I leave today at 19:45. I can't believe it. It has been the longest, fastest six months I've ever experienced. While I have some more to write about my last week here, I thought I'd write on my last day a couple of other things, and I will save the rest of it for when I get home.
First of all, in case any of you don't know yet, I got into graduate school. Therefore, should all things go according to plan, I will start at Colorado State University in late August with their occupational therapy grad program. I'm very happy and excited about this. It will be a lot of work, but I've felt like this is probably what I'm supposed to do for quite some time, and getting accepted into their program was so encouraging in that.
Second of all, I hate goodbyes. Through all the stress of packing and preparing to go, the thing I feel most anxious about is saying goodbye to people who I love so much who have become so close to me. We joke sometimes that a month in Mercy Ship time is about a year in real world time, so I've known some of these people for 6 years! When I left, I said goodbye to friends and family for a short amount of time. I may not see some of the people I've met here again until Heaven. That is hard. I know once the goodbyes are done, I will be able to focus on traveling and what I need to do to get home, but it's for sure the worst part about leaving.
The last thing for now is that I really have been noticing God's provision. I always wanted to travel. I always wanted to do grad school for something. But if either of these things had happened any time before now, I would not have been ready. God wrote my story so that I'd learn what I needed to and grow where I needed to. Any different timing and nothing would have working out the way it did. One of my favorite literary quotes is from the book Peace Like a River: "Is it hubris to believe that we all live epics?" I don't think it is. I have seen that there is an Author of my story who knows so much more than I do what needs to happen and where I need to go and what I need to do. And I am so grateful.
Well, I will post more once I get home, but this is my last blog in Africa. I've had so much fun, learned so much, made incredible friends, and basically had the time of my life. I will miss it, but I am starting to look forward to what is next.
Au revoir!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
. . . I saw the figure of Jesus, standing barefoot on broken glass . . .
Today I got the opportunity to help with screening. The typical process when the Africa Mercy arrives in a country is to have a mass screening. Due to the elections that are coming up, Mercy Ships decided to change their screening process to avoid too large crowds for everyone's safety. Because of this change, I didn't think I would have the opportunity to take part in any sort of screening activities. However, I lucked out. I got to go help escort patients.
Our day started out at 6:30, when we left the ship for the handball stadium. We arrived to a long, orderly line of people. I helped to put out caution tape to direct people where they needed to go, and then it stared to rain. Fortunately it was a quick storm, and we got underway with barely a hitch.
My job was to guard the gate and escort patients to the area where they would be assessed by the medical professionals to see if they were eligible for surgery. I used my limited French to see how people were doing and interact with the children who were there. The day was a mixture of heartbreak and joy. One nurse told me they should write a book on how to tell someone their tumor isn't big enough for surgery. I got to watch her do just that a moment later. A man with a small tumor on his jaw came up. His face fell as she said it wasn't big enough for surgery. His friend scoffed but she explained that due to the limited time and resources of the ships, we had to prioritize the tumors that were life-threatening. The men walked away, and we all felt sad.
But there was hope! I escorted a man with a giant facial tumor to the screening area. I clumsily asked him how he was in French. "I speak English." was his response, in a clear, strong voice. I was taken aback, but in a pleasantly surprised way. He was scheduled for surgery, which was so encouraging.
As I looked over the line of people, I thought about how each and every one of them is made in the image of God. How Jesus died for each and every person there. Mercy Ships tries to have prayer teams available for the people who are turned away from surgery. I like that, because it shows that even if we can't help them physically, we still have hope in the great Physician. Only He can provide the hope and healing we all yearn for.
I was not able to take my camera to the screenings, so besides the picture of me in scrubs, the other photos were taken by Mercy Ships photographers on a different screening day.
I have decided I have to have a job that enables me to wear scrubs!
Professionally taken Mercy Ships photos:
Our day started out at 6:30, when we left the ship for the handball stadium. We arrived to a long, orderly line of people. I helped to put out caution tape to direct people where they needed to go, and then it stared to rain. Fortunately it was a quick storm, and we got underway with barely a hitch.
