Traipsing around....

Went to Ballito with Alex yesterday to pick up a Land Rover that had been at the garage to be worked on. We went to the beach for a few minutes just to walk along the boardwalk, but I wasn't feeling very good, have had a head cold for the last three days, so we didn't stay very long.

On the way into town, it was very foggy and rainy, but on the way back out to the Bosch, the cun was out and shining. I just marveled at the beautiful scenery that we are so privileged to live among. The hills are so beautiful, and when the clouds are low, they look as though they are kissing the mountain tops. I love seeing the little houses dotted along the mountainsides. Then I realize how wealthy we are compared to the people who live in these little shacks. Our water may go out now and then, our rooms wouldn't be considered all that comfortable or nice, by Western standards, but we are dry when it rains, have safe water to drink, always have more than enough food, and we have lots of 'stuff'.

Although I really despise the 500 speed bump between here and anywhere else, I really like Appelsbosch. Ok, maybe there aren't 500, but there are 28 speed bumps (I counted them) between here and eastern end of the road. South Africa seems to really love speed bumps, and not just one or two, they come in groups of four, packs of two with about 10 inches between them, or two lines of alternating round bumps. Anyway, I won't miss them.

It really hit home on Friday that this chapter of our time with Mercy Ships is coming to an end, as we were cleaning the room that has been the hospital office for the last 3 months. Fortunately this cleaning experience wasn't like last time. No old rats nests, mouse poo, dead birds, or bird feathers and poop, (which is what we found when we arrived) but just standard ol' dusting, sweeping, and mopping.

Well, guess that's it for now, see ya!

Average day......or not

Nothing exciting to write about today. Just another average day. But then I think to myself.......just two years ago, even one year ago, this would not have been average in the least. As I sit here in a big shared office/room, at an abandoned college campus, in the middle of a thousand hills in Appelsbosch, South Africa, I think back.

Just one year ago, I was at home in Clinton, North Carolina working at SRMC, and getting ready to come back to the ship. Had recently gotten back from a FUN and wonderful road trip with some of the best friends anybody could ask for. Had just told Mercy Ships that I wanted to change to long-term status (2 years), and still not knowing how I was going to be able to afford it. And was trying to figure out what I would need to take to survive for 2 years.

Two years ago I was extremely nervous as I was preparing to come to the ship for the first time. Had just gotten my first passport. Got lots of immunizations for diseases I had never heard of before. Was worried about leaving for 14 weeks and not being there to help care for my grandfather, not knowing he would pass away before I returned.

But, now here I am, writing policies and procedures for a variety of nurses to read and follow for years to come, listening to the hoarse rooster crowing every few minutes, looking out the window at a beautiful view of the Kwazulu Natal mountains, and realize how exciting and adventurous God's plan for my life is. More than anything I have ever been able to dream up. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Joys of Community

Today started out very sunny and nice, but now it's dreary and raining. I thought maybe it was just because we are living on top of a mountain as to why it is always so dreary and rainy. But some of the others who have talked to the locals, said that they said, that all this rain is unusual. It's good for the crops, but I really like the sun!

Anyway, this blog post isn't about the weather, but rather about one of the recent things that makes living in community so enjoyable (although it definitely has it's struggles too!). So, as I'm sure you know, we have many different people living all together - singles, couples, and families. To accommodate the families with school-aged children, we have the Mercy Ships Academy. A top notch school on the ship - and I might add, they just got finished getting accredited!! So proud of our teachers and students for that wonderful accomplishment!

But, I'm not writing this to discuss how the school runs, but rather to brag about the wonderful school Christmas play they put on for all of us last night. None of the kids are mine, but I was proud of all of them! They sang, danced, spoke, and acted so wonderfully. The title of the play was "The Fear Not Factor". It was the Christmas story from the angels perspective. It involved all the kids, from grades 1-12 (and I think there is actually at least one kid in each grade this year).

I've been to a couple of school plays before, and they are fun to watch, but I feel that this one had an extra element. Because I knew the kids personalities a bit better than at any other school play, it was even more fun to watch them display their talents and see their personalities come out in their acting and dancing. Also, knowing how similar the kids were in real life to how their characters acted, made it so much funnier.

There's one little boy, who I just love! He is about 8 and was quite bored with the whole play thing, and it really showed, but in a funny way. He was the inn keeper and as he stood there waiting for Joseph and Mary to arrive, he kept looking around with a devious look in his eyes, and tapping his finger together, looking very mischievous, which he is! But it was so fun to see his personality come through in his acting.

I can't do the play justice or describe how wonderfully talented the children are here in writing, but watching them brought such joy to my heart. Seeing how they all pulled together, and how well the older children interacted with and helped the younger ones, was just beautiful to see.

I think it was such a great way for them to start their Christmas break. Not only did it bless those of us living here, but some friends from a local church that some of us have been going to were able to come and enjoy it. Anyway, those are a few of my thoughts on that, so i will close for now. Have a great weekend!

A day in the life......of me!

