Merry Christmas!!

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death... you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

---------------------
May we count our many blessings this holiday season!!

We leave tomorrow for our four-week vacation! Woohoo! We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Joyous New Year!! We will be absent from the blog world until we return. We will post pics then.

Love you all!!

t&h

ripples

Amidst the close of the outreach-- the cleaning and tying down of the wards, the preparations for the sail... I didn't get a chance to record two significant events that took place.


Baby Wasti and his mama came with nothing. Their long journey to the ship left behind a village that shunned them, a father/husband that disowned them, and shattered dreams. Wasti had a cleft lip. Their small plot of land and cow for milk were but distant memories as his mama had to sell them for money in futile attempts for medical intervention.

The decision to operate was not easy as baby Wasti had a neurological condition that made his body fragile for surgery. Despite the risks, it was their last hope; A chance at a new life. Surgery was soon successful and mama was happy again. She began to claim her baby, marking him according to custom. After hours of preparing and teaching mama, their discharge was approaching. Her need for milk came up again. How much does a cow cost? 150,000 CFA, equivalent to about 300 U.S dollars. Guess what?! A collection was started so Wasti's mama could buy a cow. Yep, just like that. Nurses and others that heard Wasti's story wanted to help. That's just how God works. I was told that when they gave her the money, she was speechless. And then broke out in song and praises full of thanksgiving.

I especially like this story. Not because of the happy, feel good ending. Or because we gave her a means to a cow. I like it because I believe the story has but just begun. Wasti, in all his "wholeness," will return to the village and be accepted again. All that they saw and experienced here will be a testimony of God's love. They will surely ask, and she will eagerly tell. And the day that Wasti's mama comes home with a new cow, the care and generosity of so many will be told.

Like a ripple of water.

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

John was one of our day volunteers who worked in the hospital laundry. He was the most punctual of them all, arriving fifteen to twenty minutes early. So contrary to typical "African time," he made an impression on me. John always arrived to work with a smile and a willing heart. You could just tell he wanted to be there. Whenever he saw me, he greeted me with the biggest smile, saying "Hello Miss Hannah!"

I share with you John because I will never forget our last conversation.

I asked him what's next. What will he do once the ship leaves Benin. He said he will go back home to Cameroon and share all that he has seen on the ship. The patients, the stories. Of what God has done. He said that his experience on the ship and the crew that he's interacted with have challenged his faith and relationship with God. He wants to continue to serve and help his people.

This pulled a heart-string for me. The surgeries are indeed meaningful and important. But its the personal impact that we have in individuals that make the work grow and continue on. The imprint we leave behind. Because even though the ship is now gone, John and other day volunteers, will carry on our work through their testimonies, fueled by their passion and desire to continue to serve and help their people.

Another ripple made.

.dolphins.

One morning before our devotions on the bow my friend Ali shot several pictures of our view. These are what we saw the other day. The dolphins were keeping up with us, creeping out from under the bow's splashes... jumping, swimming, and jumping again. Often times they were fairly synchronized too :) 

Just a quick update on our sail...

The last two days, plus today, have been ROUGH!! We have been rocking from side to side due to big swells. Experienced seamen would say this is nothing, but since we've had a smooth sail thus far, the change has been quite drastic. Sleep is interrupted and inconsistent. We wake up to the rocking and the random "clash" from inside our cupboards to somewhere around the ship. The first night the rocking started I don't think many of us got much sleep. It was the talk of the morning. To avoid a repeat, Tim came up with a brilliant idea last night. We slept sideways (horizontally in bed). Despite our feet hanging over the edge of the bed, we both slept so much better. Rocking side to side in our sleep proved much better than rocking up and down! 

We have to be extra careful walking around just to stay upright :) It is quite hilarious to see everybody sway-walking and crooked. You get the hang of it after awhile, though. Stairs are tricky. You have to time them just right so that the swell carries you up them, rather than trying to climb against resistance. Sitting requires extra vigilance too. You have to hook your feet just right around the chair legs to keep from rolling across the room. And holding onto your cup while you eat is a definite must! Otherwise the cup will slide across the table. Sailing also brings a certain fatigue that no amount of sleep can cure. 

Oh, the joys of sailing!  

Despite the discomforts of rocking, we really couldn't ask for a better sail. It could have been rough from the start. We were blessed with smooth waters 3/4 of the sail. Not to mention that everything has worked properly and we've had no mechanical troubles (at least none they've told us about :). Thanks to all our amazing engineers! And except for the occasional wave of nausea, neither Tim or I have gotten sick or had to rely on medication.

