ok, i know i need to update the blog...seriously, unless the internet is super-sluggish while we sail, one is coming next week to finish out our time in tenerife.
but i did want to say hey, we sail tomorrow for benin. please keep the crew in your prayers...for safety, no seasickness and the ship will sail well after all the work done by deck/engineering these last several weeks.
thanks.
30 January 2009
01 January 2009
January 1 update
below is my newsletter
January 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
At times, it seems as if were just yesterday I was saying goodbyes and boarding a plane to Africa. But in reality, I have been in here for four months already (and likely five by the time some of you get this). I am sitting here wondering how to capture the past four months for each of you at home—how to tell you about the way I live, the work I do, the people who are my “family” here, my triumphs and struggles in this new life of mine.
My day-to-day life is quite different for some obvious some not-so-obvious reasons. First of all, I live on a 500 foot long, 8 story ship that houses my “home” and my work, the store, a gym, the laundry, a coffee shop, and a “restaurant”. I live with 3 other ladies in my cabin along with some 400 or so other crew members aboard. My cabin is roughly the size of my bedroom at home but shared with 3 other people and holding 4 closets, 4 beds, a small sitting area and a bathroom. My commute to work has decreased from approximately 30 minutes to about 30 seconds. I don’t have to worry about cooking dinner for myself after a long shift. I can’t just run to the local grocery store if I do feel like cooking or have run out of something. Some not so obvious changes are living in 24/7 community. I live out my life, good days and bad, in front of everyone. I enjoy having my friends right in the next berth but there are times when I long for solitude. And surprisingly, there are days when I feel intensely lonely despite being surrounded by the 400 other some odd crew members. Ship life itself is fairly routine. Regular community wide or departmental devotional times, work times, set meal times take up most of the day-to-day. You fit in friend time and keeping up with those at home and working out and French classes and whatever else around those things.
To tell you about work, I will share a couple of my patients and their stories with you. Work is both less and more demanding than ever before. Less in that I am working with mostly healthy individuals who are recovering from surgery. More in that their need is overwhelming. There are frustrations in how things are done differently from home or making do with what supplies we have not necessarily what I am used to working with. But the joys far outweigh the frustrations.
Meet Agnes and Alice. They represent the women with VVF—vesicovaginal fistula. This is an opening created between the bladder and birth canal by traumatic births. These women leak urine constantly and become outcast in their societies. The women often enter the hospital with despair, shame, fear and distrust. Each day as we work with them, not only taking care of their bodies but also loving them and talking with them, you can watch a growing wonder at people who would love and value them despite what their culture says. As their bodies continue to heal and they become “dry” , there is a quiet joy that starts and usually by the end of their stay they are singing and dancing in the hallways. (now that is something I don’t see at home very often!) To watch their transformation from despair to joy is so rewarding.
Dear Family and Friends,
At times, it seems as if were just yesterday I was saying goodbyes and boarding a plane to Africa. But in reality, I have been in here for four months already (and likely five by the time some of you get this). I am sitting here wondering how to capture the past four months for each of you at home—how to tell you about the way I live, the work I do, the people who are my “family” here, my triumphs and struggles in this new life of mine.
My day-to-day life is quite different for some obvious some not-so-obvious reasons. First of all, I live on a 500 foot long, 8 story ship that houses my “home” and my work, the store, a gym, the laundry, a coffee shop, and a “restaurant”. I live with 3 other ladies in my cabin along with some 400 or so other crew members aboard. My cabin is roughly the size of my bedroom at home but shared with 3 other people and holding 4 closets, 4 beds, a small sitting area and a bathroom. My commute to work has decreased from approximately 30 minutes to about 30 seconds. I don’t have to worry about cooking dinner for myself after a long shift. I can’t just run to the local grocery store if I do feel like cooking or have run out of something. Some not so obvious changes are living in 24/7 community. I live out my life, good days and bad, in front of everyone. I enjoy having my friends right in the next berth but there are times when I long for solitude. And surprisingly, there are days when I feel intensely lonely despite being surrounded by the 400 other some odd crew members. Ship life itself is fairly routine. Regular community wide or departmental devotional times, work times, set meal times take up most of the day-to-day. You fit in friend time and keeping up with those at home and working out and French classes and whatever else around those things.
