Today has been horrible. One of our crew members drowned today while at the beach with a group of friends. He was 21 years old and from Texas. Please pray for his four friends that witnessed the drowning and his parents and two sisters in Texas. Also pray for all the crew here as he was well-loved and there is so much sadness. It's going to be a really tough week.
Thank you Father that You are in control even when we can't possibly comprehend the 'why' of this. Wrap Your loving arms around his family and friends and draw them close. Thank you that we know that Collin is now in your awesome presence.
Make sure you hug your kids today and tell them you love them.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Night Shift
I'm working my first night shift tonight and you can tell how busy I am since I'm writing an update here. When I worked nights back home, we rarely had time to sit down so this is very different. We can even sleep for an hour or so if we need to - we'd get fired for that in the States. I guess things are different when they aren't paying you.
I have orthopedic patients and children tonight, neither of whom I am comfortable with. My twelve year old patient David had a club foot repaired. Club feet are relatively common in the U.S. but we fix them when they are babies. Here, they can only get it fixed if they happen to get to a Mercy Ship. Mercy Ships generally focuses on kids with club feet rather than adults - mainly to give kids a better chance at life and adult repairs are more difficult and require ongoing care. Here are two little ones with club feet that will have repairs done sometime in the next two weeks.
Another of our younger patients is 11 year old Jarwee. He actually came to the ship for his surgery alone - really...he traveled from his village to the ship alone. He arrived a day early as most of them do and he was very shy and scared. A family member came for a short time during his surgery but then left so Jarwee woke up from surgery alone, in pain with a bunch of strangers around. It's just so hard to believe. It makes me think of my 11 year old friend Parker traveling for hours alone to a big city, showing up at a hospital and then going through the admission process, surgery and recovery alone. He's 11. I can't imagine. Jarwee has really opened up to the nurses and is a very playful, ornery kid. He asked his nurse tonight to pray with him at bedtime.
Here's a couple of our younger patients recovering from their club foot repair surgeries. Most of them don't have blocks or puzzles or toys that we are used to so they love our toys.
These ladies are all waiting to board the ship. Notice all the sunglasses!
I have orthopedic patients and children tonight, neither of whom I am comfortable with. My twelve year old patient David had a club foot repaired. Club feet are relatively common in the U.S. but we fix them when they are babies. Here, they can only get it fixed if they happen to get to a Mercy Ship. Mercy Ships generally focuses on kids with club feet rather than adults - mainly to give kids a better chance at life and adult repairs are more difficult and require ongoing care. Here are two little ones with club feet that will have repairs done sometime in the next two weeks.
Another of our younger patients is 11 year old Jarwee. He actually came to the ship for his surgery alone - really...he traveled from his village to the ship alone. He arrived a day early as most of them do and he was very shy and scared. A family member came for a short time during his surgery but then left so Jarwee woke up from surgery alone, in pain with a bunch of strangers around. It's just so hard to believe. It makes me think of my 11 year old friend Parker traveling for hours alone to a big city, showing up at a hospital and then going through the admission process, surgery and recovery alone. He's 11. I can't imagine. Jarwee has really opened up to the nurses and is a very playful, ornery kid. He asked his nurse tonight to pray with him at bedtime.Here's a couple of our younger patients recovering from their club foot repair surgeries. Most of them don't have blocks or puzzles or toys that we are used to so they love our toys.
One of my older patients is 70 year old Mary. She had a repair of a non-union femur bone. Do you know what that means? It means her thigh bone broke in half completely and she has been walking around with that broken leg for 10 years. Yes, she walked here with it. I feel a little bad for her - she's in a ward with 7 little kids.
On another note, we had a Celebration of Sight last Friday for all eye patients. We want eye patients to return to the ship for a follow up exam but most of them won't do it because of the difficulties to get here (cost plus transportation). The eye team decided to have a big celebration to entice people back to the ship and it worked. 185 eye patients returned for the celebration. These 185 people were blind from cataracts and all received their sight back. It was a day of African music, food and eye exams. Here are some pictures from the celebration.
