Looking back

As a new year begins I can't help but to look back at the year passed. Two thousand and thirteen ... Twenty eight years since I was born ... Ten years since high school ... Six years since I received my nursing license ... Looking back there have been a lot of memories. But the thing that stands out the most for this year? This whole entire year has been devoted to serving with Mercy Ships.

My last official full-time job workday was 1 January. I'm in awe that God chose me to give this huge mission and that He knows and loves me so much that He fulfilled an unrealized dream in me. To help those less fortunate than myself through my profession. To love the unloved, to bring joy to the depressed by letting Jesus shine through me. I am blessed to be able to love on the people of Congo, even if it is just by holding their hand or sharing a smile. Jesus tells us to love the least of these.
 

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

- Matthew 25:40

I am so excited about what this new year holds. I will be continuing my volunteer work with Mercy Ships for the next five months and then I am trusting in God's unrevealed plan for my life. I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for helping me to be a volunteer with Mercy Ships. And thank you for loving me and being earthly examples of Jesus' love. I hope your new year is filled with God's abundant love and I challenge you to share that love with others. Reevaluate what is love to you? You never know when you could make a difference with just a smile!!

I also wanted to share a video of some of the people I love explaining what love is to them.

 

Reason

There is a reason ...
There is a reason ... I left my job in January.
There is a reason ... I volunteer my nursing skills to help others.
There is a reason ... I haven't received a paycheck in a long time.
There is a reason ... I won't see my family for nearly ten months.
There is a reason ... I live in a small cabin with five other girls.
There is a reason ... I am here and I want to share it with you.

They are the reason ...

 

I just wanted to share my heart and brighen your day with the smiling faces that light up world. I will be volunteering here on the Africa Mercy for the next five months and I pay to be here. All I want for Christmas is to be able to stay here to meet more smiling faces. If you are interested in finding out more visit my donor page at  http://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/KariGriffis/ Merry Christmas!

Joyeux Noel

A few years ago a friend told me that he could see me walking down a road surrounded by little brown children. I laughed it off, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would come true. For the past two and a half years has been an unknown dream realized. Growing up I really didn't think I would leave the state of Georgia none the less go all the way to Africa ... Three times! God has blessed me beyond imagination, giving me a life that far surpassed my dreams. Being the holiday season I've been thinking about what I am thankful for this year.

My job. I get to work in the coolest hospital in the world. Like seriously, no other hospital like it.

Making life-long friends with people from all around the world. I haves group of girls that are more than friends, they are the best sisters I could ask for on the ship.

Perfume and nail polish. I know, I know material things, but I've recently acquired both through friends and it just gives you a big confidence boost.

Wi-Fi ... In Africa!

Pecan pie ... Crazy right!? But when you have been here long enough, a little slice of home is amazing.

Just the beginning of a long list of things that I will compile over the next couple weeks, months and years. I challenge you today to think about what are you thankful for? What unrealized dreams have come to pass? 

Joyeux Noel! 

Manna

Manna - the food miraculously supplies to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:14-36)

We have something with a similar name here on the ship. MANA (mother administered nutritive aid) is given to patients who are malnourished or need an extra boost to heal. It’s kind of like really sweet peanut butter … yes I’ve tasted it. Though I’ve been handing these little packets of goodness out for two years it wasn’t until recently that I saw something on the back of the package. It reads … Manufactured by MANA nutrition, Fitzgerald GA. How crazy is that!? I’m not the only thing from Georgia over here in Africa. I’m serving these patients good old Georgia peanuts. I just wanted to thank all of the hard working farmers back at home who work day in and day out growing peanuts. It may not seem like you do much when you are riding on your tractor every day, coming home dirty and sunburned. You are literally saving lives and I for one am so thankful. Each of these little packets has 500 calories of nutritional support. I have seen starving children grow stronger. I looked it up on their website www.mananutrition.org, right here and right now on the Africa Mercy is not the only place you make a difference.

These packets literally are manna from heaven, sent to save lives. Pass this on and share this with your favorite farmer, let them know they make a difference.

