Our house has water (sometimes), electricity (sometimes), and i'm going to wash my clothes in a bucket. We have internet when one of the guys rigs a phone card to work on the computer so i'm not sure when I'll be back on line, but thanks for reading all this.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Uganda
Driving away from the airport, I knew I was back in Africa. The heat, smells of fires burning, people lining the streets selling everything from tires to bread, and the red dust all combined for a very happy girl. The first night I was in a bus taxi, and riding motorcycle taxis and trying to understand a language i have never heard. This week is language classes ( I can count to 5) and learning how to navigate because on Monday I'm going to be making my way to work on my own. I guess that sounds scary but for me i'm more worried about Thursday when I have to go to the market, buy food, and prepare a meal for the entire house. Did I mention they cook over coals and fire outside? I can imagine my mom is laughing reading this.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Goobye weekend
Friday night began the goodbye weekend. Just like last year, it was started with an ipod full of oldies but goodies music that everyone in the car sang very loudly to. The night took us to O"Mally's pub and had good food and good times.
While we were waiting for our food a waiter came out carrying a giant wooden hippo. He said that it was only for Maggie. The hippo appeared in the ship shop weeks and weeks ago and I wanted him from the begining. I named him fred and would go in and try to sneak him out and at one point got in a race, and wrestling match with Johan to get him. A group of friends got him and have secretly been plotting (how any of you kept a secret for weeks is beyond my understanding) to give him to me when I leave. By far the best present EVER! He went through several name changes, but the original stuck so Fred it is. 
The rest of Saturday was spent watching movies. 9 of us set off in a land rover to Aberdeen to find a movie theatre we had heard about. None of us had ever seen a theatre in West Africa, so we were all curious. It turned out to be very nice with popcorn, soda, and icecream. The movie was Beverly Hills chijuaua, so that was a disaster but a bad movie gave us something to laugh at. Then we made our way back to the ship and got stuck in traffic for over an hour. What is there to do when stuck in traffic? Well, listen to music, sing really loud, and buy food from people that walk by selling it of course. Plantain chips, chocolate biscuit cups and prawn chips to be exact.
Saturday finished out with a movie with the normal Saturday night group, and then another movie with some other friends later. I can't remember the last time that I watched 3 movies in one day.
Sunday, I started to panic about not having anything packed so I spent the morning packing and getting distracted until Hettie came and got me organized. I put a box together to donate to our ship botique but most of it was taken by various people that stopped by the room to chat while I was packing. Actually, they probably came to see what they could get out of the box before I took it to the botique. Last night was the last card game of phase 10 and hanging out in mid-ships waiting for our friend Angie to arrive back on the ship from home. It was a busy weekend spent with wonderful friends. Thanks to all of you for making goodbye weekend fun and often times hilarious. I will miss all of you very much!
Yesterday when I was packing, most peoples concern was for Fred and how he was going to handle the trip. 11 pounds is a lot to try to carry as hand luggage so in the suitcase snug and wrapped up goes Fred. Thank you to everyone involved for the wonderful present.
On Saturday morning several of us went out in the pouring rain for breakfast at the Crown Bakery. Even with a taxi we were soaked by the time we got there but the laughs and breakfast were worth the wet clothes.
The rest of Saturday was spent watching movies. 9 of us set off in a land rover to Aberdeen to find a movie theatre we had heard about. None of us had ever seen a theatre in West Africa, so we were all curious. It turned out to be very nice with popcorn, soda, and icecream. The movie was Beverly Hills chijuaua, so that was a disaster but a bad movie gave us something to laugh at. Then we made our way back to the ship and got stuck in traffic for over an hour. What is there to do when stuck in traffic? Well, listen to music, sing really loud, and buy food from people that walk by selling it of course. Plantain chips, chocolate biscuit cups and prawn chips to be exact.
Saturday finished out with a movie with the normal Saturday night group, and then another movie with some other friends later. I can't remember the last time that I watched 3 movies in one day.
