More adventures in Guinea

This is a bittersweet time on our ward, as the VVF patients are preparing to leave the hospital soon and return home, many healed but some who are still leaking. Continued prayers are needed for all these women as they transition back home, for long term healing, future surgeries, and spiritual and emotional support. In light of this upcoming departure, I have been savoring each moment with these individuals whom I will not likely see again. I still desperately need to learn French, but I have been able to have many meaningful interactions with my patients as we communicate through our actions and expressions alone. You cannot help but feel your heart overflow when these women smile and laugh with/at you. The warmth in the smiles of these women who have faced such hardship is a testament to the resilency of the human spirit.

Picture time

In light of Valentine's Day yesterday, it struck me that here in Guinea, Christians truly are in love with the Lord. You can see it in the way they carry themselves, in the songs they sing and the way they dance, and in the choices they make. One of the songs often sung in the hospital is "Jesus is the only lover of my soul" and it is so beautiful to hear the VVF women singing this song. Despite years of rejection, isolation, and neglect, many of these women today have the glow of a woman in love. Jesus truly is the only one who can know our souls so deeply and intimately and still love us. Surrounded by this infinite love, who could ask for a better Valentine's Day?

Last weekend I went with a few other nurses to a park/resort a couple hours away, where we were able to just relax and spend time together. We went on a hike up a nearby "mountain", swam in the river outside our cabin, took some African dance lessons, and ate lots of delicious African cuisine. The weather here has not been great; between the humidity, dust, and smog the scenery is pretty limited, but it was nice to be outside anyways. I'll attach a few photos from the visit.



The hike



The "view"



Brickmaking along the way



Nature's buffet





Bathing in the river...not sure if we ended up any cleaner or not





Lush vegetation everywhere



Lovely set up here

Yesterday I was able to visit a school started by one of the local workers at the hospital. There are over 100 children at this small, rural school and it is run entirely by a few local volunteers. It seems like quite an undertaking in such difficult circumstances, but those working at the school have a strong desire for impoverished children to have the opportunity to attend school and hear God's word. It was such a neat experience just to travel out to this rural school, see the tiny building all these children learn in, and play with all these very eager children. Kids here are quite interested in having their photo taken and it was a bit chaotic as all of children rushed to have a photo, touch us, and play with any toys we brought. In the midst of playing with the kids, a strange thing happened. The dayworker we came with got a phone call that a woman nearby was having difficulty in labor and needed some assistance. We drove a short distance to check on her, but found she had just had the baby and all was well. The woman was alone, but looked completely composed, and encouraged us to hold her precious newborn baby and take pictures. I still cannot believe this happened. This was an odd but wonderful experience and it seemed like just a typical day in the life of these Guineans. 


So much fun being surrounded by the kids, but kinda crazy! These kids look tiny, but believe me, they are strong.



The dedicated dayworker who has started this school



Kindergarten class. Notice the baby in hand while teaching.

 

Beautiful mom and newborn baby



Update from Conakry

Day to day life on the ship is becoming more routine, but with many small adventures to be had beyond the port. I love taking trips into town, whether it's for dinner or to buy cloth and mangoes at the market. There is so much going on outside the gates of the port; it seems funny that life is so quiet and peaceful on the ship while all this hubbub is just around the corner. I wish I could take more photos of life in town, of women carrying enormous loads on their head, of the delicious tropical fruits being sold at every corner, of the babies (and just about anybody else) napping peacefully on the shop tables, etc. However, many people here do not like their photo taken, so I think I'll stay on the safe side and avoid a fight and/or prison while I am here. I guess you all will just have to come and see it for yourself!

Last weekend I had the chance to visit an island just a short boat ride away from our port. It was so beautiful and relaxing there- a great time of refreshment after a busy week. The island almost felt like an African Brigadoon. The skies were hazy as we sputtered in on our little shuttle boat, and we pulled ashore amidst a relaxed game of soccer on the small beach. There were islanders hanging about, watching the game and inspecting the visitors. A small group of us wandered into the village around the island, finding a school building, medical clinic, and numerous homes tucked away in the rain forest. Inside the clinic we found a lone physician, happy for visitors and eager to provide a short tour through his 3 room clinic. As we continued through the village we found tiny goats, chickens and children scampering about. Women were stationed on their porches, vigorously washing the scant clothing available on the island. Across the island we found a restaurant and hotel, where we had a very relaxed lunch. I don't think time exists on this island. Resources are scarce, and yet plentiful enough for day to day existence for this small group of people. There is no sense of urgency or discontent, only a languid sense of existence here. Much to my disappointment though, no one broke out in spontaneous song and dance as in the aforementioned play. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful chance to step into another world.

Back to reality, this was a slightly more challenging week working in the hospital. I'm just now becoming a bit more comfortable, but everything is still so different and new (or rather old) and it has taken some adjustment. I think I would describe nursing on the Africa Mercy as more of an art, whereas in the states it is more of a science. Please don't get the wrong idea though- there is a little of both in each of these places. I look forward to growing as a nurse in this aspect while I am here. And what an opportunity to see what nursing looks like in countries all around the world! I won't bore everyone with listing all the differences, but there are a lot. I guess I just assumed medicine was like a universal language or something.

Please continue to pray for the patients we are caring for here on the Africa Mercy. On the ward I am working on, there have been many stories of healing and joy, but there are still a few women who continue to leak from their fistulas. For many, this has been the last of many prior efforts to close the fistula and they feel disappointed and discouraged. Soon they will have to leave the safe, loving community here at the hospital and will be forced to return to a life of social isolation. Please pray for healing and encouragement for these women and also for a change in their community that would result in embracing these women with open arms.

I was able to visit an orphanage earlier this week, one of many opportunities Mercy Ships offers. I'm so glad we were able to visit with the children, but it was a sobering experience altogether. It was wonderful to elicit laughter from these sweet, tiny children and receive limitless hugs and smiles. We stayed for just a couple hours to play with the small children, long enough to cheer them up and begin forming attachments, only to leave shortly after, unsure of what the future holds for these lonely babies. It was a sad glimpse into a huge, global issue. And in this country filled with such vast, visible needs, human efforts can seem so futile. It is a reminder to look to the Lord for our hope and salvation, as it cannot be found in any number of noble causes or humanitarian outreaches. What a comfort that I do not hold the fate of the world in my hands, but instead I rest in the arms of He that does.