What is beauty?

Beauty: the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound,, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of beautiful? A friend that is just gorgeous or maybe your children. Those are beautiful, but I wanted to share a story of beauty. It isn't the conventional beauty, when you first look you may even want to avert your eyes just because it is painful to see. Look beyond the scars.

The three words all little girls (and grown women too) want to hear .... "You are beautiful." How many of you have longed for those words when you are having a bad day and just aren't feeling very pretty? No matter where you go we are all the same, we crave affirmation. So is the story of Alice, a young girl from Uganda. Alice was very badly burned in a house fire leaving her with scars to her head, face and neck. With the help of a Ugandan veterinarian she was able to come to the ship. Alice has been with us from the very beginning. First as she waited for our hospitality center to open and now after her first of many surgeries. Alice has always been a little different from the other girls on the ward, maybe it is because she has no hair, or maybe it's because she doesn't speak French, but most shifts she sits on her bed quietly coloring with her Papa. But yesterday something else happened. When I came onto the ward yesterday she was happier and generally just more playful. She was walking around the ward with a big pink bow on her head bandage. One of my friends and co-workers told me why the change. I don't want to steal Natalie's story because there is power and emotion in her telling (I'll share a link when she tells it). But here is the most important part, after her dressing change Natalie handed her a mirror and she spotted the pink bow Natalie had secretly place on her head. She immediately giggled and couldn't stop smiling, she walked around the ward showing it off and receiving the affirmation of  "Beautiful" or "Jolie" in French. When I arrived hours later she was still beaming. She had been an outcast for so long but that one pink bow made all the difference. This right here is why I love this job.  It gives a whole new meaning to beauty out of ashes!

What is Your Name?

The question I am asked at least once a week, "What is your name?" The answer is Kari (pronounced like carry). With a ward full of children the response back is never the same. One such conversation started weeks ago with a teenage girl name Glore. She is one of our plastic patients being treated for a burn contracture. Because of the site of her contractures she has to wear an airplane splint. Imagine you are holding your arms out pretending your an airplane. Yep, that's what it looks like. Glore is 100% teenager complete with attitude and eye rolls. Needless to say I have to remind her at least once a shift to put her splint on. Glore and her gang of little minions (complete with a little boy named Mignon) definitely made our evening shifts interesting. There was a night where we weren't sure we wouldn't leave the ward for fear of a mutiny. They were going to take over! She is the reason for my insanity some nights but I love her so much. Why? Beneath all that drama there is a girl who loves so deeply and wants to learn so much. She sits beside me sometimes and just asks how to say things is English. Hair, earring and glasses are her favorite words to try to recite. In the process she is teaching me a small amount of French. I now know how to say "lay down" in French, which has come in very handy with the rambunctious little ones. She has also taught all of the other children how to pronounce my name ... I am now officially Kiwi. I wanted to share some photos of the people who call me Kiwi.


Jennica with two of our favorite girls!

Beautiful Glore with one of our nurses Betsy

As you can see lots of fun and energy!



Meet Graci ... she is adorable and has the most infectious laugh! She loves to give kisses and hold your face.

Don't let those dimples fool you, he is adorable and he knows it. He gets away with alot because of it!

Trusting is uncomfortable

God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are afraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through. 

I am currently reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I've read it a couple times before but I have been in a different place in my life each time. I just read the quote above this morning and it really resonated with me. That is exactly where I am right now, trusting and waiting for Him to come through. It isn't comfortable! It's quite scary not knowing what not only the future but next month will hold. There are several promises I am trusting God with, one being providing funds for this trip. Without his provision I could not be here. I know some of you think that I am such an amazing woman, living my life devoted to helping others. One of my friends put is best, she said Actually I am a horrible person who is loved and forgiven by an amazing God. I have certainly done things I am not at all proud of, but you know what God loves me just the same. He also loves you.

When you pray, your prayers are heard by the same God who 

answered Moses' prayer for water in the desert, the God who gave Abraham 

and his barren wife a son, and the God who made the slave Joseph 

second in power only to Pharoah.

