Set Sail!

Today we finally set sail to Togo! Pretty rough seas so far. Still trying to find my sea legs. I am wearing a motion sickness patch behind my ear. I haven't decided if it's making me a little loopy or if I'm just tired. It was a nice departure. A man came and played us out with his trumpet. It was really nice. I'm looking forward to getting to Togo but at the same time just trying to enjoy this moment too. This week we will be having the new nurse orientation as we sail so we will still be busy. I will have more stories and more to share when we get to Togo and get the ward open!

Tenerife Pictures!

Here are a few pictures of my trip through Tenerife with Jolene. Ship life is going well. I have one roommate now in a cabin built for six. It's been nice. There isn't anything for us to do in the wards just yet. Everything is tied up and ready for the sail which is coming up. They put all of us new nurses in the galley. We are working from 1800-2300 waxing the floors of the dining room. It's actually been pretty fun. It's a great way to get to know everyone. We get our days off since we are working so late. Off to the beach today before work!

My new home!

I finally moved onto the ship today. I am living in a six person cabin, alone currently. I should be getting another roommate at some point today though. Jolene and I had a great time touring the island. We rented a car which was great. Some highlights from our trip... we went whale watching, climbed El Tiede, the volcano here on the island, visited many beaches with black sand, got car sick and sea sick but still had a great time. When we climbed El Tiede, we met two German navy officers going about the same pace as we were. We climbed together for a bit and the next night they gave us a tour of their ship. It was really cool. They were docked right behing the Africa Mercy even! Tomorrow we will start working. Nothing medical yet. Not until we get to Togo. We will be helping out in all the other areas of the ship until we make it to Togo. The plan is to set sail on the 31st and the sail should last about ten days. I will post pictures on here when I know that if I plug in my computer it won't blow up.

Tenerife and friends

Jolene and I made it to Tenerife last night! Pretty uneventual fights. I had to almost run to catch my flight in Chicago but made it there just in time. Now there is a crazy airport! We decided to rent a car instead of trying to figure out the bus system. This will be great. It gives us so much freedom to go and see what we want. We got the car not knowing what side of the road they drive on here. We asked the guy at the counter then played it off as a joke when he looked at us strange. It´s the right. I woke us this morning not feeling well. Please pray that my stomach stops going crazy! I hadn´t even eaten anything yet! Today we went to the ship to meet up with Anouchka. She is letting us leave our luggage with her while we travel which is great! It was so good to be back on the ship! I can´t wait to get there. They are putting in a pool. A real pool up on the upper deck. It´s huge. Lots of familar faces are still there. We loaded up our car with Anouchka and some friends and went to the beach. It´s winter here. This is their cold season... It´s stinkin´hot and humid! The beach was packed. Really beautiful here. I´m excited to go exploring!

Ten days...

Almost down to the single digits! Getting closer to the 15th... Departure for my next big adventure... It's all coming together so hopefully when the day comes I will feel relaxed and ready to go. I said goodbye to Sam and Lucy and Rebecca and Stephen two days ago. It's funny already starting my goodbyes.

I wanted to post some pictures on here of my last trip with Mercy Ships in Liberia so you will all have a better idea of what I will be doing and why.

24 days...

The countdown has begun... 24 days until I leave for Tenerife and then soon after that sail to Togo until August. Many of you have been asking what exactly I will be doing and asking how you can support me while I am gone so here is the low down...

I will be serving with Mercy Ships. The worlds largest non-governmental hospital ship. This ship is an old ferry liner that has been converted into a place where people from nations who can't afford it can get medical attention in the form of surgeries. They offer cataract removals, orthopedic surgeries, cleft lip/palate repairs, plastics, vaginal fistula repairs, and others. This is just on board. There is also a dental team that goes out and a community health team that does teaching in the community. On top of that, there is a community development team that assists towns with wells and buildings. If you would like more information, you can visit their website at www.mercyships.org. While I am there I will be working as a ward nurse. Many patients spend weeks on board healing. I have done this once before and really feel a calling to go back.

The way I most am asking for support is through prayer. Prayer for safety and for an open heart and mind to all that I will be encountering. Also, because I will be volunteering for seven months, the link on the right side of this page labeled Mercy Ships will take you to a place where, if you would like, you can support me financially also. I have been getting questions about this lately so if you would like, that would be the easiest way.

Thank you all for your support and prayers as I have been getting ready to leave. I really look forward to the opportunity to serve this way again!

Back on here again

It's been almost a year since writing on here but I'm getting back to it. I'm gearing up for another adventure. I'm leaving in 55 days for Tenerife, Spain to meet up with the Africa Mercy once again. I'm meeting a good friend Jolene, who I met the last time I worked with Mercy Ships, in Tenerife about a week before we meet the ship. We're going to travel for about a week before meeting the ship. It's going to be a ten day sail to Togo. Yes, I am headed back to West Africa. I can't wait! I spent almost two weeks in Togo after working in Liberia and I loved it. Such a beautiful country!I am headed out January 15 and will be gone almost seven months. Who knows what I will be doing after that. That's about it for now. I will post my address for that time on here in a bit. Please pray for safety and finances and for me to have a prepared heart for all that I will see and do over there.