These ladies are all waiting to board the ship. Notice all the sunglasses!
More people waiting to board the ship. We wouldn't be so patient back home if we had to wait in a line like this.
Here's some celebrating.
I better get back to work!
Peace,
Michele
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The pediatric hospital
A few days ago, a group of about 20 Mercy Shippers went to the pediatric hospital here in Monvrovia, called Island Pediatric. It is the only pediatric hospital in the country and it is run by Doctors Without Borders. We went to entertain the kids and their mothers for a few hours.
It was both a fun, heartwarming experience as well as a sad and overwhelming experience at the same time. Doctors Without Borders is a wonderful mission organization that brings medical care to the least advantaged people in the world. Unfortunately, they have to work within the limitation of money and resources and the hospital reflects the fact that they are working in one of the poorest countries in the entire world.
Unless you've been to a country like this, it is very difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the poverty. When we think of poverty in the U.S., we often think of areas like the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, W. Virginia, etc. The people in those regions would be considered wealthy by Liberian standards.
We pulled up to the front of the hospital and had to be let in through a gate. There were only two cars in the parking lot which were probably hospital staff cars. Here are two pictures of the entrance.
The hospital is made up of several buildings and the staff have painted the walls to try and give it an upbeat, childlike atmosphere. I have no pictures of inside the hospital as we weren't allowed to take them but, let me tell you, the paint doesn't help. For some reason the place made me think of old prison cellblocks you see in the movies.
The main building was one long corridor and as you walked down the hall, you could look in the rooms (the rooms have no doors). What you generally saw in each small room were 3 - 4 beds with no linens or pillows and mosquito nets hanging over them, a small window that was open to the outside and 2-3 small children lying in each bed with their mothers sitting in the room on the beds. This hospital has 120 beds but usually has 240 kids in there at any given time.
There is no such thing as a private room or television or water pitchers or flowers sent by family/friends or couches or recliners or clean linens daily or a bathroom in the room with running water for drinking. The kids aren't in clean hospital gowns surrounded by toys - they are in whatever clothing their moms brought surrounded by nothing. In the building with the sickest kids, the kids just laid there unresponsive in their beds.
When we arrived, we went out into the courtyard and many of the kids and their moms came out to join us. We each had a project or craft ready - I was in charge of the coloring books and colored pencils. Since I'm not very crafty, I felt like that was all I could handle! Actually, they weren't even coloring books. They were pictures that one of our artist type crew members had drawn that the kids could then color. We also had face painting, bracelet making, stamps, stickers, balloons and kickball.
The kids were so great, smiling and just having fun. I had one child latch on to me right away and he wouldn't let me go anywhere without him. His name is Seku and he is 6 years old. Seku is developmentally delayed and couldn't talk and had some physical disabilities but he smiled the entire time! We sat next to each other and I found out that he could say his ABCs so we did that a lot. But he couldn't say any other kinds of words, not even his name. But then a group of moms started singing a praise song (not started by us as this is a secular-run hospital and we weren't supposed to do anything but entertain the kids) and Seku jumped up and started singing the song - well, kind of. He was singing some words to the tune they were singing but the only word I understood was Jesus. It was the only word I heard him say the whole time.
I met so many kids - Salome, Jibah, David, Blessing...and we had a great time. I got to hold a baby for about 15 minutes while his mom did some of the crafts. They wouldn't let me bring him home, though. When it was time to go, Seku ran up to me and I picked him up - then I swung him around in circles and he laughed hysterically. They had to pull him off me so I could go.
Sadly, while we were all congregated outside in front of the emergency room getting ready to leave, we all knew the doctors and nurses were inside the ER performing CPR on a very tiny baby that was in cardiac arrest while the mom was looking on. We never found out the outcome of that little baby - all I can do is put my faith in the God who created him or her.
This might be a good time to thank God for the healthcare we have in the U.S. despite its flaws. I will never complain again about having to wait in a doctor's office.