Today has been a good day. It started out with departmental devotions. The topic was being encouraging to each other, and how if we each try to draw closer to Jesus, He will draw us even closer to each other. Mae was leading the devos, and she did a cool little trick of folding a thin piece of paper over a couple times, put two paper clips on it, and then pulled the ends of the paper away from each other, and the paper clips got hooked on one another.

After that, she gave everyone a piece of paper and had us write our names on it. Then we all put them in the middle of the floor, and everyone grabbed someone else's and wrote something encouraging on it. At the end of the exercise we all got our own papers back. It was so nice and encouraging to read the things everyone had written.

One of the guys who was there had just arrived yesterday, so didn't really know what to write about him, 'cus didn't know him. So I must admit, I just wrote a generic encouraging sentence. But someone else had written "I don't know you, but you dress nicely". I thought that was a very honest, nice thing to write, and it was also kinda funny.

Got off work early (3:15) to go help bake cookies for Thursday night. Two of the teachers had organized for baking of cookies so the kids could decorate them with icing after community meeting Thursday. There are two kinds: sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies.

They made the dough Tuesday, but we ended up having to make some more because there wasn't enough. We totally messed up the gingerbread recipe, but salvaged it, and it was actually better than the original dough that hadn't been messed up. So Angie and I were quite proud of our efforts.

Taxi driver mix-up?

Went to church yesterday. We've been going to a church about an hour's drive away called Grace Family Church. We've really enjoyed being able to go to church on a regular basis, and really get something out of the teaching. The church family there is wonderful; very welcoming.

After church, we all went to the local mall; some to eat lunch, and some (us) to do Christmas shopping. I got a gift for Alex, but I can't say what it is, 'cus he might read this. Then on to the madhouse of Game - South Africa's version of Walmart - where we got a little Christmas tree, lights, decorations, and candy for the stockings. This will be our first Christmas together!! So exciting!!

So, at the appointed time, we all met up outside by the traffic circle where the pick-up zone is, and boarded the shuttle to come back to Appelsbosch. We were all in, but there was no driver. Then he finally came.......except he wasn't our driver. Sometimes I have hard time telling Africans apart, they look so much alike (they say we all look the same to them too); but this guy was a bit heavier set, and definitely had a different shirt on.

Maybe we are on the wrong shuttle?? No, here's the stuff we left on it. Maybe he just got in the wrong shuttle?? No. he's starting it up and driving off. Maybe we've been kidnapped?? That was the most popular idea, just because it was funny, but we knew it wasn't true. Maybe the drivers decided to switch vans??

Anyway, there was lots of confusion amongst us as our new driver drove off around the circle.......and kept going. Didn't take the first exit......didn't take the second exit.......oh look! We're back at the pick-up area. Oh yeah! And there's our original driver! So new driver got out, old driver got in and we were off........to Appelsbosch this time.

Still not sure why the other driver drove us around the circle, but I guess TIA still applies, even here; This Is Africa!

After we got home, I was still feeling festive and excited so I went ahead and decorated our room for Christmas. Here are a few pictures of my endeavors. (Note the beautiful gray walls!)

Right outta the box!

Really long sticking-up thingie

All finished!

Some Christmas crafts I made Saturday

at the fun craft night!

It's all about the stamp

Alex and I went to apply for unabridged copies of our marriage certificate yesterday. We had been warned that it might take hours, especially if we didn't arrive really early in the morning. It might have taken longer if we were applying for an ID card, or visa or something. But fortunately we weren't, because we didn't arrive until about 10:45am.

We found a parking spot, and then made our way through the people selling ink pens. No matter what you come for, you will need to fill out paperwork. There are no general use pens there. We remembered that there was a pen in the vehicle folder (to document mileage) and used that one.

I told the information desk guy that we needed five copies of our marriage certificate. He seemed very surprised and asked a couple of times were we sure we wanted five. He told us they were R70 ($10) each, so we decided to only get three. He gave us the forms, but they had a lot of areas to fill out, which seemed odd. He had given us applications for copies of birth certificates. Said he heard me wrong. Later I realized he had quoted us the correct price for marriage certificates though, not birth certificates.

Africans are very good at sitting patiently for long periods of time. Even with squalling children. Breastfeeding seems to be the most popular form of feeding infants among black Africans. The lady in the seat next to us breastfed her child multiple times. I remember reading many articles over the past few years about how controversial public breastfeeding is in the states. The mother has her right to feed in public. The public has their right to not see her feeding her child. Black Africans don't seem to be hung up on this issue at all.

I like to people watch. Since we were waiting in line, well actually sitting in line, for over an hour (waiting to get the papers stamped), I had lots of time to observe. I know there are creatures, insects mostly I think, that have exoskeletons. Well, I found a man who has an exobrain. Fortunately he had his back to me, because then I could see his head better, and he couldn't see me looking at him. It was really cool. His head that is; he had furrows all over it. It really looked like one of those brain models. It was shaved of course, that's how I could see it so well. It was very cleanly shaved and had no nicks on it, that's talent. I hope he realizes how cool his head looks.

To top the day off, we met Elvis. Elvis may not have married us, but we had to pay him for the copies of our marriage certificate. He didn't have sideburns. And no fancy suit. But his name badge said his name was Elvis, and name badges don't lie.

