So what have I been up to the last 2 weeks...

I had the opportunity to go to an orphanage a couple weeks ago. I went with about 8 other people. There were about 25 toddlers at the orphanage, many of whom had been left in dumpsters as babies, some with signs around their necks reading "HIV +." I held one sick and malnourished boy the whole time who was too weak to stand. He held a cookie in his hand, but didn't have the energy to eat it. He got pee and snot all over me, and all he wanted was just to be held and loved. It broke my heart. So we had story time, played games, then we fed them. I was so glad that my guy was a good eater when I helped him. After lunch they were brought inside where each child was set on a little bowl and encouraged to relieve themselves. I'm not sure how well their system works, many of the kids had wet pants before they got to the bowls... It was quite an experience.

Then I started my night shifts. Let's just say those 4 nights were definitely a low point for me. You may have noticed that I have a new verse in my heading. My cousin Grace shared this verse with me, and it was such an encouragement to know that I could just cling to God. I was also very encouraged after talking to my parents. I started to realize during these night shifts that God did not intend for this to be an easy time for me. He is testing and refining me, and being so faithful in the process.

This past week I finally made it to the craft market (twice!). The first time I walked with some friends, and it took about 45 minutes. The second time I took a taxi with other friends. Here it is:

There were a bunch of different booths that sold exactly the same things (table cloths, necklaces, wooden carvings), and everyone yelled at you, saying "Please, let me show you my shop! I give you good price!" Needless to say, it got a little old. The craft market wasn't as busy as the main market which I also had the chance to experience. At this market there were aisles and aisles of batteries, underwear, sunglasses, chickens, goats.....you name it, they had it. I think it was like Cotonou's Meijer.

This past weekend I went to Grand Popo with some friends. I camped. Yes, camped. I went with a group of 5 girls and 1 guy. I was the only nurse in the bunch, the others work as teachers, in hospitality, in HR... We took a taxi (just a mini-van that we crammed 9 people in - a couple other people from Mercy Ships were going with a difference group, but rode with us) We left Saturday morning, and it took about 2 1/2 hours to get there. This is the van we took:

Here's some info about Grand Popo if you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Popo. So we set up our tents at the resort (it cost us $3 each to camp), then laid on the beach - it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! Saturday night we had dinner at the resort. The other girls just ordered chicken and fries, but I thought I should try something African. So I ordered calamari with curry. After waiting 1 1/2 hours (the electricity kept going out, so that may have had something to do with how quickly the food was cooked) I got a SLAB of squid. It was approximately 6" x 6" x 1". As soon as I put the first bite in my mouth I had a gag reflex. It was like chewing on a tire. Never in my life have I eaten something so vile. And I never will again. Here's some pics of the resort:

This is Jamie, she's from Arizona and works in hospitality.

Paul (from the U.K. - does something in the engine room), Jamie, and me.

Christina (from California, teacher), me, Haley (from Alabama, teacher)

Then on Sunday we hired a local guy to give us a tour on a canoe. It was so peaceful and serene. We went through a mangrove and saw a bunch of crabs, drank from a coconut, then he took us to a village called Hévé, which is a Voodoo village. Many of the people are Catholic but still practice Voodoo. It was so sad to walk through the village and know that the people knew nothing of the freedom, forgiveness, and love they could have in Jesus. I didn't get many pictures from the village because the people believe that if you take their picture you are stealing their soul. But here are a few from the outing:

The canoe we took, the guide (in white and blue) and the paddler (in red)

Crayfish! Caught by local fishermen, and kept in this basket.

The Voodoo village

A Voodoo god - the protector of the village.

We got back Sunday night, and I'm ready for another week!

Proposals and New Smells

I was going to start by saying I can't believe I've been here a week already. But that would be a lie. I can absolutely believe I've been here a week, it may have been the longest week of my life. It's had its ups and downs. Unfortunately I've come down with a cold. I guess it was inevitable, being in these close quarters. And I am thankful that it is only a cold.

The first day I was on the ward (Tuesday) I was proposed to. Now, I had been prepared for this. One of my roommates told me that whenever she goes out people constantly ask for her address and for her hand in marriage. So when one of the patients asked me if I would marry him and for my address I said "You don't even know me!" And he told me that he just felt a connection. When I refused he asked if I had sisters and if he could marry one of them. Quite different than how it's done in the U.S.

