joy

Remember this pic??

Here is Maomi with her very happy momma almost two months post-op!! I just LOVE the sheer joy on momma's face... it makes my heart happy!

Vie

Vie means "life" in French. 

Its been a couple weeks since i sat down and blogged. not sure why. maybe because it seems as though there is not much new to report. there is a normal cadence to our days. routine. i was getting a little frustrated with the rhythm, how its mundane at times. then i realized its because its home. we are finally home. it feels good. the little cabin is our home, the ship is our community, and the crew are our family and friends. here are just a few things i thought of that make our life here onboard unique :) 

-Breakfast/lunch/dinner same time everyday (BIG adjustment for Hannah as she's used to eating smaller, more frequent meals). But, so thankful (& lucky) that salad & fixings are available (I guess this depends on the country. The last outreach, no lettuce was available)!! 

-No lunch served on the weekends--its pack-your-own lunch (sandwiches) at breakfast. Thus, no sleeping-in cuz if you want lunch, you have to go to breakfast. This is tough! For Tim, that is, cuz he lets me sleep while he gets up and makes our lunch :) I have the sweetest husband! He's THE BEST!!

-No grocery shopping or cooking (there is a crew kitchen for personal cooking/baking)

-We eat with 300 other people.

-We get to eat most meals together, depending on what shift Hannah is working.

-We eat what is served. You can't just eat what you feel like eating. 

-We hear each time our neighbors' phone rings and toilet flushes :)

-We consider the noise level when playing music or watching a movie

-Our only natural light comes from our one little port window (but we are so THANKFUL we even have a window, those on deck 2 & 3 don't have one!)

-We have a small freezer/refrigerator (this is a commodity)

-If we need to borrow some flour or a movie, we just have to walk down the hall to one of our neighbors :)

-Can't just walk up to breakfast in your jammies :) must put decent clothes on to step foot out of the cabin at anytime :)

-Don't have to drive to work or even commute! Woohoo! Just have to walk out of the cabin and up the steps for Tim and down the steps for Hannah. Can't believe how much more time we have because we are not spending it in the car running errands or driving to and from work! Its amazing how much time we spend in our cars. 

-Must check out a vehicle to drive anywhere. Must be a "ship driver" to drive the vehicle.

-One 2-3 minute shower a day to conserve water.

-You're never really alone, you can always find someone just around the corner :)

-Weekly fire drill.

-So thankful for unlimited internet access and that our phone lines are domestic!

-One dollar frappacinos and starbucks coffee!! Yes, we are spoiled :)  

-FREE medical/dental care!! We both got our teeth cleaned last month by the hygienist, and Tim recently needed a weeks worth of oral antibiotics when a spider bite on his finger turned into cellulitis. Nothing like being at the right place at the right time :)

precious in His sight

Today I got up early on my day off to spend a couple hours playing with children. Not just any, but those without mothers or fathers to care for them. Orphans. And each has a tragic story that brought them there. I've only heard bits... like the one who was found tied to a tree and abandoned. Or another who was with his mother in a taxi. He was told to wait in the car. Mom never returned. Or the baby who was found off the side of the road in a plastic bag. I simply do not understand how anyone could do such things, let alone to the child of their flesh! But I'm not naive to the harsh reality of desperation. I don't know what its like to live in extreme poverty, have the pains of hunger, and too many mouths to feed. I also know this is sadly not unique to Africa alone. 

But let me tell you about this place. This orphanage is different. Although living conditions are far from ideal, it is clean and there is love. I felt a sort-of peace here. The kids play and there is joy. This says a lot about the ladies, "aunties," who pour their lives into these children. This is the first orphanage I've ever visited. It is run by catholic nuns through Missions of Charity (Mother Theresa). These women and the ladies who look after the children genuinely care for them. It is obvious in their interactions with them. Like when they respond to the child who fell down, and all the drippy noses that need wiping. One of the aunties came over to the little child I was holding and changed his wet pants. I hadn't said anything to her. They laugh and coo at the babies. And I can't forget to mention how hard they work! These ladies do it all. They cook the food, wash the children's clothes by hand, dispense the medicine, and look after the children. They are incredible! My hat goes off to them. 

Today, we held the children and marched in circles, singing songs with them. Just being available. An open lap. This is a big deal! Although they are well-cared for and have their basic needs met and receive love and attention, its divided among all the other 50 children/babies (and rightfully so). As such, immediately upon our arrival, pairs of little legs and hands are already climbing up into my arms. My lap was never empty the entire time. We gave many of the children individual attention. 

But, never without a cost. Or so we learned today. 

We are each holding a child in one arm and holding another's hand in the other, marching in a circle and singing with the children. Towards the end of this activity, one of the aunties starts taking each child from our arms, firmly but gently instructing them to walk. Some just sat down and cried. It was quite sad really. We did not understand this. Our translator explained to us this is so that when we leave, it is less difficult on the caretakers. When we hold them for long periods and then leave, the children become more needy, demanding more attention from the ladies. The few of them are not able to simply just hold them all the time like we do when we visit. They also have to cook and clean and wash. It is very difficult for them to do all this when the children are crying, and climbing on them, demanding their attention in such ways. This often happens after groups like us leave. 

It makes sense. Completely. 

I wonder then if we are doing more damage than good by our visits?? 

