Bubbles
Tuesday, I was able to help with security/crowd control at the general screening. This year screening is being done over a month rather than in one very long day. Even so, a very large number came in the line the first day and the second day (Tuesday). Screening is quite the process with a pre-screening, then if they pass that, they wait in line for the more thorough screening. If they pass that, they receive an appointment card to come to the ship for an even more thorough screening by the specialty.
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| Photo taken by Mercy Ships of screening line one day |
Likely hundreds of thousands of bubbles were blown that day to help the children wait well in line. The bubbles bring smiles and laughter. They are an avenue for interaction without verbal communication. Some of the children who are nonverbal even smiled when seeing the bubbles. Some adults enjoyed blowing the bubbles as well. Laughter and screams of joy from children is one of the best sounds in the world!
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| Photo taken by Mercy Ships |
As I reflecting on the day, I was reminded of other things that the bubbles bring to mind:
As I watched the bubbles, some popped immediately. Some floated for a ways on the wind. Some were reflecting the light in small rainbows. They were different sizes and shapes. They all were fleeting. I was also reminded of the item in 1,000 Gifts of the soap bubble. We are to be thankful all the time.
All of our lives will "pop" sometime. Some pop/end what we think is prematurely. We are sad and disappointed when this occurs. New bubbles are quickly blown to bring more smiles. Similarly, if we are Christian, we know that we will have eternal life with Jesus. We are all different sizes and shapes. Often when the children come to screening, they do not have smiles and dull eyes. When exposed to the light of Jesus through the people on Mercy Ships, the smiles and light in eyes change. This reminds me of the rainbows seen on the bubbles in the correct lighting. Lastly, thinking about the bubble floating in the wind, John 3:8 comes to mind. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." Mercy Ships is planning to stay here for a total of 8 months right now. We are trusting God to bring us the patients that we can help. We are in the patients life for several weeks to months. Afterwards our paths part.
Another thought related to bubbles is the answers given during the screening process. Some people's hopes are met. Their bubble expands some. Others, however, have their bubble of hope popped. Mercy Ships cannot treat everyone. They have to specialize and put specific parameters so they can help some people well. I had not thought of this in the medical field, but sometimes if we do a procedure, we may make the condition worse in the long run.
As exciting as it is to see so many patients at screening, it is so difficult to see so many adults and children that we cannot help. It is hard to know that if many of them were in the developed country they would not be in such dire circumstances. Many could be aided sooner often preventing the severe disabilities or malformations. We were reminded in briefing about security at screening, we may be the only person from Mercy Ships they encounter. Keeping that in mind, I would make a special effort to interact with the children I knew Mercy Ships could not help. Bringing a smile to their face and looking them in the eye showed then value. There is a prayer team that will pray with patients who are not selected.
Many more bubbles, balloons, and stickers will be used as one way to show God's love for them.
As I watched the bubbles, some popped immediately. Some floated for a ways on the wind. Some were reflecting the light in small rainbows. They were different sizes and shapes. They all were fleeting. I was also reminded of the item in 1,000 Gifts of the soap bubble. We are to be thankful all the time.
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| Photo taken by Mercy Ships |
Another thought related to bubbles is the answers given during the screening process. Some people's hopes are met. Their bubble expands some. Others, however, have their bubble of hope popped. Mercy Ships cannot treat everyone. They have to specialize and put specific parameters so they can help some people well. I had not thought of this in the medical field, but sometimes if we do a procedure, we may make the condition worse in the long run.
As exciting as it is to see so many patients at screening, it is so difficult to see so many adults and children that we cannot help. It is hard to know that if many of them were in the developed country they would not be in such dire circumstances. Many could be aided sooner often preventing the severe disabilities or malformations. We were reminded in briefing about security at screening, we may be the only person from Mercy Ships they encounter. Keeping that in mind, I would make a special effort to interact with the children I knew Mercy Ships could not help. Bringing a smile to their face and looking them in the eye showed then value. There is a prayer team that will pray with patients who are not selected.
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