He wants to give you big things. I just wanted to share my heart and challenge you to trust God for the big things. It's not comfortable but He has always come through. I hope this was as much an encouragement for you as it was for me. 

The right attitude

So here's the dealio ... I've been assigned to work on the General surgery ward. It wasn't my first pick, just being honest. One of my first thoughts involved, hmmmm .... Let's just say ice. Ice packs for male hernia patients. You ship alumni know what I'm talking about. Not my favorite part of general surgery. I miss the little cleft lip babies and the huge transformation that happens when a tumor is removed. I absolutely love seeing someone feel beautiful and accepted for the first time.

I kept sulking and pouting about it but then yesterday I realized something. This whole time I have been thinking about what I get out of it and not how I can serve others. Not very Christ-like huh? Yeah, I felt pretty guilty. One of my friends mentioned that every surgery here is transformational. It's so hard to think about the transformation when you don't see the facial tumors gone or bent legs straightened. It so true though, for those men and young boys the hernias are hindering their day to day lives. Maybe they are unable to work anymore or play football with their friends. It must be hard.

So as I work in the General surgery ward I want to keep a good attitude that I would make my Heavenly Father proud. I will show these patients the love and acceptance they deserve and maybe, just maybe I will have a transformation as well.

Yes or No

We, as the Mercy Ships crew, had our Congo field service patient selection yesterday. This is a time where we choose the patients that we receive surgeries. We are told that approximately seven thousand people came to the patient selection, five thousand of those seeking surgical care. I was a part of the pre-screening team, which means we were the first people the prospective patient came to as they walked through the gate. We made the initial decision of "yes" or "no" to thin out the crowd seeing the surgeons. Though we will be able to help a lot of people, we cannot help them all. 

I'm not really sure what to name this post or even how to explain what I'm trying to say here. Now that I have experienced my first patient selection, there are so many conflicting emotions I am processing. Exuberant joy for the patients that we will be able to provide hope and healing for versus sadness and a prayerful burden for the patients we turned away. One of my fellow crew mates and friends loves to use a certain system to learn about another's day. It involves highs (the good) and lows (the bad). I feel like this is the easiest way to communicate my day. Let's start with the lows so we end on a happy note!

Low

By the end of the day we had filled up most of our surgery spots. We only have a set of number  of available patient spots that surgeons can perform operations on. With those spots filled we had the very hard task of telling patients "No, we cannot help you." Some were quite understanding and surprisingly peaceful about it, but others you could see the shock on their faces. To be offered hope and then find out they were too late. I can only imagine the hurt and confusion they felt and continue to feel now.

There were a large number of people who came that we just don't do that particular surgery or provide that medical need. Examples would be cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, arthritis and abdominal pain.

High

Having someone walk up to me and automatically knowing just by seeing them that they get one of the special laminated cards that allows them one step closer to their healing. For example a healthy cleft lip child or a child with bowed legs.

Seeing crew that do not normally work in the hospital rise to the occasion to help people by going the extra mile. The event that touched my heart the most was this ... There was a momma who brought her child to us. I estimate she was preteen perhaps. I knew the moment I looked at her what was going on. Once you've been a nurse for a while, you can just look into someone's eyes and know that something isn't quite right. I saw her deep brown eyes and the blank stare, the contracted and rigid limbs. I was told she had grown weaker and weaker and had never walked or talked. Her daughter has severe cerebral palsy. I think she knew that there was nothing we could do but as a mother held that hope deep down inside that maybe, just maybe we could help. I told her as a surgical hospital we could not help. I offered to have someone prayer for her and her daughter. She gracefully accepted this, gathered her daughter up and walked away. Along the way I saw something that touched my heart. Along the way one of my fellow crew mates, a dentist took her from her mother's arms and carried the daughter. A while later another one, a finance worker took over and carried her to the prayer station. Just for those  ten minutes she was not under the weight of her daughter. I'm sure that from the time her daughter was a tiny baby she has carried her on her back in traditional African fashion. Every year she would grow bigger but her mother just carried her along. Caring and loving her every step of the way. But for that ten minutes she could walk freely and have a small, small rest. 