God has been our shield.

(We should arrive tomorrow. For many of us, it couldn't come fast enough :) )

the stats

... in Benin over the 10 month outreach. 

Taken from The Peet Family in Liberia (Thanks, Olly!) :)

996 reconstructive and plastic surgeries;
185 cleft lip and palate repairs;
1161 general surgeries;
2 local surgeons trained;
3,521 cataracts removed;
570 other eye surgeries (pterygia and stabismus);
2 local eye surgeons trained;
33,851 eye evaluations and other treatments;
7,083 pairs of sunglasses distributed;
5,689 pairs of reading glasses distributed;
18 community eye field workers trained;
154 obstetric fistulas repaired;
4 local surgeons trained in fistula repair;
231 orthopedic operations;
10,175 dental patients seen;
794 dental hygiene patients;
13,174 oral health education;
25 oral health teachers trained;
2 dental assistants trained;
28 patients received palliative home care;
6 Burkitt's Lymphoma patients received palliative support;
19 families trained in wound care;
10 agricultural staff trained;
23 local agricultural trainees;
1 hostel constructed for agricultural college;
19 mental health workers trained;
119 church & community leaders trained in mental health;
50 prison officers and workers trained in mental health;
2 church leaders conferences attended by 602 attendants;
and 12,000 people watched the Jesus Film and many made a commitment to Christ...

3 word summary: GLORY TO GOD!!!

First-- God, and God alone, did incredible things through us in Benin. None of it was by our power, but through His power and skill that He has given us. We also couldn't have done it without our amazing day volunteers who were our voice and words in so many, many ways.

Second--A BIG "Thank You" to all our supporters, both in prayer and finances, who make it possible for Tim and I to serve here and do what we do. Behind each of these numbers are the countless individuals who have lifted up in prayer the patients and crew members involved in and around their care, in every department on the ship. You and your prayers are the backbone of this ministry. Thank you.

Third-- While these numbers are exciting, may we not forget that God doesn't even need us to heal. He could have healed each one of these patients by Himself. Instead, He WANTS to use us. The Creator of this world, the God of the universe wants to carry out His plan through us sinners. I find this so humbling!! May we not get caught up in how many we did and feel good about ourselves or Mercy Ships, but rather approach His throne with humility and awe. Behind each number is a soul. It must not be overlooked. Although we significantly changed their bodies and/or appearance, the physical change is not eternal. 

Please pray for the souls behind those numbers. Seeds were planted, weeds were pulled, thorns uprooted, and seeds were watered. 

It has only just begun.  

wordless wednesday

(Both images captured by Ryan Sutherland)

rockin'

We are 5 days into our approximately 10-day sail.

We are very happy and relieved to share that it has been a very smooth sail so far. Not to say we haven't had our share of rocking though :) Some days are worse than others. But, we are pleased to say neither of us have had to rely on drugs so far, praise the Lord! :)

This is our second sail, and we both would say that it is one of our favorite times. Excluding our amazing engineers and deck hands, it is a less demanding time for most of the crew. A time of rest per say. There is a more relaxed feel to work and every-day life on board. I think the sea air has that effect :) Nobody can go anywhere, so people are more out and about and social with one another. The holiday festivities begin on the sail too. Who doesn't like the Christmas season? And I mustn't forget "pirate watch." Because of our sailing route along the west coastline of Africa, we are more vulnerable to pirate activity. Crew take turns manning the ship overnight. This being up Tim's alley, he jumped at the chance and did a few hour-long slots, watching for suspicious activity. No worries, we've had no troubles so far.

Completely. surrounded. by. water.

There is something so peaceful and serene about being in the middle of the ocean, surrounded only by the expanse of sky and sea. God's majesty is proclaimed. His creation speaks of His glory. In a way, I feel closer to Him at sea.

Mornings are spent on the bow for ward devotions. Afternoons are spent working on our admin tasks, sneaking time outside when we can. Evenings are spent eating dinner out on Deck 7 or 8, or just looking out for marine life, basking in the fresh air and the sound of splashing waves. So far we've seen an unusual water spout (tornado-like sighting on the water) and cute little dolphins jumping alongside the ship. And I must say the water is a magnificent BLUE!! After spending ten months docked in brown filthy water, I am loving the gorgeous color. The sunsets are just beautiful (I can't account for the sunrises, because I have yet to see one :) ). And the starry nights are simply breathtaking!

And amidst all the physical rocking, God is rocking our world as He continues to give us new insight into ourselves and each other, and challenging age-old thoughts, ideas, and perspectives, while growing in us a heart for the nations.

