

The Mental Health Training Seminar offered a better understanding of the symptoms that separate physical, emotional and spiritual problems. Dealing with people holistically provides a better appraisal. Beatrice noted, “This was an eye-opener! Sometimes the problems we deal with are only medical, and we are casting out the devil when the devil is not there. Sometimes we don't need to pray and overload God when we can refer the problem to a professional and then pray.”

Beatrice founded a non-governmental community health organization to assist the terminally ill, orphans, and others with social and health problems. She has recruited ten volunteers to work with her to get government funding and access to government grants by documenting community members with personal information, such as birth certificates, which are required for such funding. In addition to the valuable training Beatrice received, the seminar began the process of networking with pastors to work toward mutual goals.

Beatrice admitted she would love more training of this kind, adding, “Sometimes we think we know something, but we don't. Sometimes, we think people are stubborn, when it's us who are stubborn.”

Pharla Gumede is a pastor from the Assembly of God church in a small village near Sondwanaby in northern KwaZulu Natal. He has lectured on theology at Parousia Bible College for the past three years. In addition, once a week he makes a seven-hour visit to a nearby prison where he teaches a course in theology and prays with 73 inmates. He says he must teach about forgiveness before he can begin the theology lessons. The prison students get assignments and take tests just as college students do .When they complete the course, he gives them diplomas and documents their study for credit. Two of his prison graduates are now pastors of large churches.

According to Pastor Gumede, “God can heal psychologically, mentally and socially… but it will start with their heart. First they must change their mind before their spirit can be changed. Then they can accept Jesus. They must then apologize to their victims and ask for forgiveness, even if they are in jail for life.”

He has found this training seminar extremely helpful for dealing with members of his congregation and the prisoners – especially in dealing with trauma and conflict. He is hopeful that additional training will be offered in the future.

Pastor Mezrom Mbonambi, who leads a congregation in the northern village of Kosibay, heads a team of volunteers that go into schools to teach students the importance of education and sexual purity. He said. “I've been longing to have this information for so long, and I see no reason why we shouldn't take this training to our team.”

He cited a case he had dealt with during the previous month – a young girl who was thought to be possessed or mentally ill. He observed, “Now I recognize that this girl was molested. If I had known then what this workshop taught me, I would have recognized it right away.”

Pastor Mbonambi said that the pastors had been looking at all problems as spiritual problems. Now he knows that all problems are not spiritual problems. “Dr. Lyn has helped us to see the signs leading to social and mental problems. Now we can look to the symptoms and address them accordingly, with the help of the Holy Spirit,” he remarked.

He is aware that more people will be coming to the pastors for help, and they must be equipped to handle the problems. Their mission now is to share their new knowledge with others inside their churches. He is very grateful to Mercy Ships and Dr. Westman for the training.

Over the next few weeks, Dr. Westman will conduct this seminar in several more locations in South Africa, thus enlarging the network of trained mental health counselors.

Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by John Rolland

Dr. Lyn Westman teaching during the week-long Mental Health Training in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Dr. Westman and her students involved in activities designed to reinforce the information being taught

31 area pastors attended 45 hrs of Mental Health Training, offered by Mercy Ships in partnership with the KwaZulu Regional Christian Council.

cozy cottage

2010-10-12T19:30:00.002+02:00

This past weekend we spent a few nights at a very, very old farmhouse in Pretoria at Anne's Guesthouse. We went to accompany and assist a friend who was having surgery at the hospital there. Although it was work-related for Hannah, it was a relaxing get-away for us before we hit the ground running in Sierra Leone. I love how God provides! He knows just what His children need and WHEN. Rest, movies, and games mixed with a little chocolate is always a good time. :) I especially loved the thatched roof in our room. It thundered quite loudly one night; I was half-expecting to feel a drop or two. :) The old doors were pretty cool too. Hope you are having a good week! Love and hugs. -h

Sierra Leone

2010-10-09T11:00:00.006+02:00

One week from tomorrow, we will be arriving in Sierra Leone to begin the prep work for the ship's arrival in February. Just months ago it seemed so far away... Now it's here! We are both looking forward to returning to West Africa. We are excited for this next adventure and what God is going to do.

I thought I'd share a few "quick facts" of this next country we'll call home for a little while :)...

-Bordered by Liberia and Guinea.

-Ranked one of the world’s poorest country by United Nations’ Human Development Index.

-Recovering from fourteen years of civil war.

-Relies on mining, especially the diamond for its economic base.

-English is the official language, 97% speak Krio.

-Not one hospital has running water!

-Predominately a Muslim nation—Islam 60%, Christian 30%, Indigenous Religions 10%.

(From Wikepedia dot com)

This will be our home for the next 4 months!!

finer things :)

2010-10-06T19:00:00.002+02:00

In complete juxtaposition to my prior post, last Saturday we enjoyed a fab day out with friends, no kids, enjoying some of life's 'finer things'... like wine tasting, cheese, and chocolate of course :)

reality

2010-10-01T20:30:00.001+02:00

Life isn't fair.

An age old truth that we simply grow up hearing. We've all heard it. But then there are the rare moments in time when you see glimpses of it. You actually feel it - the sickening sensation in your heart when it recognizes wrong; that something is not right.

Tim and I have had two of those moments in the last couple weeks.

We are staying in a region where water is scarce. At least twice a week for the last couple weeks, we have no water. The showers may or may not have water. And laundry can be a half day's work... like the last time, when I poured bucket after bucket of water into the machine because the water wasn't flowing from the pipes. And it is such a dry season this year that when we went on our safari, we saw that all the river beds were dry. I don't know what the animals were drinking or how they were even surviving. Lord, bring the rain.

I say all this not to complain or to impose guilt, but to illustrate the reality that so many around the world live in each day. The people around us here struggle with the lack of water every day. As Tim expressed, for the first time in his life he's turned on the faucet and no water came out. Its a little weird. Never have I wondered if water will come out when I turn on the faucet. I just know it will. "No water today," were not words I'd ever heard before. And to know that there are people who struggle with getting water daily; who walk miles just to get clean water.

This is something I take for granted. Each and every day.