So, that's all folks! For today anyway.

Ship or Appelsbosch?

Yet again it has been ages since I posted on here. There are two main reasons for this; first I'm a top notch procrastinator and 'tomorrow' hasn't arrived yet, it keeps being 'today'; second, I just don't think I have anything interesting to write about. I've started reading a book recently, well, today actually, and I really like how the author writes, so I thought I'd try something similar, and just write about all the little things that go on day to day.

As we were driving today, I was thinking about needing to do a blog, and I was trying to figure out what I was going to write about. We aren't in a field service right now, so I can't write about how we are changing lives, and my experiences with life and death. Maybe what I consider mundane won't be so mundane to you, or at least you might get some interesting (I hope) reading out of it.

I went to the ship today, first time I've been back since we left September 2. It was an interesting experience. It didn't really feel like home but didn't seem strange either. Maybe more like just some place I've been before, but nothing special.

Alex suggested we play a little game - what are you looking forward to about the ship, and what are you going to miss about Appelsbosch. That got me to thinking. I've not been looking forward to going back to the ship, because sometimes it can feel a bit confining and now I'm used to being under high ceilings, or just the sky. I really like trees and grass. Needless to say, there are neither of those on the ship.

But I realized that I need to focus on the things I look forward to on the ship. So, some of the things I thought of are these: bathroom in our room, not all the way down the hall; the crew galley, where I can cook or bake when the notion strikes; mango smoothies (well this is actually kinda more for when we are back in West Africa where mangos are fresh, sweet and plentiful!); carpeting; non-echoing hallways; the sail; not having to walk very far to get to the dining room; and having a comfortable communal hang-out place (mid-ships lounge).

Well, there are some of my thoughts for today. I'll try and write something again tomorrow........well.........it'll be 'today' by that time. Anyway, that's all folks!

Wedding planning 101.......let someone else do it!

It's been one month and 10 days since Alex and I joined our lives in holy matrimony.........and it has been an adventure; so many stories to tell! But I guess I'll start at the beginning, with the whole, 'need to plan a wedding'. Wedding planning is not my forte. But thankfully God sent just the right people to help out right when we needed them.

I had never really planned to have a proper wedding, for various reasons, but always figured I would just go to a Justice of the Peace (JP). That was until two years ago. After my brother got married, my new sister-in-law said that if I ever got married she would be my wedding planner. Which was fantastic in my book! In my mind I would just show up and not have to make decisions on all the little details because...........I'm just not that bothered about it! But, as it turned out, I ended up getting married halfway around the world, so unfortunately she couldn't arrange things. fortunately I have four wonderful friends who are also on the ship, and lots of others who were eager to help out. (Oh, and my wonderful husband who is great at planning things!)

So I went online and looked at many wedding dress styles (the choices are endless!) and found a simple style that I really liked. This was only about three months before the wedding, seeing as we planned to get married only 3 1/2 months after getting engaged. Really didn't have time to order one and get it shipped out, so decided to get fabric at the local fabric market and have a local tailor make it! The material was quickly found - it was white with a faint whiter heart pattern on it.

Here are two photos of me trying it on,

after the final alterations, but before ironing!

Do to various things, mainly my procrastination, didn't end up finding a tailor until only a few weeks before we were due to leave Togo for South Africa. We had also found fabric for the bridesmaids dresses; so we all got measured, gave the tailor pictures of what we wanted the dresses to look like and the fabric. Then we prayed that they would look at least vaguely like we wanted, since african tailors are known for doing their own interpretation of whatever style you've picked. When he found out mine was a wedding dress, I had to insist that he NOT cover it in sequins and flowers. We finally agreed to a few white flowers on the bottom edge of the dress, and sequined trim around the top (it was strapless) and at the waist. In the end he also put white flowers around the waist area above the trim, but it looked ok. After multiple alterations we got all the dresses back two days before we left the country. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

I had originally thought it would be nice to get married on the beach, since we thought we would be staying near the ocean. So we asked Marty, our chaplain on the ship (he had done Gateway with us and known us as long as we had known each other) if he would do the ceremony, and he eagerly agreed. But, since he isn't South African, he couldn't do the legal/paperwork part. We figured we would just go by the local marriage office and get the equivalent of a JP to do the official part. Unfortunately, they didn't have any openings until AFTER the date that we had already booked our honeymoon to start, and so would be out of the country.

As it turned out, there is a Lutheran church right across the street from where are staying in Appelsbosch, so the Advance Team leader went and spoke with the Zulu priest of the church, and he agreed to do our wedding for us. But once we finally were able to meet with him (four days before the wedding) he said he wouldn't so the paper work part, which is what we needed him for. So then it was time for the backup plan. The ship's Academy principle, who had volunteered to be our wedding planner (she did a fabulous job!) and is south African, has a brother who is an ordained minister and lives in Cape Town. So she called him up for us and he said he would be glad to fly in and do the legal part of the wedding and let Marty do all the rest. Such a huge blessing!