My job was to guard the gate and escort patients to the area where they would be assessed by the medical professionals to see if they were eligible for surgery. I used my limited French to see how people were doing and interact with the children who were there. The day was a mixture of heartbreak and joy. One nurse told me they should write a book on how to tell someone their tumor isn't big enough for surgery. I got to watch her do just that a moment later. A man with a small tumor on his jaw came up. His face fell as she said it wasn't big enough for surgery. His friend scoffed but she explained that due to the limited time and resources of the ships, we had to prioritize the tumors that were life-threatening. The men walked away, and we all felt sad.
But there was hope! I escorted a man with a giant facial tumor to the screening area. I clumsily asked him how he was in French. "I speak English." was his response, in a clear, strong voice. I was taken aback, but in a pleasantly surprised way. He was scheduled for surgery, which was so encouraging.
As I looked over the line of people, I thought about how each and every one of them is made in the image of God. How Jesus died for each and every person there. Mercy Ships tries to have prayer teams available for the people who are turned away from surgery. I like that, because it shows that even if we can't help them physically, we still have hope in the great Physician. Only He can provide the hope and healing we all yearn for.
I was not able to take my camera to the screenings, so besides the picture of me in scrubs, the other photos were taken by Mercy Ships photographers on a different screening day.
I have decided I have to have a job that enables me to wear scrubs!
Professionally taken Mercy Ships photos:
L is for the way you look at me . . .
As I have mentioned, I live in the 1o berth cabin. This means that I have nine friends whenever I need them. They are amazing women, and I have been blessed to live with them. On Valentine's Day, we had a roommate dinner. We all made snacks of some variety, some of us dressed up, and we drew names and wrote a poem for whichever roommate we picked. We danced, sang, ate WAY too much sugar, and just had a wonderful time. Thanks, ladies, for making this year the best Valentine's ever!
Annie Lou, Caitlin, Bethany
Lyndsay and me
Emma, Amy, and Joy
The 4418 girls: Top row: Lyndsay, Bethany, Caitlin, Amy, Emma, Joy
Bottom row: Marianne, me, Rachael, Annie Lou
Annie Lou, Caitlin, Bethany
Lyndsay and me
Emma, Amy, and Joy
The 4418 girls: Top row: Lyndsay, Bethany, Caitlin, Amy, Emma, Joy
Bottom row: Marianne, me, Rachael, Annie Lou
Saturday, February 20, 2010
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye!
Okay, so I am in the final stretch. It's sad, unreal, exciting, and strange. But this will be my last farewell to my friends who have left before me blog! Because you see . . . I am the next one to leave. Sigh.
Priska
Okay, so you left a long time ago, but I was in such denial about it that I refused to add you on here. So this is your time. I miss your face. I miss your sense of humor. I miss the comments that I can't believe came out of your mouth. You are great!
Bethany
You are the roommate I had the longest. And I'm so happy that we shared all this time together. You are amazing, funny, fun, caring, and a party waiting to happen. I wish Virginia and Colorado were neighbors, because then we could be too. I love you, and although you left about three hours ago, I miss you already. Talk to you soon!
Priska
Okay, so you left a long time ago, but I was in such denial about it that I refused to add you on here. So this is your time. I miss your face. I miss your sense of humor. I miss the comments that I can't believe came out of your mouth. You are great!
Bethany
You are the roommate I had the longest. And I'm so happy that we shared all this time together. You are amazing, funny, fun, caring, and a party waiting to happen. I wish Virginia and Colorado were neighbors, because then we could be too. I love you, and although you left about three hours ago, I miss you already. Talk to you soon!
Monday, February 15, 2010
I found your picture today . . .
Here are some pictures! Enjoy!
The bow
The general feeling during the longest lifeboat drill EVER! Kendall and Amy.
The crew gathered to watch us arrive.
