Hope Centre

Today my group

Had the opportunity to walk to Hope Centre where we had the most delightful time playing with patients and their families!  We started off with an art project (don't think we'll be painting again!), did a couple of "Sharable Parables" with an absolutely awesome interpreter (most Sierra Leonese speak English or Krio) and then played with chalk, bubbles and a beach ball.  Here's me  and a bit of Lawrence Welk . . . 

While we were at Hope Centre, Sam's group had an equally good time down on Ward C.  Margo (:

We're off to a great start . . .

Has it already been three days?  They've been busy and full!  When crew first arrive on the ship, they are literally given a TON of paperwork to complete!  I'm glad to say we got ours in so quickly that Sam (I do not drink coffee!) got two free cups from the Starbucks Cafe!  Monday went great with the kids - Tuesday even better!  Here's a great shot from the Bureh Town Beach - check out the rip tide in the background . . . Margo (:

Guess what I got . . .

Unfortunately, none of my earrings made it to Africa!  I do know I had packed them, but I'm not sure if I put them in my travel bag or back in a drawer at home.  If they're at home, I'll get them back shortly.  If they were in my carry on, they're gone forever!  So today, my dear friend Sally invited me to her cabin.  She's returning to England permanently on Thursday and offered me several pairs of earrings - I took four of the most fun along with a matching necklace!  I won't have to wear just my pearls!  (Is that vanity?)  Margo (:

We're happy to report . . .

That we've spent much of the past thirty hours preparing for summer program.  Jamie and Luba (both USA) will take charge of the preschoolers, Melissa (Australia) and I will take on the 2-5th graders and Sam and Annelies (Holland) will run with the sixth graders on up.  After planning today, we were able to walk to Hope Centre where patients are strengthened prior to surgery and able to recuperate after surgery prior to returning home.  The walk itself showed us the extreme poverty of the poor in the port area, and it just reminded us again of how truly blessed we are.  And while Hope Centre doesn't look like much by American standards, we met a little boy who's feet faced backward when he arrived - and today he walked up to us.  It is a life changing place!  We'll be taking our groups there twice a week to do art projects, play games and visit.  We are almost ready for Monday and the start of summer program - one more permission slip to write!  Until next time . . . Margo (:  

2010 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

Only in Africa . . . Winner of the 2010 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year happened to be in the dining room of the Africa Mercy last night and we were right there with him representing the fine state of Minnesota!  Here we are with Minnesota Viking Madieu Williams . . . 

He was to arrive at 5:30 p.m. while we were on a ship tour.  Fortunately for us, he arrived right on African time - 9:30 p.m.!  Margo (:

Oh, what a trip . . .

Greetings to you from the good ship Mercy currently docked in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa!  We arrived safely late last night after a series of . . . uh, amazing adventures . . . God times . . . it certainly didn't go as planned!  We arrived at the Minneapolis airport three hours early because our tickets didn't match our flights and we wanted to make sure we made our flight from Brussels to Sierra Leone as it only happens twice a week.  Fortunately, less than an hour later we were on our way to Chicago.  Unfortunately, without Luba!  They wanted the four of us out of there before the weather went bad!  Fortunately, we caught Luba coming off our originally scheduled flight in Chicago.  Unfortunately, Jamie was no where to be found!  Fortunately, we found Jamie, Annelies, Rebekah, Tammy, Marjam, Nancy, Bart and Ruth in Brussels!  Unfortunately, it was a long flight.  Fortunately, we got to the ferry early.  Unfortunately, it was running late.  Fortunately, we arrived at the ship at 9:00 p.m. with all of our luggage!  Unfortunately, Jesse wasn't the chef that night and supper was a little less than delicious.  Fortunately, the Koontz family requested that we cabin sit while they were back in Washington State.  Unfortunately, our cabin is full of their stuff.  Fortunately, they have four kids so Matt and Micah each have their own room.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to bed until LATE last night.  Fortunately, we were able to sleep in today.  Starting work at 2:00 p.m. was a wise move!  We'll work all day tomorrow and when we're done, we'll write and tell you what exciting event happened tonight!  Until then . . . Margo (:

Our Final Run

Annie and I took our final run together this morning (at least until the end of July!).  I marveled at all the green grass, the trees swaying in the wind, the beautiful flowers and I realized that for the next month I would be running through traffic, surrounded by people, in heat and humidity and I thought - bring it on!  Off to pack . . . Margo (: