National Clean Up Day

Well, it's national clean up day here in Sierra Leone today. I find it a bit amusing. From looking around in town when I had been through I think it will take more than one of those days to get this city looking nice and no trash everywhere. Although, I was impressed when a friend of mine dragged me off the ship today for a bit in between work. There were actually large trash piles everywhere. A friend of mine works in the engine room and said apparently it is all getting dumped into the river and causing problems for our ship and clogging up vents down below.
So I guess national clean up day here is also national pollution day as well:) It was soo good to get off the ship for a bit though. People here are so friendly and I have to say it is refreshing to be back in a country with english signs and english speaking people so you can have a conversation longer than, "hi, how are you."

The wards are finally looking ready for opening tomorrow. I did panic a bit on Friday when I walked through Friday evening and there was still nothing in many of the cabinets. Many of us worked hard today including the central supply team and got the wards stocked, yeah! Sure will be an interesting day tomorrow and week this week. God has been so good and faithful though! We are all excited to have patients. Getting off the ship into town today and being around the Sierra Leoneans was very refreshing too...a good reminder of how much I love the people of West Africa and why I am here. Sometimes you get so caught up in the busyness of your own work you forget what it's all about and need a bit of a reality check.