So eventually it all went off wonderfully without any major hitches. There were so many other things that had to be changed multiple times, truly a 'Mercy Ships style wedding', and many funny instances, but if I wrote them all here, this blog would end up being the length of a small novel! One of the funny things that happened was when we were meeting with the Zulu priest (which was a very cultural experience!) when he asked us our ages.

Zulu Priest: how old are you (me)?

Me: 27

ZP: Oh! You are well matured! And you (Alex)? How old are you?

Alex: 25

ZP: She is older! And you still love her??

In african culture women are married long before 27, and men don't marry older than themselves. Alex's answer was of course "yes"!

A beautiful sunset on our wedding day!

The wedding party and groom's parents

Moving Day

So alot has happened and changed in the last few weeks; it's been exciting, confusing, fun, difficult, and sometimes stressful. Here's a little taste of last week.

After a beautiful - but cold! - sail down the west coast of Africa, and up slightly on the east side, we arrived in Durban, South Africa. It was September 2nd. After docking, I kept going out onto the gangway (we weren't allowed off the ship yet) to just look at the land, and see proof that we weren't moving anymore!

The next day was a day of "hurry up and wait". Since there were over 100 people - singles, couples, and families - tranfering off the ship we had a big moving day. All the stuff from the Academy, and all the many departments, had been boxed up and was stacked in the midships area the day before. So at 8am, we had to start bringing all our personal belongings that we were taking with us, into the same area. Then we waited for the moving trucks and busses to arrive.

Once the trucks arrived, we got down to work. Pick up a box or bag, get in line, down the gangway, put item in collection area for moving men, back in through pilot's entrance, up two flights of stairs, repeat. I really felt like the little ants in the movie A Bug's Life, as we had our little trail going 'round and 'round.

Afer getting everything packed in the trucks, everybody piled into the busses and Land Rovers, off we went. Two hours of highways and hilly winding roads later, Appelsbosch was in our view! Everybody piled out with the little bit of luggage we had taken with us on the bus, and went and got their key to their new abode.

Thirty minutes or so later, the moving trucks arrived. Time to move more boxes and bags! So, the central building by the parking lot - a big gymnasium - is where everything went. This time conveyor lines of people were the mode of transport. Into the gym went all the boxes and bags and more boxes and random bits and pieces (a british phrase!) into big ol' piles. Thanks to everyone pitching in, it only took about an hour to empty the trucks and fill the gym.

Then time to gather belongings, drop them off in your new room and go eat some dinner!

And in my next post........Wedding preparations gone complicated!!

Since it's been about two weeks since I last posted something on here, I feel that it is about time to put out some more exciting reading material. But, unfortunitely, I've not really had anything all that exciting happen (well......unless you consider fainting and falling out on the floor in the International Lounge in front of 30-40 people while my roommate is giving a presentation, exciting) in the last couple of weeks.

That's really kinda sad actually........I'm living on a hospital ship off the coast of Africa with 400+ people from 35 nations, and I have nothing interesting to write about. I'll blame it on my work schedule; since I have been working straight nights this year, I've not really taken the initiative to get out and do things nearly as much as I did last year when I came. I am already promising myself that I will do better next year (New Year's resolution a bit early?) about getting out and experiencing the African culture.

So, in light of the second sentence of the first paragragh, I thought I would just post one of the patient stories that our lovely Public Realations dept has written. I had the privilege of caring for this patient (Kossin) while he was with us, and so thought it would be a nice one to share. But first I will tell you the story of my fainting episode, since I'm sure you're dying (or fainting) with curiosity. But, even if you're not curious, I hate to pass up the oppurtunity to share an embarrassing story; so here goes:

It happened Friday morning, but it all started when I got sick on Thursday. So got off work Thurs morning, ate breakfast, walked ALL the way home, and went to sleep by about 9am. I kept waking up reapeatedly with stomach cramps and nausea. Got up for work around 5pm, and still felt horrible, so ended up calling out for the night. Anyway, by 8am Friday morning after a little puke, a little poo, and 24 hours of sleep I was feeling great! The other girls were up getting ready for the Programs Reporting Time in the International Lounge (the big meeting room where we have all our......well......big meetings for the crew). Ginger mentioned that Alainie was the person giving the presentation that morning on her work as the Wound Care Coordinator for the plastics patients we have had. I thought "hey, I'm feeling great! I'll go be a good supportive roommie and friend." So got ready, and went on up with Ginger and Becky.

Sometimes when I'm sick I don't eat or drink enough, and my blood sugar drops. So, things were going well, Alainie was being a phenomenal public speaker, giving out some great information, showing lots of good pictures, and telling a few funny quotes and sayings, just crusing along really. I suddenly started feeling funny and knew instantly that I was getting ready to pass out. So, as I have done in the past, I thought, I'll just scoot down in my chair, prop my head on the back of my seat, pass out, come too, and sit back up; fool-proof right? Not this time. Next thing I know I'm laying comfortably in the 'recovery position' on the floor and there are all these chair legs and human legs around, and I hear someone say "is she breathing?" and realize they're talking about me. Becky was kneeling beside me with her fingers on my wrist checking my pulse, being the perfect little nurse.

