Wow I guess it has been awhile since I have posted and I have to say there is lots to tell. Life on the ship is so exciting. I was just telling my roommate what a wonderful job they do with keeping "fun" on the ship. Let me share some of the fun times we have had the last few nights.
Thursday evening was my friend Jenna's birthday. So Katelyn and I (the 3 of us flew into Liberia on the same flight so we have been very close since then) decided to plan a surprise bday party for her. Now those of you who know me, know I love to plan parties and make them big, the more people the better!!! So when you invite 30 people in America you may get 15-17. Well on the Mercy ship when you invite 10 you get 19:) Everyone hears about going "off ship" and they want to come too. Which is no problem EXCEPT there is limited space cause you have to reserve a driver and vehicle and the reservation at the resturant. So the day before Katelyn made 3o cupcakes and we frosted them all different kinds of things-skittles, marshmellows, chocolate chips, raspberrries....We had 27 on our final list but some couldn't make it so we ended up with 19. We had a great time. However a little lesson from Africa: when you go out to eat do not be in a rush we waited 2 hrs for our meal :):) Lots of great "Getting to know you time."
We wanted to make it back for Community service AND we did:) It was the best one yet:) Then there was a live band with some of the African people on the ship and we danced and danced it was so much fun.
Then tonight (Saturday) we had the "Valletta Film Festival" People made movies and we all dressed up in suit n ties and nice dresses. Then we had the "Red Carpet" where they spoke with the producers and actors/actresses and gave out the "Valletta Awards." These were hand-carved by our very own carpenter aboard the ship. It was a great evening and everyone looked so nice. I will eventually post pictures of everything but now I must run.
Till next time.............
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
No more suffering....
Tonight at 8 pm Alieu went to be with Jesus. Although there are many tears here on the ward, we know that he is in the arms of Jesus. He was a fighter but because he was so small he just did not have enough reserve to make it. I know that our Lord is a healer and that He can heal but I also know that He is sovereign and that His ways are far above ours. Please keep praying for the parents. The mom is not taking it well at all and the dad is so amazing he says "The Lord give and the the Lord takes away." He has such a good attitude. Also keep praying for the staff it is very hard on us as they have seen several children die on this outreach.
Thank you to all who have prayed. I know that Alieu came to the ship for a reason and I may never know specifically why but I know He did. Maybe to teach us a lesson...........
Thank you to all who have prayed. I know that Alieu came to the ship for a reason and I may never know specifically why but I know He did. Maybe to teach us a lesson...........
Update on Alieu
Well they were not able to operate on Alieu today because this morning he took a turn for the worse and had to be intubated. He really needs this surgery as the incarcerated hernia is life threatening. What it means is that some of his bowels are twisted around the inguinal hernia so the bowel is slowly dieing as the blood supply is cut off from the twisting. Mufasa seems to be doing ok and at this point they will not operate on him. Please keep praying for Alieu's miracle and pass it on to your friends and family members as well. We serve a miracle working God. Please keep their parents in your prayers as well and also the staff as they care for him. It's easy to get attached to these little ones and it's hard emotionally to watch them suffer.
God bless
God bless
Monday, September 22, 2008
Prayer request
There are many happy stories that happen aboard the Africa Mercy. However, today there was a not so happy one but in faith I am believing it will end happier then any other. It started about a week ago. One evening I was taking care of a patient and he had a visitor. The visitor started asking the patient what kind of surgeries the people had done that were in the ward. SO the patient started telling him. The visitor went on to say that his 5 week old twin sons have "Hydroceles" (Fluid filled sacs on the testicle). So they called me over. When he started talking I knew that the surgeries on the ship only happen by appointment and that the screening happened months ago but I thought it was worth a try. The answer was as I expected the slots were full. But I am persistent and so kept trying. I talked with my supervisor and she said the same thing. THen a couple of days ago my supervisor told me that they were able to get the twins an appointment. Praise the Lord the twins are coming to the ship !!!!