Peace, Michele
It was both a fun, heartwarming experience as well as a sad and overwhelming experience at the same time. Doctors Without Borders is a wonderful mission organization that brings medical care to the least advantaged people in the world. Unfortunately, they have to work within the limitation of money and resources and the hospital reflects the fact that they are working in one of the poorest countries in the entire world.
Unless you've been to a country like this, it is very difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the poverty. When we think of poverty in the U.S., we often think of areas like the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, W. Virginia, etc. The people in those regions would be considered wealthy by Liberian standards.
We pulled up to the front of the hospital and had to be let in through a gate. There were only two cars in the parking lot which were probably hospital staff cars. Here are two pictures of the entrance.
The hospital is made up of several buildings and the staff have painted the walls to try and give it an upbeat, childlike atmosphere. I have no pictures of inside the hospital as we weren't allowed to take them but, let me tell you, the paint doesn't help. For some reason the place made me think of old prison cellblocks you see in the movies.
The main building was one long corridor and as you walked down the hall, you could look in the rooms (the rooms have no doors). What you generally saw in each small room were 3 - 4 beds with no linens or pillows and mosquito nets hanging over them, a small window that was open to the outside and 2-3 small children lying in each bed with their mothers sitting in the room on the beds. This hospital has 120 beds but usually has 240 kids in there at any given time.
There is no such thing as a private room or television or water pitchers or flowers sent by family/friends or couches or recliners or clean linens daily or a bathroom in the room with running water for drinking. The kids aren't in clean hospital gowns surrounded by toys - they are in whatever clothing their moms brought surrounded by nothing. In the building with the sickest kids, the kids just laid there unresponsive in their beds.
When we arrived, we went out into the courtyard and many of the kids and their moms came out to join us. We each had a project or craft ready - I was in charge of the coloring books and colored pencils. Since I'm not very crafty, I felt like that was all I could handle! Actually, they weren't even coloring books. They were pictures that one of our artist type crew members had drawn that the kids could then color. We also had face painting, bracelet making, stamps, stickers, balloons and kickball.
The kids were so great, smiling and just having fun. I had one child latch on to me right away and he wouldn't let me go anywhere without him. His name is Seku and he is 6 years old. Seku is developmentally delayed and couldn't talk and had some physical disabilities but he smiled the entire time! We sat next to each other and I found out that he could say his ABCs so we did that a lot. But he couldn't say any other kinds of words, not even his name. But then a group of moms started singing a praise song (not started by us as this is a secular-run hospital and we weren't supposed to do anything but entertain the kids) and Seku jumped up and started singing the song - well, kind of. He was singing some words to the tune they were singing but the only word I understood was Jesus. It was the only word I heard him say the whole time.
I met so many kids - Salome, Jibah, David, Blessing...and we had a great time. I got to hold a baby for about 15 minutes while his mom did some of the crafts. They wouldn't let me bring him home, though. When it was time to go, Seku ran up to me and I picked him up - then I swung him around in circles and he laughed hysterically. They had to pull him off me so I could go.
Sadly, while we were all congregated outside in front of the emergency room getting ready to leave, we all knew the doctors and nurses were inside the ER performing CPR on a very tiny baby that was in cardiac arrest while the mom was looking on. We never found out the outcome of that little baby - all I can do is put my faith in the God who created him or her.
This might be a good time to thank God for the healthcare we have in the U.S. despite its flaws. I will never complain again about having to wait in a doctor's office.
Peace, Michele
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Out on the town
I finally made it off the ship this week. First, I walked with two friends (Gea from Holland and Helene from Germany) to the supermarket. It was quite an experience d
uring the 45 minute walk to the store. It's very hot and muggy and there are tons of people in the streets as well as lots of taxis driving like crazy people. And for some reason, the Liberian men like to yell at us and make disgusting sucking sounds with their teeth. Fortunately, there was a Mercy Ship car at the supermarket with a dental team so I hitched a ride back with them. Here's a picture of the supermarket. It was pretty decent - kind of like a smalltown grocery store - it has everything you need but just not the brands you like.
My second outing was to a pediatric hospital. Riding in a car here can be a scary experience! The roads are horrible - full of potholes and it doesn't appear that they have any road rules (although I'm told there are actually traffic rules). Here are some pictures of the streets of Monrovia as we were driving to the pediatric hospital.
You can see in these pictures that there are people everywhere. The unemployment rate in Liberia is about 85% which may be why so many people are out in the streets and not working (I'm speculating:).
It takes a long time to get anywhere because the potholes in the roads are so big and they are everywhere. You have to weave in and out of them and try to avoid oncoming traffic. You can see how bad they are in this photo.
The markets are outdoor markets and they go on for what seems like miles, stand after stand selling almost anything you would ever need. This lady is selling fish and what looked like chicken. I can't imagine buying meat like this on the street. I wonder how old it is and how long it's been sitting out in the 90 degree heat?
Here's a couple more random photos taken from the car.
uring the 45 minute walk to the store. It's very hot and muggy and there are tons of people in the streets as well as lots of taxis driving like crazy people. And for some reason, the Liberian men like to yell at us and make disgusting sucking sounds with their teeth. Fortunately, there was a Mercy Ship car at the supermarket with a dental team so I hitched a ride back with them. Here's a picture of the supermarket. It was pretty decent - kind of like a smalltown grocery store - it has everything you need but just not the brands you like.My second outing was to a pediatric hospital. Riding in a car here can be a scary experience! The roads are horrible - full of potholes and it doesn't appear that they have any road rules (although I'm told there are actually traffic rules). Here are some pictures of the streets of Monrovia as we were driving to the pediatric hospital.
You can see in these pictures that there are people everywhere. The unemployment rate in Liberia is about 85% which may be why so many people are out in the streets and not working (I'm speculating:).
It takes a long time to get anywhere because the potholes in the roads are so big and they are everywhere. You have to weave in and out of them and try to avoid oncoming traffic. You can see how bad they are in this photo.
The markets are outdoor markets and they go on for what seems like miles, stand after stand selling almost anything you would ever need. This lady is selling fish and what looked like chicken. I can't imagine buying meat like this on the street. I wonder how old it is and how long it's been sitting out in the 90 degree heat? Here's a couple more random photos taken from the car.
That's all for now. I'll post about my trip to the pediatric hospital maybe tomorrow. The internet is painfully slow tonight and I'm out of patience for uploading photos!!
Peace,
Michele
Monday, July 16, 2007
Ship Life
Now that I've been here for two and 1/2 weeks, I feel like I've settled in and life has become more routine in a good way. I don't have to constantly find out how to do something (like receive mail), where to find something (like the laundry room) or who to ask if I need to know something. I have most of the answers I need in order to live here.
It's a pretty simple life, living on a ship in the port of a country where you can't just hop in a car and go somewhere. I don't have any of that busy-ness we live with in the U.S. I don't have a car to drive or maintain, or fill with gas, there's no grocery shopping or cooking (not that I did that anyways:). There's no commute to work - mine is to walk about ten doors down the hallway. There's no tv watching or going out to restaurants or movies. There's no house cleaning or lawn work. There's no doctor or dentist appts or running errands like running to Target or Home Depot.
What there is a lot of is relaxed, free time. I have a hard time figuring out what day it is (is that what retirement is like?). Unless I'm working a day shift, I sleep in without setting an alarm clock. I have read more books since I've gotten here than I did all last year (if you haven't read Three by Ted Dekker, I would highly recommend it). I spend a lot of time hanging out with people, talking or playing games. I attend 5-6 different worship services a week. I check email or read the news on-line. I walk up and down the dock for exercise when it's not raining or go to an aerobics class. I'm reading through the Bible and at the rate I'm going, I will be done in about four months. I pray a lot with people and alone. I'm in two small groups - one is social and the other is a Bible study with one of the chaplains.
When I'm working, I don't have to work that hard (as a nurse). I take care of our patients' physical and medical needs but once that is done, I get to hang out with them. The ladies are here for two weeks so we really get to know them. As nurses, we hang out with them on their beds and talk to them. We paint their nails, read to them, pray with them, even color with them (they love to color). We sometimes dance with them - they sing a lot. The singing is a funny thing - most of them can't really sing but they don't care. I can't sing so I would never sing out loud alone like they do. I guess no one ever told them they shouldn't sing if they can't carry a tune:)
Here are some pictures of a few ladies I've come to know. We aren't allowed to take photos on the ward unless the patient asks and my friend Korto asked if I'd take a picture. The first photo is a picture of Korto and me. She doesn't speak English and I don't speak Kpelle so we just talk to each other without ever really understanding.
This photo is Korto and Quita. Quita speaks Korto's language plus a little English. So this is how I talk to Korto: Korto says something to Quita in Kpelle, then Quita repeats it in Liberian English to a translator who then repeats it to me in English. It's very funny that the translators have to translate their English to us and our English to them. Liberians speak English as their official language but they don't say the final part of words so I usually can't understand them.
This is a photo of my friend Ans, Korto and four of the translators. Ans is a nurse from Holland who lives in Sweden. She and her husband have been missionaries for Youth With a Mission for 23 years. Her husband and daughter are currently serving short-term in Uganda while she is in Liberia. She is becoming a good friend but she will only be here a few more weeks.
For some, this life will sound boring and others might think it sounds relaxing (who doesn't want to give up some of the drudgeries of life). I personally have found it to be very relaxing, calming and healing. I have a lot of time for reflection and prayer. While I miss my friends and family, I don't miss much of my old life. I love this life so far and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.
I'm going to a pediatric hospital this Saturday to play with the kids in the hospital. Hopefully we can take pictures or videos and I'll post more about that trip. Peace.
It's a pretty simple life, living on a ship in the port of a country where you can't just hop in a car and go somewhere. I don't have any of that busy-ness we live with in the U.S. I don't have a car to drive or maintain, or fill with gas, there's no grocery shopping or cooking (not that I did that anyways:). There's no commute to work - mine is to walk about ten doors down the hallway. There's no tv watching or going out to restaurants or movies. There's no house cleaning or lawn work. There's no doctor or dentist appts or running errands like running to Target or Home Depot.
What there is a lot of is relaxed, free time. I have a hard time figuring out what day it is (is that what retirement is like?). Unless I'm working a day shift, I sleep in without setting an alarm clock. I have read more books since I've gotten here than I did all last year (if you haven't read Three by Ted Dekker, I would highly recommend it). I spend a lot of time hanging out with people, talking or playing games. I attend 5-6 different worship services a week. I check email or read the news on-line. I walk up and down the dock for exercise when it's not raining or go to an aerobics class. I'm reading through the Bible and at the rate I'm going, I will be done in about four months. I pray a lot with people and alone. I'm in two small groups - one is social and the other is a Bible study with one of the chaplains.
When I'm working, I don't have to work that hard (as a nurse). I take care of our patients' physical and medical needs but once that is done, I get to hang out with them. The ladies are here for two weeks so we really get to know them. As nurses, we hang out with them on their beds and talk to them. We paint their nails, read to them, pray with them, even color with them (they love to color). We sometimes dance with them - they sing a lot. The singing is a funny thing - most of them can't really sing but they don't care. I can't sing so I would never sing out loud alone like they do. I guess no one ever told them they shouldn't sing if they can't carry a tune:)
Here are some pictures of a few ladies I've come to know. We aren't allowed to take photos on the ward unless the patient asks and my friend Korto asked if I'd take a picture. The first photo is a picture of Korto and me. She doesn't speak English and I don't speak Kpelle so we just talk to each other without ever really understanding.
This photo is Korto and Quita. Quita speaks Korto's language plus a little English. So this is how I talk to Korto: Korto says something to Quita in Kpelle, then Quita repeats it in Liberian English to a translator who then repeats it to me in English. It's very funny that the translators have to translate their English to us and our English to them. Liberians speak English as their official language but they don't say the final part of words so I usually can't understand them.