Then I hear "stretcher bearer team to International Lounge" on the overhead; twice! I sat my woozy self up and said " I am NOT going anywhere on a stretcher" then promptly passed back out. Ok, ok, I didn't really pass back out, but that woulda been funnier if I had. But really, Becky and the crew nurse helped me up and walked me to the back of the room where I had to lay down again (on chairs, not the floor this time) for a few minutes; and then they walked me back to my room (down two flights of stairs and a short hallway) with frequent rest breaks every 10 steps or so. So back to bed I went for about 24 more hours and Alainie continued on with her presentation, not sure if what had just transpired really had happened or not. In retrospect, I think that that may not have been the best way to show my supportiveness to Alainie. But, it made a good story.

So.......here's the real post:

Sixteen-year-old, Kossin Delou, spent four years of his life sheltered by his family and kept out of the public eye due to an enormous tumor that dominated the left side of his face. When the tumor first appeared, Kossin visited local hospitals in Lomé, Togo. But his family could not afford the necessary surgery. So, the tumor, which started from Kossin's upper jaw, continued to grow. It soon covered his eye, hindering his vision.

As the insidious growth enlarged, Kossin's life became more difficult. Kossin's father is a local pastor, and the church is an important part of his family life. But people viewed the tumor as a curse, so Kossin's shame prevented him from attending church. In fact, the children who were once his friends now ridiculed him on the streets and at school. He even felt like an outsider among his own siblings.

His emotional turmoil intensified as his dream for his future began to fade away. Kossin wanted to study at a university to become a teacher. He wanted to enrich the lives of children with knowledge and love. His grotesque facial deformity would prevent him from pursuing his education.

Then Kossin came to our hospital ship, the Africa Mercy . After many hours of surgery, he emerged with a newly constructed face. Joy radiated from Kossin and his family. His father, Pastor Delou, says, "In this life each one of us needs help in some moment of our life. I can say that through Mercy Ships, we have found that help. You can have a bad story - but, before the end of your life, God will open a door and smile deep into your heart. I know that God is working through Mercy Ships for the best in my life and in Kossin's life."

Kossin is ecstatic about his new life. He can go to church with his family and friends. He's no longer an object of ridicule. And - best of all - in September of 2010, Kossin will be able to start school to fulfil his resurrected dream of becoming a teacher.

Written by Joy Clary
Edited by Nancy Predaina

Photos by Debra Bell and Liz Cantu

Waiting in line to be examined
Being examined by Dr Gary Parker
Recieving his appointment card for surgery
Recovering in the Africa Mercy hospital ward.
Three weeks after surgeryStanding proudly beside his father, Pastor Delou.

TIA Nurse

Nursing in Africa is unlike anywhere else. Although this has been said many times, I was quickly reminded again last night when at work on B Ward. I had a patient that was going to be having her VVF repair surgery in the morning, so about 5:45 am, I woke her up so she could get washed up and have a sitz bath. For those of you in the medical field you know what a sitz bath is, but for those of those of you who aren't, it's a setup to wash the........well,.......nether regions. I had never actually dealt with sitz bath contraptions at home, but the procedure here is: 2.5 L warm tap water with 60ml of 20% chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is an "antiseptic and antimicrobial disinfectant." It has many quality features: effective against lots of bacteria and fungi; good for use on floors, walls, and tables; but, the most important it is "gentle and soothing to the skin". Anyway, getting side tracked here. So after mixing this concoction up, we give the pan and a 60ml syringe to the patient and instruct her to cleanse 'down there'.

So I go into the bathroom with my patient to give her instructions on how to use the stuff. That is when I realize how drastically different our worlds are, as I have to start at the beginning, the very beginning - how to operate a syringe. It had never occurred to me before now that there are people in the world that have never seen, much less used, a syringe, which is something I consider very basic and simple. Anyway, that was my "wow! we really do come from different worlds!" moment for the day.

The best part of the shift though, was my other lady's little baby. So when Mama comes to the hospital, baby comes with her. Since mama had just had surgery, she was still on bed rest and wasn't allowed to get up. Well, little cutie pie, started crying and crying. Just couldn't be calmed. Normally he is such a happy baby. Tried feeding him, changing his diaper, rocking him, nothing was working. It sounded like an "I'm in pain" cry, so started thinking, and remembered that earlier in the morning, he had been burping and pooting a LOT - poor little feller had a belly full of gas! After walking him in the hall and patting his little back, I handed him to one of our Day volunteers who thought he might be able to quiet him. Well, it worked, baby burped a really big burp and then spit up all over poor Jean!

Baby was now very happy, but still didn't want to lay down. Jean said he needed to get back to work, so I thought quickly and said "ok, I'll carry him on my back, African style," Jean looked at me in disbelief and said "do you even know how to?" I had watched many African mothers put their children on their backs, and so was prepared for this moment. I confidently said "yep", I bent over to make my back parallel to the floor, took baby by one arm and flipped him around to be lying face down on my back, grabbed a bed sheet and tossed it across baby, brought the top edge under my arms and twisted it on itself, pulled the bottom edge snugly under his little bum and twisted and tucked it in on itself, and stood up. Tada!! Jean was staring open-mouthed and then just started laughing and shaking his head. He said I did it like a pro, and then walked off to get back to work, still laughing.

