Wee Word Wednesday - Hula Hoop

The last two Saturdays, we've had a hula hoop in our box of toys to bring to the orphanage, Maison Bethel. Now, I don't mean to brag...but once upon a time, I used to be a hula hoop champion.

I've successfully taught a few of the kids there (including my little friend, Veronica or Vero for short) how to hula hoop. I also showed them a few other tricks and fun stuff that you can do with a hula hoop. It's been a blast from the past teaching them how to do these things!

(All photos courtesy of Dr. Leo Cheung)

Wee Word Wednesday - Getting around...

Let's just say, that I've had some pretty interesting adventures just trying to get around here in West Africa. These pictures give you just a small idea of what we see and go through in our travels...

Wee Word Wednesday - MIA

Now, often times, I know that MIA is an acronym used for "missing in action". And while that still does apply, I'd like to also note that it could stand for "missing in Africa".

Some of you may be wondering what I am going on about...but, yesterday, Miriam went on vacation for 3 weeks...effectively leaving me as the only pharmacist on board...and kind of the only one in the pharmacy.

Not that I begrudge her going on vacation...it's a whopper of a wedding dash across countries that she's doing...it just means that I miss her.

Hope you have a fabulous time away, Miriam! But, I'll be a bit selfish and say that I am looking forward to your return. :-)

Wee Word Wednesday - VVF

The beginning of the month marked the start of VVF...

There is lots of celebration around the ladies that are brought here on the ship for surgery.

When their surgeries are over, and declared a success (meaning that they dry and no longer leaking urine), a dress

ceremony is held. They start off in another room, where they are given a new dress, a clean dress, a dress that was never touched by the constant leak of urine. They get their makeup done, and a headdress

placed upon their heads.

The ceremony then begins with...yes, lots of singing and dancing. They come down the corridor in the Oak Fountain Hospital, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. And of course, we, the Mercy Shippers are there, to join in with them in song and dance.

We are there to hear their stories...

...stories of being exiled from their villages and communities, stories of heartbreak over the loss of a baby through difficult labor, stories of being abandoned by friends, family, and husbands.

But, in the end, theirs is not a story to end in sorrow. Theirs is a story to end with the chance of life, and life abundant. All thanks to a simple operation done here on the ship.

Wee Word Wednesday - Knitting

Remember how I told you about that Tuesday night thing that I do down at the Hospitality Center? Well...it looks like maybe, they're picking up what we're putting down...

Thanks to one of our photographers here on board, Tom Bradley, for capturing these shots and showing us that our efforts and our time spent with the patients at the hospitality center are not in vain.

In other news, just read an update on one of our patients, Aissa. If you all could stand in the gap and pray for this little one, I would be ever so grateful.

Wee Word Wednesday - Pharmacy Notes

Not going to lie to you...some times, working behind the scenes, especially in a place like this - where so much emphasis is placed on the life-changing surgeries that people receive, it's easy to feel unappreciated. I am sure that goes to say about any behind the scenes job or ministry. (No worries, I am planning on writing more about this later.)

However, this all too often can be just a perception, and not the truth or the heart of the matter. I am reminded of this when I get notes like these on the pharmacy door:


It's nice to be reminded every now and again, that your job (and likewise, your ministry) does matter. And that, in spite of what you think or how you feel...it is appreciated. :-)

Wee Word Wednesday - Incineration...

Ever wonder what happens to medications when they are no good? Ever wanted to know how they are destroyed?

Well...lucky for you, you have to wonder no longer! Now, there are many ways to denature and destroy medication...but, here on the ship, we do it by way of incineration. Tonight, Miriam and I had the opportunity to incinerate LOTS of medication.

First, we had to pack all the medication to be destroyed into brown paper bags. This makes it easier to place in the incinerator, without things melting to it...or something like that. Then, we filled a drum full of those paper bags...which then got lowered down to Deck 2 (the Engine Room) from Deck 3 (in the Hospital).

This is the incinerator. Exciting, no?

You can't see it, but the incinerator is reading about 840 degrees Celcius...which equals about 1544 degrees Fahrenheit for all of you who may operate in that temperature measurement. All in all...HOT!