Last weekend something happened. I don't know all the details, but our driver was discriminated against because of the color of his skin. It happens in the states, I know. I guess my naive mind didn't expect racial tensions in Africa. I admit ignorance. But apartheid has left deep scars in this country and her people. It made my heart angry and sad to hear his hurt. And he's not the only one. He's certainly not the exception.

Here in South Africa you will see tin houses made of metal scraps right off the road. Look beyond, and in the same neighborhood, your eyes see beautiful homes. The contrast is huge. Yeah, I've seen poverty in West Africa. I've also seen it back home. But in West Africa, its a way of life. Dare I even say the standard of living. Its life, and its accepted. I know this doesn't make it right. But here, because of the drastic difference, the poverty is magnified. It feels more wrong in a way.

Yes, we are privileged. And yet why am I considered "privileged" because I have the bare necessities? Water should not be a luxury. And the color of your skin/ nationality, should not determine your value, worth, or privilege.

But it is, and it does. And its not fair.

dry dock

2010-10-01T20:00:00.000+02:00

The other day Tim and I went to the ship with our departments to take care of some needed business ship-side. We got to see the ship out of water and in dry dock for all its repair work. The men are working hard and progress is being made! I took photos, but I liked our friend's photos better. :) He captured the ship so well...

(Photos by Murray Crawford)

lion, rhinos, giraffes, Oh my!

2010-09-28T19:42:00.000+02:00

Can you guess what we did last weekend?

South Africa and Kenya are known as the top two safari countries in Africa. So, being that we are in S.A, we of course jumped at the opportunity to do just that. :) We went on a two-day safari with friends and had a blast!

After hitting the road in the wee hours of the morning, we spent the entire first day in the park (Imfolozi). We got to see four of the "Big Five" (rhino, buffalo, lion, elephant, minus the leopard). We were very lucky. My favorite "safari"animal, hands-down, is the giraffe! They are SO tall; amazing to see in person. Tim's fave was the rhino.

Here are just a few of my favorite photos, it was hard to choose :) ...

hippos, crocs, birds, and cheetahs

2010-09-28T19:37:00.000+02:00

The next morning we took a boat ride along the river, viewing hippos, crocodiles, and birds up close in their natural habitat...

After going to a Zulu artisan market, we finished our trip with a visit to a rehabilitation center for wild cats... we got to see cheetahs!! :)

prayer request

2010-09-26T12:25:00.005+02:00

Dear friends,

In just a couple weeks, the beginning of October, our renters of two years will be moving out. Although we have been so incredibly blessed with consistent renters, it has come fairly unexpectedly.

We have been very fortunate to have had them in our home for as long as we did. We realize that two years is unusual. We are also grateful to have a such an AMAZING and trusted property management agency working with us, along with my sweet Dad. We couldn't ask for a better situation.

October, however, is not typically the time of year for house hunting. Ideally, we would love a quick turnover.

Can you please join us in praying for new renters... who can move in soon, and who will value our home and take good care of it and our property?

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Love,

t & h

life at 'the bosch'

2010-09-22T19:30:00.006+02:00

Tomorrow we'll have been here three weeks. I love it here. I'm pretty sure we are country kids at heart. :)

These six weeks here brings a new season; a time of rest and renewal of the spirit. The change in pace and job responsibility, coupled with our surroundings, has created a quiet haven for me. I have time to seek the Lord more earnestly and simply be still.

We are reveling in the small blessings He has given us here. Its the little things. Oh how they make such a difference... like fresh milk in cereal and tea, and not only fruit at meals but in such variety! I am energized by a good run in the mornings and waking up by the sun streaming into our room with the chirps of the birds singing, rather than the alarm (yes, its true).

I love the fact that the evenings are cool enough for the need of a sweater and bundling into the covers. Its an even simpler lifestyle from the ship in a way. Its hard to believe, I know. :) Its different in every way, yet still the same. We are who we are; we are a community.

Our days are slower, but full. Tim always seems to stay busy; it seems to come with the territory. :) In fact his responsibilities have been more demanding these last few weeks, as it is a new system here and every department is having to adapt and make adjustments.

As for me, to my surprise, I am enjoying the new job of writing policies and procedures. It is a collaborative effort and we are having fun together. Plus, I am gaining some experience in the world wide realm of nursing administration. :)

We have especially enjoyed the weekends here. We are taking advantage of the outdoors and trying to make the most out of our short time here. A couple weekends ago we drove an hour away to Albert Falls. The scenic drive and the fresh air of the outdoors alone would have made the trip worthwhile. The highlight, however, was the wild life all nature-al. We saw ZEBRAS! If that was all we saw, this heart would have been happy. :)

anniversary jump!

2010-09-18T11:00:00.000+02:00

September 18, 2004

Me and him; him and me... Still CRAZY in-love 6 years later!!!

that which surrounds us, KwaZulu-Natal

2010-09-18T09:00:00.000+02:00

250th

2010-09-15T10:00:00.000+02:00

This is the 250th post on our blog since beginning our journey with Mercy Ships back in February 2008, and joining the blogger world for the first time with the start of this blog. Kinda of cool, eh?! :)

I spent a couple hours the other day reading through all my posts from the beginning.

A few years ago we had become quite comfortable in our lives, settled in our home and jobs and enjoying its pleasures - the exact state that stirred our hearts to want more out of life, and the desire to give back what God had so generously given us. To live a life of service.

Now as I read over our journey, I am amazed. In my "giving," I was the receiver of some of life's greatest blessings... in the experiences, the people, the emotions, the love, in the memories.

True treasures in jars of clay.

I see God's touch in each and every post. Oh, how I love Him.

I give You, Lord, all the glory.

the Spring in our step :-)

2010-09-12T12:30:00.001+02:00

Appelsbosch, Republic of South Africa

2010-09-09T10:30:00.012+02:00

Hello from South Africa!!

We have safely arrived to South Africa and have been settling in over the last week. My absence is largely due to the fact that we just got internet up and running around here. :)

First of all, we, along with the rest of the crew, are so THANKFUL for our accommodations. We seriously couldn't ask for better! We are staying at an old college campus that had been abandoned for several years. The grounds are huge compared to what we are used to. :) The children are running wild around here, just loving it! :) We are staying in dormitories and eat our meals in the mess hall. There is even an indoor gym for sport and a canteen. The first several days really felt like we were at camp or at a retreat/ conference. :)

Second, it is SPRING here! I can't tell you how excited I am that it is a change in season; so refreshing from the dry and wet seasons of West Africa. But with that, it is COLD!! Everyone's in hoodies and sweaters and shoes; quite a change for us. :) Oh, I can't forget the FLOWERS! And the colors of purple and red that the flowers bring to my eyes; a wonderful sight indeed.