I don't have any pics of the process, but here is the finished product.

I have discovered that there are two ways to have the baby - arms out, or arms in. If you want the baby to stay awake, put the top edge of the cloth under his arms and he is less likely to sleep; if you're ready for him to take a nap, tuck his little arms into the sling and nap-time has begun!

It's all about the kidney juice......

....or pee, or wee, or whatever you prefer to call it.

My first stint in VVF Land is completed! Although we've had VVF patients on the wards for a few weeks now, I hadn't been assigned to them until last Tues.

The first night was quite busy and hectic. I came away with the realization that it really is all about the pee - what does it look like? what color is it? how much? where is it coming out of? does it smell bad? (not that pee ever smells good) are there blood clots in it? After asking myself these questions about multiple patients every hour for nine hours; I didn't even want to go to the bathroom myself, because I had seen more than enough pee!

I think VVF land is more emotionally challenging than the other surgeries, at least for me it is. The patients must be checked every hour for the first 24 hours after surgery to make sure they aren't still, or start back, leaking and that they have at least 30ml of urine. 30ml of urine an hour is the minimum to indicate healthy kidney function, and that the person isn't dehydrated. We give each lady a 1.5 liter water bottle on admission and encourage them to drink 2-3 L per day. This helps them to keep their kidneys flushed out so that they aren't as prone to infections, and to help insure adequate hourly output.

It's always a bit anxiety inducing each time I check the chux pad under each one; will it be wet? or dry?? I always breathe a small sigh of relief and happiness when they are still dry. Although it may not seem like a big deal to some people, I know how much hope these beautiful ladies have put into having this surgery. One girl that is with us is only 19 years old, she has been wet for five years. It's saddens my heart to think of a 14 year old going through this. First of all being pregnant, and then, not only losing her baby, but also having this horrible stigma attached to her, and living her young life not knowing if she will ever be able to be healed or if she will have to live the rest of her days with this curse. Although this isn't how God intended it to be, a woman's worth (here) is largely based on her abilities as a wife and especially her ability to bear children.

Screening day

It is the most amazing thin to see the radiant joy on the faces of the ladies that the surgery has worked for. But at the same time the sadness and loss of hope written on the faces of the ladies that haven't been healed, is heart breaking.

Once a week or two, there is a dress ceremony to celebrate a new life for the ladies that have had successful surgery. Each lady is given a new dress - to symbolize her new life. Clementine - a Togolese lady that works on the ship, plans and organizes the dress ceremonies. She takes the ladies to another ward and helps them get all dressed up with makeup (if they want) and their new dresses, then they sing and dance as they come back down the hall to the VVF ward. The Dress Ceremony has begun!

Getting ready for the ceremony!

It is a time of singing, dancing, telling their stories, and thanking God, and immense joy. The crew are invited to attend and join in with the celebration. I haven't made it to any this year, but I can remember from last year how exciting it is. I like to observe all the different people. The ladies in the ceremony and how they are glowing. Then there are the ladies that have just had surgery and still aren't sure if it has been successful but are so very hopeful. Also there are the ones who haven't had their surgery yet, but you can see the hope in their faces that soon they will be the one up there dancing and singing. And then, there are the ones that have had their surgery, and it hasn't been successful. I always wonder what is going through their minds, sadness, disappointment, despair, even jealousy maybe? My heart goes out to them as I watch them watching the joyous dancing and singing, even though at the same time, their hopes have been shattered. So I silently pray for them, that even though they haven't been physically healed, hopefully they have experienced the love of Jesus through us while they are here, and that they will still have eternal hope.

Telling her story

This is my prayer, that each patient will see the love of Jesus through us; through me and through each crew member that they come into contact with.

Ready to have her surgery!

Playing games on the ward

Lead VVF surgeon - Steve Arrowsmith

Life in Togo

I got the chance to visit one of our translators at her home a couple weekends ago. It really put into perspective how fortunite and privileged I am. At home I always considered myself to be middle-income; not wealthy, but not barely scraping by each month either. After seeing Amele's house, I realize that actually I'm very weathly in comparison, and should never complain about what I don't have. Amale's house is less than half the size of our cabin here on the ship approximately the size of my parent's back porch. Our cabin isn't big compared to my house back home, or even an apartments back home, although it is considerably larger than our first cabin. But after seeing Amale's house, I feel like I'm living in luxury. It's all in the perspective, I guess.

I was so amazed, and blessed - I think that word gets used too much sometimes, but it definitely applies here - by her wonderful hospitality and generosity. She had decided to teach us how to cook African food. I'm not the best cook to begin with, but turns out it was quite easy, because it was seafood soup! Started out by heating water on a small kerosene stove - that was sitting in a cardboard box, Yikes! Then in go the greens, which became very slimy, followed by saltpeter mixed in water (which just looked like muddy water). After that cooked for a little while, in went the prawns (shrimp), crabs (shell and all!), oil mixed with some spices that turned it red, and some sea salt. While we were making this, Amele's friend was cooking on a small wood stove beside us making.......well.........I don't know what it's called, but it's a thick, sticky concoction made out of water and cornmeal.

