Learning can be Fun

Yesterday was the first full day of orientation with orthopedic rehabilitation team and nurses. It was a wonderful day. I tried new things, laughed, starting building trust, learned/ was exposed to a lot of new information.

The day began with Elise and I having plaster casts donned. We wanted to feel and experience mobility (walking and stairs)  with a short cast. While the casts were setting/drying we had a devotional about serving with the right heart. Serving the way Jesus did and wants us to do...selflessly. After devotions, Kalinda cut one side of the cast to show me how to do it. It also allowed me to experience it and gain confidence the cast saw would not cut me when used properly. I then cut the other side to bi-valve the cast. This is done  just after surgery to accommodate for swelling and to take it off.

First casts made with plaster

Cast saw in Kalinda's skilled hands

Dean and Elise and I teaching and learning

We also practiced ascending and descending stairs with crutches and long leg casts. It requires significant energy to perform the task. It is necessary for the children to do prior to hospital discharge as they may have stairs at home likely without rails. They will be able to practice daily as the hospital is on Deck 3 and they play on Deck 7 which is open to air in the afternoons. The children, however, will not have to climb all the flights of stairs as many will have long leg casts.

Short leg cast on and ready to teach the ortho nurses

After some orientation information, we returned to the inpatient treatment room for the first lesson of working with club feet. After discussing some of the details, it was time to cast. Dr. Frank, who enjoys teaching, gave Elise and I both pointers and step by step direction as we made our first casts. Experience is the best teacher. Making a quality cast is truly is an art. It will take doing it many times to skilled. After many good laughs and taking photos to document the occasion, Elise and I had to cut off the casts. I will admit, I was apprehensive of using a cast saw.

Kalinda and Dean's turn to be models for us

First cast. I still have a ways to go on perfecting my skills

Fun with Rehab Team!

If you are unfamiliar with one, they are noisy and the do have a blade. The blade vibrates rather than rotates. As long a the cuts remain perpendicular to the surface it will not cut the skin. Another key component is to keeping the saw in one place for long. The blade gets hot. If it is in one place too long, it can burn the skin. Rotating the blade to cut with a different area and cooling it with a damp cloth help prevent burning. The more experienced one becomes, the quicker one can take off the cast. It took me a good twenty minutes to cut both sides. I am happy to report to burns or cuts to skin were made.

Working hard

Success. Cast put on and taken off. 

I also was able to laugh with a couple of my roommates last night. Laughter truly is a mood lifter. It is was so nice to laugh. I am so thankful to be learning. I am learning information all the time.

Fine Adjustments

Keep reading to see why this picture is posted :)

As you know, it has been a road full of detours for all involved with Mercy Ships. The word that sums it up best is flexibility. It is so nice to be here. Although all organizations require teams of people to work together, it has been very evident here just how many different people and jobs are required to complete the operation of sharing God's love, hope, and healing. During my interaction with Mercy Ships two thing has been constant, everyone is needed and nothing goes according to plan. 

As mentioned I have been working in the dinning room for two weeks. It has given me a whole new perspective. I can honestly say that I took it for granted that there were always three meals a day provided. I even thought,  "Why don't they have ...?"  occasionally. As we have been saying while working there, everyone should work a shift there and in the galley to broaden their understanding of how it functions. It would likely increase gratitude. I am sure more consideration would be given to the little things that people do and don't do. It is long hours and physical labor. 

I have increase respect for them too. They work hard day in and day out, but have very little interaction with the actual patients. The crew is able to adopt a patient to encourage, play with, pray and visit. If the galley does not prepare, cut, bake, cook the food and the dining room does not set it up and clean up, the medical crew would not be able to provide the quality care. Patient would not have the necessary nutrition to heal. 

Cathy (on left) is now working in the lab. Martha (center) is "superwoman" she does not stop working in the dining room from 4am until 7:30pm. She is a team lead having to manage the dining room staff and food making sure everyone's needs are met as much as possible. She came to work with Mercy Ships when she retired from her job in the United States.  Such a hard worker. 

After a several long days in the dining room, I did not have the best attitude about it all. If fact, I would say I was doing it out of duty rather than a cheerful serving heart. I was grumbling about the little things and obstacles which seemed frequent. The verses in Colossians 3:23 that says "Do whatever you do as unto the Lord, not for human masters." Phil 2: "Do everything without grumbling and complaining so that you can become pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation." came to mind while washing dishes. I knew this, but was still having difficulty. While worshiping in the service on Sunday, we sang a contemporary chorus that included the lyrics,  "It is well with my soul"  from the well known hymn. I was convicted that it was not well with my soul. As we continued to sing the chorus, I heard the Lord say, "fine adjustments are needed for it to be well with your soul."

