My new work place...

Hey Guys!

As promised...here is a peak at the Oak Fountain Hospital, my new work place for the next few months...

This sign greets you at every entrance into the hospital on Deck 3 from the top decks.

What one of the wards looks like here at the hospital. They are all on the port side of the ship. There are 5 beds on each side of the room.

This is our ICU section for the outreach. We just have 3 beds set up, rather than an entire ward. We aren't running the ICU ward or Ward C (there are 4 wards: A, B, C, and D) because of the noise that the generators create...hence the trip to South Africa in August to get them replaced.

In this photo (of D ward), you can see that there are mattresses under the beds. These are for the patient's caretakers, usually a parent, so that they can stay with their child while recovering from surgery here on the Africa Mercy.

This is the sign that you see on our door. Welcome to the pharmacy. Please note that crew clinic hours are from 13:00 - 14:30. :-) We are located on the starboard side, towards the aft of the ship.

A peak into my work space. The pharmacy has two rooms: a front room where I've been spending most of my time, and a back room where there is another work space and our medications.

A peak into the back room of the pharmacy. This is usually where one can find Miriam.

Opposite of the work space in the back room is our rolling racks!

Here is the end of our hall (which is opposite to the wards). Past this door, you can find the 6 operating rooms here in the Oak Foundation Hospital.

I hope that you guys have enjoyed seeing just a bit of what I see everyday here. I really wish you were here so that I could give you a personal tour myself. There is so much more to it than what these few pictures dictate.

Now, I'll leave you with a quote Dr. Parker used in a few of his lectures:

"At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’

Hungry not only for bread-but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing-but naked of human dignity and respect.

Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks-but homeless because of rejection.

This is Christ in distressing disguise."

- Mother Teresa

Ship Tour...ish...

So...I realize that I have been here for almost two weeks...and I have not shown you guys what the ship looks like...on the inside! My apologies! So, I have decided that this blog, will do just that. I do recognize that I should also write another update and I have a few other blog ideas...but one thing at a time. ;-)

This is reception...I know that there is no one behind the desk here, but usually there is. This is what you see when you walk into the ship from the gangway. Reception also happens to be on Deck 5.

This is the cafeteria...the cause of much angst for me. This is where we get all our meals...and trust me, they feed us well. Since I have come here, I have heard of a phenomenon called,"Mercy Hips" and I feel that I am still well on my way to gain enough weight to donate blood, if need be. Also, you all would be happy to know that I actually eat my veggies...usually twice a day, with lunch and dinner. It's awesome only having to walk up two flights of stairs to Deck 5 after work and have dinner all ready made for me. I don't know how I'm going to go back to being domesticated and cooking for myself after 6 month of this...

These are some of the stairs that lead from my deck (Deck 3) up to the other decks...and coincidentally, as the sign on the ground says...the route to the bow of the ship (who's access is also from Deck 3).

Once you come down said stairs onto Deck 3, you enter into the cabin area. My cabin is on the far left. Once the hall splits, there are two doors on each end (as seen on the right)...when you go through those doors, you enter into the hospital. Yes, my work place also happens to be on the same deck as my cabin. Definitely no 15-20 minute commute involved here!

Now, we are back on Deck 5...in the "mid-ships" area. (to note, reception and the cafeteria is at the bow of the ship) This is the cafe area. We are looking at the ship's Starbucks on your right and in the background there is the ship shop. The stairs to your left lead up to the top of "town square".

This is the the top of "town square". There are lots of sitting areas...and in the back left you can see the computer/internet access area for all the crew. This is also a wireless hotspot...hence a common place where I can be found. :-)

This is the library, which is also located on Deck 5. As you can see...it's actually 2 rooms big, full of books. We can also rent DVDs here. The cool thing is that it's open for 24 hours, which is awesome.

Back up on Deck 6, at the bow of the boat...kind of above the cafeteria, is the International Room. This is where we have all of our ship wide meetings, our Tuesday morning ship wide devotions, and our Thursday night Community Meetings.

Heading past the town square on Deck 6, you find the laundry room...this is also where we borrow vacuums to clean our cabins. (Yes, that means I have to carry it up and down 3 flights of stairs.)

Last, but not least, I am showing you the crew galley, located towards the stern of the boat on Deck 6...where we can cook our own meals if we like or bake up a feast. I hear that this is the place to be in the evenings, as you will undoubtedly get fed.

If I haven't told you before...there are 8 Decks on the Africa Mercy. Deck 8 is where the outdoor pool is located and is all open-air. Deck 7 has offices, conference rooms, and also has some outdoor areas. I don't have pictures of Deck 2, but there are more cabins down there, as well as a gym, and the ship's boutique, where you can pick up or donate items for use.

I hope that you've enjoyed the mini-tour. Sorry that it took so long. More to come later...and that's a promise! <3