Well today(Monday) they arrived. Extremely sick. Especially the one Alieu. The doctors aren't sure if he will make it. His blood counts were sooooo low. They gave him some blood and that helped perk him up some. Tomorrow morning (Tues) at 8 am the dr.s are meeting to discuss if they will proceed with the operation. Even if they do proceed, they aren't sure whether he will make it . BUT I am believing that he will make it. I believe God brought Alieu and Mufasa to the ship to LIVE and not die. Mufasa also needs surgery but they aren't sure if they will operate on him and he is not as sick as his brother.
Please join me in praying for these two little boys. I will keep you all posted on what happens.
Well today(Monday) they arrived. Extremely sick. Especially the one Alieu. The doctors aren't sure if he will make it. His blood counts were sooooo low. They gave him some blood and that helped perk him up some. Tomorrow morning (Tues) at 8 am the dr.s are meeting to discuss if they will proceed with the operation. Even if they do proceed, they aren't sure whether he will make it . BUT I am believing that he will make it. I believe God brought Alieu and Mufasa to the ship to LIVE and not die. Mufasa also needs surgery but they aren't sure if they will operate on him and he is not as sick as his brother.
Please join me in praying for these two little boys. I will keep you all posted on what happens.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Pillar of Fire
Today was my first sunday to go to church off the ship. So I decided to go with my friend who is involved in a church in Caldwall, suburb of Monrovia. As usual it was a lovely drive along a washboard road. We pulled up to a bamboo made building with a tin roof. The name on the banner at the front of the church read: Pillar of Fire.
Sunday school was just finishing as we quietly took our seats. The "White" people standing out in the small crowd. The worship time was so wonderful and the presence of the Lord could be felt. Some of the songs are simple repeat lines so you can catch on quickly, that is if you can understand the English:) It is amazing that two people can speak the same language and not understand what each other is saying. But the Lord understood it all, praise His name :)
The message was taken from Ps 40:1-2 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. " The pastor spoke on the "The Rewards of Waiting." Naturally as people we hate to wait, especially us westerners. When we are going through difficult times we just want them to end but we must wait on the Lord. As we wait, our rewards will come. There are two rewards for waiting that David experienced and that we too can experience IF we choose to wait. They are deliverance and Elevation.
As I sat there listening to the message I couldn't help but think of how many difficult things these people go through compared to myself. How do they even have hope that if they wait they will indeed receive their reward because it seems like just one hardship after another. Yet I could tell by the cries of "Amen" that they were blessed and encouraged with the message.
Afterwards, I played with all the little kids, there were a lot as there are several orphanages around the area. I started teaching hand clapping games which was fun. Then I saw these two boys giggling and whispering as they looked at me. So I started going over to them and they took off running. But they were no match for me, I soon caught up to them:) Then there became this game of hide and chase. So I would sneak around the church and try to keep out of site and jump out at them and they would laugh and take off running and me after them :) So much fun.
Sunday school was just finishing as we quietly took our seats. The "White" people standing out in the small crowd. The worship time was so wonderful and the presence of the Lord could be felt. Some of the songs are simple repeat lines so you can catch on quickly, that is if you can understand the English:) It is amazing that two people can speak the same language and not understand what each other is saying. But the Lord understood it all, praise His name :)
The message was taken from Ps 40:1-2 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. " The pastor spoke on the "The Rewards of Waiting." Naturally as people we hate to wait, especially us westerners. When we are going through difficult times we just want them to end but we must wait on the Lord. As we wait, our rewards will come. There are two rewards for waiting that David experienced and that we too can experience IF we choose to wait. They are deliverance and Elevation.
As I sat there listening to the message I couldn't help but think of how many difficult things these people go through compared to myself. How do they even have hope that if they wait they will indeed receive their reward because it seems like just one hardship after another. Yet I could tell by the cries of "Amen" that they were blessed and encouraged with the message.
Afterwards, I played with all the little kids, there were a lot as there are several orphanages around the area. I started teaching hand clapping games which was fun. Then I saw these two boys giggling and whispering as they looked at me. So I started going over to them and they took off running. But they were no match for me, I soon caught up to them:) Then there became this game of hide and chase. So I would sneak around the church and try to keep out of site and jump out at them and they would laugh and take off running and me after them :) So much fun.
Friday, September 19, 2008
I have called you...
I have shared with some of you some of the struggles that I have been going through since I got here to Africa. Praise the Lord I feel over the past few days I have received some breakthrough. I want to say thank you SO much for those who have prayed. I know that it is through these prayers that my breakthrough as come.
Let me share some thoughts.....since I was a small child I have known what the calling was on my life: to be a missionary nurse. Of course, I didn't know every little detail of that and my life as taken turns that I never would have expected. Therefore, when I am blessed of the Lord to go on journeys, like the one I am on now, I am extremely excited and very fulfilled when I am doing it.
This journey however, has started much different. From the beginning, I have struggled with truly "being" here in Liberia. I am here in body but not in mind and heart. I want to be back home. I want to be working at my job. I want my friends and family. I feel like the past 2 weeks have been two months. The other morning I realized all of this and so began to pray through it. Telling the Lord that I want to surrender my whole being to Him to be used by Him. That I didn't want to miss one thing that He had for me on this trip.
I also have this thing about me that I love adventure and travel. So for me to get to go to Liberia was like another adventure for me; another stamp in the passport!! I realized that my heart wasn't in the right place completely. Yes, these opportunities are adventures; However, they are so much more than that. It's about the people and reaching them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only helping them physically but also spiritually. So as I was thinking of all of this I felt the Lord tell me: "It's about individuals and being sensitive to my spirit." A light bulb went on!!!! Of course!!! That is why I am in Liberia, not for another adventure, but to reach people one heart at a time for the Lord. My heart broke in this moment as I thought of how selfish I had been with my motives. I began thinking of the patients that I have been taking care of for the past 2 weeks and how I could minister to them. Instantly I thought of Baba.
Baba is a 34 year old mother of 4. Her youngest child Praise (6-7 months) lays by her side and brings many smiles to staff and patients. She has been on the Africa Mercy for over 3 weeks now. She hasn't seen her children and very little of her husband. I have watched her demenor change and she looks so sad and depressed. I would be too in her circumstances. When I came on shift last night she told me she had a hard day cause she missed her children.
So I asked the Lord to help me to be sensitive to the needs of Baba and all my patients. To be able to minister to them right where they need it. I have a few ideas on how I can do that for Baba and I believe as I turn my focus towards the people that He will give me more of these ways.
When I opened the Word where I was reading in Romans this is what I read "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. " Rm. 15:1-2. SMACK right in the forehead. I love when God's Word does this.
So needless to say, I think my eyes and heart have been opened and I believe that from now on my time in Liberia will be better!! Again thank you to all who have prayed with me during this time.
Here is my prayer for each of you "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of he Holy Spirit. Rm 15:13.
Let me share some thoughts.....since I was a small child I have known what the calling was on my life: to be a missionary nurse. Of course, I didn't know every little detail of that and my life as taken turns that I never would have expected. Therefore, when I am blessed of the Lord to go on journeys, like the one I am on now, I am extremely excited and very fulfilled when I am doing it.
This journey however, has started much different. From the beginning, I have struggled with truly "being" here in Liberia. I am here in body but not in mind and heart. I want to be back home. I want to be working at my job. I want my friends and family. I feel like the past 2 weeks have been two months. The other morning I realized all of this and so began to pray through it. Telling the Lord that I want to surrender my whole being to Him to be used by Him. That I didn't want to miss one thing that He had for me on this trip.