We are familiar with the saying needing and attitude adjustment. One way for me to fix my attitude is to adjust my focus. This fine and coarse adjustment is in reference to microscopes. When looking at a specimen, one first uses the coarse adjustment knob to bring it into rough focus. The fine adjustment or fine focus brings the specimen or part of  interest into better focus. I had not lost the coarse adjustment as I knew my current part to play was necessary and important. I had, however, lost fine adjustment/focus. My focus was blurred as I wanted to be serving in a different way. I wanted things to be simpler and easier. 

Coarse and fine adjustment knobs

Sunday evening was a time of fine tuning adjustments. Worshiping the creator of the universe did just that. It took the focus off of me and returned it to its rightful place, Jesus.  I know that just like the fine adjustment knob on a microscope can easily be bumped and make the specimen image fuzzy, life happenings can bump my focus from Jesus. My bunkmate has a wonderful prayer, "Lord, help me know and understand what you have for me today. Help me be your blessing to others." Although I have heard it and similar prayers, it hit home this week. During this summer and fall many, many people have had to make adjustments coarse and fine as the plans for the ships next destination and staffing numbers and positions changed. I will try to keep in mind to check the fine adjustment knob in my mind every morning when waking up. 

Fine adjustment images

Land Ho!

After 8 days at sea, this was a welcomed sight yesterday morning. Madagascar coastline! Excitement was in the air. 

Land...It is difficult to see but it is really there :)

Tug boat welcome

The Advance team was more excited to see the ship after 6 months than we were to see land. The Advance team went to Benin at the beginning of May to prepare for the ship. They had to do it all again in a different country in 6 weeks. Amazing!

As we arrived to the dock, local people were madly setting up tents, chairs, plants preparing for the President and Prime Minister to come. While we were getting in place and moving and securing the gangway, they continued working. Inside the ship many people were doing the final sweeping, setting up a ward of the hospital to show, and preparing a reception. The President was due to arrive to tour the ship about 3 hours after our arrival.

The first part of the gangway viewed from Deck 7 still being held by the crane

A drone Media used to get photos of us and the ship

Making the tent...safety is not number 1 concern

Gangway

Men controlling the crane, Men on the gangway part giving directions via radio to navigate around the tents

Man below helping secure the bottom

Advance team entering the ship. A true miracle!

The crew quickly changed clothes to  "smart clothes" in order to stand on Deck 7 to watch to ceremony. The President was able to take advantage of Mercy Ships coming to kickoff the year of volunteering in Madagascar. He was broadcasting the speeches on National television. There was entertainment (Musicians and Acrobats), the President and Prime Minister toured the ship, and then speeches were made.

Captain and his wife meeting the President and his wife

We are officially here in Madagascar...the flag is flying on the ship

In a commercial port again

Two of the Gurkhas providing security

In the evening, we had another cultural briefing and report from each of the advance team members. It truly is a miracle that Africa Mercy is here in Madagascar. God gave them strength and perseverance to accomplish what most teams do in 4 months in 6 weeks. In many meetings with people, they were be referred to another person and have a meeting to accomplish more necessary items. Buildings were found for HOPE Centre, eye clinic, and dental clinic, screening sites found, word publicized and heard, day workers hired, port space secured, area researched for security and safety, communications made with the national healthcare workers, and renovations started on the warehouse, dental clinic, eye clinic, and HOPE Centre, immigration details, car registrations for the LandRovers, bank account with a local bank, and more. The ship was able to sail from Canary  Islands to Cape Town. It then sailed through rough seas from Cape Town to Madagascar arriving on time despite leaving a day later than expected. No doubt we were/are padded by prayers all over the world. 

After the meeting, the crew teller agreed to open allowing us all to receive $15 in local currency for today. It was a "run on the bank." They had enough money, but the line was long allowing for more fellowship with crew. We were quickly briefed on restaurants, beaches, places to go and not go, and modes of transportation. There is much to explore and enjoy even in the relatively local area. I had to remind myself why I am here. To serve the people.

A "Swell" Day

The second day at sea. The deck hand at the left hand side is steering the ship

Satellite screen they used to help plan the course for the calmest seas possible

One of the many average wave"crashes"  The Bridge is on at Deck 7

Controls used 

As I mentioned we have been sailing on some rough seas. The third consecutive rough night proved to be too much for some of the items that we thought were secured well. After not sleeping well due to intermittent large swells and corresponding "crashing" sensations, most of the crew was very tired. Tuesday night we experienced one of the largest we had 27* tilt. In our cabin ladders for the bunkbeds went flying, a cabinet door flung open dumping its contents, and other things slammed and creaked that had not before. 

