Roberts Port Camping Adventure

So first of all...I cannot believe I only have 3 weeks left. I have made some of the most amazing friends and had some of the most amazing experiences here and will be very sad to say good bye. But who knows...maybe I will be back before I know it.
God has used some of the ppl I have met here to teach me some amazing things through their lives, testimonies, and encouragement. Some of these are personal so I will not share here, but if you ask I'll probably share. It is just so cool how God works in such strange yet cool ways and through people you'd never expect.
I walked Andrew (the albino I have been referring to) to the gate to say goodbye today. We will miss him. He has been such a blessing to me and to the ward. I am going to try to visit him at his home. And he has gotten special permission to come back each Sunday to do drums at ward church...so that's awesome...but will still miss poppin my head in to say hi every time Im down on the ward.

Ok...sorry for getting side tracked...back to camping...
So Sat. 4 of us left to go to Roberts Port (closer to Sierra Leone border). The youth group also took some vehicles, but 4 of us went seperate with a taxi and camped further down the beach. We actually made it there in an uneventful trip only about 2.5 hrs...unlike the last group that took a taxi there and got a flat tire then ran off the road into the woods and had to be taken the rest of the way in UN vehicles). The most eventful thing that happened was when we picked up extra ppl on the way (we already had 4 of us in the back seat and 2 other passangers up front). The drivers son actually road on the front of the hood the last couple miles...good times! We got to town and bought some water and kerosine before heading to the beach. We hung out with the other mercy shippers for a while in the afternoon. Ali, Red, and Paul who I think I have referenced before were all along on the youth trip. Then we went down the beach and I watched the guys body board and surf for a while. I have to say this is one of the prettiest beaches I have seen...just cause it was so lush and green and had dark black rocks scattered along the shore here and there. I did a little body boarding myself...the waves were ok, but I guess usually better for surfing than this time. The guys knew some of the local surfers from before so they joined them. We set up camp before it got dark. We planned to sleep outside but brought a tent in case of the usual late night rain shower or in case the crabs were biting too much. I made sure to wear plenty of insect repellent as well. We made a big camp fire and cooked noodles, sauce, and some meat and beans we had brought along. It was quite yummy...a little salty being cooked in salt water but quite delicious. We were relaxing on the beach watching the waves roll in when I was like.."so is anyone else feeling a little ill?" Well, I guess I was the only one...at around 830pm I started throwing up every 30 minutes till probably around midnight. Good times. I have no idea how I got sick...it could have been anything. I have to say I have never thrown up with such a nice view before though! And I was well taken care of. It was SO nice out..we slept out all night and it didnt rain...and we were close enough to the fire that the crabs didnt bother us either. At about 1030 one of the guys took the long trek back to the youth site to get some meds from Ali from the med kit for me. She came back and stayed with us. She is my kindred spirit here....so was nice to have her by my side through the night and help me out (I'll spare the details:)). I took some benadryl and was able to finally get maybe an hour or 2 of sleep off and on. I dont think any of us really got much of any sleep. I felt better in the morning just 100% wiped out since I had nothing left in me. At 730am it did start to rain so 5 of us piled into a 2 person tent for an hour. I had already been thinking how long of a walk I had ahead of me expecially with how exhausted I wass. Two of the youth came to get me to see if I wanted to walk back with them and go in the mercy ships vehicles since they knew I was sick and probably didnt want to be crammed into a taxi. So they carried my stuff and we started walking..I warned them I was going to be REALLY slow and would probably need to take some breaks. Then David volunteered to save my life and he piggy backed me half way back. We left around noon to head back home. The others took the taxi back and came back a couple hours later. I still had a great time...but was sad I didnt get to climb the rocks and see what was around the bend which had been my plan for the next day. But, such is life. Good memories, good friends, and yeah for God's gorgeous creation. I am feeling much better today. God was gracious in that I had today off anyway so I got to relax and recoup.

A day out in rural Africa

So sat. I pulled myself out of bed to head out early for an orphanage. There is a group of older guys and Scotland Peter who go out every weekend to help build a new orphanage. I had asked to go awhile ago to help out cause I like playing with kids and I love working and getting my hands dirty. We drove 2 hrs out and through the firestone plant to get to this place. It was so peaceful and pretty out there. As soon as we pulled up of course the kids came running. One of the guys from mercy ships has actually been staying out there for the last 2 weeks, so I got to see the hut he was staying in. Crazy! He had lost quite a bit of weight and complaining that he washes his clothes daily and still smells. We played with the kids a little while. The two women we came with read to the kids. I was ready to get my hands dirty so I helped plant some bananna trees around one of the huts with a chisel type thing. Now too long into the day Peter comes over with a little boy holding the strangest looking bug. It looked like a little alien with a bunch of twitching feet. I have a good video. But ooooh...scary looking. I guess they did eventually rip the head off and eat it. MMMM. I also got to see HUGE magots and watch the boys eat them. I almost put one in my mouth but really didnt want to catch some wierd disease.

During lunch Peter and I went to the field down the road to play soccer with the boys. good times...but quite hot in the afternoon...and they sure are a ton better than me...they got several good laughs watching me play:) Although I did somehow manage to score a goal somehow. One of the little boys was carrying around a large machette with him everywhere he went...I still get a kick out of that common site here.

After lunch I helped the guys dig trenches for the foundation. Quite hard work. Actually I had blisters within minutes. We would hoe the rocks and dirt loose then use a shovel to clean it out. Two of the older girls jumped in and helped when they saw me and it was mentioned that women are the hardest workers in Africa. We all laughed and had a good time. Even enjoyed an afternoon rain shower. The kids gave me what looked like way under ripe green orange...but they said it was ready..so we peeled it and man, that was the yummiest, juciest thing ever. It was a great day filled with fun and hard work. I love the country anywhere so it's always enjoyable to get out. It is crazy how desolate it is out there and think they survive ok. Wow, does it make me count my blessings. And it was so cute having a little train of kids following you everywhere you went. The kids are so precious and beautiful here...breaks my heart to think how many are orphaned, yet fun to hold them each and silently pray in my head for them...knowing God loves them so much and has special plans for everyone of their lives even though it looks so bleak at times.

Night Shift

So this is what happens when you go up for a break at 1am on night shift.

Tom (aspiring hair dresser from England): "Liz..your hair looks kind of poofy."

Me: "I know, that is why I hardly ever wear it down."

Tom: "It doesn't look bad, but I have just the thing to fix it."

(Tom proceeds to go to his cabin to get his styling gel, puts some in his hands and rubbing it all over in my hair)

Afterwards:

Tom: "Wow Liz...you look amazing..you would totally be a hit in England with that hair."

Me: "Yikes....uhhh...I had better go do something with my hair before I scare all of my patients."

Good times!

Patients

So, can I just say I love my patients. I worked this past weekend so I went to the church service we have on the ward. I think Im going to do that again next Sunday, just because it is SO lively and celebrational and I actually know people in the congragation. All the patients that are able to from all 3 wards cram into one and there is drums, worship, and time for patients to give their testimony. Then there is a small sermon. This past week Andrew (the albino who I have written about previously) gave the sermon based off of the Luke passage where the sick woman just touches Jesus's cloak and is healed and Jesus feels the power leave him. He did a great job. It was fun taking care of him this week cause he gets dressing changes three times a day and you have to put vinegar/saline water soaked gauze on the wound and let it sit for 10 minutes. We would go to a different room to do this so we just hung out while we waited for the 10 minutes to pass. The whole week he was so excited about talking in ward church. He would go over the passages with me and what he was going to talk about. He also shared with me much of the hard times he had been through personally and how he didn't give up and how God provides. I also started praying for him while we waited for time to pass. I have really enjoyed those times with him. He is still here and is going for his second surgery tomorrow actually to get a skin graft from his leg to cover the open muscle on his shoulder. After he preached Sunday I told him he did a great job and he said, no...God did...how cool is that.
I also enjoy walking back to the ship from being to the market and often seeing some of my patients being discharged and walking out..or leaving after a follow up apt. It is so fun to see them, and run up and give em a hug and say hi. I was running with Red (one of the charge nurses here who is amazing) and we saw one of the patients we had really gotten to know. We both ran up and gave her a hug. Then we started talking about how cool that is and how most of these patients are probably not used to being loved like that and having people be excited to see them after they have lived with illness and deformaties.
It is always interesting nursing here and exchanging information with patients...as I have mentioned before regarding translating. Well, another thing that Africans do is raise their eye brows...for everything it seems. I had a girl last week who was queen of this. Usually when they raise their eye brows (ever so subtly) it means yes. Again, it took me a long time to even notice them doing it cause it is so subtle which ads to the entertainment. But I had a girl and granted she did have jaw surgery and couldnt really talk she still had the eye thing mastered. But I would ask her if she wanted to take the medicine liquid or in pill form and she would raise her eye brows. Well, thtat didnt help me so then I would ask her if she wanted it liquid...raised eyebrows. Then I did the same with pills...same response. I was crackin up inside cause Im like...really...I think Im missing some hidden signal..she would raise her eye brows for everything. Anyhoo...guess you have to see it..but good times.
Here are a few of the patients I have gotten to be close with. One is a girl who had no nose/lips because of the flesh eating noma bacteria. Thanks to the surgeons here and many surgeries later she has a nose and lips and was just back for a revision of that. One of these pictures was taken after she finished braiding my hair. Then her mom taught me how to wrap and hold a baby on my back like the women here do...the woman in the next bed over had a little baby that we all enjoyed helping babysit while mom was getting surgery.