Then it was time to eat! Don't need utensils here, just dig in......with your right hand that is. It is very rude to use your left hand to eat with. It was quite tasty, although I had my doubts when I was watching it cook. The process goes like this: dip your fingers in the soup, pinch off a bit of the doughy stuff and use it to scoop up some soup, swirl your hand around a little bit so that the sliminess breaks and doesn't drip on you, and pop it in your mouth! Yum! Then, if you're brave, or African, you choose a nice morsel of crab and eat it - that's right - shell and all! Crunchy! I wasn't brave enough to try it, but one of the girls with us braved it and took a small bite. She said it wasn't too bad, but I didn't care to share that experience with her.




After we finished eating she took us around to see the lake nearby and we found a wonderful climbing tree. So we all climbed it and took pictures. There were several Africans around just standing there watching us, I'm sure they were thinking "these yovos have really lost it!" But it was lots of fun!

It's always interesting to see other ways of living, to get a small glimpse into someone else's life, and wonder "how different would my life, and views on things, be if I had grown up here instead?"

Amele's friend

Greens.....
...oil and spices.....
...crabs and prawns!
Stirring the cornmeal and water.....before it got thick and sticky
finished product!
Jolene, Esther, Amele, me, Becca.

FABULOUS weekend in Ghana!!

So.....where to begin.......
I'm engaged to be married to a wonderful man named Alex Williams! But, I guess that's really the end, so I'll try and start at the beginning-ish.

We first met Sept 14, 2009 at the Introductory to Mercy Ships (IMS) program in Tyler, TX. We became good friends during the next 7 1/2 weeks of IMS and Gateway. We went our separate ways in Nov, him to the ship and me home; but reunited again Jan 24, 2010 when I arrived to the ship. What happy day that was!! For the next week we went to diving school and became certified SCUBA divers. After I had been on the ship for a week and two days, he asked if we could start dating/courting. I happily said "yes!"

So the last four months have been wonderful, a few ups and downs as we have gotten to know each other and each other's pasts. But overall, it has been a time of building trust and becoming even closer friends. Living in such a close community situation, we do a lot of things, and go a lot of places together. Which I love! :-)

Needing a break from the close quarters of ship life, we (my roomies, Alex, and Esther) decided to go to Ghana for the weekend. After a few times of thinking it wasn't going to work out, due to work loads, not being able to get days off, and sickness, we finally decided we would go for only two days instead of four.

The six of us packed up and headed to Ghana Friday night, after the others got off work, where we traversed the border at night - which was pure craziness!! We eventually got a van and driver for the nearly four-hour drive to Wli Falls and arrived there at about 1am.

Slept in Saturday, and decided to go to the lower falls which was an easy 45 min walk, instead of the 5hour hike to the upper falls (which we did Sunday morning). We got there while huge group of local schoolchildren were there on a field trip, so we just waited around and admired the beautiful waterfall, and the numerous bats that reside there. After a while, several people, including the schoolchildren had left. Alex said "wanna take a walk with me" to some rocks that were right next to the falls. I said "sure". After looking at the beautiful falls for a few minutes, he took my hands and said "have I told you I love you today? Because I do, very much." Then he talked about how the last nine months have been the best of his life so far, and that that was because I was part of it, told me that I was his best friend, and said several other things (sometimes he's a bit of a rambler). By this time I had figured out what he was going to ask so I got excited and started squeezing his hands, maybe a little too hard! Oops! Then he said, "you're a nurse, you know about heart rates" and I said, "let me guess, your's is up right now?" Then he reached into his pocket and brought out ringbox with a beautiful diamond ring in it, and said the magic words - "will you marry me?" Of course I said "Yes!"

Alex yelled "she said yes!!" and there was lots of cheering and clapping from the other five girls, and all the other people that were there. After much hugging and kissing, we went back over to where the girls were waiting and gave hugs all around. We didn't have a bottle of champagne, but Esther was prepared, she had brought along a some gummy coke bottle candies, so we each took one and toasted them and then ate 'em!

So.....that was my weekend!! I think I may be the happiest woman in the world right now!

VVF Land!

It's finally here! After months of hard work by our VVF coordinators, a busy day of screening, and few hours of bleaching - VVF Land is open!

So far 66 women have been screened for VVF surgery, and amazingly, most of them (60) are viable candidates. So, for those of you who don't know what VVF stands for, it is the acronym for 'Vesico-vaginal Fistula'. Basically it is a hole between the bladder and the vagina (I'm a nurse so I don't get embarrassed by this word. Haha!) It is usually is caused by obstructed child birth, and it causes the woman to leak urine constantly. I was able to work with the VVf patients a little bit last year when I was here, but hope to get to even more this year.

