Puzzles

Not your typical title for Christmas blog...this blog has been brewing in my head for a few days. It began one day last week when seven patients were discharged from the ortho ward. All have casts on; most have casts on both legs. Some have straight leg casts and some have bent knee casts. Some have crutches; some have walkers. All have a caregiver, bag of belongings and balloons. 

Like many things here, discharge planning is different than what I am used to in the United States. In the United States, it is someone sole job to plan how and where the patient will go when they leave the hospital. Here, once the decision has been made the patient is safe and well enough to go home until the next cast change, they are escorted out to the dock. They are place in a landrover with their caregiver. Away they go on their own needing to figure out how to get home from the central dropoff place in town. 

We do consider how well they are walking if in straight leg casts. This component is a major factor as many will have to walk far from the main road to their homes. If they are in bent knee casts in both legs, they will have to be carried. 

Back to the puzzle. Most of the patients are able to walk up and down the stairs or are small enough to be carried by one person.  One day, I was asked to help carry an older patient with bilateral straight leg casts up the stairs and then down the gangway stairs to the dock. There was no way Mom could lift her in/out of the landrover much less a pouse-pouse/tuk-tuk. Once down on the dock, I was talking with a nurse and asked her how the patient was getting home from the central drop off station. No one had thought through that aspect. The mom rang a friend who graciously said they would pick them up in their car.

Photo credit Mercy Ships: patient waiting 

Once the landrover arrived, the nurse and I had the challenge of placing as many patients with legs in various positions, caregivers, bags, assistive devices and balloons in the landrover. We did have to rearrange two people. When all was said and done, everyone and everything was inside. All you could see was balloons and small faces with huge smiles and waving hands peaking out around the balloons. A big day for all! The nurse and I prayed as they pulled away that all would get home safely. 

Photo credit Mercy Ships: some patient ready to go home after

As I was thinking about it this, the logic puzzles of green hat sits next to red hat but not the blue hat came to mind. Then jigsaw puzzles came to mind. Often I have heard the analogy of a tapestry with strings weaving in and out seen from the backside doesn't make sense or even look nice. On the front side though it makes a beautiful piece of art. Ours lives are like this weaving in and out at different times. Sometimes looking like a complete mess. The human body as referred to in Corinthians is another example of us all being important yet having different jobs for accomplish the same goal. One day we will see how God works it all together.

It struck me that jigsaw puzzles is another example. We are all important pieces, different colors, different sizes and shapes. Here on the Africa Mercy, some are electricians, some mechanics, some cooks, dining room, teachers, nurses, surgeons, dentists, etc. Not only is it evident that all the pieces are necessary to complete the picture, it is very obvious is one piece is missing.

 For example, if the evac system is not working, sinks flood, toilets don't flush, showers don't drain. If cranes stop moving, gangway cannot be placed and containers with food and supplies cannot be lifted or moved. If the purser is not in constant contact with the government and customs, none of us can legally be here, containers will not enter the port and clear customs, personal packages will not arrive. If the financial personnel keeping track of the numbers, we would not have local money at our finger tips, cash flow of necessities/supplies on the ship would not flow. If housekeeping and laundry were not functioning patients would not have clean linens and gowns, we would have to wash our own scrub. If supplies are not filling orders, all departments on the ship would be short of necessities. If reception is not working, calls are not transferred, landrovers not communicated with, fire alarm not manned, and many other tasks. These are just some of the "behind the scene" puzzle pieces that make the ship function. I have heard that only 50% of the positions on the ship are medical.

Photo Credit Mercy Ships: Housekeeping team including day crew

Photo Credit Mercy Ships: IT is another department

Photo Credit: Mercy Ships: Engine room

 Remember if you are reading this, you too are an important puzzle piece. You may be supporting in prayer, encouragement, financially, working on the ship, or just interested in what I am currently doing. Remember too, that God created you to be unique, to be your "color and shape." You are a piece in many puzzles (family, community, friends, work, strangers needing a smile). You may feel alone, like you don't fit, just like another piece in the seas of pieces floating around waiting to fit your spot.  I pray you feel important and appreciated especially in this holiday season right where you are. Here is a big lemur hug and genuine smile from Madagascar.