In anticipation . . .

This was reblogged from "Dr. Michelle On Board".  Enjoy!

Three little children are tucked up in our hospital beds. Our waiting is over, and tomorrow theirs will be too. The wait for surgery they never thought they would have. Some are too young to understand. They are simply smiling, enjoying the attention of the nurses, playing Jenga, or blowing bubbles. But their parents know what the future holds. Their eyes hold the wait of expectation. Anticipation of hope, waiting to be realised. Is this really true? They almost dare not believe it. Their child with crooked legs, or twisted feet is about to be given the chance of living a normal life. A free surgery, that will free them from growing up crippled. A future that looks different simply because they will look different.

 Eyes and hearts are full of expectation tonight. And it is not just the patients and their care givers. My heart is full too. I love what I do. I love giving out of what I have been given, to play a part in transforming the lives of adults and children here in Africa.

IMAGINE DAY ONE . . .

And there's more to come!

What happens when . . .

. . . you take four girls with two shoe boxes and head to the Dollar Store?

 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD!

And that was just part of the fun they had at Micah's birthday party yesterday!

Screenings have begun . . .

This year, Mercy Ships has implemented a new screening process -- the reasons behind this are many  - but it mainly comes down to best practices and the way to best serve the country of Madagascar. Smaller screening events will now take place throughout the entire field service -- the first of which began this past week. 

Here are a few pictures that were taken.  What a joy it is to think that these pictures represent thousands of Malagasy lives that will be forever changed in the coming weeks and months . . .

On Monday, patients will be admitted to the hospital, and on Tuesday the first surgeries will take place.

Happy 15th Birthday, Micah!

I VOTED!

at 7:45 a.m. this morning and I was the only one there!

THE MITTEN

Do you remember the story, "The Mitten" by Jan Brett, about a little boy who lost his mitten and all sorts, shapes and sizes of animals crawled into it?  I lost my mitten a few weeks back while I was out running and while I was pretty sure where I'd lost it, I never had the time during day light hours to go back and search . . .  this morning after the time change, however, it was light enough to look, but it wasn't where I thought it would be, full of all sorts of animals.  Some one had already found it and hung it up on a tree branch at the end of the trail.  And now I have my mitten!