This is a photo of my friend Ans, Korto and four of the translators. Ans is a nurse from Holland who lives in Sweden. She and her husband have been missionaries for Youth With a Mission for 23 years. Her husband and daughter are currently serving short-term in Uganda while she is in Liberia. She is becoming a good friend but she will only be here a few more weeks.
For some, this life will sound boring and others might think it sounds relaxing (who doesn't want to give up some of the drudgeries of life). I personally have found it to be very relaxing, calming and healing. I have a lot of time for reflection and prayer. While I miss my friends and family, I don't miss much of my old life. I love this life so far and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.
I'm going to a pediatric hospital this Saturday to play with the kids in the hospital. Hopefully we can take pictures or videos and I'll post more about that trip. Peace.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
First week in Liberia
I've been here on the ship for 9 days now and it is going way too fast. I have met so many interesting people from all over the world - there are many people here from the U.S., Canada, Australia and most European countries. I've also met people from Nepal, Sri Lanka and The Congo to name a few of the more exotic locations.
Many, many of these people have been on one of the Mercy Ships for years. Volunteers can come for as little as two weeks (usually these are medical types such as surgeons, dentists) but it seems the majority are here for anywhere between 2 months to a year. If you're interested in a slightly longer short-term mission trip, I would highly recommend applying to the ship. All gifts can be used in some manner!
I have worked four shifts now and it has definitely been a learning experience. While the surgical teams have state-of-the-art equipment, it seems the ward has only equipment other facilities didn't want. This means nursing is done manually without the aid of computers, pumps or machines (except for patients in the ICU) and none of our supplies are consistently the same. You basically scrounge around for something that will work and make it work. This is good in that I've been forced to learn new skills and it also gives me much more time with patients (rather than charting on the computer).
As I said in my earlier post, the majority of surgeries right now are VVF surgeries. This is just a horrible disability that is just never seen in developed countries. Women have obstructed labors for days and days (in which the baby dies) and internally tissue dies and fistulas (or holes) are created. This causes them to leak urine (or feces - sorry for the graphic descriptions but it's true) 24 hours a day. Many have had this condition for years. Can you even imagine living like this? They can't work, their husbands leave them and they can't be around others because they smell horrible. They resort to begging or many live hidden away for their entire lives. It almost seems as if it couldn't be true but I have heard their stories first-hand.
After their repair surgeries, when they are ready to go home, there is a Dress Ceremony on the ward. The ladies receive a new dress (to represent new life) and they have a chance to share their story. Here is a picture of three ladies who have been given a new chance at life. Sadly, some women are so internally damaged that they cannot be repaired. So far I haven't seen that happen and I hope to not ever see it.
It is the rainy season here so it rains pretty much all the time, with a few periods of sunshine. It has made it difficult to get off the ship to go into town but I hope to do that sometime this week. Apparently there are markets, restaurants and beaches that we can go to but I haven't experienced any of those yet. I'm not sure I'll be eating in any restaurant because of my experience in Ghana after eating a hamburger at Popeyes!
Now for a little education on Liberia. Liberia was settled by freeborn Blacks and former slaves from America in the early 1800s and they consider themselves the 51st state. I found this statement very sad considering I don't think the majority of people in the U.S. have ever heard of Liberia or know anything about this country (including myself until I got here). The people of Liberia were emotionally devastated when the U.S. did not come to their aid as they expected during the civil war and there is a sense of sadness now when Liberians talk about America.
In 2002, the country ended a 14 year civil war where some of the most horrific atrocities known to man occurred. We watched a movie last week about the war and I can't even bear to type some of the things that have been done to the people in this country. The former president, Charles Taylor, is now on trial in The Hague for war crimes. Liberia now has the first female elected head of state in Africa. Her name is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and she is a Harvard trained economist.
Their life expectancy here is only 41 (males) and 44 (females). That means most of my friends would be dead by now and I'd only have two more years to live! They are ranked fifth from the bottom for child mortality out of all the countries in the world.