Sometimes it is hard to find these women that so badly need our help because they are outcasts in their society and hide, or are hidden away. So it is wonderful news that we already have 60 patients. Several of them are here because a patient who had VVf surgery on the ship last year, in Benin, went with her brother to the places where they knew these ladies were, and brought them, or told them to come to the ship. It is always nice to see people who have been helped bringing others to get help.

So our first three patients had their surgery yesterday, May 25th, and are doing great so far! I'm looking forward to seeing the wonderful transformations in these ladies over the next weeks. As they go from being embarrassed, ashamed, and rejected; to smiling, outgoing, and confident.

Here are a few pictures of some of our beautiful patients from last year.

Tumbu Terrifica

Ok, so maybe it's not so terrific when it's your own body the Tumbu fly larvae has invaded, but when it's in someone else and you get to help remove it, it's pretty cool! I think this may have been my best 'International Nurses' Day' ever. So this whole week has been International Nurses' Week, but Wednesday is the actual 'official' day. Earlier in the week, Alex had shown me and my roomies some red zit looking spots on his arm and one on his stomach. At first we just thought they were pimples, or bug bites. But when we looked closer, we could see a black spot in the middle of the areas, and so we jokingly said "ooh, you've got tumbu in your arm!"

Last year Becky (ward supervisor and my roomie) had a tumbu larvae in her leg, so these spots on Alex brought that back up, and he picked on her incessantly about it. Since we couldn't figure out what the spots were, we decided to try and pop them, but couldn't, and they just got a big red area around them.

After several more opinions from different people, including "infected bug bite", "hmmm, probably tropical boils", Becky started thinking it really might be Tumbu. So, lucky for us, Ginger had just received a package from home and it included some scalpels she was going to donate to the OR here. So, we got a pair of tweezers and a #15 scalpel, and Becky went to work with me and Esther observing and assisting. The first spot on his arm WAS a tumbu! We were so excited! Next spot on his arm was another Tumbu! This was getting better and better; Alex was getting a bit horrified, but he handled it well.

We decided that Alainie needed to be there for the last one - in the stomach - and we also called a few other nurse friends to come watch. So after assembling everyone, Becky went to work on the third spot. This one was much more difficult to remove because it was already starting to dig deeper in to the flesh. But after much slicing, squeezing, pinching, encouraging, sweating (Alex), a couple groans of pain (also Alex), and anticipation, we had the last larvae out! Unfortunately, the larvae died during this process, but we kept them anyway to show off to people.

In all, the whole thing took about 30 minutes (not including waiting for people to come), and six nurses - OR nurse, ward supervisor, translator coordinator, ward nurse, and two wound care nurses.

So, the moral of this story is this - Make sure someone else gets the Tumbu in them, because it's much more fun to be the remover than the removee, and don't be the Tumbu, because they die in the end.

Documentation!!

What I learned from nursing school:

if it isn't documented,

it wasn't done!

Last week was one of the most difficult weeks for me so far. It was a busy week, with several really sick patients. By the end of my four day work week, I had worked in all the wards at least once; because I got shifted around to where the more serious patients were. It started out with giving 2 and 3 hourly tube feedings to two little cleft lip/palate babies - Marius who had had his surgery, and Obrien who was still gaining his strength so he could have his; and ended with sadness as we celebrated the beautiful life of Obrien, while at the same time mourning his death, that seemed to have come too early.

Obrien was the beautiful little boy we called our "miracle baby". He had had a rough time of it since his arrival. A few weeks ago, he got worse off when he aspirated (inhaled) some formula into his lungs and got aspiration pneumonia. We had put him on a little bit of O2 (oxygen) "blow-by", but after this happened, he wasn't able to keep his O2 saturation levels up high enough. So next they tried CPAP, which gives the patient slightly pressurized air, so that the lungs stay inflated better. He still wasn't able to keep his O2 up for any extended time. After more than an hour of trying different things, the Dr. and nurses decided that the only thing left to do was intubate - put a breathing tube down his throat and let a machine breathe for him. This was not a good situation, because he was so malnourished that it was very questionable that he would ever be able to come off the ventilator.

As the two nurses were getting the supplies ready for intubation, they noticed it had gotten very quiet over by the bedside. they looked over to see the two doctors praying over Obrien. After preying, one of the doctors took the O2 mask off and placed it beside Obrien's head; his O2 levels started going up, he stopped having to struggle so much to breathe, and was finally able to rest. His heart rate, which had been up very high, came slowly down to normal. Although it was hard for them to believe at first, they finally realized they had just witnessed an amazing miracle.

So it was hard for me to understand why this little baby, who had had such an amazing miracle worked in his life, died. Maybe God knew that this little life wasn't going to be in this world very long but still used him for His glory, because He knew that with all the difficulties this outreach, we needed to see such tangible proof of his continued presence and love for us.

I feel so honored and privileged to have been able to care for Obrien during his short, difficult life; and will treasure all the memories of him for the rest of my life. Please pray for his family, especially his mother. She is such a wonderful person and one of the most loving and attentive mothers I have ever met. Please also keep the crew in your prayers as this has been hard for all involved.




Little Obrien in the ICU.










Obrien, his mama, and nurse Kristen















Marius when he first came.














Marius after his surgery.