Tailor

Yesterday I brought some fabric to the tailor across the street from the port to have somethings made. It is a small tailor shop, not the one in this picture. The one by the port is just a small little box with one man and one sewing machine. As we walked in the young man stands to greet us and he is wearing a UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS t-shirt! I was so excited so of course I was like, "Ahh..that is where I am from...Minnesota!" And he smiled (not nearly as excited as I was) "Oh, Minnieesoda!!!" It was quite precious! A prime example of how everything is handed down- if they have clothes, they wear what is available.

On our knees

Last weekend when I was working nights I was taking care of 3 new admitted patients that were awaiting their hernia operations on Monday morning. Three strapping Liberian men, all in beds next to each other. They were pretty funny. Laughing, joking and trying to figure out what was going on on this "hospital ship." Actually, for all I know they were laughing at me. I couldn't always understand them. Two of the men were older and in the middle of the beds was a younger man about my age. He seemed to be quite educated and he spoke very intelligible English and was often translating for the other men. When I was explaining his IV to him in my "Liberian" termonology he said very boldly, "I know, I understand." That was a good lesson for me to realize that not all the people are at the same level. After the evening tasks were done the patients all slept well through the night. Around 530am the next morning I started up again getting ready to get the patients sent to the OR. I walked into the other side of the ward and there was Elijah, the young man, on his knees beside his bed praying to Jesus! I stopped in my tracks to marvel at the heart of this man. Here he was grounded firmly enough in His faith to be on his knees before the Lord ready to start the day. Elijah gets it- he knows right where the Lord wants us- on our knees before him. Isn't there a Country music song that says, "A man never stands as tall as when he gets down on his knees." How true. What a statement Elijiah made to me that morning. It is incredible to see who is learning from who here! Praise God for how the Holy Spirit is working in Liberia!

So they may know!

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10: 14-15

Nights

I was talking to a friend on the phone today and she asked me what I am really missing from home. It was sort of fun to think about. I couldn't think of too much that I am missing terribly from home but I did think of a few things that I won't miss when I leave here. They are:
1. I won't miss my bunk bed. I can't sit up in it and every morning I wake up feeling for my alarm clock on my one little shelf (that I hit my knees on when I roll over at night) and every day my hair gets stuck on the springs of the bunk above me!
2. I won't miss the "liquid" only toilets and having to walk (a ways) to the appropriate toilet depending on what needs to be done!
3. I won't miss the milk here. Milk that doesn't need to be refrigerated! Chunky!!!
These are by no means complaints! Just adjustments:)
I do miss...
1. Listerine
2. Ice cream
3. Chocolate (but I got an amazing care package full of it the other day so I am set for a while!)

I am working night shift right now. It is very quiet but I am really enjoying it. I feel it a privilege to be available through the night. I enjoy looking around the ward at the beds packed side by side with people hanging out of them. Many of the single beds have 2 people in them. We don't have space for families to stay so they just sleep with the patient. It is quite precious and they don't complain about anything. God has surely transformed my mind on so many things. I pray that I am pliable to Him to do what He sees fit for me!

Arizona

I had another wonderful night at work. I just have to share this story. For the last 2 days I took care of this 40 some year old male who had a piece of pavement taken out of his leg today (remnant of the war in 1990). He was doing great and he was telling me stories about the war (fasinating). He was so grateful for Mercy Ships and was so thankful to God for his life and that he is alive! Then he proceeded to ask me if I was from the UK or Canada. I then said, "the USA." He then glowed and said, "Oh, our neighbor country". The Liberians really feel like they are pary of the US! I have even heard mentioned- they are the 51st state! Anyway, he asked if I am from Washington or New York. I then said I live in Arizona. He had never heard of it. So I asked if he had heard of the Grand Canyon. Of course not. He asked if he could see pictures. So, I brought him a few pictures that I have with me. I showed him a couple pictures of me with others at the Grand Canyon. He was so excited to be learning about the US! He thought I was my cousin Jessica in the picture of us at the GC! It was cute. Then (here's the funny part) I showed him a picture of my dad and I on top of Camelback. He first of all was suprised that my dad is still alive (the life expectancy here is around 45 I believe, sad). Then he studied the picture closer and responded, "oh but your dad is old, he has a stick!" Ya, he had a stick- I walking stick!! So this Liberian man thinks my old dad can hike Camelback with a CANE!!! Oh, I was laughing so hard. Little does he know my dad is in better shape than me! Sorry Dad! It was funny! He had previously asked how we got up there and he wondered if we had taken an airplane. Oh, bless him! It was a fun moment. He was so delighted to learn about a part of the USA that no one knows about. Now he said he is going to tell people he knows someone from Arizona!!

