Last week in Guinea

Plastics is in full swing now, with rooms bursting at the seams and nurses working overtime. It is quite busy, but nice to know we are making good use of our time in Guinea. The past weeks have really just filled me with joy. We have had such unique and amazing individuals on our ward and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with each one of them. I could go on and on about each patient or caregiver I have encountered, but that would be quite boring for you to read. To keep it brief, I'll just say there are caregivers (parent, guardian, friend, etc) for many patients, who stay underneath the patient's bed (!). There is one caregiver who has just taken it upon himself to help wherever needed. He has jumped in to help with drying the floors, translating, and simply comforting other patients. This sense of community on the ward is so different from home and it is quite refreshing. Then there are the patients...don't even get me started! One young boy, who recently had a major and painful surgery, just takes all the little ones under his wing and plays with and encourages them. There is also a young woman who has experienced some excruciating things and has been left with extensive scars from burns. Yet every single time I look at her she greets me with the warmest smile. The resiliency of some people is astounding. It is so neat to work with all the patients in one room, watching their interactions and getting to know each of their personalities. They are all so precious, and I pray that they would know just how loved and cherished they are by God. I will definitely miss these patients when I go home.

In between shifts, I have been able to get off the ship and explore many different areas and aspects of this country. I recently went with four other girls on this completely unplanned trip to an upcountry town called Kindia. We managed to get a ride to this town after some rather violent negotiations, and enjoyed some lush, mountainous landscapes along the way. Some of the highlights of the trip were eating at scroungy restaurants, visiting a "serpentorium", riding motorbikes throughout the city, and hiking around a mountain with some locals. We managed to make friends with many people along the way, despite our inability to speak French. It was such an amazing adventure, and there simply isn't the space here to describe it all! I'll include a few pics instead.

Slightly cramped car  



enjoying the waterfalls



This is where they study snake venom





motorbikes! so much fun



 this was our driver turned hiking guide



there were some kids herding goats and cattle on this mountainside



even a flat tire on the way home couldn't slow us down



Last week a dayworker (local volunteer on the ship) from my ward invited a few people to visit the school she started two years ago. This was such a privilege to see, and an amazing testament to relying on God. It was started in an area where many children were simply working on the streets instead of attending school. This school already has 800 students and they simply depend on donations for day to day operation. It was fascinating to see each classroom from toddlers to seniors, although a little embarrassing to be paraded around the school like celebrities. Nonetheless, we enjoyed meeting many students up close and personal after teaching all the children the old rhyme "head and shoulder, knees and toes". The school seemed to be flourishing, which was encouraging to see from a local organization. What is also amazing is that the woman who took us here works full time as a dayworker on the ship, runs this huge school, pastors a church, and takes care of 13 adopted children in her home.



a cheery preschool class



I have never met any of these people before, but they were sure excited to take a picture with me



Little girls I met at the school



Elizabeth, the woman who invited us to her school



So this is my last week here in Guinea. I feel like I have only had a taste of life here, but it is hard not to fall in love with this country. The people, the culture, and the landscape are all lush, vibrant, and beautiful. Each encounter I've had here has left me wanting to do more. It is heartbreaking that there is so much unseen and unspoken suffering in this beautiful country, but it is my prayer that the Lord would continue the work he started here. Though they may be small in numbers, the faith of the local people I have met has been tremendous. While I will certainly be sad to leave this place, I also love and miss my family very much and it will be wonderful to be home again. I'm hoping this will only be the start of many future trips, but I'll have to wait and see what God has planned for me.

60 minutes and more....

I hope that you were able to catch the recent 60 minutes program featuring Mercy Ships. If not, here's the link: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50141230n. This is quite an accurate glimpse into life on the ship and I feel so privileged to be a part of this team, even if just for a couple of months. I am constantly encouraged, challenged, and amazed by all those around me on the ship. I am still unable to understand the dedication exhibited by many of the long-term crew here. These are incredibly talented professionals, but they have forgone the pursuit of a typical ideal of success to serve others, expecting nothing in return. This type of utter selflessless is nothing short of a gift from God. I hope that the patients we care for are as blessed by this hospital as I have been.



Home Sweet Home. At least for the next month.



This has been an exciting week on our ward as we began our highly anticipated plastic surgery service. we will be caring for a variety of patients, including cleft lip repairs, release of burn contractures, and tumor removals. It turns out that many of these patients are children, which is both fun and extremely challenging, as I am not a pediatric nurse. So far I have had several young patients who have suffered extensive burns to their upper extremities, resulting in the formation of scars that drastically impair mobility. In many of these burn cases, the injury has been from cooking, whether it was a hot oil spill or the cooking fire itself. I cringe to think of all the children I have observed here, frying various foods all along the streets of town. This daily task carries so much risk, and yet this is the only way to earn money and provide food. One patient told me she wants to move her fingers again so that she is able to take her exams and complete her schooling. She was injured 6 years again and has been unable to continue her education as a result. It will be a long and difficult journey for these patients, but I hope that the surgeries and lengthy therapies performed here will allow each individual to return to maximum functionality.



Prior to plastic surgery starting this week, life had been rather quiet on the ship. We sent most of our VVF patients home, not knowing what the future will hold for them, but praying they will remain dry and that they would continue to grow in knowledge of the Lord. After these discharges, the nurses on my ward were primarily doing extensive cleaning of the ward in preparation for plastics (a patient population with a high risk for infection). We have also been helping out with miscellaneous tasks throughout the ship. It has been very interesting to see how each department works together to provide quality treatment and care for the patients here.

 

Some of the patients we have discharged prior to plastics starting this week. I'll miss spending time with these humorous and beautiful women.  



In contrast to the idyllic atmosphere on the ship, there has been quite a bit of unrest throughout the country, limiting some of our activities off the ship. Although certain programs have been temporarily cancelled, I have still been able to participate in a few nearby activities. This week I served as a "security" for an eye screening for cataract patients. It is so incedible to me that we get to restore sight to so many patients, and yet there is still so much heartbreak in the process. There are just hundreds of people pushing to be treated, and we have to turn so many away. The screenings are often (nearly) out of control as there is such a great need from the population and we can only treat a limited number of people. It is so difficult for us to turn people away, and I cannot even imagine the desperation they must feel, as they will have no other options for medical care. It is not just an issue of not being able to afford the hospital bill. There is simply a complete lack of hospitals and viable treatment options here.

 I have also had the chance to visit a school for the deaf. It is wonderful to spend time with the students there, as it is the only place where my inability to speak the local language is not an issue. All the children here are so friendly and they love to just sit and play with you, regardless of the actual activity. There is also a place called the Hope Center, where discharged patients and families can stay if the patient will require follow up. It is so nice to visit with patients outside of the hospital. Seeing these patients thrive after surgery has brought me so much joy. I just love being a part of this whole process!



At the school for the deaf, playing a game of Jenga (a favorite here)


  

Doing crafts at the Hope Center