Thoughts about this week

I would like to present my random, scattered thoughts from the week:

“Kylie” is clearly not an African name.  Sometimes patients and their families try so hard to pronounce my name, it looks like it hurts.  So I’ve learned to respond to Kah-ree, Keeree, Keelee and Tante (meaning auntie), kissy sounds (not disrespectful on the wards, just a noise to get your attention) and snapping fingers (again, not terribly rude).  I take no offence to these various names because I’m probably butchering their names too. 

I am so inspired by the spirit of the people I get to meet here.  Every week there are opportunities to get involved in Mercy Ministries; it’s an awesome way for crew members to interact with the community.  A Land Rover full of people go for a morning or afternoon to a prison, an orphanage, a hospital or a school, spending time with people and loving on them.  Last week, I visited the pediatric ward of a local hospital.  I felt so sad to see the lack of resources there, but the spirit of the children and their families is incredible.  The mamas were sharing their food with one another and the children mustered the strength to play, even when they didn't look very well.  This week I went to Lazare’s Orphanage.  A Guinean man, Lazare, and his wife support the orphanage.  We visited in the morning, so while the older children were in school, we got to spend time with the little ones.  Just like kids everywhere, they just want to play and snuggle.  I really enjoyed spending time with a little girl who appears to have Cerebral Palsy.  She is learning to walk with an itty bitty walker and has quite the spirit.  I was helping her ride around on a tricycle and when another boy took it and rode off, she chased him.  Although she doesn’t have the motor coordination like the other kids, she set her mind to catching him and did it, step by step.  As you can imagine, I received way more from the kids than I could’ve possibly given. 

There is a card game called “American.” Most of the patients know how to play the game and its pretty fun.  In fact, I played it with some patients for an hour and a half at the Hope Center early in the week.  The funny thing is, I have yet to find an American that has ever played it before coming here.

Living and working with people from around the world, my use of the English language has changed.  I’ve learned to enjoy “a wee cuppa tea” and have been caught describing things in “heaps.”  Sometimes on the ward, I use very basic English to communicate with patients who either speak Krio (a language similar to English) or know “small small English”.  For example, I might ask, “You poo today?” or say, “You walka walka in hall.”  Of course these phrases are complete with hand motions (you can only imagine) and typically patients know what I’m talking about. 

My French sucks. Just when I think my French is improving, I am reminded that it is not.  The other day, a patient asked me a question, and feeling very proud of myself for mastering a few French words, I brought him a fresh glass of water.  He was grateful, but still wanted to know what time it was.  Of course the whole scene was witnessed by a day worker, a chaplain and two other patients... we all had a good laugh! 

Goodbyes also suck. There are some amazing people on this ship, and when they leave, it really stinks.    While I hate to say goodbye, I have some wonderful new friends.   

I don’t appreciate what I have been given.  Last Sunday I went to God is Hope Church with some friends and a couple from Ghana who have worked for Mercy Ships for over 16 years.  The church supports an orphanage, and the service is held in a classroom that is part of the orphanage.  The service was lovely, lots of singing, praising God and preaching.  There were about 50-60 people in attendance and the pastor introduced 8 members that had been baptized the day before.  In the beginning of the service, the pastor was pleased to show the congregation the newest part of the church.  He asked two members to come to the front and with a bit of a dramatic flair, they pulled off a white sheet to display two new stands for offerings.  They were square boxes, made of plywood with legs, and painted red.  A piece of computer paper was taped to each, noting which fund the offerings boxes would go toward.  To my eyes, they were unfinished and nothing special.  To the pastor’s eyes, they were a total blessing from God.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Clearly, the congregation is thankful to God in all circumstances.  They recognize what He has given them as a blessing.  Sometimes I have my blinders on, not realizing when God blesses me.  And man, God has blessed my short life.  Those stupid offering boxes have been on my mind all week, and are serving as a reminder to ‘give thanks in all circumstances.’  I pray that I can bring that attitude of thanksgiving and appreciation into the upcoming weeks.

It was a good week!  There is so much to learn and so many opportunities to get to know incredible people.  I love it.  Right now, I am working four night shifts and then hopefully I’ll be taking a little overnight trip with some friends.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers, it means so much to me! 

  

Here are some pictures of my visit to Lazare's Orphanage. I love the one on the left... please note the toddler with a box over his head.  This little ham also wandered around totting a washed out Vaseline container, proving yet again, cheap toys are the best!  The center photo is my friend who is learning to walk; with a little help, she was in the pursuit of the boy who took her tricycle. 

Doesn't it look like an awesome way to spend a morning?!