We are tucked away in the rural Zulu village of Appelsbosch in the countryside, surrounded by rolling hills of green and brown plots of farm land. The view and scenery is truly breath-taking. I love the mornings when the dew is still on the grass and over the hilltops. We wake up to the sound of birds chirping and the rooster cock-a-doodling. Because of this great rural location, we are one to two hours from any decent grocery store and three hours from the ship (docked in the port of Durban). Our first Saturday here, everyone was eager to go to the nearest mall just over an hour away. So most of the crew piled into every land rover vehicle we have and did just that. A day at a big Western mall was an exciting event for us. :)

We have spent our first week here settling into our "homes" and work spaces. It will be a change in pace and work for us during the six weeks we are here. Tim is still working in the Purser's office. But he will be responsible for the "Purser" side of things for both the ship and the campus here. He will be making trips back to the ship one to two times a week for business. I, on the other hand, will be sitting at a desk in front of the computer most days. I will be working with a handful of other nurses standardizing our Hospital's policies/procedures, with the goal towards accreditation in the next couple years. This will be a little challenging for me as sitting behind a desk eight hours a day is not my cup of tea.

As I mentioned, we are neighboring a Zulu village(s). The first Sunday we were here we were invited and welcomed to attend their church. We walked there as it is literally across the street, or a "dirt's road away." The members knew we were coming, so the service was held in another building next to the church, in the church hall, to accommodate all of us. It was quite the cultural experience...

We were greeted to the sound of several singing aloud in their seats as we entered. The service was very liturgical, full of rituals such as incense burning, processing up and down the stage and aisle with a large wooden cross, and memorized responses from the congregation. We shared in communion. The most memorable experience was singing familiar songs such as "It is Well With My Soul" and "Take My Life and Let it Be." We sang them together, us in English and them in Zulu. It was absolutely beautiful. The walls echoed with our voices. It reminded me a little of what Heaven will be like. I especially enjoyed hearing them sing, the South African style of a cappella choruses was beautiful. I was in awe of their ability to just bellow out any song in perfect tune and harmony! Such music to the ears.

While we are here at Appelsbosch, living and working on land, several of our crew are left behind working on the repair project (the reason why we are in South Africa). Please pray for the technical crew staying and working on the ship over the next few months. Right now is particularly extra challenging as it is extremely warm on the ship, they are not getting all the food and supplies they need, they are short-staffed, and have had some minor injuries already.

Pics to come of the campus and surroundings... but for now I will close with the verse from this morning's devos in Lamentations 3:24

The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait on Him.

miracle tree

2010-09-09T10:15:00.000+02:00

(Story from our most recent newsletter, August 2010)

Thousands of years ago in India, the special qualities of the moringa tree were discovered and put to use. This tree grows rapidly – up to 20 feet in a year – and grows naturally in West Africa. The leaves, seeds and flowers are edible and nutritious, and they can also be used to make a wonderful tea. The leaf powder has seven times the vitamin C found in oranges, four times the vitamin A in carrots, three times the iron in spinach, four times the calcium of milk, and three times the potassium of bananas. Loaded with vitamins, minerals and protein, the powdered leaves make a solid food supplement. Nursing mothers in Africa use it to increase milk production. Animals thrive on it. It's possible to survive by eating only from the moringa tree.

The Mercy Ships Food for Life program has been growing moringa trees for the past six or seven years and promoting its use in communities. Nutritionist Kelly Dahl and Agriculture Program Administrator Ken Winebark, who have been working together to use it in the Infant Feeding Program, have seen remarkable results.

In Liberia, a malnourished baby named Joseph was left by his parents on a banana leaf to die. At 17 months of age, he was the size of a three-month-old. Agriculture Program Facilitator Jean Claude Mouditou and his wife, Anastasie, a community health worker, rescued the child and brought him to a clinic in Monrovia. They were told nothing could be done for the baby. Jean Claude and Anastasie put the child on a regimen of moringa powder which they made. In just 2 ½ weeks, Joseph went from a weak, tiny boy who could not stand up to a pudgy, healthy baby. When Joseph returned to his village, people could not believe it was the same child. “You switched babies on us,” they said. But the baby's mother recognized him and declared, “No, this is Joseph!”

This Field Service is the first time the moringa powder has been used in the Infant Feeding Program onboard the ship. The program was started to help babies who were malnourished due to cleft lip or cleft palate. Marius was such a baby. Weighing only 6.7 pounds at 4½ months, his skin hung loosely over his tiny body. Because he was not strong enough or healthy enough for surgery, he was the first child to be given the moringa powder in the Infant Feeding Program. He and his mother were admitted to the hospital ward on the Africa Mercy , where the moringa diet and caring volunteer nurses nurtured him to a healthy 10.5 pounds in just 3 weeks!

Hettie Hiemstra, Infant Feeding Program Coordinator, reported, “Marius has had an increased weight gain compared to the other children. He is not only fatter, but stronger, too. Now he looks like his skin can't hold him anymore….his countenance has brightened, he is a lot more alert, and he is doing remarkably well.”

Marius' mother, Chantel Aligbo, was excited about her son's progress, saying, “The moringa makes him more strong … and he became very fat. I thank God for bringing Mercy Ships to help him.”

The moringa leaf powder used in the Infant Feeding Program was grown and produced at the Mercy Ships International Operations Center in Texas. The mild winters there and the summer climate allow experimentation with many new crops which might prove valuable for the mission field. But because the moringa can only be grown during the summer months, there is not enough to supply the needs onboard the ship. The additional supply, therefore, is coming from the Centre for Ecological Development (CED) in Togo. This is one of three private organizations partnering with the Mercy Ships Food for Life training program during this Field Service.

In addition to a natural energy boost, the moringa has been credited with significant benefits to overall health – including reduction of inflammation and arthritis pain, healing of ulcers, stabilization of diabetes, control of blood pressure, clearing of skin conditions, and strengthening of the immune system. For this reason, it is referred to as the “Miracle Tree” in many parts of the world.

Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos courtesy of Ken Winebark

in transition

2010-09-01T13:00:00.004+02:00

17 days.

That is how long we've been sailing the wide open waters of the sea. Long enough to get bored at times. And yet wondering if its enough... enough time to process all that has happened. First, the six months in Togo, then the quick month at home, and now all that lies ahead.

I wasn't expecting to return from my trip home and feel a sense of disclosure, for the lack of a better word.

The sort-of "last-minute" decision to go home, left the last month in Togo a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts turned toward home. Excitement and anticipation overcame the need to say good-bye. Goodbye to nurses that I've worked alongside and supported over the last several months; many who became friends. Goodbye to our local translators who interpreted for me and brightened my day with a smile or greeting, or just their joy. Their love for life brought much laughter, music, and dancing to not only the wards, but to my heart as well. And the patients. Oh, the patients... I didn't get to see them go.

Now I'm back, and I feel like I was cheated in a way. I left the hospital bustling full of patients. I returned to find it quiet and empty, eerie in a way. Where there once were beds lining the walls, are now boxes stacked high atop another. The patients are gone. The translators are gone. And there is less than half the crew remaining. So many left while I was away.

Its taken me about 17 days to articulate this state of mind and heart. To give it a name. I don't have closure. Last year, at the end of our time in Benin I helped discharge many of the remaining patients; saw them off to a local hospital or clinic with all their supplies for their follow-up. I got to attend the good-bye celebration for the Day Volunteers, appreciating their service. And the end of outreach reception, presenting an overview and summary of the outreach. All these things to help bring conclusion to the last six months.

Back from our visit home, I now find myself trying to find perspective. A healthy and realistic perspective of the world we have called home for so long. And the world halfway across the globe that we have lived just shy of two years. I wonder where we fit? There is a battle going on inside my heart. We've been asked over and over what's next, what's after our advance work? Truth is, we don't know. I find myself wondering for the first time in my life where home is. Shoot, that's a little scary. I know we still have several months to figure it out, but I guess the trip home magnified the unknown even more for me, for us.

Today, alas, we have finally arrived (Yay!!). We are going to be in South Africa for six weeks before heading on to the next adventure. I have to admit, I feel like we're in transition. In fact, we've been in transition for the last couple months. Even while visiting home -- next was the sail and then South Africa. Now we are in South Africa. But only for a few weeks. In a far off sort-of way I don't feel like I completely belong anywhere.

And then I look ahead... we have so much to anticipate. We are anxious to start our advance work in Sierra Leone. This overwhelms me at times. There is so much to do in the months ahead. I'm trying to remotely prepare my mind and heart for what I think it might be like or what to expect. Truth is, I don't have the slightest idea.

Thankfully, God knows all these things. :) He also knows my heart, and where I've been and where I'm going. The words of the prophet Jeremiah ring true,

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.

Plans to give you... a hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me with all your heart.

I will be found by you, declares the Lord.

AMAZING Cause!!

2010-08-29T11:00:00.006+02:00

These people GET IT!!!

Seriously, check it out here.

Mission Statement

To reduce the occurrence of maternal and infant mortality by providing sterile birthing kits, holistic childbirth and development centers, and sponsorships of mothers in East Africa.

*On a side note: Sierra Leone launched a free health care initiative in April of this year, giving free health care to children under 5 years, and pregnant and lactating women. Way to go Sierra Leone for making steps to improve maternal health!!

Fearless Friday :)

2010-08-27T21:00:00.005+02:00

Life at sea.

(Images from a couple of our roughest days earlier this week. It has since calmed out :)

Photos by Murray Crawford

Farewell, Togo!

2010-08-25T20:00:00.002+02:00

Last glimpse of the dock/ port...

Tim waving down from Deck 8...

Goodbye, Togo...

Sail away, sail away, sail away...

The Togolese Navy followed us out!!...

We are 1.5 weeks into our approximately 2.5 week sail to South Africa. Thankfully the seas have been calm for the most part. We are, however, expected to pass through some rough parts over the next week as we get closer to the cape and then the coast of South Africa. And two nights ago brought us just that... the beginning of the large swells/ waves, and loud noises as the waves crashed against the bottom, sides, and bow of our ship. Sleep is restless as we are literally rocking and rolling. The simple act of walking takes concentration, and showering is not for the weak! Thank the good Lord for drugs! :)

On a side note, last week we crossed the equator into the Southern Hemisphere whilst sailing, pretty cool. :)

Sailing is a slower time in our departments (not so for those in deck and engineering). Lots of time to reflect on what we left behind, and what lies ahead...

Thanks for all your prayers regarding the seas and seasickness, but we still have a ways to go... please keep them comin' :)

For it is in the middle of the sea that we experience and witness God's power and majesty.

He is THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!

final moments

2010-08-23T20:00:00.004+02:00

In keeping with the tradition we started last year in Benin, my friends (Allison, Becca, Hazel) and I spent our last day in Togo walking the streets for one last time... taking in all the sights, smells (hard not to) :), sounds, colors, vendors, and, inevitably, the dust that soon fills our shoes and covers our faces from walking along its dirt roads.

First stop, the fishing village.

This "beach" village sits alongside the water's edge on the other side of the port. These people fish to feed their families and their community. To survive. I, alongside many of the crew, have come to know this village through their church. Many of us attended at one time or another throughout the outreach. My amazing friend, Becca, taught community health education twice a week to the mommas in the church. She did this on her own time and initiative, on her days off too. She came up with her own lessons and materials. That girl inspires me!:)

When we entered the village, and even before, we had children following us and running up to us. My heart just melts by their curiosity and accepting and trusting spirits. We spent most of our morning here under the overlay of the church, praying for the people of this village and playing with the kiddos. Did I mention how much I love them? They are joy givers, these precious ones.

The heart of Togo.

Next stop, the beach at Crystal Plage for a soda and view of the ocean. Check out our nifty creation in the sand :) ... our deepest sentiment as we leave.

And lastly, our outing wouldn't be complete without the purchase of Fanmilk (frozen chocolate milk in a bag)! It is delish! Not to mention, refreshing in the middle of the day. I didn't capture this one on camera, so you'll just have to trust me on this. :)

This photo captures the day so well.