Another man..Popey..had had a part of his jaw (mandible) removed and was here to get a bone from his hip placed in his mouth to be his jaw bone. He had to have his mouth bandaged shut for a few days and was having a hard time after the surgery...we were both getting frustrated and I was able to pray with him and I visit every day to see how he is doing. That is another fun thing about working and living in the same place...even when Im not working I'll often pop my head in to say hi to the patients...they love it.

Testimonies

Every time some of the VVF ladies go home we had a dress ceremony to celebrate. Sometimes it is not the most exciting as many women do not get healed of their problem (leaking urine) during their first surgeries..and sometimes never. This can be very discouraging. However, most of the ladies here this time around for the surgery are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, surgeries and they have been healed and are now dry. This is SO exciting. There are only a few VVF ladies still here from when Dr. Steve was here to do surgeries. I think I talked about dress ceremonies in a different blog...but pretty much there is lots of music, drums, dancing, and celebration. All the ladies get new dresses to represent new life as they are now dry now. The ladies also share their testimonies....very tragic to say the least when they describe all they have been through. Well, one of the nurses typed up some of the testemonies from one of the last ceremonies and I thought I would share the email she sent to all of us nurses. Many of the ladeis who are still here have all gotten the same infection and that has been discouraging...that is what is being referred to in this email. It is so cool to see God working here....



Hi dear all,

Some of you have maybe heard allready the wonderfull testemonies of 3 beautiful ladies on the ward and the work Jesus did in their lives, but I really like to share it with you all.
I also like to encourage you, remember God is so faithfull and so personal!
Last weekend, if I may be honest, was a bit hard for me and I really asked God about the infections on the ward (especially the ladies). I asked the Father about it and realized one thing. God said;
'Bad things can happen.The devil wants to steal your joy, but don't allow him to do that! Turn this situation 180 degrees. Not 160 or 170, but 180 degrees. Turn it into the opposite, take a difficult situation and turn it into a good situation, turn it into a blessing for them! You have so much to give; give your love, minister to them, listen to their stories etc. Finally show them My love!'

So, I really like to encourage you, now and even in later situations. You have so much to give! This is a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus!

Well okay, enough for now. Hereby you'll find the testamonies. Enjoy them!


Esther (2nd VVF repair):

Esther came on March 14 to the ship. A girl of 24 years old. When I talked with her she told me she had a difficult past behind her.
She was living in a village and during the war, she and her family, had to flight in to the bush. The rebels came into the village.
At that time (18 years) she became pregnant. All the time during her pregnancy she lives in the bush. Finally the time came that she had to give birth. Esther was more than a week in labour. Than the time cam that she couldn’t walk anymore. Her brothers carried her to the hospital.
After that she gave birth, the baby died in one week and Esther started leaking.
She was leaking for years. She was crying and crying to the Lord.
One night that Esther went to bed, she had a dream…
Esther told:
‘I was crying to God and than I felt asleep. Than I got a dream. A man in white clothes came to me and talked with me. He said; ‘Come, the time was long enough, lets go for your operation.’ The man in white took me to the operation table and than I was healed. I was so glad! I was healed!!!
But than I woke up… Still I was leaking. I didn’t understand the dream. But than I heard from the white ship that came to Monrovia.
My grandmother and I were talking about this ship, but I had no money to go to Monrovia. But after a few day’s my grandmother came and gave me the money and send me to the ship.
So I got operated and… here I am and… I am dry!
God has healed me!!!


Elizabeth (Urethroplasty):
Elizabeth came on March 19 to the ship. Elizabeth is 49 years old and got 9 times pregnant. Only 5 children are still living. Elizabeth started leaking when she gave birth to her first child. She don’t remember at what age she gave birth. She knows that she was very young. In her testimony she told:
‘ I was leaking for a long long time. It was hard for me! I suffered a lot, but God also blessed me and I have still 5 childeren. Even though it was very hard. On night I was crying and shouting to God; ‘Help me!’ And than I got a dream…
A man in white came to me and stood beside me. He carried a white towel. He laid his hand on me and with this white towel he wiped my tears.
Later on I woke up and was so encouraged!
Than I heard from Mercy Ships and I went to the ship. I got this operation and… Praise God, I am dry!’

Jawara Jenreba (PV Sling):
Jawara, 29 years came for the 2nd time to the ship. After the first surgery she was still leaking. She is a pretty girl, and was teaching the nurses Pele. She was always optimistic and said; ‘ Balika Melika’ (Thanks God).
This time was a hard time for her. She had pain in her stomach and the wounds were hurting. She felt weak and had to go to isolation by typhoid.
Later on she went home. Last week she came back and told us;
‘I felt so down and depressed. After my first surgery I was leaking. It was no life for me. I didn’t want to life anymore and I thought about suicide.
But than I heard Mercy Ships came back again. I thought; ‘this is the last thing I want to try’. And now I had surgery and I am dry! And even I am menstruating again.
I found new life!’ Balika Melika!