Thank you to everyone :)

I know a little late to be writing about Africa, but I just arrived home last week from all my travels and definitely wanted to thank everyone who has prayed for me.  These passed months have been beyond anything that I could ever think of.  Blessings left and right :) 

It really was a strange feeling to go from Togo, one of the poorest cities in the world, to America for a week, and then back to Europe.  I realized no matter where you go in the world the most beautiful things in life can be seen wherever you are.  Like a little kid smiling, a warm hug from a friend, enjoying the warm sun outside, a stranger helping out when lost, prayers being answered, etc.  Overall, the world is a pretty bad place (just look at the news), but it is these little universal things that remind me of the goodness and beauty in life, a goodness that can only come from God.  

Thank you again soooo much  for thoughts, prayers, encouragements, and so many more.  I really had an amazing time and was kept safe because of people upholding me in prayer.  Feel free to ask me questions about my travels because I have lots of really interesting and fun stories :)

Be Blessed!


Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. 

"Dress Ceremony"

A group of women that we particularly honor and celebrate is the VVF women. Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is a conditional usually caused by an obstructed and prolonged childbirth.  The complication arises from a cutoff circulation to the vesicovaginal wall.  This causes cell death, making holes develop between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, and leads to incontinence.   In other words, after carrying a child for 9 months, going through an agonizing labor (sometimes lasting days), and losing the child (almost always happens with this condition), the woman is also left with a humiliating condition in which she is smelly and constantly wet.  In their society, the condition is very shaming, leaving them ostracized, shamed, rejected, beaten, and abandoned by family and friends.   They lose all their dignity and hope. The “Dress Ceremony” is the celebration for the women who had a successful surgery to reverse this condition. It is a time to celebration the women’s physical, spiritual, and emotional healing.

There are moments on the ship, when we look at patients and the giant smile on their face makes it clear that there is joy just beaming out of them.  They are glowing, full of hope and happiness, healed and restored.  It is such a new feeling to them that they are also bewildered and unsure that this is not just a dream, but they stand strong now and desire to share their story…

(At the “Dress Ceremony”)

One of the patient women makes her way to the front to speak to us about her experience.  The nurses have adorned her in a beautiful dress in the traditional manner with headdress and jewelry.  She radiates and is absolutely beautiful.  She has her hands lifted high in the air, her eyes glowing and raised to the ceiling, and she sings “Alleluia, Praise be to God!” 

She shares how she was so excited to have another child; however, after being in labor for 5 days, fear and anxiety replaced that joy. Due to the gravity of the complications, she lost the child and ended up in the hospital.  She actually then ran away from the hospital because she knew she could not afford the care.  In her particular case, her husband actually passed away while she was at the hospital too. Although, she was leaking and completely depressed, the elders in her village still encouraged her to remarry, but she refused and ran away.  She stayed near a relative, but she was still an outcast there.  She lived in a bush, was beaten up by adolescence in the village, mocked and scorned, all because she was leaking urine.  After about 10 years, she returned to her village when she heard news that her eldest daughter passed away.  When she returned, the villagers scorned her, saying her condition and disobedience to become remarry caused her daughter to pass away.  They tell her she is cursed and should not live. 

All the women share a similar case of pain and devastation, of rejection and humiliation.  Some lived a few years with the condition, some lived 20 years.  But now their ail is alleviated, and they are healed.  Not only are they physically healed, but in their eyes you can see a new person, one of confidence, dignity, and strength. With hands lifted up, they thank God for His grace and healing power and declare the glory of His Name.  They praise Him for the love and mercy they received.  These women are absolutely beautiful and shining inside and out.

Be Blessed!

Psalm 103: 1-5

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all yours sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

So... What Do I Do on the Ship?

My main job on Africa Mercy is a steward in the dining room.   This means that with a team of about 8 we set up, serve, and clean up breakfast, lunch, and dinner for about a crew of 600.  I really enjoy my time serving in this department because this is where the crew comes to together as family, enjoys a meal together, gets reenergized and refreshed for the day. I also love the fact that I get to greet and chat with lots of different people because everyone on the ship comes to get food :).  I meet incredible people just by chatting with them in the dining room.  Luckily, this position is also very flexible.  I work 2 days and then the next two days I get off, making it very convenient to get involved in other projects, ministries, and jobs.

Filling the water in the dining room. 

Team picture!

Pizza Night, YUM!  My favorite is African Night, 
meaning African food, and it is every Tuesday. 