For lunch, they all go to a big room with two long child-height table and little chairs. They sit down in their chairs and recite a prayer. It is so cute in their sing-song voices.  Each is given a metal bowl of food and a spoon. I am amazed at how well most of these children all compliantly sit at the table and feed themselves. Some, prefer us to feed them because they like the attention :) After meal time, in their daily routine, go straight into the next room and sit on their potties against the wall. It is quite a precious & hilarious picture with all these toddlers sitting on a plastic potty chattering away to each other.  This is when we always wave good-bye, while their preoccupied with potty-time :)

I know not all orphanages are a happy place. This is probably more the exception. But I learned something from these ladies today. Selfless love. They are living out the words of Jesus in Mark 9:37, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me."                                                

Maybe its not for the children why we come, but for those of us who come.  

Perhaps its not because of what we give to the children, but what the aunties give us.

I saw Jesus today. 

1/4

July marks 6 months!! 

We both can hardly believe that we are 1/4 into our time here...  There are so many things I already know we'll miss about this place, about Africa and her people, when its time to go.  There is so much still to learn, give, and experience... We are here because many of you make it possible.  

Thank you!!  

Thank you for serving with us and giving us this opportunity of a lifetime!! 

if our eyes could talk...

Here are a few photos from the eye clinic/ministry off-ship in the community (for those that can stomach it :) )

~Prosthetic eyes!!~

Hey, what are you staring at??! :)

Before:

After:

Some pictures just speak for themselves!! 

a memorable holiday weekend

Yay for three-day weekends!! On Friday, Hannah spent the day with some friends in a fishing village 2 hours away. Shortly after getting out of the car and walking up the road to the lake, we were excitedly greeted by children that wanted to walk with us "Yovos" and hold our hands. The girl in the blue dress did not leave my side the entire time. The guides had to firmly tell the girls to stay behind when we got in the boat :)

      At Lake Aheme all seven of us and three guides piled into a boat and sailed the lake for a couple of hours. We learned the fishing techniques of the local fishermen. One of our guides would empty the puddling water out of the boat with an old metal plate from time to time :)

After our lesson, we each got a chance at casting the net out!! It was quite the experience! Nobody caught anything, but

 we had a blast!

Afterwards we hung out at the secluded and peaceful shoreline to eat our lunch. 

For equivalent to twenty cents each, one boy climbed up a coconut tree and cut open a coconut with a small machete for each of us. The fresh coconut milk was refreshing and delicious after being under the hot sun for a couple of hours. Needless to say we had a great time! I enjoyed getting off ship, visiting a new place/village, and experiencing more of the culture.  

On Saturday, we celebrated Independence Day at the home of the U.S Ambassador here in Benin with 85 other crew members, U.S citizens of course, and Peace Corps volunteers/Embassy staff. There we ate family picnic/potluck style complete with red/white/blue decor and plastic utensils, baked beans, BBQ chicken, and potato salad. The Embassy staff had even planted and grown corn months ago so that they could serve corn-on-the-cob for the celebration! What a treat! :) Tim and I think the background music was picked by the local staff because Michael Jackson songs were among the selection played :) I have no pictures of the event as cameras were not allowed for the protection of the staff and the Embassy.

the women of B ward

These last few weeks I've been caring for the women recovering from one or more bladder/vaginal fistulas (VVF) caused by prolonged and obstructive labor (prevalent in countries where there is lack of proper medical care).  For many of these women they have lived years in lonely isolation because their fistula leaves them constantly leaking, dripping urine. For many, their husbands have left them, family has disowned them, and friends will no longer call upon them. They can't even sit on public seating and are turned away from public transportation! They feel so ashamed. 

But, when they come to the ship they receive love and attention. Here, they are accepted. They share a ward with other women who have gone through the same struggles and understand their pain. They form a strong bond, laughing together and helping one another. For some, its the first time they've been touched in years. I just can't imagine that. They can't believe we willingly clean them and change their soiled linen. One patient told us we cared for her like her own mother would. She was so moved by such love and compassion.

These women are special. 

Like me and you, they bear Christ's image. And they are beautiful.

Its been fun caring for them. We may not understand each other's language, but we laugh together. As women, there is a mutual understanding that transcends language, color, and culture. 

This is Agoth. She is a very petite lady in her early twenties who became pregnant at the very young age of 15, still a child herself. After enduring long hours of painful labor, her small frame gave birth to a stillborn baby. All that suffering and no baby at the end. She has been incontinent for almost 10 years!! She is still such a child in some ways. She and I connected. She would always reach for my hand when I walked by or give me a scowling face in a teasing way. And her face lit up every time I came on shift. She can sure knit too!

I love these ladies. 

A time to dance

The best part about the VVF surgeries is the celebration! When each lady has recovered from her surgery and she is dry, we hold a special ceremony in her honor. Each lady is given a new dress and headdress to wear. She gets a makeover in a way. Our discipler does their make-up and gives them a necklace and earrings to wear if she wishes. All this to symbolize her new life. She processes down the hospital corridors as we sing and clap. We all sing songs of rejoicing and praise. We clap and they dance. And then each woman is given time to share her story. We give God all the glory! It is simply beautiful. They are so happy and express such joy and gratitude. Its unique and special. These surgeries are life-changing. These women go home with a renewed sense of self-worth and value. One lady expressed how she was leaving the ship not only physically healed, but spiritually healed. Hallelujah!