Land ho!
People waiting for our arrival.
Building our wall of containers.
Awesome friends: Emma (my bunkmate), Bethany, Kendall, Kim Anna, and me!
The view out my window
Streets of Lome after the rain
I love this! It's sort of like the one of Benin that I took.
And now, for my lovely friends who are no longer on the ship, here is a look at the new pool, or as we call it, Deck 9:
Looking in
Looking to Deck 8
The funnel, which is now all blue and has the new logo on it (it was once mostly white and had the old logo).
Looking across the pool deck
The stairs going up to the pool
Hope you liked them!
The bow
The general feeling during the longest lifeboat drill EVER! Kendall and Amy.
The crew gathered to watch us arrive.
Land ho!
People waiting for our arrival.
Building our wall of containers.
Awesome friends: Emma (my bunkmate), Bethany, Kendall, Kim Anna, and me!
The view out my window
Streets of Lome after the rain
I love this! It's sort of like the one of Benin that I took.
And now, for my lovely friends who are no longer on the ship, here is a look at the new pool, or as we call it, Deck 9:
Looking in
Looking to Deck 8
The funnel, which is now all blue and has the new logo on it (it was once mostly white and had the old logo).
Looking across the pool deck
The stairs going up to the pool
Hope you liked them!
Friday, February 12, 2010
It's about time for my arrival!
I go home in roughly 20 days or something along those lines. I am really excited to see my family and friends so soon, and yet I am really sad at the prospect of leaving. I will miss the friends I have met here and being a part something so much bigger than myself.
As we pulled into the
On the other hand, I feel ready to tackle the next chapter of life. I really hope I get into grad school, because it sounds wonderful to go back to
But I'm not yet ready to leave. So far I love the little bit of Togo that I have seen. The dock is really nice and they have cordoned off a section for us alone, which means no dodging trucks and motorbikes like we did in Benin. Soon, we will have patients in the hospital, and the first surgery is scheduled for the 24th. It's so good to be back!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
. . . this song of hope . . .
We are arriving in Togo tomorrow morning. It has been a pretty good sail. I thought I would illustrate the highlights of the sail using passages from the Bible, via biblegateway.com. So here we go:
"so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your storm"
Ps. 83:15
"Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me."
Ps. 42:7
The first couple of days of the sail were very rocky. On the sail to Tenerife, we rocked 15 degrees at times, and we thought that was pretty impressive. On this sail, there were a couple of points we rocked 25 degrees. It was epic.
"I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
Ps. 9: 2
A group of us girls had an impromptu worship night on Deck 7. Though battling seasickness and fatigue, we raised our voices to God. It was wonderful.
"He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven."
Ps. 107: 29-30
The last days of the sail have been pretty calm and peaceful. I am so excited to get to Africa again, and I'm also having fun seeing it through the eyes of my roommates who haven't yet been there. Though my time in Togo will be short, I'm looking forward to seeing what God will have for us there.
Please continue to pray for the elections in Togo! After those are over and the potential for strong reactions by Togo citizens has passed, we can focus more on the outreach.
"so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your storm"
Ps. 83:15
"Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me."
Ps. 42:7
The first couple of days of the sail were very rocky. On the sail to Tenerife, we rocked 15 degrees at times, and we thought that was pretty impressive. On this sail, there were a couple of points we rocked 25 degrees. It was epic.
"I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
Ps. 9: 2
A group of us girls had an impromptu worship night on Deck 7. Though battling seasickness and fatigue, we raised our voices to God. It was wonderful.
"He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven."
Ps. 107: 29-30
The last days of the sail have been pretty calm and peaceful. I am so excited to get to Africa again, and I'm also having fun seeing it through the eyes of my roommates who haven't yet been there. Though my time in Togo will be short, I'm looking forward to seeing what God will have for us there.
Please continue to pray for the elections in Togo! After those are over and the potential for strong reactions by Togo citizens has passed, we can focus more on the outreach.
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