My minor job is a sterilization technician with the dental team, which I do about 1x every 2 weeks.  Patients come here to get teeth extracted, cavities filled, and receive basic oral education.  The patients here are so grateful and kind for the few services we are able to provide.  One time, when I helped a lady get 2 teeth extracted, all I basically did was hold the suction tube, but after she gave me a huge smile and hugged me.  Also, just like in America some of the patients are so nervous and scared to come the dentist, so sometimes I try to give them an encouraging smile or hold their hand during the appointment.  I also love the fact that the dentists we have here are top dentists from around the world, so I get to work alongside some of the best, talented dentists.

Helping with the dental suction. 

Dentistry clinic.

Sterilizing dental tools.

I help with OR sterilization about 1 time a week too.  We help clean and package tools for the surgeries scheduled the following day.  Sometimes being here and looking at all the tools, it’s true that I do feel like at a hardware store. 

Helping out Juan in the OR Sterilization room.

Huge scissors.

OR kits all ready to go. 

In my spare time, I go to the HOPE center, visit patients, go to the market, catch up on e-mails, relax, or go to the other outreaches they have.

Here is a quick schedule of my workday.

5:20AM                    Wake up and get ready for work

5:44                          Walk up the stairs and go to work i.e. the dining room

5:45-6:30                   Set up dining room for breakfast

6:30-7:30                   Breakfast for all crew

7:30-8:00                   Clean up

11-11:30                    Setup the dining room for lunch

11:30 – 1PM              Lunch!

1-2                            Clean up from lunch

4-4:45                        Prepare for Dinner

4:45-6:30                   Dinner

6:30-7:30                   Clean up from Dinner

7:30- Bed                   Free Time

Be Blessed!


Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Small World After All

One of the most beautiful things about being on Mercy Ships is the friendships that develop among the crew and patients.  You meet people from all around the world through work, ministry opportunities, or by simply sitting at the café and starting up a conversation with a person there.  I have met amazing people with powerful testimonies, and most of the time I am so surprised at how many connections I already have with the people here.

Beach :)

Here is a very interesting story that happened to me…

I went to the beach with a few girls, and we were sitting in the sun and chatting about life.  I shared with one girl in particular that I was born in Romania, and that a big reason my family left Romania was because of communism.  Among other atrocities communism created in Romania was the persecution of Christians.  They imprisoned, tortured, and sometimes killed religious leaders as well as attempted to destroy the church.  One of the girls shared with me that when her dad was in his early 20s, he actually transported thousands of Bibles from Holland to Romania during this time!  Keep in mind this was super illegal.  This was surreal for me to think about because here I was sitting in a beach in Lomé, Togo, Africa with a girl whose father possibly provided the means for someone in my family to receive a Bible over 20 years ago!  God is just amazing and mysterious!  I know it is just as possible that none of the Bibles transported ever reached my family, but still knowing that her father risked his very life to deliver the Bible to the people of Romania is just beyond me.  Hope this encourages you the way it encouraged me.

Coco Beach. It is so nice and beautiful.  The currents here are really strong though.

I should bring one back with me.

Be Blessed!

(Just wanted to share some of the countries that I have friends onboard from – no particular order: Canada, Australia, Japan, Ukraine, Switzerland, Ireland, Holland, China, Canada, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Nepal, Togo,  Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, South Africa, and more!)

Job 11:7-12 

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above – what can you do?  They are deeper than the depths below – what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea?

Celebration of Sight

I am slowly catching up to my blogs :) 

On April 13, I went to the dock at 7AM to help out with "Celebration of Sight", which is the last appointment cataract removal patients have with Mercy Ships.  In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about how Mercy Vision takes on the worst of worst cases, which means the patients that come here are either blind or almost blind in both eyes.  

First, I'll explain briefly how the cataract removal process works. A patient comes to a "screening day," which is where they get examined to see whether they are possible candidates for the operation.  If chosen, they get 2 more appointments, after which they get the date of surgery.  So far, the process to here is a few weeks.  Surgery for cataract removal is about 5-20 minutes! That is crazy to me because I just can't believe it is only a 20 minute procedure for a blind person (due to cataracts) to see.  After surgery day, they get another appointment the day after to make sure everything is stable.  The last and final appointment is 4 weeks later and is called  the "Celebration of Sight".  Here, they do a final screening and some tests on the patients to ensure the quality of their work.  At this appointment, they also remove another cataract that forms due to the scar tissue.  After all the patients have their final appointment, all the patients and staff gathered together and eat some snacks, listen to a sermon, sing songs, and dance.  