Wednesday morning areas of the ship looked like a tornado came through, the dining room team discovered the island that holds the bread cutting machine that was secured to the floor had slid and banged inside the  U where the food is stored like a pinball machine. It left dents in the metal and pushed one of the counters out an inch or so. It is powered through a cord that runs in the ceiling, so the electricity was questionable. The chairs were over turned and slid everywhere in total chaos. A shelf that was connected to the wall collapsed on the floor.  A shelf near by was secured to the wall with straps. This left a narrow pathway in/out of the dish room meaning we had to carrying everything in/out by hand. The shelf on the floor was blocking the elevator used to get food trays up and down from the galley to dining room. 

The crew galley had the meat slicer hit the floor, yogurt in containers spilled all over the refrigerator floor, and a few other things. Thankfully the meat slicer is working now. In the cafe, the espresso machine took a dive as well. Books in the academy and library all came tumbling down to the floor. Thankfully, no one was injured in any of this! The large swells continued but not quite so large. Sorry no photos of that.

School was cancelled for the day. No hot food needing the oven was made. Hot oatmeal was made in the pan. Ramen Noodles in the package was served for those who wanted to make their own hot lunch. Dinner was hot dogs and mashed potatoes. Cold cheese, meat, and veggies were also served. Bread was cut by hand during each meal, items for breakfast were carefully brought up and down the stairwell, Getting items in/out of cabinet that stores peanut butter, jelly, butter, and other condiments entailed locking and unlocking the doors each time with a key. Spreads tables that are usually in the middle of the dining room were placed against a wall that rocks aft to stern rather than side to side to insure them not tipping over. Sweeping was done after each meal, but only spot mopping. The intermittent large swells continued throughout the day. When they happen we all stopped and waited for the ship to return to normal rocking level prior to continuing the tasks at hand. Needless to say, everyone did get three meals yesterday, and clean up occurred after each as well. Everything simply took longer. Being tired and continually finding parts that we take advantage of made for many laughs yesterday. 

My creative and gracious bunkmate suggested I move my mattress to the floor. After making some adjustments to the room, it worked, The ladders are stored in my bunk frame against the wall. My mattress is now on the floor. Thankfully, the swells were less and I was rocking side to side rather than head to toe. I slept some what better last night. 

The mattress fit just right without an inch to spare on the floor

Tied the bathroom door open to get some ventilation

Many times during the sail, my mind has wandered to those brave explorers, vikings, pilgrims, and the like who sailed in wooden ships without windows, air vents, three meals a day, bathrooms, satellite to guide with currents. It is a wonder anyone survived the fumes, wet conditions, unsanitary, scurvy, sea sickness, dehydration,  to make it around the continent of Africa, across any ocean, or would travel in this mode repeatedly. 

I am grateful for the modern conveniences of electricity, plumbing, satellite, refrigeration, internet, hot food and showers, windows, mattress, dry cabin,  skilled deck hands and captain, and relatively short sail. 

It is hard to see through the reflection on the glass, but this is what we saw most of the time. All sea

Followed by all sky

Thankfully, there were a few moments like this too!

Rock and Roll

That is what the ship has been doing since Friday. I have never sailed on a ship before. The Africa Mercy is a Danish ferry, not a cruise ship. This means her bottom is relatively flat. Right from the beginning, the gentle rock side to side could be felt as we watched Cape Town ease into the distance. We hugged the coast line which enabled us to see the Twelve Apostles, Cape of Good Hope, and humpback whales. The first night of sailing was wonderful. It felt like I was being rocked gently all night. It was the best night's sleep I have had in months. 

We rounded Cape Agulhas, the most southern point of Africa, and the swell heights increased. There is a storm 500km (I think) away which is also increasing swell height here. It is amazing something that far away can have such an effect. Gratefully, we are not in a storm! Also, in order to make time (we all know that making good time makes for a successful trip) we are hugging the coast as much as possible and riding currents headed in the northeast direction. Since we are near where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, many different currents are going different directions. Now that we are in the Indian Ocean, most of the currents are headed southwest. Using satellite images they are able to find currents going in the direction we want to travel. The deck hands work 4 hour shifts around the clock to sail the ship in the safest, quickest course.  