To tell you about work, I will share a couple of my patients and their stories with you. Work is both less and more demanding than ever before. Less in that I am working with mostly healthy individuals who are recovering from surgery. More in that their need is overwhelming. There are frustrations in how things are done differently from home or making do with what supplies we have not necessarily what I am used to working with. But the joys far outweigh the frustrations.
Meet Agnes and Alice. They represent the women with VVF—vesicovaginal fistula. This is an opening created between the bladder and birth canal by traumatic births. These women leak urine constantly and become outcast in their societies. The women often enter the hospital with despair, shame, fear and distrust. Each day as we work with them, not only taking care of their bodies but also loving them and talking with them, you can watch a growing wonder at people who would love and value them despite what their culture says. As their bodies continue to heal and they become “dry” , there is a quiet joy that starts and usually by the end of their stay they are singing and dancing in the hallways. (now that is something I don’t see at home very often!) To watch their transformation from despair to joy is so rewarding.
Of course, my happiest times at work are the days I get to take care of the children who have had surgical procedures. Children are such a delight. Often these kids have lived a far harder life than I have experienced in my many years and their eyes hold a soul far beyond their years. It is humbling to work with each of the patients who live with so little comparatively but yet find joy and contentment in what they have.
Below are some of the children I cared for over the last few months.
I have been truly blessed by God in my extended “family” on the ship. My cabin-mates are dear friends who make me laugh and listen when I ramble and sit beside me when I cry. They have walked through both the good and hard days at my side. The members of my gateway (training class prior to coming) all get together often to just enjoy each other. My fellow nurses are fun to work with and challenge me to become a better nurse and a better person. There are new people coming all the time to the crew and regular goodbyes but it is a great family to be part of.
I’ve mentioned most of my struggles and daily I feel it a triumph if I serve my Father as He has called me. Whatever that looks like for the day, caring for my patients or walking in unity with my fellow crewmembers.
For the holiday season, we are docked in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The medical staff is having a well-deserved rest. Most of us have transferred into jobs in other parts of the ship. I am working in our coffee shop and although it is a bit surreal to serve my friends coffee, it is fun. The deck and engineering teams are putting in long hours to do ship maintenance that cannot be done when we have patients aboard. We will be sailing to Benin in late January and beginning another ten month outreach.
This work is just as much yours as it is mine and it is all for His glory. I could not be here serving if it weren’t for my gracious financial and prayer supporters. For that I thank you. And I pray that this work will bless you as well.
Below are some of the children I cared for over the last few months.
I have been truly blessed by God in my extended “family” on the ship. My cabin-mates are dear friends who make me laugh and listen when I ramble and sit beside me when I cry. They have walked through both the good and hard days at my side. The members of my gateway (training class prior to coming) all get together often to just enjoy each other. My fellow nurses are fun to work with and challenge me to become a better nurse and a better person. There are new people coming all the time to the crew and regular goodbyes but it is a great family to be part of.
I’ve mentioned most of my struggles and daily I feel it a triumph if I serve my Father as He has called me. Whatever that looks like for the day, caring for my patients or walking in unity with my fellow crewmembers.
For the holiday season, we are docked in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The medical staff is having a well-deserved rest. Most of us have transferred into jobs in other parts of the ship. I am working in our coffee shop and although it is a bit surreal to serve my friends coffee, it is fun. The deck and engineering teams are putting in long hours to do ship maintenance that cannot be done when we have patients aboard. We will be sailing to Benin in late January and beginning another ten month outreach.