And this one.

And lastly, my personal fave.

visit home Blessed

2010-08-20T20:06:00.000+02:00

I thought I'd take advantage of the extra time I have now that we are sailing the wide open seas and finally sit down to post about our visit home... :)

As I reflect upon our time, can I just say that Tim and I are extremely BLESSED!!! Looking back I am SOOO glad we made the decision to go home. God knows what we need long before we do, and the trip home was just that for us. :) I thank God for the people He has put in our lives who have encouraged us, mentored us, challenged us, LOVED us, prayed for us, and seriously the list goes on...

We were both so overwhelmed by the love poured out on us by others while we were home and the generosity of so many! We are humbled.

Thank you for taking the time out of your lives to let us share with you the last year and a half and what God has been doing in our lives.

Thank you for speaking into our lives.

Thank you for all the sweet memories we created together.

visit home Reunited at last

2010-08-20T20:05:00.002+02:00

...it is well with my soul...

visit home Family

2010-08-20T20:04:00.000+02:00

After 1.5 years away, it was PURE JOY to be among our dear family again! We had such sweet times together.

We are rich with Family who love us so and support all that we do.

We were even home in time to celebrate the 90th birthday of a very, very special lady in my life, my dear Grandma Zim! She is so very near to my heart in many ways. We have been so blessed to have that many more years with her!

visit home Friends and their babes

2010-08-20T20:03:00.001+02:00

Among our dear circle of friends, 8 little blessings were born over the last year and a half!!

What joy it was to finally meet them all in person! (not all pictured)

Left side: Tim with Samuel Franklin, Hannah with Lucas Steele

Right side: Rachel and Lauren Turner, Ryder Olson, Grace and Sophia Highland, Merrill Humphrey, Samuel Franklin (again), Ryder Olson (again), Hannah with Alistair Hardy

Not pictured: Kira Sorenson, Olivia Palmer

visit home Church Family

2010-08-20T20:02:00.001+02:00

While home, we had the opportunity to speak at our home church in Bend, Oregon. We shared of our ministry the last year and a half and several stories of patients and memorable experiences.

I can really only describe this with one word. Blessed. We felt so loved by the church. We were received. Embraced. We could feel the excitement of all those who have journeyed with us. Who have walked beside us over the last year and a half. Who have prayed so many prayers on our behalf and have given of their hard-earned money to our ministry.

We were renewed and encouraged by their love and support.

We are so overwhelmingly blessed to be a part of the family.

Thank you, First Baptist. We love you.

visit home Good times

2010-08-20T20:01:00.001+02:00

We reveled again in the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest!

Good 'ol fashioned fun :)

Not to mention all the DELICIOUS food we eagerly consumed at the gracious hospitality of so many and, of course, at our favorite restaurants. :)

visit home In limbo

2010-08-20T20:00:00.001+02:00

Being home was good in every way.

And yet it was like we were on the outside looking in... into a place that was familiar, but distant. It was like we were living two worlds, or better yet, between two worlds.

In one, a world governed by time. Where any and everything is at our fingertips, consumerism is a way of life; self absorption all too familiar; where freedom rings, and what you have defines you. We are surrounded by opportunity and those we love.

In the other, a world governed by community. Where being exists over having, surrounded by those in need; where clean water is a luxury and living in a home bigger than a one room shack is more than your neighbor; where medical care is for the rich; survival is a must, and hope is your greatest possession.

Neither is necessarily right nor best.

While it was only a visit, we felt pulled between these two worlds. I was torn for the future... when it is inevitably time to return home. Torn between a life of plenty, and a life of simplicity. Torn between Family, and a people who have stolen a piece of my heart. Pulled between a country I call home, and a continent that I have grown to love. Pulled between a life of making a living, and a life of giving a living.

2 million steps

2010-08-13T00:48:00.005+02:00

Because my heart aches for these beautiful women...

Please check out what these amazing guys are doing for them here and read how you can help be a part of it! Inspiring!

Two million pennies is $20,000 – enough to completely transform the lives of 50 women with obstetric fistula and to prevent this from ever happening again in their communities.

Got any extra change lying around? :-)

(p.s. I've got posts written about our visit home-- just waiting on a few pics) :)

Video: Togo 2010

2010-07-30T01:00:00.003+02:00

We made a video again!

This one highlights our last six-month outreach in Togo. We attempted multiple times to upload the video to blogger...???

So, instead, you can simply access the video here. Click on "Togo 2010." For your ease, the "wmv" is for Windows, and the "mov" is for Mac.

Enjoy! :-)

(For our ship friends, the file is too large. Sorry-O) :-(

home.sweet.home

2010-07-06T03:57:00.004+02:00

After 2.5 days of traveling, we are HOME!! It is so surreal, we are taking it all in...

The first thing I noticed as I stepped out of the airport and onto American soil was the air. The smell. It was fresh and clean. I could smell "summer." You see Africa doesn't have seasons. We are enjoying the sweet presence of family and friends. And gawking over the VERY FAST internet! :-) What a luxury! We are also eating all the fruit we can get our hands on, like berries and orange oranges :-) Our first night home I couldn't get over the fact that it was after 9pm and it was still light out! I'm lovin' it. We also are still trying to get used to how QUIET it is around the house. Without the sound of the ship's engine alarms, motors, and a/c, I swear I would be able to hear a pin drop in our bedroom. And where are all the people??! :-)

I won't be posting as regularly during our visit home, but will resume when we return to the ship in a few weeks. Stop by again then!

winner!

2010-07-06T03:45:00.004+02:00

so sorry for the delay...

congrats to Howard Green, winner of the Africa necklace giveaway! Howard is the father of my bestest friend on the ship. He has been following our journey through this blog and my dear friend, Allison (his daughter). Allison's friendship is a blessing and her joy is contagious. I am so thankful that God has brought her into my life, a constant amidst continual change. Howard, the necklace is in the mail. :-)

a big thanks to all those that participated... we'll have to do it again :-)

GIVEAWAY!!

2010-06-21T11:00:00.003+02:00

Welcome to my very first giveaway!!

I've been familiar with blog giveaways for a long time now, but just recently inspired to do my own from my friend Ali.