Sunday evening, the swells increased dramatically. Some reached 18-20*. The average, I heard, was 7-12*. The larger ones come at unexpected times causing silverware to fly off tables and chairs to slide on the floor in the dining room. Later in a meeting, a TV on a swinging hinge swung out, chairs slid causing a couple people to tip out over landing on the floor.  The cabin is quiet cabin mate wise, but things creaking and rolling in cabinets can always be heard. Also, sleeping on deck 3 with the one wall on the outside of the ship, waves crashing on the sides of the ship can be heard. Occasionally, the ship will go forward over a wave causing the the ship to land hard. This, of course, does not provide the the calm gentle rocking for good sleep. 

Working in the dinning room is different on the sail as well. When there is not big swells, the rocking side to side is becoming normal. Just when it seems normal, a larger swell comes. There is very limited hot food made and served. Everything is secured. Lids cannot be left of the large serving pans, everything on a counter is on a nonskid material, all trashcans, carts, trolleys, and the like are secured. Paper plates, bowls and cups for hot drinks are used instead of the regular glass. Plastic cups for cold drinks and regular silverware are still used. Opening any cabinet or door requires two people. One to hold it, and one to get out what needs to be retrieved. No hot food is prepared from scratch. Some has been made and frozen before the sail. It is defrosted and served carefully. It is too dangerous to be cooking with hot food with unexpected swells. Spot mopping has taken the place of mopping the entire dining room as chasing the mop bucket it not a fun job. Moving the spreads tables which are on wheels takes two people as well to maintain control while the ship is rocking side to side. Draining something requires waiting for the ship to rock so the water runs over the drain. Changing pans out takes place with caution, so one does not fly out unexpectedly. Sweeping the floors and standing while sorting silverware and washing cups is a workout in itself. 

Throwing the trash away is an adventure unto itself. There are big trashcans tide down on deck 8. The bags are carried up three decks. One has the choice of walking around the landrovers secured on the deck or opening and closing gates. The trash bags are squished inside while the other person lifts the lid underneath the tight rope. Since there is obviously not much space for trash, everything is made as small and contained as possible. We feed the sharks (well whatever wants to eat it) one bag of organic trash. We call the bridge to see which side of the ship to throw it depending on the wind and distance from shore. The bridge records how much waste we throw overboard during the entire sail. One hangs on the the bag and lets the trash blow way. 

Taking a shower, is different as well. All the shampoo/conditioner bottles are currently on the floor. I lean on the wall while showering. I rode the stationary bike for the first time today. It was interesting being on a stationary bike  but moving. I decided to only perform arm exercises with light weights and squats without weight. Last night, some of the waves felt like you were on a Ferris wheel going all the way around rather than rocking back and forth. I think this change caused many people to not sleep well. When eating, one either keeps a hand on plate and cup or wets a napkin to place underneath the plate and cup to prevent the sliding. 

By the grace of God, I have not been sea sick. Several of my crew mates, however, cannot say the same. Many seem to have adjusted and are feeling better. Walking is also a challenge sometimes as one has to walk side ways in a zig zag pattern to remain upright. More to come on my "Swell" day today. 

Kruger National Park

In general male lions only hunt big animals like elephant.

Pride of females is about 6-7 and are responsible for most of the hunting 

Lions sleep about 20 hours a day

I left Charlotte, flew to Atlanta, and flew to Johannesburg South Africa on a 16 hour flight. My luggage arrived, and customs were simple. Two answers to prayer. After finding the taxi driver, a couple from Chicago who were on their honeymoon and I piled into the car. The first thing we noticed was the driver got into the "passanger side." I will say it was quite interesting the first night riding on the opposite side of the road, making a right turn requires a turn signal, turning left is usually a yield on red. We rode through an area with mansions and cement security fences topped with electric fences. We arrived at WayBury guest house. My bags were carried to my room. My room contained a double bed and twin bed with firm mattresses and fluffy comforters, sitting area, and bathroom with a shower with warm water. The house had an outdoor pool and patio, dining room, library, den.

 Dinner was served to all people in the house. The first time I met who would be going to the safari with Kalinda and I. The couple from Chicago (late twenties/early thirties), a couple from Germany (just out of university), an older couple from New Zealand, Kalinda from Canada, and me from the United States. Once at the lodge, we were joined by a young lady from Turkey and a young couple from Brazil.

After an early morning start, we were driven for 8 hours to Kruger National Park. When we arrived to the game preserve, we immediately spotted giraffe, baboon, the back end of an elephant. Upon arriving to Sunset Lodge, we were greeted by zebra and eland (on the the largest in antelope family) in the front yard. We were also given ice tea. We had a fabulous lunch with quiche, chicken kabobs, fresh fruit, and more. We were then taken to a neighboring game preserve for a late afternoon game drive. We saw a family of lions, giraffe, a couple of hippos in the water, an old buffalo and birds. We stopped for drinks and finger foods at sunset. Upon arriving back to the Sunset lodge, we had dinner by candlelight in the BOMA (British Operation Mess Area). These are wooden and tall circles with a cement fire platform in the center. It was made to keep the humans and their food away from the animals. We were treated to traditional South African food" braai" which is barbacue which includes meat, meat, and more meat. We also had bread. The meal was finished bananas flambe.  We all hit the sack early due to early (5:30AM) departure time.

