I Got It From My Mama...

So, this evening, I did something a little different. And, even though I was a bit apprehensive at first - I ended up having a blast...and am more than likely to do it again.

So, a few weeks back, I noticed on our rolling announcements (slides that run continuously on our closed circuit channel) that they were looking for people who can crochet and knit to come and volunteer at the Hospitality Center.

For those of you who are wondering what the hospitality center is...it's a place off the ship where we have patients...both pre- and post-operation patients. These patients usually live far away from the ship and may either need more time to recuperate or have more appointments to make on-ship, but don't need the medical attention of the hospital. I hope that made sense. It sounds a bit jumbled in my head.

Anyhow, anytime I contemplate doing something new and different (seeing as how I hadn't had time to venture over to the Hospitality Center yet)...I get a bit anxious about things. This time around, I wondered if I knew enough to teach the patients. I worried about how I would communicate how to do the craft to someone else, seeing as how I barely speak any French and can never really remember how to even say "Hello" in Ewe...not to mention the whole host of other local languages and dialects that are spoken. All that aside...I also wondered if they would like me and be receptive to this 'Yovo'.

And of course, when in doubt...try to get others to do it with you! So, I ended up finding 3 other friends to accompany me and help teach knitting and crochet to the people at the Hospitality Center. Hannah and Sarah know how to knit, and Aimee and I crochet.

At 6 pm, we met up and caught a shuttle to the Hospitality Center (There are Mercy Ships vehicles [aka shuttles] that go there often over the course of the day, usually to help bring our discharged patients to their new temporary Mercy Ships home off the ship.). It wasn't too long of a ride, but definitely bumpy...and it was amazing to see what a day of rain did to the roads here in Lomé (Welcome to the rainy season.).

As we drove into the compound, we could see the tent where the patients hang out outside...along with so many familiar faces from the hospital. It was nice to see those faces, and I think that those faces were happy to see ours, too. Stepping out from the back of the Land Rover, I got attacked by little ones, even having little Aissa give me a huge bear hug and then proceed to hang herself off of my body, wrapping her legs around mine (making it near impossible to move or to even bend over and pick her up properly.).

We got ushered into the Hospitality Center by one of our fellow Mercy Shippers there, Ellen. She gave us a quick tour of the place, since it was my first time there...and then showed us the craft room where we gathered supplies, were given a few quick and brief instructions, then sent outside to mingle with the patients.

Each of us set out in search of someone, anyone to teach. Aimee got some quality one-on-one time with a lady sitting off by herself. I didn't get very far into the tent when I sat down with some mamas and pulled out yarn and crochet needles. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by people - mamas, young girls, little kiddos, and even a few males who wanted to see what I was doing and learn a bit of it for themselves. I didn't really know how to tell them what we were doing...but 'the see what I am doing, then do what I am doing' method seemed to work for a bit. Luckily enough, one of our day volunteers at the Hospitality Center came over and started translating for me. It was a bit of a life saver. I was really getting into it and having fun...when we were notified that it was dinner time for everyone.

Resigning that we should probably let them all eat, we gathered the left over yarn and needles, and packed everything back into the Center. Even though my new friends there didn't master the art of crochet yet, I got lots of hugs and thanks for my efforts anyways.

And that to me, my friends...is some time well spent.

Thanks to my mom who taught me how to crochet when I was a little girl. Now, I'm just hoping to pass a little bit of what I know on. You know, pay it forward and all.