The "cool" blogs always have giveaways. :-) Well, now I've found something to give away! But this is not just for giveaway sake. I'm doing this for all of you, my loyal blog readers. For all those who have faithfully followed our journey with Mercy Ships in Africa over this last year and a half, and now this next year ahead. I want to "thank-you" for all the encouraging words, comments, and emails, and for all those prayers that have been lifted up on our behalf. Some of you, I don't even know!

You are a blessing to us.

So, for the giveaway... I have a beautifully hand-made, hand-blown silver "Africa" necklace found at the local artisan/craft market. I love this necklace because it is simply unique and intricate.

To "enter," please leave a brief comment of your experience with Africa... such as study, sponsorship, travel, adoption, missions, supporting a missionary, dream to go, etc. It can be anything! I just want to hear how Africa has touched your life.

I will have the computer randomly select the winner next Monday, and then I'll mail it out when we are home for a visit in just a few short days! One week... enjoy!! :-)

what's its all about

2010-06-20T15:05:00.003+02:00

I just heard the best news ...

Just got back from celebrating 11 women this morning at ward church. They each shared a short testimony of their story of healing.

*One woman shared how she used to be Muslim, but through her condition she converted to Christ!!

*Another woman shared that she isn't a believer, but since coming here she now believes!

Now THAT is what it's all about, bringing others unto Himself... expanding His Kingdom.

I just had to share with all of you. I can't stop smiling. :-)

invisible children

2010-06-19T12:00:00.001+02:00

Just saw this authentic, EYE OPENER of a documentary for the first time. I know, I'm seven years behind. So, if you're like me and you haven't seen it yet (raw footage of child soldiers in Sudan and Uganda)... it's a must-see! Go here to learn more.

from ashes to beauty

2010-06-18T14:30:00.006+02:00

I find it difficult to put into words what it is like to care for these ladies; Women who have suffered for many years with a fistula(s). They have experienced the worst of humanity... beaten, rejected, isolated, abandoned, ridiculed... stillbirth. I've listened to many a story. Heart-wrenching. Sorrow is all too familiar. Yet, their inner strength is admirable. They still choose life. Hope.

Its hard to express the deep joy. Or the intense sorrow. Because there is no in-between. For some its a happy ending. For others the ashes still remain. They continue to cling. Like yesterday we celebrated the healing of five women. Yet just two days before, we sent two home. Inoperable. The tears were flowing.

I love it. And I hate it. I have to rely on the truth that the God who created each of these ladies makes no mistakes. His will is perfect. He is in the pain as much as He is in the joy.

Like these amazing and beautiful women, I will praise Him in the ashes. I will praise Him in the beauty.

exciting news!

2010-06-15T10:00:00.000+02:00

I don't normally post our monthly newsletters on the blog. But not all of our blog readers receive our newsletters, and I didn't want anyone to miss out on what's happening with us. So here's the update, copied and pasted straight from the newsletter without the fancy template :-)...

----------------------------------------------------------------

We are pleased to share with all of you a new and exciting opportunity for us! We have been asked by the headquarters and management staff of Mercy Ships to be part of the Advance Team to Sierra Leone, the country of next year’s outreach.

What does this mean? First, we will finish this outreach and sail to South Africa as previously planned. There we will stay for two months before we fly to Sierra Leone! In Sierra Leone our mission will be to prepare everything needed for the ship’s arrival in February and set-up contacts, sites, and logistics for the upcoming outreach. Tim will be Assistant Team Leader. His responsibilities will include establishing relations with government officials and port authorities, preparing the port for the ship, and keeping the team’s finances. Hannah will be Medical Coordinator, establishing relations with local hospitals and medical personnel, coordinating screenings, and locating sites for off-ship programs, and dental and eye clinics.

We will be living off-ship on land during this time until the ship arrives, giving us an even broader exposure to African culture.

How long is this commitment? The preparations will go until the ship’s arrival in February. We will then hand over all the information, contacts, and logistics to each affected department, and help ensure a smooth transition. This requires that we may stay until June 2011! We will be extending our commitment by six months!

This brings us to our second piece of exciting news. Because of a longer commitment we are coming home for a visit!! We will be home for the month of July to see family and catch up with all you, our faithful supporters. J

We will also be speaking in the service at First Baptist Church in Bend on July 18th. We would love to see as many of you as possible while we are home. But please understand that our time is limited and we may not be able to see everyone.

Thank you for journeying with us! We graciously ask that you consider continuing your partnership with us through your prayers and financial support as we extend our service with Mercy Ships in the months to come.

We are excited for what lies ahead! We give God all the glory for what He has done and has yet to do!

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

Love, Tim and Hannah

why Africa?

2010-06-13T22:00:00.004+02:00

-15,000 Africans are dying each day of preventable diseases such as malaria, TB, and HIV. That's a death every 6 seconds! For malaria, that's a death one $10 bed net can prevent!!

-1 in 4 children are chronically malnourished and underweight. That's 25% that don't know when their next meal is.

-In Sub-Sahara Africa, HIV/AIDS has orphaned 12 million children. That's TWELVE MILLION children without a momma or daddy to tuck them in at night, or tell them they are loved, or wipe their tears.

-Child mortality in Africa is 16% with some countries, like Sierra Leone, exceeding 28%. This means that 1 in 4 children will die before the age of 5!! In the US, the rate is 2 out of 1000 children. This is horribly wrong.

-Many have little to no access to clean water (In Sierra Leone, not one hospital has running water!!). Dirty, contaminated water is used for cooking and drinking. This in turn leads to disease. And without access to medical care, this can ultimately lead to death.

(Stats from Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns.)

These are only five of too many...

.this. breaks. my. heart.

sandals

2010-06-12T21:02:00.003+02:00

A couple weeks ago I went to the carpenter and had a pair of sandals custom-made.

I picked them up today. :-)

Now, I should go up where the hubby is and watch the World Cup "football" game with the rest of the ship :-) This game is a VERY big deal when you live in a community of people from all different nations around the globe. Plus its the UK versus the US of A, need I say anymore? :-)

parents may not have favorites, but nurses sure do :-)

2010-06-10T19:00:00.000+02:00

Me and Afi

nine course meal and a new ward

2010-06-08T18:45:00.001+02:00

For the greater part of the outreach we've had a local surgeon, Dr. James, working alongside and training with the legendary Dr. Gary Parker in oral-facial surgeries.