Braii in the BOMA

Kruger National Park was about an hours drive away. We all wore all the winter items we brought, wrapped in blankets, and hunkered down in the open air vehicle for the bumpy ride. We were on the drive for 12 hours total which included a break for breakfast and lunch. After seeing many animals, we stopped at a picnic area near a waterhole for breakfast. Breakfast included bacon wrapped dates, fruit kabobs, kabobs with cheese and tomato, coffee, tea, biscotti like things and fruit yogurt.  We saw herds of animals. After lunch we stopped at a waterhole which could have been dropped out of a movie. Three separate herds of elephant came, baboons were playing and eating, zebra walked in, crocodile out of water cooling himself with his open jaw, hippos in the water, and intermittent birds. The longer we watched, the more animals came.  We were once again treated to traditional South African food for dinner in the BOMA. Butternut squash was the appetizer. We had a traditional stews. One with chicken, one with kudo (antelope), and one with vegetables. We had koeksister (fancy funnelcake pieces) with homemade ice cream for dessert.

Breakfast in the Park

female kudo

fully grown male kudo

Fun with shadows in the late afternoon

The birds eat the bugs off the giraffe, hippos, rhinos, and elephants

Find the lion cub :) Nice camouflage

The next day we had a full "English Breakfast" on the balcony which included scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, yogurt, cereal, coffee, tea, juice, and milk. We went for a tour of a local rehabilitation center for animals. After listening to a very informative lecture, we pet a cheetah and eagle, saw different types of vultures, lions, leopard, wild dog, baby giraffe and baby rhino, and hyenas.  After lunch in town, we went for a walk around the property where we were staying. This enabled us to be closer to the animals. We saw a male ostrich sitting on eggs, stuck a stick into termite mound to see them, got with in 15 feet of zebra and giraffe. saw different flora, ended up at a high tea spread. We continued walking back as the sun was setting and came upon several giraffe eating in the trees. One of them drank from small waterhole there. We had supper on the balcony.

Baboa Tree

A Little nervous petting the cheetah. It was not soft. 

Leopard

Giraffe drinking. He has to split his front leg prior to flexing knee some. 

The last day we were on the rode by 5AM. This time, it was only Kalinda and I and the guide.We were able to put all of the sides down to enclose the vehicle while driving to the park which made it a little warmer. This day we saw many birds (5 types of eagles), a huge herd of buffalo, elephant of all ages and both genders, a male ostrich looking for a mate, and more giraffe and zebra. We knew where a leopard was in high grass, but we did not see him in the 20 minutes we waited.  This last night we ate dinner with the family who ran the lodge and guides there together. Kalinda and I requested this, so just the two of us were not served.

Giraffe usually sleep only 20 minutes a day. They are often seen alone until evening when they gather together for protection  

Male worthog. Puma in Lion King was a female with a male voice. Males have 4 tusks; while females have two

Outfit to stay warm in open air in morning...fleece jacket, fleece blanket, hankerchief to keep ears warm and hair out of eyes and ears. 

Afternoon outfit...airing out the feet in the sun and breeze

adult rhino

Baby rhino

Zebra and Wildabeast are often seen together. Zebra see well; wildabeast hear well

Camouflage at work. It is hard to see when one body ends and one begins

Elephants are in breeding herds of female and young females and males. At adolescence the males are kicked out of the herd. They are  taken in by the bulls that live alone to be shown the ropes of living on the safari 

Hippo is pink as it is hot and secreting a pink serum

Open jaw. Hippos can bite through a crocodile's body

It's a pile of rock...No it's hippos

After a nice English Breakfast we began the trek back to Johannesburg. We stopped by the reputed and disputed 3 largest canyon in the world. It was large. We stopped for lunch at a tourist town known for trout fishing. I had fresh trout for dinner. We had an uneventful flight from Joburg (Johannesburg) to Cape Town. Now you are caught up on my adventures:)

Type of bird in Lion King

Ostrich males are black, females are brown. Males always have two female (an insurance policy). If a female comes back to the nest and eggs are missing, she will lay the correct number again. The male have pink shins when they are in mating season. 

A fisher eagle, I think

Note the baby buffalo

baby, females

Males...note the wide horn attachments