I'm Here!

Hey everyone! I arrived safely to Accra, Ghana with luggage and all :) These last couple days have been full of adjustments to a new ministry area, ship and African life- so hopefully you'll be able to enjoy some of the snapshots of each area. First of all, this is for all of you that gave me toys, Christmas hats, candy and other treats for the kids :) My luggage was stuffed to the max!

Sunday I arrived late into the night and was greeted in my room by 5 other sleeping roommates and lots of little notes on my bed from my new roomies, my ward supervisor, hospitality crew etc. The first couple of days were packed with orientation meetings about work, the ship and maritime rules. That, along with just trying to find my way around the ship was enough for a day's work. Small corridors, various decks, steep spiral staircases... it's just very easy to get lost :) Yesterday I expanded my navigational skills by adding the Mediterranean lounge to my cabin and dining hall.

Yesterday was the first day I worked in the medical ward on board the ship. It is quite the place... 44 beds all approximately 6 inches apart or less. Each nurse takes care of 6-7 patients, and I've had both adults and peds. As for the supplies we have- everything has been donated, so it can be a very interesting selection :) The patient acuity is fairly low, Mercy Ships focuses on the poorest that have treatable conditions. I wish I could have you all meet some of these patients. One of the things that was so neat yesterday was my friend "Abe". He was left with a huge gaping hole on the left side of his face from a chronic infection. His face was completely disfigured. The doctors were able to take a skin graft and reconstruct the left side. He will always suffer from the effects of the infection, but his mouth is now functional and he is so excited. I've never met some one so thankful or excited about doing his own mouth care! :) From sitting with the patients, I have loved learning about their lives, their families, and their experiences on the ship. There is so much joy in that little ward- as we often times have music playing or movies going on. Eight little kids will be piled on a bed as their parents watch on from behind to the Jesus video or other faith based film.

Today I was able to go on a tour of the different ministries Mercy Ships is involved in off ship. They range from building maternity and youth clinics to daily dental and eye care clinics and my favorite...the snail farm. Yes...here it is important to teach the locals how to raise the large snails in Ghana so they can be sold or used for food.... but it's going to take me awhile to get used to that idea- lol!

Here are a couple pics of the clinics including: maternity, youth and dental. :

(Me, Amy -from Oregon-, and Kat-from Australia-)

Thank you all so much for the prayers and encouragements you have sent. The Lord is good- and in the midst of all the change and newness, my favorite time so far has been crawling into my bunk with my Bible and journal to spend time with Him. It has helped me to take a step back and thank Him for this time and to bring before Him my thoughts about the day. Over the next couple days I'll be on my own in the ward- please pray for clarity and organization of thought :) Please pray that I'd take opportunities aside to sit and talk with the patients as I go through the day, and that the Lord would help them to understand His amazing love for them. Love you all and praying for you daily~

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23