2 weeks working on the Africa Mercy

It has been 2 weeks since I started working on the ship, it has been interesting coming to grips with the way things are done here! I have been working on the plastics ward, which is great as that's what I do back at home, they may have different ways of doing dressings and paperwork but ultimately the goal is for the wounds to heal which is the same as at home!! The patients are great, they welcome you and make you feel like you have known them for a long time! It will be sad to see them go at the end of this week as the hospital closes. The hospital is closing so we can get things ready to sail, this means double bleaching everything and then securing them so they don't go flying around when we are sailing!!! Next week it will be cleaning time. We are heading to Ghana first for Christmas and then to Togo in January to start a new field service.

I was working yesterday morning; a Sunday, back at home at work I would be thinking I'm missing church, and would rather be there..... But I am sooo pleased that I am here; they had a church service on my ward, it was great. One side of the ward was packed with patients from other wards and staff from the ship. As it was the last Sunday for the hospital they had a worship time and a testimony time. It was great to hear the patients saying thanks to God and how their lives are changed through Mercy Ships!

When I have time I have been able to go to the market and walk around the town, it's so busy but it's easier to walk to places than to drive; the traffic is terrible. The only problem with walking is that you have to dodge the cars, motorbikes, carts and the rubbish lining the streets! It makes for fun times!

This photo is taken from the dock where the ship is. You can actually see this scene from the ship. It serves as a reminder to me of why we are here; to bring hope and healing to the poor.



Better let you know were I am living... I am in a 6 berth cabin, on deck 3, this means there are no windows. The positive thing is that the hospital is on the same deck, so I can roll out of bed and walk down the corridor and I am at work, it beats the M4! One of the things I have to learn is how to share a bathroom with 5 other people, and making sure not to wake up my bunk mate at 6:30 in the morning, especially when I am on the top bunk! It is very different to living in my own house! Space is limited in these cabins, so most of my time is spent out in the common areas. This a good place to meet crew and play games. The conversations are interesting as currently there are 30 nations represented on ship, but thats for another time!