This work is just as much yours as it is mine and it is all for His glory. I could not be here serving if it weren’t for my gracious financial and prayer supporters. For that I thank you. And I pray that this work will bless you as well.
26 December 2008
merry Christmas
some photos of our Christmas eve and day. Christmas eve started off quite lazily. we sat around for several hours before heading into santa cruz to have lunch and do a bit of shopping. then back to the ship in time to get dressed for Christmas eve dinner. the galley and dining room staff outdid themselves on the food and decor and all the crew looked quite nice. sadly i don't have any photos from dinner itself. we had a Christmas eve service followed by desserts and socializing in the midships lounge. then the fun begins ;) miriam, amy and i retired to our cabin to watch "a charlie brown Christmas" and "irving berlin's white Christmas" until the wee hours of the morning of Christmas day. we had a short pause while we wandered around to leave "shoe gifts". (a dutch tradition that we do on the 24th on ship and leave presents outside cabin doors in shoes and on the floor) we did startle a few other "elves" who were trying to leave their shoe gifts as well :) we finally crawled into bed at 3am and then a few short hours later it was time to get up for the start of Christmas day.
Christmas day we started by heading up to the rolland's family cabin and opening shoe gifts together while drinking hot chocolate. (italian style--thick enough to need a spoon and oh so yummy!) then off to brunch also well done by the galley and dining room. after brunch, it was seriously time for a nap given 2 nights of short sleep hours. in the afternoon back up to the rolland's cabin for a holiday movie and then time for dinner. the evening hours were spent chilling but at about 9pm we packed out 10 or so landrovers and drove in a caravan down to the main part of the harbour where the tenerife symphony orchestra performed a concert followed
by some fire works. my new favorite way to end Christmas day.
b/c everyone needs a pirate ship made from candy! our wrapping job and clue, jenny and john's faces and the ship. =)
21 December 2008
Christmas on the AFM
by the way, AFM is the way we shorten the ship's name--Africa Mercy.
this Christmas season has been strange. i have found it quite difficult to get into and remain in "the Christmas spirit". part of this is the fact that in early december i was still playing in the water at the beach (and even now when it is decidedly cooler here in tenerife, it is still mid to upper 60s in the daytime and i can see palm trees.) part of it has been the fact that i am not home and don't have "home" coming to me (family visiting) or plans to go home during this season. part of it is the lack of bombardment of holiday stuff from the stores (due to lack of stores) and tv screen (again due to lack of tv viewing). and this one i am actually thankful for. i didn't have to start seeing Christmas decor and sales in the shops beginning before halloween was even over.
but there is a lot to do to "bring" Christmas here on the AFM. the normal community areas of the cafe/midships lounge/dining room are decorated with trees and garland and lights and ornaments. and our activities schedule is actually much more full than normal.
3rd--winter wonderland (craft booths and yummy winter treats to eat/drink)
9th--santa lucia (scandinavian holiday celebration usually on the 13th but we were sailing then.)
holiday movies on the weekends (White Christmas, The Christmas Story, Elf)
14th--cookie baking/decorating (i was a bit seasick then so i baked mine the next day)
15th--kids Christmas craft night. (adults helping kids do Christmas-y crafts and santa pics)
18th--kids Chrismtas play (written and performed by the academy students. they did a great job! it was funny and thoughtful and no mean feat for them to perform while sailing and having to do lines and maintain balance)
24th--Christmas dinner and service along with the dutch tradition of leaving gifts in shoes (although that happens on the 5th in the netherlands i think)
25th--Christmas brunch
31st--new year's eve ball and fireworks put on by the harbor
and we have had beautiful Advent services each sunday where Scriptures are read and Christmas hymns and carols are sung (although most of these are the british and not american english versions). each sunday we have a different special music offering...the first week was a song in portugese from our brazilian family, the second week was a song in the ghanian dialect by several african crew members, the third week was a song in korean and mandarin chinese by some of the asian/korean crew members, the fourth week was by some of our norwegian crew members.
below are some pics of the decor aboard. the first is a tree painted onto a glass door, the second a tree in the midships lounge, the next three are my cabin door and our next door neighbors and we combined our doors into a theme along the lines of elfyourself, the next is the cafe area and the last two are tayler and miriam in the miships stair area. not bad for a ship!
