Screening Day

Today was the first screening day of the new field service in Togo. This year, Mercy Ships decided to do things a a little differently. Instead of arranging one large screening at the start of the outreach, several smaller screenings were arranged.

Potential patients arrive at the screening and wait in line for several hours to find out if the hospital can help them. Doctors, nurses and surgeons assess each hopeful arrivals need and whether they can be helped.

Today just under 200 patients arrived to be screened. Tomorrow and Thursday hundreds more will wait in the line that could change their life forever.

'A' is for acid bug

Earlier this week my Kindergarteners started making their own alphabet book. When we discussed words that started with an 'A' one of them said, 'I know! 'A' is for acid bug!'

Due to weather patterns and seasonal changes, these bugs have been prominent on the outdoor decks over the last month or two. My students often see them at break time and this causes excitement for some and a little bit of fear for others...

According to experts, " acid bugs contain a toxic chemical that causes contact dermatitis in humans as a result of crushing or slapping the beetle on exposed skin. The affected area becomes red, swollen and itchy causing the skin to peel when scratched. The adult bugs are attracted to artificial light. "

Acid bug

That answer from my student has inspired me to create an ABC of Mercy Ships. Here goes...

A is for acid bug.

B is for blackouts.

C is for community meetings.

D is for drills.

E is for fire extinguishers everywhere you look.

F is for fan-ice.

G is for goodbyes to good friends.

H is for hospital.

I is for cabin inspections.

J is for the joy that patients have after surgery.

K is for Kindergarten.

L is for life boats and life vests.

M is for medical staff.

N is for nurses.

O is for operations.

P is for pancakes on Wednesdays.

Q is for 'Quiet in reception, please!'

R is for roommates.

S is for sailing.

T is for Tenerife.

U is for unexpected experiences like dinner with the president.

V is for visas.

W is for ward church.

X is for X-ray room.

Y is for 'yovo'.

Z is for zimmis.

Exodus Orphanage

Exodus Orphanage houses about 50 orphans ranging in age from babies to teenagers. Last weekend some friends and I went to visit these kids for the last time before the end of the outreach.

We arrived just as the kids were going to church and attended the service with them. The service was in a classroom - the pastor sat at the desk in the front of the class and we squashed into the desks with the children. After the kids lead us in worship the pastor invited us to the front to share a testimony or a word of encouragement.

During the church service

One of the crew who visited the orphanage earlier this year was led to raise funds to provide beds, mattresses and other essentials for them . Her ministry was able to continue when she left Benin thanks to a friend and crew member who continued to arrange visits to the orphanage regularly. Karl built beds for the kids while the other crew members played with the orphans during the visits.

After church our friends invited us to lunch as a way to thank us. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing and laughing with them.

The lunch line. We were impressed with how they lined up from shortest to tallest.

Our lunch

Some of the children. These boys love the camera!

Sher with her new friends.

Kelly treated the girls to a manicure.

Karl arm wrestling with the boys.

This little boy stole my heart.

Showing off their beds with Ben.

These are a few of my favourite things

Recently I have developed a new favourite past time. It is related to my existing favourite past time (i.e. drinking tea) but brings it to a completely new level.

I have started taking a cup of tea up to deck 8 after dinner to watch the sunset. I love it. It just speaks to me of God's beauty.

Spirit Day

Last Thursday was Spirit Day in the Academy. The theme this month was formal wear. It was also Crazy Scrub Day in the operating room. My cabin mate, Allison, and I found each other in the dining room and this was the result:

Jaquot Psychiatric Facility

Jaquot Psychiatric Facility is about a twenty minute drive from where the ship is docked. Some crew visit this clinic faithfully each Saturday morning and sometimes I join them.

When we arrive we are greeted by some of the patients as we get out of the car. They usually join us as we walk around the property and greet everyone. During this time we find out how their week has been and are introduced to new patients or discover who has left.

After this we all head to a large room in the centre of the property where we do some singing and dancing. This is followed by a Bible lesson and a craft.

It has been such a joy to get to know some of these men and women who have spent the majority of the year in this facility.

Proudly South African

The South African Ambassador to Benin is so good to us. Last week we were invited to numerous events to celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa.

Many Mercy Ship Crew went to an exhibit hosted by our Ambassador on Saturday. Items exhibited ranged from South African fruit juices and wines to jewellery.

On Sunday evening we attended a concert to celebrate South African culture. Two groups perfomed on this occasion - a local musical group from Benin and then an acepella group from Soweto, South Africa called 'The Lions'. It was such a comforting feeling listening to this group of talented men singing songs like 'Meadowlands' (a South African classic) and then our national anthem.

The South African crew was treated to a private performance by this group the next evening when we attended a buffet dinner at the Ambassador's residence.