These are just a few if the things I witnessed or felt in the thirteen hours I stood behind that gate speaking with potential patients. I am so excited for all the "yes" patients. I'm sure that I will have many stories our their time with us and the amazing people that they are. Through feeling the pain and sadness in every "no" it reminded me to continually pray and believe that God can work miracles in their lives. He is the great healer and who am I to limit his power? Will you pray with me that they will come to know his love and be healed by it. 

If you would like to see some my awesome friend's perspective of the day follow the links below. They really touched my heart. Believe me you need to read their blogs, they are amazing!

Ali - http://alirae.net/blog/archives/731-today-and-tomorrow-and-forever.html

Deb - http://debsheartinafrica.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-one.html?spref=fb

Selection Day

Selection day ... The day we either make people's hope and dreams come true or give them sad news. There's no way to tell how many people will come, but we are expecting hundreds. We have already heard that they are lining up in preparation to be seen. As this day quickly approaches it has got me thinking ... How can I best serve these people? I've been assigned the task of screening the patients. I will be one of the first people they come in contact with. Essentially I am the first yes or no. "Yes you can see the surgeon for his opinion" or "Sorry, but we cannot help you." I'm a little wary of the day. My biggest hope is that even in the sad times, when I can't give them the opportunity to have surgical healing, I can at least look them in the eyes and smile. Maybe share a little of my joy with them and lead them to a group of designated people who can ask God, the ultimate healer to step into their lives. I'm asking that all of you that read this blog just stop right now and just say a little prayer for my team and the African people we come in contact with. I've seen God work miracles on the ship before. I am believing that he can do it again! Thanks and I will update you on the day soon!

Gotta be flexible

Some of you may have been wondering what I have been up to since we arrived in Pointe Noir, Congo. Since the hospital does not open for another week and half we have had multiple small tasks or jobs. As a ward nurse on the Africa Mercy you have to be flexible. I have a new respect for so many of the different jobs on the ship now!

• For two weeks I worked in the galley, this included chopping vegetables, baking cookies and washing alot of dishes. Thank you so much galley team for feeding nearly 400 crew members! It is most definitely not an easy job.
• I scrubbed the floor, ceiling, walls and almost all of the equipment in the hospital. Thank you housekeeping for keeping us clean!
• I cleaned deck railings on the outside of the ship. Thanks deck crew for keeping up in tip-top shape!
• I made cards for the nurses. Just a little encouragement or a farewell. (I actually really enjoyed this!)

Just a small, small update on my current day to day life. A week from today we will have a patient selection day. On this day there is the potential of thousands of people coming to see us seeking surgery. Please keep the crew and all of the potential patients in your prayers. Also pray that the day goes smoothly for us. Merci boku!!

I'm getting excited

Over the past few days I have been thinking about what I am most excited for during my time in Congo. I am most excited about the love. I have been given the opportunity to love on people that are social outcasts. It is a complete healing, not only restoring physical beauty but also emotionally. One of Mercy Ships' mottos is Hope and Healing. But those three words mean so much more than just that.

Hope - to restore the longing that they can be loved and accepted again. They will not be known as "the outcast" or "the cursed", but known by their name and who they truly are. 
Healing - to heal not only the physical deformity or wound, but also to heal the broken spirit. 

I am to blessed to bare witness to these transformations. I've told you a few stories before, but here's a little recap. So many times they come in the day before surgery looking at the ground not making eye contact because they know none of their peers will look their way. Their communities have engrained into them that they bring shame to the family and are not worthy of other's attentions. All we do is spend time with them, whether simply by talking to them, playing games or just holding their hand. Over time it's like they become a new person. Once downcast and trodden and then joyful and dancing.
I could be proud and say that I had a part in that metamorphosis, but I am the one that is receiving healing as well. The courage and strength that they show is inspiring. To be cast out by everyone you know and love is unimaginable, but to have the courage to put one foot in front of the other and carry on. I don't know if I could do the same. So you see they teach and give love to me just as much if not more than I could ever give them. I am blessed to be a part of their journey.