I just want to share that God is so GOOD. And I am so thankful to just "be." To be and do what we are doing. To serve Him in this capacity. To grow together in this unique time in our lives. Along that line, one of things I have found great delight in over this last year, is seeing my husband serve God and others in new ways...with such joy.

Talk about rocking, THAT man rocks my world!!


And of course, I must leave you with photos :)

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Decorations are scattered throughout the ship and cabin/work doors are creatively decorated. This is especially important when the warm weather and the absence of family makes it feel less like Christmas. BUT... during our sail there are several holiday events taking place as we enter the Christmas season. So far we've had a story-telling night of various Christmas dramas and stories to listen to (by the crew), Christmas caroling, a Santa Lucia celebration by our own Scandinavian crew members, the annual holiday bazaar, and a cookie exchange. The holiday bazaar had different booths filled with handmade crafts/cards/goodies to buy while sipping hot apple cider. I especially enjoyed the Santa Lucia presentation, as my Swedish extended family celebrates Santa Lucia on Christmas Eve. I was curious to see an authentic celebration this year. After walking in with real candles and singing to the tune of "Santa Lucia," the story behind the tradition was shared, a hymn was sung, and a dance was taught. We even ate a delicious homemade Norwegian pastry :) Its been fun experiencing "Christmas" with our "ship family." :)




More to come regarding our thoughts and reflections over this last year, I'm still processing the memories :) ...

A Nurse's Christmas wish...

... while sailing the open seas on the Africa Mercy.

We nurses came up with our own rendition of We wish you a Merry Christmas one morning during our devotions. Last night we shared it with the crew at dinner :)

We wish you a healthy Christmas,
We wish you a healthy Christmas,
We wish you a healthy Christmas,
From the nurses to you!

Doxycycline we bring to Tim and his crew
Doxycycline for Christmas, no Malaria for you!

And please take you anti-sickness,
And please take your anti-sickness,
And please take your anti-sickness,
Don't vomit on me!

If you think you'll die then page 105,
Keep two feet on deck, and you'll stay alive!

We wish you a healthy Christmas,
We wish you a healthy Christmas,
We wish you a healthy Christmas,
from the nurses to you!

Farewell Benin!

THEN:
February 10, 2009
Arrival

NOW:
December 8, 2009
Departure

the final jaunt through town

This is our last weekend in Benin.  

My friends, Becca and Allison, and I decided we wanted to spend the day around town, walking the familiar streets. We didn't really care what we did, we just wanted to enjoy the city... all its sights and smells, the sounds, and the people... all the things I've grown to love over the last 10 months. Plus, we wanted to take every advantage to get off the ship, soon we will be sailing and won't be able to. :) I took my camera along because I realized that I didn't have many pictures of town. When Tim and I first arrived here with the ship, we didn't want to take photos right away. We didn't want to give the impression that we were tourists, or that we were exploiting the people and how they lived. Ten months later it still feels a little weird, but I tried to be discreet. 

Our "backyard"-- our view from the dock 

Exiting the port

The city streets--not nearly as much traffic on the weekends :)

The nursery along the road

Vendors and homes off the railroad track

This little girl so excitedly greeted us with hugs when we approached her father's vendor at the market :)

We happened to see this bride and groom as we were leaving the market! I just had to sneak a photo :)

Vendors of any and everything you can possibly need are sold everywhere off the streets! There are no malls :)

A familiar street :)

The "blue lady" or "the mermaid" has become a landmark for the port's location--we often say "turn at the blue lady..."

The street we walk to enter and exit the port

After 5 hours of walking, our feet were DIRTY and sore! :)

i saw Obama! :)

Yes, there really is a beach here named after our president. The local guy we met at the beach even said Obama was his president too. Go figure! :)

I'm telling Mr. President my thoughts on health care :)

wordless wednesday

:-)

world AIDS day

December 1st is World's AIDS/HIV day... being that this evil virus is all too widespread among this continent of Africa, I thought I'd mention the day.

The Good: Its preventable (in most cases)!!

The Bad: Over one million Americans are estimated to be living with HIV.  Worldwide an estimated 33 million are living with HIV.

The Ugly: Its deadly, and here in Africa it far too often unnecessarily leaves children as orphans.

Other than the most obvious ways to take action, like avoid high-risk behaviors and practice safe methods of prevention, I liked what the US Department of Health and Human Services' website also suggests:

-Talk about HIV prevention with friends, family, and colleagues

-Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS

Yes, I think there is plenty of room for support... like less judgment... and more love... and acceptance... 

I know I could give more.