A couple weekends ago he so graciously invited the OR and Ward staff to his beautiful home for dinner. And boy were we in for a treat! Nine courses and two glasses of wine later... no joke!! The courses included drinks, nuts, bread, sausage rolls, salad, the main dish with grilled pig, ice cream, sweet bread, and fresh fruit. The food kept coming and coming. :-)

Highlights of the evening included praise worship and dance with the band, hearing Dr. James express his gratitude, and (I'm not going to lie) the wine :-). We were recipients of such generosity and hospitality from Dr. James and his lovely wife. It was an enjoyable and memorable evening had by all. We were blessed.

The picture above is with Dr. Christophe in tribute to our morning rounds together in the land of max-fax in D ward. A couple weeks ago Ali and I switched wards for the remainder of the outreach. Time for a change of scenery :-) I will admit, it took a little getting used to :-) No more mandibulectomies, cleft palates, and pharyngoplasties for me. It will always feel a little like "my ward." I now work with little people with cleft lip and cataract repairs, mixed with a few bigger people for things like thyroidectomies.

Emergency airway kits replace NG bags above the beds, and so many small cutie patooties with whisker-like bandages over their repaired lip, or shields over their eyes, now fill the beds. Lots of snuggles and kisses to go around. Love those "little mouses!" Oh, and I mustn't forget the noise level either. Its about three times the decibel of D ward. :-)

Life is good.

Jacques

2010-06-06T15:44:00.001+02:00

hope reborn

2010-06-03T19:01:00.002+02:00

Today I was reminded of why I am here. Why I do what I do.

Today we celebrated three ladies who were once wet from a fistula, now healed and dry!! They were decked out in their beautiful and colorful new dress and headresses, complete with make-up and earrings. Their joy was overflowing and their beauty a shining.

We sang and clapped. They shared their stories and danced with thanksgiving.

One woman had been leaking for 25 years!! She expressed how thankful she is to God and everyone here. Another expressed how she is now sure that God exists. And the other,well, she is so happy that she can't wait to see her husband! :-)

Yes, today I witnessed joy. I saw hope reborn.

Using the words we sang today... He is the great Healer. And He is good!

For those interested in learning more about vesico-vaginal fistulas, I highly recommend the book Hospital by the River written by Catherine Hamlin, co-founder of the first fistula hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I also strongly recommend A Walk to Beautiful, a moving film documentary that follows the journey of several women to the fistula hospital in Ethiopia. There is an incredible need for maternal health, and maternal health education. Please read and see.

Oh, how I have missed these ladies.

(pics to come) :-)

2010-06-02T18:57:00.002+02:00

When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray
And you calling me colored?

:-)

fallen heroes

2010-05-31T12:00:00.003+02:00

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
— General George S. Patton

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
– Lee Greenwood

*This post is dedicated to all those who gave their lives in service to our country;
the nation's fallen heroes.*

simplistic joy

2010-05-27T18:26:00.009+02:00

Wednesday we got to visit a local hospital for the first time; something I've been wanting to do for so long. This week it finally happened.

We were part of a small group with the mission to bring joy and laughter to the children staying in the pediatric wards. The hit of the evening was balloons and bubbles. Most of them had never seen bubbles before. One mama got such a kick out of them-- giggling at the sight and feel of the sticky, transparent liquid.

I love that it takes very little to bring the soul joy here. In the western world, little satisfies. We are in essence a discontented society. So many aren't happy with just the basics. Simplicity is foreign or second-best. Instead we want the latest model, the next best thing--bigger and better is our pursuit. Not everybody. Yet, this is sadly the majority.

Twelve beds in one large room, six lining two adjacent walls. The nurse rarely came by in the two plus hours of our visit. Yet I was told this was more frequent than usual. Granted the children were pretty stable, but it was an eye opener for me. Such a contrast to home, where my patients are irritated and upset if I haven't checked on them in the last hour, or better yet, if I have not met their requests in a timely manner (immediately). This is not necessarily wrong. Its just that is the norm for us. We know no different. So, this is the standard. The precedent.

While we are bickering over private health care versus national health care, etc... to be granted care at any clinic or hospital in Africa, one must be able to purchase all the supplies needed for their treatment, go purchase them, and then bring them to the hospital. This means any intravenous tubing, needles, dressing supplies, medicines,etc. If you need blood, someone needs to go buy the blood or find someone who can donate you their blood. I can't help but be angered by this "system." Why is it that where you are born and live determines whether you receive medical care or, worse, even live?? This is horribly not right.

We saw sweet kiddos lying in bed with one of their lower limbs casted and in traction. A boy who has been their over a year because they don't know why he is sick. Or children who were in automobile accidents or fell out of a tree. They had burns and injuries that were being treated. One woman was so emaciated, I was surprised she was even alive. I was pleased to see that their dressings were pretty decent. I'm not saying their care is substandard. But in a way it is. They just don't have the latest equipment, technology, or supplies. One woman even motioned to me that she didn't want me to blow bubbles; she wanted my money. Or one woman who kept asking several of us for our clothes. At first I couldn't help but be put off by this. Here we giving of our time to play with your children, and all you want is our money. But then I was saddened that it even comes down to the big "M." Money. Money equals food. Medicine. Opportunity. Life.

Yet, they rise up. Joy resides here. Laughter echoes off these walls. And hope works hard to overcome.

In a way, my friends, Africa is the world's classroom.

I need Africa

2010-05-24T12:00:00.002+02:00

Excerpt from mochaclub.org...

When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day.

The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.

My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.

I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.

My sentiments exactly. I couldn't of said it better.

.what we've been up to.

2010-05-21T20:30:00.000+02:00

WORK:

CELEBRATE:

Nurses' Day ("crazy scrubs" complete with homemade caps :-)

In honor of Florence Nightingale (WWFD?) :-)

PLAY:
Bonfire on the beach, complete with smores!!