There is definitely hope here. Mercy Ships has many, many, many off-ship projects going on to help the people of this country including the creating of mental health programs for the hundreds of thousands of people traumatized during the war. It's a huge undertaking but all things are possible with God - that is why there is hope.
That's all my teaching for now. I'm feeling compelled to talk about what has gone on here, mainly because of my own ignorance about this country. They love America and I didn't even know they existed.
There will be more later! Thanks everyone for your comments and emails. It makes me feel connected so even if you want to send me an email with boring details about your life, I'd love to read them. Even tell me about any great restaurants you've been to - the food here is absolutely horrible and it has definitely taken away any desire I have for food (that's a good thing:).
Peace,
Michele
Many, many of these people have been on one of the Mercy Ships for years. Volunteers can come for as little as two weeks (usually these are medical types such as surgeons, dentists) but it seems the majority are here for anywhere between 2 months to a year. If you're interested in a slightly longer short-term mission trip, I would highly recommend applying to the ship. All gifts can be used in some manner!
I have worked four shifts now and it has definitely been a learning experience. While the surgical teams have state-of-the-art equipment, it seems the ward has only equipment other facilities didn't want. This means nursing is done manually without the aid of computers, pumps or machines (except for patients in the ICU) and none of our supplies are consistently the same. You basically scrounge around for something that will work and make it work. This is good in that I've been forced to learn new skills and it also gives me much more time with patients (rather than charting on the computer).
As I said in my earlier post, the majority of surgeries right now are VVF surgeries. This is just a horrible disability that is just never seen in developed countries. Women have obstructed labors for days and days (in which the baby dies) and internally tissue dies and fistulas (or holes) are created. This causes them to leak urine (or feces - sorry for the graphic descriptions but it's true) 24 hours a day. Many have had this condition for years. Can you even imagine living like this? They can't work, their husbands leave them and they can't be around others because they smell horrible. They resort to begging or many live hidden away for their entire lives. It almost seems as if it couldn't be true but I have heard their stories first-hand.
After their repair surgeries, when they are ready to go home, there is a Dress Ceremony on the ward. The ladies receive a new dress (to represent new life) and they have a chance to share their story. Here is a picture of three ladies who have been given a new chance at life. Sadly, some women are so internally damaged that they cannot be repaired. So far I haven't seen that happen and I hope to not ever see it.
It is the rainy season here so it rains pretty much all the time, with a few periods of sunshine. It has made it difficult to get off the ship to go into town but I hope to do that sometime this week. Apparently there are markets, restaurants and beaches that we can go to but I haven't experienced any of those yet. I'm not sure I'll be eating in any restaurant because of my experience in Ghana after eating a hamburger at Popeyes!
Now for a little education on Liberia. Liberia was settled by freeborn Blacks and former slaves from America in the early 1800s and they consider themselves the 51st state. I found this statement very sad considering I don't think the majority of people in the U.S. have ever heard of Liberia or know anything about this country (including myself until I got here). The people of Liberia were emotionally devastated when the U.S. did not come to their aid as they expected during the civil war and there is a sense of sadness now when Liberians talk about America.
In 2002, the country ended a 14 year civil war where some of the most horrific atrocities known to man occurred. We watched a movie last week about the war and I can't even bear to type some of the things that have been done to the people in this country. The former president, Charles Taylor, is now on trial in The Hague for war crimes. Liberia now has the first female elected head of state in Africa. Her name is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and she is a Harvard trained economist.
Their life expectancy here is only 41 (males) and 44 (females). That means most of my friends would be dead by now and I'd only have two more years to live! They are ranked fifth from the bottom for child mortality out of all the countries in the world.
There is definitely hope here. Mercy Ships has many, many, many off-ship projects going on to help the people of this country including the creating of mental health programs for the hundreds of thousands of people traumatized during the war. It's a huge undertaking but all things are possible with God - that is why there is hope.
That's all my teaching for now. I'm feeling compelled to talk about what has gone on here, mainly because of my own ignorance about this country. They love America and I didn't even know they existed.