Wee Word Wednesday - AFM Film Festival

This past Saturday, we had a film festival here on the Africa Mercy. It was an opportunity for the crew members to get their creative juices flowing, and show the rest of the crew what they can do. It was also a "black-tie" event...and it was really cool seeing everyone all dressed up! Don't get me wrong, I love living in scrubs and slippers, but I think that we all clean up pretty nice.

Hannah and I just before heading up to partake in the night

The lovely ladies that I went to Ghana with...quite a bit of a difference from our last group photo!

These are my friends...they won Best Film at the Film Festival!

:-)

Wee Word Wednesday - Weekends

These past two weekends have been amazing...

I've had the chance to return to Ghana during the first weekend of May...only this time do to an all girls hiking trip to Wli Waterfalls, the largest waterfalls in West Africa.

(Right: The upper fall that we hiked to on Saturday;
Left: The lower falls, which is an easy 30 minute walk from the town)

(Right: The girls at the upper falls, after our long, but rewarding hike there;
Left: Us again, but this time on Sunday, in front of our mean green taxi-bus thing, before heading back to the ship.)

This past weekend ended up being a lot more relaxing than anticipated...but it was definitely welcomed. A few friends and I headed east of Togo this time, to the country of Benin. We spent the weekend in a small town called Possotome on Lake Aheme. Here, we just chilled, and spent a morning learning how to fish from the villagers. Needless to say...if we had to fish for our lives, pretty sure that we'd starve...



Now, don't get me wrong...this isn't how I normally spend my weekends here. But, sometimes, it's nice to get away. However...it's always great to be back. :-)

Wee Word Wednesday - Blood Connections

Remember when I told you two months ago about me giving blood?

Now, I'd love to share a few pictures of the patient that received that blood.

Meet Lawson...

This is what Lawson looked like before the surgery. He had a rather large, bilateral ameloblastoma.

Now, this is Lawson a few weeks post recovery.

He will still have a few more surgeries to go to complete his facial reconstruction...

but, the difference initially is still astounding!

(To read more about Lawson's story and a few of our other patient's stories...

check out my friend, Naomi's blog...)

On not so medically related notes...

My parents have been really cute in sending me cards and magnets...

one was featured as my first Wee Word Wednesday...

Here are the latest two to make it to me on the Africa Mercy.

Wee Word Wednesday - Maison Bethel

Welcome to Maison Bethel, the orphanage that I got to every other Saturday with other Mercy Shippers involved in Mercy Ministries...

There are about 35 kids there, most within the age range of 3-8 years, although there are a few who are younger and a few who are older.

This is the big room, where we usually have story time, share a bible story or a bible verse and do activities...

This is what the inside of one of the rooms the kids live in look like.

After our indoor activities, we usually head outside for free play.

Jenga and Memory are popular games to play.

Playing with bubbles seems to be an endless favorite...

Here's a few of the kids with the bears that we gave out to them last Saturday.

The group of Mercy Shippers and the kids at Maison Bethel from two Saturdays ago.

Bonus pic...

I know that it is Thursday, and I usually post picture(s) on Wednesday.

This picture was going to be my Wee Word Wednesday for this week...

until Micah had his noodle idea.

And, since I am very thankful for what I received, I thought that I would share anyways.

This little guy come to me all the way from Calgary, Alberta.

The kitty is still nameless...and ideas?

Wee Word Wednesday - Noodle Fun?

This week's photos aren't really for those who have great gag reflexes...

Going in one way...

The interim...

And coming out...

Micah tried to get others to do it too...but they weren't successful.

We chalked it up to the ramen noodles being too soft...

Maybe next week...spaghetti noodles!

Wee Word Wednesday - Parcels

Last week, I received two parcels!!!
One from my grandparents back in Hawai'i,
and another from a dear friend in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
I got lots of goodies and a homemade video, too!
Pretty sure I was grinning from ear-to-ear all day.
:-)

P.S. My friend, Hannah, does a Wordless Wednesday...

This week, Miriam and I were featured...hard at work, of course!

Wee Word Wednesday - Easter Card

front...

inside...

and back...

Josh told me that it says,
"To Tatiana. From Josh."
What a cutie.
:-)

I was told that he was insistent on making a card for me, even though his brother could do four cards in the time that it took him to do one.
His insistence has made me feel very special indeed.
Thanks, Josh!