I also have this thing about me that I love adventure and travel. So for me to get to go to Liberia was like another adventure for me; another stamp in the passport!! I realized that my heart wasn't in the right place completely. Yes, these opportunities are adventures; However, they are so much more than that. It's about the people and reaching them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only helping them physically but also spiritually. So as I was thinking of all of this I felt the Lord tell me: "It's about individuals and being sensitive to my spirit." A light bulb went on!!!! Of course!!! That is why I am in Liberia, not for another adventure, but to reach people one heart at a time for the Lord. My heart broke in this moment as I thought of how selfish I had been with my motives. I began thinking of the patients that I have been taking care of for the past 2 weeks and how I could minister to them. Instantly I thought of Baba.
Baba is a 34 year old mother of 4. Her youngest child Praise (6-7 months) lays by her side and brings many smiles to staff and patients. She has been on the Africa Mercy for over 3 weeks now. She hasn't seen her children and very little of her husband. I have watched her demenor change and she looks so sad and depressed. I would be too in her circumstances. When I came on shift last night she told me she had a hard day cause she missed her children.
So I asked the Lord to help me to be sensitive to the needs of Baba and all my patients. To be able to minister to them right where they need it. I have a few ideas on how I can do that for Baba and I believe as I turn my focus towards the people that He will give me more of these ways.
When I opened the Word where I was reading in Romans this is what I read "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. " Rm. 15:1-2. SMACK right in the forehead. I love when God's Word does this.
So needless to say, I think my eyes and heart have been opened and I believe that from now on my time in Liberia will be better!! Again thank you to all who have prayed with me during this time.
Here is my prayer for each of you "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of he Holy Spirit. Rm 15:13.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Orphanage
So in America we pay pretty good money to go through a mountainous, bumpy trail in a jeep. Well in Africa you can do it FREE!!!! The only bad thing is you have to go on the ride whether you want to or not to get to certain places. So was my ride Saturday morning to the "Center of the Aged and Abandoned" orphanage. A sweet Liberian couple started taking in children during the war and now there orphanage has grown to 62 children. They are building a new building which they desperately need as the one they currently have is so small I have no idea how they fit all those children in there. We played games, sang songs, and had a bibles story and craft. Then we sat around and played with the children some of the older girls braided our hair which was fun and beautiful.
Today we had some more orientation meetings. They were really good and informative. I didn't realize how much merchy ships does besides the hospital. It is really involved with rebuilding the infrastructer here in Liberia since the 14 yr civil war. It's amazing what they do and how they do it.
Today was really cool. The ward is broken into 4 different sections Wards A-D. I had been taking care of this pt on B ward and todays she wasn't there so I thought maybe she had gone home. Well I went into A ward and there she was so we started talking and I asked her how her hand was doing (she had surgery to release a contracture from a burn) and she moved it completely NORMAL. Praise the Lord!!! I almost started to cry. It is so wonderful to see what the Lord is doing through this ministry.
Keep praying for our pt's many of them have serious infections which are keeping their wounds from healing. The outreach is coming to an end and we need them to heal before we leave if possible for the best outcome for the pt's. I know our God can heal and bring restoration to their lives. Prayer works!!!
Today we had some more orientation meetings. They were really good and informative. I didn't realize how much merchy ships does besides the hospital. It is really involved with rebuilding the infrastructer here in Liberia since the 14 yr civil war. It's amazing what they do and how they do it.
Today was really cool. The ward is broken into 4 different sections Wards A-D. I had been taking care of this pt on B ward and todays she wasn't there so I thought maybe she had gone home. Well I went into A ward and there she was so we started talking and I asked her how her hand was doing (she had surgery to release a contracture from a burn) and she moved it completely NORMAL. Praise the Lord!!! I almost started to cry. It is so wonderful to see what the Lord is doing through this ministry.
Keep praying for our pt's many of them have serious infections which are keeping their wounds from healing. The outreach is coming to an end and we need them to heal before we leave if possible for the best outcome for the pt's. I know our God can heal and bring restoration to their lives. Prayer works!!!
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