One of the first thoughts that pop into my mind as I think about these two past weeks are how blessed I am to experience the Mercy Ships. As I talk to different people here, I figure out that there are many different ways in which people came to Mercy ships. For me it just kind of happened. It wasn't like I put a lot of thought into it, or hoped and expected very much. Other people have been planning and praying and thinking about their trip for two years. We all stay different lenghts too. Some people stay two months, some people stay two years. There is one family on board who has stayed here for twenty five years already! We are all different ages and at different stages in life. Children, just out of highschool, college students, just out of college, couples, parents, those whose children are grown up already. We all come from different parts of the world. Texans get poked fun of a lot, but there are quite a few of them on board. Canadians and Dutch people are also very well represented. I discovered the other night another nurse who had also lived in Chilliwack for a year. Another guy close to my age is planning on going to Trinity Western in Langley in the fall. One of the great things on board is discovering how small this world is.
My impressions of Africa itself are many, but hard to describe. Often at home you think of Africa as people dying of hunger, confirmed by horror pictures. That is not the Africa that I encountered. When I went to the market, which is a great but overwhelming experience, I discovered that also in Africa there is a distinction between homeless people and the rest. And it seems like there are less of them here in Lome than there are in Vancouver. The warmth of the African people is another aspect which I love about Africa. They accept you and offer you their friendship without worrying about who you are. They show their love without restraints. Another aspect that struck me was that the African people themselves can't tell where somebody else comes from. I am friends with one of the African ladies who lives on board, but she is originally from Liberia. So she does not know the French or the Awi language. But when we went to the market, or to a hospital on land, many people assumed she could translate for me, but she was just as language crippled as I am.
There are many more experiences which totally amazed me, but they are too many to all write about in one blog. Often when I finish writing an email to one friend, I find myself writing an email with totally different information to another friend, because there is so much to tell. I will keep trying to keep you all updated! I would love to show pictures of my market adventure, but I am too scared that my camera will get stolen. And pictures of cool experiences like visiting the University Hospital or the Special Needs School are not allowed :( Thank you so much for reading my blog, and for all the prayers!
My work uniform!
The pool I fell in love with, it is at the fanciest hotel in town, four dollars for a ticket
The US Navy ship that was docked behind us for a couple of days
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