There will be more later! Thanks everyone for your comments and emails. It makes me feel connected so even if you want to send me an email with boring details about your life, I'd love to read them. Even tell me about any great restaurants you've been to - the food here is absolutely horrible and it has definitely taken away any desire I have for food (that's a good thing:).
Peace,
Michele
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Pictures
This is one of the hospital wards I am working in. It is very close quarters and our Western sensibilities would be very offended by the lack of privacy (because of that ole HIPAA law). Our African ladies love it because they all sit around and sing and do each other's hair.
Here's my bed - I'm very grateful that I got the bottom bunk!
Here's my bed - I'm very grateful that I got the bottom bunk!
The dock -nothing like Navy Pier in Chicago but it lets us get out and walk around. This is one of the places the kids play (there are around 50 kids on the ship, most under the age of 8).
This is Suah who was blind and received sight. She was the first surgery on this new ship. They are celebrating in the ward. Africans love to celebrate by singing and dancing.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
First weekend in Africa
I arrived in Monrovia, Liberia safely and uneventfully after a 24 hour trip that took me through Chicago, Brussels, Senegal and then Liberia. Thank you to all of you who were praying for my safe arrival.
The ship is bigger than I imagined and has quite a few amenities. We have an internet cafe, Starbucks cafe, a small grocery store, a gym, a laundromat and a fully stocked library. In addition, it has a fully functioning hospital with about 84 beds, including ICU beds and 6 operating rooms.
The hospital just opened last week and is not working at max capacity yet. Currently they are doing VVF surgeries and eye surgeries. VVF is a fistula women get after prolonged labor that causes urine to leak out of them constantly. It is a very stigmatizing disability and women are very often shunned and left by their husbands because of it.
God is so alive and at work here on the ship, you know it the minute you get here. People seem to be on a constant God-high, the kind you usually see on mission trips. Everyone is here because of their desire to serve Him and He is openly and frequently the topic of conversation. Obviously not like any work environment I have every been in.
I have met so many people from all over the world. I went to church today with a Ghanaian, Nigerian, South African, German, Canadian and three Americans. We went to a Baptist church with a service that lasted 3 hours (yes, 3 hours - that is not a typo). Two hours was singing and dancing and the other hour was preaching. It is so inspiring to see people worship so freely - it definitely was a joyful noise considering the sound system was not of the quality I am used to:)
I start work Monday with two days of orientation. All non-ICU nursing is done manually without the aid of pumps, computers and nurse's aides so it will definitely be a learning experience.
So far everything has been far better than I had imagined (including my room). God is good.
The ship is bigger than I imagined and has quite a few amenities. We have an internet cafe, Starbucks cafe, a small grocery store, a gym, a laundromat and a fully stocked library. In addition, it has a fully functioning hospital with about 84 beds, including ICU beds and 6 operating rooms.
The hospital just opened last week and is not working at max capacity yet. Currently they are doing VVF surgeries and eye surgeries. VVF is a fistula women get after prolonged labor that causes urine to leak out of them constantly. It is a very stigmatizing disability and women are very often shunned and left by their husbands because of it.
God is so alive and at work here on the ship, you know it the minute you get here. People seem to be on a constant God-high, the kind you usually see on mission trips. Everyone is here because of their desire to serve Him and He is openly and frequently the topic of conversation. Obviously not like any work environment I have every been in.
I have met so many people from all over the world. I went to church today with a Ghanaian, Nigerian, South African, German, Canadian and three Americans. We went to a Baptist church with a service that lasted 3 hours (yes, 3 hours - that is not a typo). Two hours was singing and dancing and the other hour was preaching. It is so inspiring to see people worship so freely - it definitely was a joyful noise considering the sound system was not of the quality I am used to:)
I start work Monday with two days of orientation. All non-ICU nursing is done manually without the aid of pumps, computers and nurse's aides so it will definitely be a learning experience.
So far everything has been far better than I had imagined (including my room). God is good.
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