On Thursday one of the women went off to surgery and just left her 4 or 5 month old on her bed to wait for her. The baby started to cry so one of the other patients held her for a while until that patient had to leave. So there I was, needing to get stuff done but not quite as busy as the other nurses. I grabbed the baby and had the women help me get her on my back. She calmed down immediately! So I went about my day, baby in tow.

Most of the patients are joys to work with. I hardly every hear a complaint. I do occasionally make kids cry (twice daily dressing changes on your face are horrible!) but kids do what they are told. You tell them to take their medicine and they take it! No complaining! After hand-over from day shift to evening shift the day nurses have the opportunity to take the patients out on the deck to get some fresh air. They love this time! It's so fun to see the kids running around, and it's good for them because there are no windows in the wards. Nursing here is so different than what I am used to. We don't use IV pumps, we calculate drip rates! We transcribe all the medication orders and draw up the meds ourselves. No more pre-measured, patient labeled drugs from the pharmacy!

I have walked into town a couple times now. I take every opportunity I get to get off the ship. Although when I'm off I still feel the swaying.... Everything is new and different. The streets smell like fish and diesel. People sell everything from bras to pineapples to medications, carrying them on their heads. Some streets are just sand, some have cement brick sidewalks with huge missing bricks (which cars park on anyway, making you walk in the street). Many people stare and kids yell "Yovo! Yovo!" (white person). There is street food for sale because many people cannot afford to eat in the restaurants.

God is so good. He is providing so much for me - new friends, new experiences, quiet time to spend in prayer and reading, and an amazing way to help people with debilitating afflictions.

Thank you everyone for your prayers! Until next time...

Safe Arrival

Well, I've made it. Thank you God, and thank you everyone for your prayers. I will spare you ALL the boring flight details, but basically I left Chicago at 5:15 pm on Thursday and made it to Cotonou around 7:30 pm on Friday. As soon as I walked off the airplane I felt like I was breathing in water it was so humid. I have 2 words for the airport in Cotonou: total chaos. I think it's a miracle that I got my bags. There was one little conveyor belt for the baggage and everyone crammed up against it with their luggage carts, trying to shove everyone else out of their way. It took about an hour to get all of our stuff.

I met 7 other people headed to the ship on the flight from Paris, and we were greeted by Mercy Ships drivers in Cotonou. Trying to maneuver our way through the airport parking lot reminded me of the type of traffic jams that occur at sporting events - a very crammed lot with lots of shouting and honking. I give Daniel, the driver of the vehicle I was in, a lot of credit for not taking out any pedestrians or Zimmee Johns (little motorcycles that are EVERYWHERE). Many times I thought "This is it! Poor guy!"

We arrived at the ship (which is docked on the port) and as soon as I walked up the gangway and into the lobby I forgot for a second that I was actually on a ship. As I sit and type this I can just feel the slightest bit of rocking if I really pay attention.

So anyway, we were all checked in, got our badges (yes, I had to have my picture taken after traveling for over 24 hours), had dinner, and were shown our rooms. I live with 4 other girls and the room is set up like this: you open the door and straight away is the main hallway, the bathroom is immediately on your right, then there are 3 cells in a row also on your right. Each cell has a bunk bed, a closet, and a desk. It's quite small but very nice! I sleep in the first cell and currently I have it to myself. We are expecting to get one more roommate within the next couple weeks.

This morning the other newbies and I had a tour of the ship. It seems large, but everyone says it starts to feel very small after a few months. There is a cafe, a library, a fitness center, and a pool on the top (it's very small, I think it's mostly for kids). After that the Hospital Director took us on a little tour of Cotonou. We saw the Hospitality Center where patients can stay before and after surgery when they have no medical necessity to be on the ship. We went to 2 hotels where many crew members spend days off at the pools, and drove through a large market.

Well, I realized once I was on the plane that I forgot the charger for my camera battery and the cord that connects it to the computer so.....unless I can figure out how to jam the memory card into this card reader in the computer area (it ALMOST fits!) I won't have any pictures to share with you until I get back. And I will have very few. I don't think the battery lasts too long.

Church tomorrow, then unit orientation on Monday!

.....

30 minutes later: I went to my room and started complaining to my roommates about my camera troubles. One of them said "I have the same memory card, I'll show you how to upload your pictures!" and another said "My friend has the same camera, I'm sure you can use her battery charger!" So I'll add pics!

At the airport

My bedspace

The vehicle we got our tour in

M/V Africa Mercy

The hospitality center - notice the bedspace underneath the beds for a caregiver to sleep

Cooking food at the Hospitality Center

The market

Benin Marina Hotel