Sunday, I started to panic about not having anything packed so I spent the morning packing and getting distracted until Hettie came and got me organized. I put a box together to donate to our ship botique but most of it was taken by various people that stopped by the room to chat while I was packing. Actually, they probably came to see what they could get out of the box before I took it to the botique. Last night was the last card game of phase 10 and hanging out in mid-ships waiting for our friend Angie to arrive back on the ship from home. It was a busy weekend spent with wonderful friends. Thanks to all of you for making goodbye weekend fun and often times hilarious. I will miss all of you very much!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Vitalis Chronicles, White Shores
Sometimes there are things that you don't picture yourself doing in Africa (besides living in a big white ship). Last Wednesday I attended a launch for a book written by one of my friends. Every land rover was booked out in anticipation for this event and the crew were all clean and polished as we made our way through surprisingly not to bad Freetown traffic. Earlier that day I had purchased the book from Amazon.com (shameless plug) and had read the first few chapters before having to leave. I was already hooked. Listening to the live reading and finding out that more excitement was to come had me hurrying back to the ship to read the rest. During lunch breaks and late into the past two nights I've been reading White Shores and just finished it. My head is full of vivid images of the characters and I can not wait to read the next two books in the trilogy. If you know me, or have ever seen my room, you know that I love books and this is one that I'm going to read again. Anyone that is interested can purchase the book on e-reader/kindle or paperback from Amazon.com and also Barnes and noble.com
Next
Since my replacement phlebotomist came to the ship today, I guess my time here is almost finished. So I've made a list of the things that come next.
1)decide where to live
2)decide where to work
3)learn how to scuba dive
Well, there are a few things jumping around in my head that I've decided not to share with anyone just yet, but this should prove that the future is very undecided.
However, in one year this giant white ship will be sailing towards Guinea and I think I'd like to be on it. My goal is to finish an outreach. All the way through from begining to the end. Until then maybe have a few adventures :)
1)decide where to live
2)decide where to work
3)learn how to scuba dive
Well, there are a few things jumping around in my head that I've decided not to share with anyone just yet, but this should prove that the future is very undecided.
However, in one year this giant white ship will be sailing towards Guinea and I think I'd like to be on it. My goal is to finish an outreach. All the way through from begining to the end. Until then maybe have a few adventures :)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
I need Africa more than Africa needs me
I borrowed this from Mocha club website, but it says so much that is in my heart.
When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day.
The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.
My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.
I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.
The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.
My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.
I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.
Photos of a Great Weekend
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| Chimpanzees at the sactuary |
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| Sharon, Alex, Sarah, and me hiking to the falls |
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| Charlotte Falls |
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| The best trivia team! |
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| Word of Life Church where two of my translators attend |
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| Helga and Florence |
15 minutes
Every day I go to the admissions tent at 1pm. During the day the patients have had vitals taken, seen the dr, and answered a thousand questions before being admitted for surgery. My translators and I have a good system and the patients flow right through. Of course every once in awhile something random happens. Yesterday was strange because I had 12 patients and 11 were children. While drawing blood not one of them cried. Today two of the patients were gone when we went to draw the blood. This is kind of strange and several of us went to investigate. The two men were tired of sitting and left to go get sweets. Grown men. The children were still there. Sitting exactly where they were supposed to be, but the men took off. It was strange then but seems kind of funny now. I was irritated that they were wasting my time and stood under the tent fuming. Then a tiny little hand grabbed mine. The little girl was one of the patients being admitted for surgery tomorrow. Even though I had drawn her blood earlier she still wanted a hug from me and that is kind of unusual. We spent the next 15 minutes skipping around the dock, throwing rocks into the giant rain puddle, and playing ring around the rosy with another boy. The little boy had surgery months ago and comes back for therapy in the tent next to admissions. He walked up to me and pointed to his arm and said "you juk me" in krio that is basically that I stabbed him. It amazes me that months later he remembers that I drew his blood. We tested out his improved legs as he begged me to run faster around the dock. If all had gone to plan, I wouldn't have stopped outside to play. I would have done my job and missed out on the best 15 minutes of my day.
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