Not this year . . .

We found out maybe last week, that for the second time since 2003 (2003 being the first we're aware of), Mercy Ships will not be having a Summer Program.  This summer we will not be joining the great white ship . . . 

that brings hope and healing to so many . . .

and yes, we are saddened . . . but we rejoice in the fact that as Mercy Ships operates under their new surgical schedule, they will be able to reach so many more in Africa, bringing life changing surgeries that will enable the blind to see, the lame to walk and to give those without hope, hope.

Nothing is Wasted

Song by Jason Gray/Jason Ingram/Doug McKelvey

The hurt that broke your heart

And left you trembling in the dark

Feeling lost and alone

Will tell you hope’s a lie

But what if every tear you cry

Will seed the ground where joy will grow

Nothing is wasted

Nothing is wasted

In the hands of our Redeemer

Nothing is wasted

It’s from the deepest wounds

That beauty finds a place to bloom

And you will see before the end

That every broken piece is

Gathered in the heart of Jesus

And what’s lost will be found again

Nothing is wasted

Nothing is wasted

In the hands of our Redeemer

Nothing is wasted

When hope is more than you can bear

And it’s too hard to believe it could be true

And your strength fails you half way there

You can lean on me and I’ll believe for you

Give it time, you will believe it too

Nothing is wasted

Nothing is wasted

Sometimes we are waiting

In the sorrow we have tasted

But joy will replace it

Nothing is wasted

In the hands of our Redeemer

Nothing is wasted

http://www.rabbitroom.com/2013/02/song-of-the-week-jason-gray-nothing-is-wasted-remix/

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We were on "60 Minutes'!

Yes, it's true!  Matt and I were on "60 Minutes" tonight!  At the very end of the Mercy Ships episode, when they pulled up the gangway as the ship left Togo, Matt and I were right there on Deck 7 with all the children - waving!  Did you see us?  

When the episode goes on-line tomorrow (http://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes/), we're going to go try to blow up the frames of the ship leaving to see if you can ACTUALLY see us because we REALLY were there!

We hope you enjoyed the episode as much as we did and that you enjoyed your time the on the good ship Mercy where the blind see and the lame walk and those without hope, find hope.

The Red Curtain

Hasanatu 8 days post-operative.

Photo by Debra Bell
 

In a nation with 59% illiteracy it should not be too surprising to find that Guinean society is primarily built upon symbols. Thus, in Guinea, (as throughout much of Africa) symbols are a powerful medium for communication.  Yet those of us from the word-saturated West are, for the most part, oblivious to this fundamental difference in our two cultures.

For example among the Pla people of Benin, offering a guest a glass of water is much more than just good manners. If you are offered a glass of water in a Pla home, your host is wanting to communicate, "I am at peace with you."  If you decline the water, (perhaps you are quite justifiably worried about the possible after effects) in essence, you are saying, "I do not accept your offer of peace; I am at war with you." As you can well imagine, uncovering the deep level meaning of everyday gestures is very important for us as we work among people from traditional African societies.

The other day, I happened to be in the Maxillofacial/ENT ward while Dr. Gary was making rounds.  As he stopped at Hasanatu's bed, one of the nurses mentioned that whenever she used the privacy curtain to change Hasanatu's hospital gown, she became visibly agitated.  Being naturally curious, I asked the nurse where the curtain in question was.  She pointed across the room towards a  full length curtain hanging from the deck head by magnetic hooks.  It was a deep red-wine color.  I turned to our local Fula translator and asked him if the color red had any symbolic value in the Fula culture.  "No," he said. He couldn't think of anything.  I asked him to ask Hasanatu. He quickly translated, but she looked confused.  "She doesn't know," he said. 

Could it be that when her bed was shrouded in that long red curtain, it made her feel isolated from the other patients…cut off from community; alone and vulnerable in a very strange place?  Maybe that was it.  Maybe...

I turned to the translator one last time and probed a little deeper, "What color do the Fula wear when attending a funeral?"  Without blinking an eye he replied, "Why, red, of course."

Good to know.  Good to know.

by Susan Parker

Oh, Happy Day . . .

Since August 31, 2012, my poor right ankle has been in a boot or a cast or a brace of some sort - until today!  I am FREE!  FREE to NOT wear my brace in the house, FREE to NOT wear my brace at the pool, FREE to use my brain when I'm outside (ice = brace!).  Here's a look at the ankle . . . 

   

Ponder this . . .

“In Africa, we have time, but not hours. In the West, you have hours, but not time.”

Fridays are now cancelled . . .

Work last Friday was a bit challenging.  After Berk (one of my two-year-olds) fell off the step and went under and was rescued by our lifeguard Ana, he managed to throw up over all of my equipment closing the leisure pool.  Since we could still have lessons in the lap pool, I went back to the break/storage room to get clean equipment at the same time D'wan (our larger-than-me male lifeguard) slipped and crashed to the floor.  After rescuing D'wan (who just injured an ankle), all I wanted to do was eat chocolate!  

Fast forward to today - we couldn't have two bad Fridays in a row, could we?  I was in the locker room putting on my ankle brace to leave the pool when this sweet lady from water ex crashed to the floor.  I got to make the call, "Someone call 911!"  When the paramedics arrived, they determined that she actually hadn't injured anything, but she was left with a nice bruise on her forehead and both knees.  And once again, all I wanted to do was eat chocolate!

So until further notice, Fridays are now cancelled because I've eaten way too much chocolate and I need to find a different stress release!