14 December 2008
God's sense of humor
sailing (i know i still owe one about my thoughts on africa so far)
so, what does sailing have to do with God's sense of humor? well, let's see...i have motion sickness (planes, trains, cars, boats, ships) and i'm on a ship that is sailing. i also have a mild bit of claustrophobia (it has more to do with the amount of stuff in the space than the size of the space) and i'm on a ship sharing what used to be the size of my room at home with 3 other people--4 beds, 4 closets, a bathroom, a sitting area on a ship, where everything is compacted for space sake. and i have a serious fear of water that i can't see it and i'm on a ship in the middle of the ocean with nothing but water to see wherever i look.
God's sense of humor?
i enjoy the sailing apart from the motion sickness (which i did have a bout of this morning)
i like my cabin and cabin mates and even the compactness of things on the ship
i think the ocean is beautiful. watching the waves roll by, right now with white caps on the waves. the lovely colour of blue of the ocean caused by the reflection of the sky and light of the sun. the way the ship crashes down into the waves makes me smile (and a bit sick) but it is fun.
God is good...all the time. even when we don't understand.
so, what does sailing have to do with God's sense of humor? well, let's see...i have motion sickness (planes, trains, cars, boats, ships) and i'm on a ship that is sailing. i also have a mild bit of claustrophobia (it has more to do with the amount of stuff in the space than the size of the space) and i'm on a ship sharing what used to be the size of my room at home with 3 other people--4 beds, 4 closets, a bathroom, a sitting area on a ship, where everything is compacted for space sake. and i have a serious fear of water that i can't see it and i'm on a ship in the middle of the ocean with nothing but water to see wherever i look.
God's sense of humor?
i enjoy the sailing apart from the motion sickness (which i did have a bout of this morning)
i like my cabin and cabin mates and even the compactness of things on the ship
i think the ocean is beautiful. watching the waves roll by, right now with white caps on the waves. the lovely colour of blue of the ocean caused by the reflection of the sky and light of the sun. the way the ship crashes down into the waves makes me smile (and a bit sick) but it is fun.
God is good...all the time. even when we don't understand.
10 December 2008
"master and commander" and robert's port
robert's port first
we had a "dark" ship this past weekend as the main engines were off from some maintenance. so, most everyone who didn't have to be on ship went ashore. i went with a group of 10 others to a beach called robert's port. there are canvas tents on wooden platforms with 2-3 double beds in them to camp in. we drove up saturday morning and arrived right around lunch time. after a quick lunch it was down to the beach where we met up with another group of about 10 people from the ship who had camped out on the beach and into the water for a bit followed by some beach volleyball first in just a round robin style then later at the net the "resort" owner set up. this game was a bit challenging in that we had a dog who kept wanting to join and was only lured away by esther throwing the stick over and over and over for him. it was starting to get dark so we headed up for showers before dinner. we had a really nice african dinner at the restaurant there at the resort with some sparkly gear on to celebrate esther's 30th birthday! if you're going to have to be away from home in africa, celebrating on the beach is the way to go. after dinner and some dancing by a few in our group, we headed over to the meet back up with the other group and sit at a bonfire eating cake and smores and playing bonfire games. a moonlit walk on the beach and then bed. up to play again in the water for hours on sunday and then some more volleyball and showers and heading back to the ship. we arrived home tired but relaxed from the weekend. and back to a ship with power....yeah!
we had a "dark" ship this past weekend as the main engines were off from some maintenance. so, most everyone who didn't have to be on ship went ashore. i went with a group of 10 others to a beach called robert's port. there are canvas tents on wooden platforms with 2-3 double beds in them to camp in. we drove up saturday morning and arrived right around lunch time. after a quick lunch it was down to the beach where we met up with another group of about 10 people from the ship who had camped out on the beach and into the water for a bit followed by some beach volleyball first in just a round robin style then later at the net the "resort" owner set up. this game was a bit challenging in that we had a dog who kept wanting to join and was only lured away by esther throwing the stick over and over and over for him. it was starting to get dark so we headed up for showers before dinner. we had a really nice african dinner at the restaurant there at the resort with some sparkly gear on to celebrate esther's 30th birthday! if you're going to have to be away from home in africa, celebrating on the beach is the way to go. after dinner and some dancing by a few in our group, we headed over to the meet back up with the other group and sit at a bonfire eating cake and smores and playing bonfire games. a moonlit walk on the beach and then bed. up to play again in the water for hours on sunday and then some more volleyball and showers and heading back to the ship. we arrived home tired but relaxed from the weekend. and back to a ship with power....yeah!
pics below are the inside of the tent, esther and i at her birthday dinner, breakfast group--paul/esther/karen/nina, keep away in the water, and me coming towards our tent
master and commander
we are studying the names of God in ward nurse devotionals this week. one of my 7 names to study was Master. and usually i think of this in terms of slave and master and more from the slave's point of view. but being that i am on a ship currently and the captain is also known as the master, i am seeing some new aspects of this. our captain (not sure if this is true of all captains) has made himself responsible and accountable for us. if we miss curfew, it falls on his shoulder's. and i was thinking about this in relation to our Master. He also has made Himself responsible for us and accountable to the Father for us. Cool, huh?!?! He is responsible for our keeping. that is so humbling and amazing.
master and commander
we are studying the names of God in ward nurse devotionals this week. one of my 7 names to study was Master. and usually i think of this in terms of slave and master and more from the slave's point of view. but being that i am on a ship currently and the captain is also known as the master, i am seeing some new aspects of this. our captain (not sure if this is true of all captains) has made himself responsible and accountable for us. if we miss curfew, it falls on his shoulder's. and i was thinking about this in relation to our Master. He also has made Himself responsible for us and accountable to the Father for us. Cool, huh?!?! He is responsible for our keeping. that is so humbling and amazing.
05 December 2008
and then there were none...
a bit of a morbid title i guess.
sorry it has been several weeks. next week (hopefully) will have at least 2 but hoping 3 blogs. but i did want to update you on what is going on right now. and teaser for next 3 blogs...robert's port, my thoughts and experiences on my work so far and sailing.
this last couple of weeks has been spent sending more and more patients home, closing down different parts of the hospital and saying goodbyes to nurses who are leaving and our liberian dayworkers who come in to help in various roles (ward counselors, translators, working in the deck and cleaning departments, etc). so, then there were none...we sent our last patients home and last days of work for our dayworkers on friday. it is a bit bittersweet. i am looking forward to the time "off" and holidays but i will miss my patients and dayworker friends. we will be sailing soon but before that, lots of cleaning and packing yet to do.
i know this isn't a lot of info for having been m.i.a. in the last 3 weeks, but i promise more next week.
sorry it has been several weeks. next week (hopefully) will have at least 2 but hoping 3 blogs. but i did want to update you on what is going on right now. and teaser for next 3 blogs...robert's port, my thoughts and experiences on my work so far and sailing.
this last couple of weeks has been spent sending more and more patients home, closing down different parts of the hospital and saying goodbyes to nurses who are leaving and our liberian dayworkers who come in to help in various roles (ward counselors, translators, working in the deck and cleaning departments, etc). so, then there were none...we sent our last patients home and last days of work for our dayworkers on friday. it is a bit bittersweet. i am looking forward to the time "off" and holidays but i will miss my patients and dayworker friends. we will be sailing soon but before that, lots of cleaning and packing yet to do.
i know this isn't a lot of info for having been m.i.a. in the last 3 weeks, but i promise more next week.
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