Royal Diamond Shellback

I'm officialy a sailor! This is the third time I have been aboard the ship, but the first time sailing! I am currently aboard as it sails along the coast of West Africa to our destination of Republic of Congo. As a sailor who will cross the equator where it meets the prime meridian (at zero degrees) I will be know as a royal diamond shellback in the sailing world. Which I think it super cool, how many people can say they have been to zero degrees!


Africa Mercy is Tenerife

 

But let me tell you what I've been doing since I left Georgia. For the first four days of my stay here on Africa Mercy we were docked in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Which is an island of the Canary Islands. This place was the one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Torquiose seas and tall green mountains. It was amazing to have a vacation from my summer vacation in Georgia.

 

 

It was kind of sad to sail away from such a beautiful place, but we all know there is a much bigger purpose at the end of our two week sailing journey.

 



This is Teodoro, he plays hymns on his trumpet every time the ship comes
and goes into Tenerife. He has an amazing testimony,
 but that is for another time!

Look how pretty the water is! For all my fellow alumni you
 know why this is so exciting compared to water in other ports.

 

 

Because we are sailing the hospital is not open. Once we arrive in Pointe Noire, Congo we will have a screening day to sort through patients. For now all of the nurses have been allocated new duties. I have been placed in the galley ... as in preparing food for the crew. For those of you that know me this may be a scary thought. No worries there is a well trained group of crew members overseeing and mentoring me. So far I have washed ALOT of dishes, chopped veggies and baked cookies. When I'm not working in the galley there is a very high likelihood I will be found hanging in my hammock on the deck, with at least three other people. Our goal is to make a hammock city. It is so relaxing up there ... cool breeze and the ship just rocks you to sleep.



 

 

I just wanted to give you all a little update on what's going on in my life and share my photos/excitement with you! As we continue to sail to the Republic of Congo please pray for smooth seas and for all of the beautiful Congolese people we will come in contact with. I leave you with some of the ships friends ... dolphins!

 

 

 

 

 



Start of an amazing adventure

It has been nearly two years since I started this crazy traveling life I call my own. On June 6, 2011 I left my home in Georgia and began my journey with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone. It is amazing how time flies, after returning home and spending a little over a year there, I returned. Today, after a five month commitment, I am preparing to leave Guinea. I have mentioned before that there is certainly something in the water here, that makes us all fall in love with this work and never want to leave. On that note, I am here to say that this is not end, but the start of an amazing adventure.

From the beginning of returning to the ship I had said multiple, multiple times that this would be the last time I volunteer. I had spent almost two years traveling not only to Africa but also all over the state of Georgia as a travel nurse. I was ready for a "grown up" life ... a house, a husband, a white picket fence, children and a dog. 

The reoccurring thought kept creeping into my mind though, "What if I came back? It could be fun." Then I heard a sermon that used this verse from scripture ... 

"if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." - Psalm 139:9-10

It suddenly hit me, I had been planning out my life and not leaving any room for God to work. He is the God of the universe, He can plan my life and fulfill my hopes and dreams even if I am on the other side of the sea! (This is very exciting) After a few days of pondering this thought and just plain out just worrying my stomach sick, I made a decision. I would come back, I mean why not! I am not the wealthiest person and not everyone will agree with my decision, but God has given me an amazing gift in my skills as a nurse and a loving heart. How can I keep that all to myself? Ultimately this is not about what is best for me but what I can do to help others. God has never let me down before and has always provided. Why would He not this time? 

So that is my big news. At the end of July I will be rejoining the ship in the Canary Islands and sailing to Congo where we will provide free healthcare and surgeries for the next 10 months. I don't have a lot of the details as of yet, such as cost, but I will keep you all updated. For now I simply ask for prayer support as I prepare for the amazing adventure God has planned for me.

One more quote that has really inspired me...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. 