Scrap fabric from craft market for a skirt and bag

RELAX:

Foatgina's story of God's provision

2010-05-17T23:25:00.024+02:00

I knew we were in for a full week when I looked ahead at the surgery schedule and saw the type of surgeries to come. Three neurosurgeons operating in the same week. For all you medical personnel, enough said, right? :-)

Repair of hydrocephalus with shunt. Repair of encephalocele. Orbital repositioning. Afi's tumor (see prior post Afi's hope). And then there's Foatgina all in the mix.

Foatgina. She first came to us back in April for excision of multiple very LARGE tumors from behind one ear all the way down and across to the other ear, literally!! Her surgery was soon canceled because she was found to be pregnant. Surgery would be held until the second trimester. We sent her to the Hospitality Center with the understanding that she would get her surgery despite her pregnancy. More waiting.

When the time came for her to return, waiting turned into more waiting until we could evaluate the safety of the baby and placenta for anesthesia (risk for preterm labor). This would be a very big and complicated surgery. Waiting once again.

Foatgina's doubts that we would ever do her surgery escalated. We had to do her surgery. We couldn't send her away with the risk that she could end the unborn life inside, or her own. At this point, lots of prayers were being offered up on her behalf. Please dear God, make it possible. May life prevail.

Last week our gifted and skilled surgeons performed her surgery. Twelve plus hours and eighteen units of blood later, she arrived into the ICU!! Yes eighteen units of blood--thirteen donated by our crew, and five units from the local hospital! This was an act of God and His provision in so many ways! Many pages were announced overhead for donors ASAP or they would not be able to complete her surgery. The majority of the tumors were removed. Two were left on one side because their removal would have required twelve more units of blood! She is a walking miracle!!

The next day, I think (its all meshing together in my head:-), we had the one other ICU bed reserved for another patient currently in the OR. Things didn't go quite as planned. One of the eye patients stopped breathing on the table and was immediately sent to ICU. We quickly made space for the third bed. It was tight. And we were full. She lasted exactly twenty-four hours before she passed away :-( Needless to say, it was a challenging and intense day.

It was a full week as we juggled patients in and out of the ICU most of the week. But, I must mention how amazing our nurses were!! I couldn't have done it without each one of them! I am so proud of them. They stepped in and beyond and pulled together helping each other and coming in from other wards to help, as well as coming in early or staying late. We have an incredible nursing team! I am so blessed to work with them.

It has taken me a week to fully process all the emotions, and then sit down and record the events. Hence, my absence. But, we're back! :-)

I also want to mention that God's timing was perfect when He provided an opportunity at the start of the week to go to the Team's house for worship on the rooftop. I'm so glad I did. The Lord knew what was ahead, and knew that I would need that precious time. My soul was refreshed, encouraged, and filled up as my heart sang songs to Him--all on a rooftop with the stars shining above; smelling and hearing the sights and smells unique to this land that my heart has grown to love.

Come what may. My Jehovah-Jireh will provide.

mother's day

2010-05-09T16:35:00.005+02:00

Yesterday was World AIDS Orphan Day.

Today is Mother's Day.

"In 2010, the number of children worldwide who have lost one or both parents to AIDS is expected to reach 25 million – equivalent to the number of people living in New York, Paris, and Bangkok combined. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, over 15 million children have been orphaned by the pandemic. Experts believe that millions more orphans remain unaccounted for in India, China and Russia."
(www.worldaidsorphans.org/section/the_orphans_crisis)

These precious children don't even have a mother to celebrate, love, and honor today. This is wrong.

Please visit the World AIDS Orphans website for other ways to touch your heart, get educated and get involved.

Afi's hope

2010-05-07T19:26:00.009+02:00

Remember Afi?

She's the little girl I mentioned in one of my prior posts. The sweet girl with the tracheostomy that I didn't want to forget.

I'd like to share her story.

Afi came to us 21 days ago to be exact. Yes, she's been with us for three weeks now! She came with her mama directly from screening because she has a tumor in her mouth that is growing and slowly occluding her airway. Due to the fragility of her respiratory status, the team sent her directly to the ship where I soon got her settled in the ward. Hours later, a tracheostomy was placed to ensure a stable airway until we could later operate on her tumor.

But before we could remove the tumor, two things had to be determined. Number one, the histology results had to be negative for cancer. And number two, she had to be free of infection. After waiting a week for the results, number one was taken care of... the tumor was benign!!

Praise God!!

Number two, however, not so easy. A very nasty and highly contagious bacteria was growing in her lungs. We had to put her in "isolation." This meant we had to put her in a corner bed and place curtains around it to separate her from the other patients-- all to lessen the spread of infection and protect the other patients. This meant all those caring for her had to "gown up," as well as less contact with others, confinement to her "corner," and restrictions from going outside-- even from walking around the ward.

This is a big deal. And an even bigger deal in the African culture. Isolation is very disheartening and isolating (for a lack of a better word) to a culture that thrives on community; that is dependent on others, and whose value and worth is gained from their place and acceptance in society and in their community. It is devastating to say the least. Not too mention how unfair it is in the mind of an active five-year old girl who doesn't fully understand!

So, over the last few weeks we've all worked really hard to find ways to acknowledge Afi, interact with her, and brighten her spirits, along with treating the infection. This has not been easy. After three rounds of two different antibiotics, discouraging results showed no response. Still infection. And even worse, the bacteria became resistant to those antibiotics!

Surgery was once again held.

Our last option was to give the only other drug it still showed susceptibility to; a drug we have in limited supply, reserved for only special circumstances, and a cost of a couple thousand dollars!

Her only hope.

We gave her a full cycle over seven days and waited. And we prayed. Hard. Surgery was now dependent on this one drug (and God's power). If this didn't work, Afi's surgery would be indefinitely cancelled. We would not be able to do her surgery due to the infection.

And guess what?!! Yesterday the results came back with no infection!!!! Woohoo!! When I got the results I squealed with joy! I ran over to Afi's bed, waving the results up in the air while two other nurses very dramatically tore down those awful curtains that separated her from everyone else. When those curtains came down, her face broke into the biggest smile!! We explained to her what it all meant. Oh the joy!! After a good clean, she immediately and eagerly walked around the unit, touching anything and anyone.

Afi is back! :-)

Praise you Jesus, praise You!!

She is scheduled for surgery on Monday. She will be a very big and complicated case. Please pray for wisdom, guidance, and skill over the surgeons, and a successful recovery.