Tug Boat

Good morning! This is a picture I took yesterday morning from a tug boat I went out on! The sun was rising above our ship. It was great to get out on the water a little bit. I loved it!
Please pray for me to stay healthy as I feel I am getting sick! I have 4 night shifts to get through this week as well. Prayers for that would be great as well as I am NOT a night person at all! More later. I am off to get some lunch before heading to work. Thank you for being faithful supporters of what God is doing here! Have a great day!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Easter Greetings from Liberia! I don't feel like I am so far away today as I have worshipped much similarly than I would be at home. The difference is that I experienced my sunrise service on a ship bow! It was wonderful. The sunrise wasn't exactly visible through the clouds but the experience was great. The praise and worship was powerful and I continue to be overjoyed to be able to praise the Lord in Africa. The whole reason for it all is for this day! I hope that you all are having a blessed day and learning more and more what it means to live in the joy of the Lord! As the words of an African song sing...Great things He has done, Great things He will do! Alleluia!

The Latest

(Disclaimer: I just typed all this out and finally got the pictures uploaded and they are in reverse order from how I talk about them. So, you should be able to figure out what I am talking about. Sorry!)

It has been a wonderful week. Here are a few pictures from what I have been doing this week. Tuesday I went out with the HIV/AIDs team to observe their teaching at a local church. The first picture is of the kids I tried to teach to play Duck, Duck, Goose. That was quite fun. They did well until I brought out my camera and I almost got trampled because they ALL wanted their pictures taken. Next is a view of the city as we walked over a bridge that is covered in bullet holes. Next a little more fun, is a monkey that was tied up to a tree at a restaurant by the beach that we ate at. Last is the view from the grass havana we sat under and I enjoyed pizza and a diet coke:) In the midst of devastation there are pockets (very small) of pure splendor! I also did just learn that most of Monrovia doesn't have electricity. If they do it is generator run. Like this restaurant- they were going to light a candle for us to use the bathroom. I decided to wait until we got back to the ship!

The Youth

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40: 28-31

These are a couple girls that I have taken care over the last few days. They were discharged this morning. It was amazing to see the changes in them over the last week. Initially they were so scared, quiet, insecure. By yesterday they were bouncing around the ward with such energy and joy. These are the little beings that need to take the initiative to be the change that Liberia needs. As they leave Mercy Ships I pray they have experienced the joy of the Lord and they will go and be the change that this country needs. What potential they have! Please pray for the youth of this country- the future!

Praising God

These are a couple pictures of the city. It is so incredible! There is NO order here. The pictures do no justice. Each time we go out though I am humbled by the respect people have for us. We are the only white people so when they see a group of us there are often people that yell from across the street "Mercy Ships!" "Thank God for Mercy Ships!" Wow, this organization surely is making a difference and bringing hope to the Liberian people! How priveledge I am to be part of it!
I worked all weekend and I loved it! I look forward for this week as I have gotten to know some patients that have been waiting on board to get there surgeries. It will be amazing to see the results postoperatively. There have been about 5 children on the ward for about a week and I am really going to be sad to see them go. They are so precious. One of the young girls told me she didn't want to get discharged on Tuesday and that she is just going to stay on the ship cause it is so fun! Who thinks the hospital is fun? She is so sweet. It has been fun to see her grow and change over the last week. She has really warmed up and blossomed.
This morning we had church on the ward. It was incredible. I had a little "moment" when the translators were leading worship (their music is so beautiful) and I looked around and saw all these sweet patients praising the Lord. Despite tubes coming out of their noses, dressings and sutures holding their faces together they were clapping, dancing, and singing! It was powerful! These people really have little but they know what is important. They know what matters! I will keep learing from these people...


"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16