For me the best part of the celebration was hearing the patients share their testimony.  A man that came here heard about Mercy Ships from his uncle, who received eyeglasses in 2009 when Mercy Ships was last here.  The man could not believe that his uncle had received the glasses for free, so when Mercy Ships returned he thought he would go and see if Mercy Ships could help him.  He came to Lomé with the help of a relative and a stick to guide him on his travel.  A bit embarrassed, he admitted that when he got here, he thought if he offered some money he would be selected for surgery.  He quickly found out that all of Mercy Ships' services are free, and that selection was random.  He gave thanks to God, for being merciful and gracious to him by giving him his vision back. 

 

Many patients who come here for this celebration are really proud that they are able to come alone.   Before their vision was restored, they either had someone always guide them or they had to use their guiding stick  It’s such an amazing celebration!  

Be Blessed!

Matthew 15:31

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing.  And they praised the God of Israel.

Deck 7

Everyday from 2:30 - 3:30pm, we take the patients who are physically able to up to Deck 7.  On Deck 7, we play games, sing songs, and just sit together.  It's a great opportunity for us to interact with the patients and spend quality time together, and it's great for the patients to get some fresh air (well at least very humid air, since it's very humid here).

Thursday, April 12 was my first time going.  I played with a sweet girl named Ellen, who looked about 5-6 years old.  She had a huge bandage on because she had eye surgery to remove a massive tumor.  Although she was very, very shy, she loved looking over out to see the water.  A week and a half later, I went to Deck 7 again, and she was there again.  However, this time, she had a huge smile on her face, was twirling around, and popping bubbles in the air that we were blowing. I actually only put it together this week while I was looking at pictures that the girl I saw these two time was the same girl.  I didn't realize it at the time realize because not only could you see she had been physically healing, but her personality was totally different too.  She went from this super shy little girl, to this confident princess that was just twirling around and chasing the bubbles.

First time I met Ellen.

Little Princess :)

I also met an albino patient here that loves to play Connect 4. He is really nice and he is probably the best Connect 4 player I've ever met.  He totally beat me, but I did manage to tie one game.  He might have let me win though.  

More bubbles and Connect 4 Champion in the back :)

We always finish the time on Deck 7 with singing :)  Even when I don't know the words because they are in French, I love listening to the nurses and patients sing together and have a great time watching the water.

Be Blessed!

Matthew 11:28-29

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Easter Celebration

With Easter being a huge celebration for my family and church, I was a little sad when I first came here knowing I would miss celebrating it back home.  Easter is the day we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.  I believe that Jesus is God incarnate, who lived a perfect and holy life, and who was wrongfully murdered on the cross.  However, everything was done in order to fulfill Scripture.  By Jesus being sacrificed, his pure blood cleanses us, allowing us to be in union with our Heavenly Father.  His omnipotence is truly demonstrated in that the grave could not hold him and he resurrected on the third day.

Back at home, the night before, we would decorate eggs and my mom would prepare a delicious meal for the next day.  Usually she made lamb, and on Easter Sunday we would go to church together.  The church would be beautifully decorated with flowers and the program would be filled with singing and preaching. Watching the children's program would always be a blessing because the children are so adorable and excited to go on an Easter Egg Hunt after the service.

Although I did miss this, celebrating Easter on Mercy Ships was completely amazing to participate in.  On Thursday, different stations/rooms were decorated to resemble different portions of the crucifixion narrative.  For example, I actually helped decorate a room that mimicked the Upper Room, where Jesus had the first communion with his disciples.  

Helping set up the "Upper Room"

More decor for the "Upper Room".

Sunday was definitely my favorite day during the Easter Celebration.  At 5:30 a.m., we had a service on Deck 7 where we watched the sunrise and sang songs together.   Watching the beautiful colors in the sky as the sun came up created such a peaceful atmosphere.  Afterward, we went to the café and had a few snacks and coffee.  At 10a.m., we had another service in the international lounge, where we read Acts 2:22-32 and Matthew 28:1-8, watched a liturgical dance, and listed to a Children’s Choirs, Adult Bell Choir, and a vocal solo.  During the service, people of all different nations when up to the front to state “Christ has risen” in their native language.  Of course I went up to say “Cristos a-nviat”.  I believe that in our service there were over 20 languages in which it was stated!  Then, we had a huge Easter brunch. YUM!  The team did an amazing job decorating our dining hall with fresh flower from the local market and making a cheese and fruit stand.  The brunch included the most delicious food such as mashed potatoes, stuffed eggs, ham, and a wide range of desserts! 

Such a gorgeous sight.

Children's Choir

Simply beautiful.

Easter decorations.

Preparing the fruit and cheese stand.

Yum :)

I am very grateful to have spent this very unique Easter with Mercy Ships.  What a joy to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with so many people from different cultures, customs, and denominations.

On Deck 7.

Be Blessed!

Mark 16:6

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him.”