-Mark Twain

There's something in the water.

Recently one of my friends made a statement that is so very true about life aboard the Africa Mercy. She said "What is it about this place that makes us want to pay to work here and stay forever?" So as I have pondered this thought I came up with a few ideas or things that might have a little to do with it.

Rain! People of ages young and old are standing in the rain, splashing in puddles and watching awestruck at the amazing show of lightening God has on display. In a matter of minutes you are soaked, but you don't care. How often do you get to see a raging thunderstorm in Africa in the dry season!?

Work! You walk around the ward greeting your patients with "Bonjour, Ceva?" Which means "Good morning, how are you?" This elicits an immediate smile (in 90% of cases in at least the parent) and a handshake. Throughout your day you watch a Pixar film, play jenga, have a dance party or simply snuggle with a patient. Really getting quality time to spend with patients and learning who they are.

Community! Here I sit in the cafe area, surrounded by people that I live, work and hang out with every day. There is rarely a time where you don't have someone to talk to when you are having rough day or hang out with you when you are bored.

Cuddles! Going to see an old patient and she runs towards you giggling and jumps into your arms. Immediately she cuddles into your neck and you feel totally content in the moment. You never want it to end. 

So there's something in the water. After the first sip you're hooked. But it is indeed very sweet!

I can't believe I did that!

This past weekend I went on an absolutely breathtaking adventure. I think the easiest way to convey it would be straight from my journal entry Sunday.

I just arrived back to the ship from Kindia. Definitely was the most amazing adventure ever!! 

We left Friday after our day shifts (total of 18 of us). The first objective was to catch the public bus to Medina, a nearby area of Conakry. After a short ride with at least fifty other people we arrived. Immediately you are surrounded by people calling out "Kindia, Kindia". It is up to you to find the best deal, because everything is negotiable. It took at least an hour of arguing with a guy before we were off on our adventure.

Along the way we came upon a girl, probably about eight years old holding a dead animal. Honestly I have no idea what it was. It looked like a beaver with a rat like tail. Anyway she saw us looking at her so she walked up to the car's window. When she got right in front of me she swung it at me and then ran away giggling. As you can imagine this elicited a small gasp from me haha. The end result was blood splattered on my window and a crazy African story for me! After four hours of police checkpoints and dodging humongous potholes we arrived at our hotel. Hot showers, clean sheets, full size beds ... Oh it was glorious! 

 



Look how huge the bed is, complete with an African princess net ;)



We awakened the next morning and planned our adventure over the breakfast of bread and tea. We decided we wanted to find the "banana village". Legend has it that Kindia is known for it's bananas and there is a certain village only accessible by foot that has great bananas. (Sidenote: Hiking is not a pastime here, crazy white people) We went out and bought some bread and laughing cow cheese for lunch sandwiches. We really had our hearts set on some avocados, but none to be found. After a short taxi ride we arrived at the base of the mountains.



The hike begins



As we were walking toward the mountain a guy approached us and asked if we wanted to go to the village. We said yes but we will find it. We knew he would want boku money. He pretty much laughed in our faces. White man find the village by himself, haha! With a "Merci boku" we set off walking but he stayed with us all along the way. We eventually arrived at a plateau between two mountains. It was a beautiful view of the town of Kindia.

View from the plateau

We had been told the the banana village was just a walk down the other side. Nope, we followed our new African friend as he continued up the mountain. Honestly I thought one of two things was going to happen, either my legs or lungs would stop working. Luckily my hiking buddies were gracious enough to allow many breaks.

 

The best break was had on a rock percariously perched on the side of the mountain.

After about a three hour total hike we came upon some children sitting beneath a tree. They offered us some fruit. I still have no idea what it was. It had a hard outer shell and fleshy moist seeds beneath that you just stick in your mouth and suck on. It was actually pretty tasty.

 

Mystery fruit

 A short distance on we found the banana village. It does exist! We walked into the village to a cheer of "Fotay, Fotay" (white man) from all the children. Our African guide led us to one of the little huts that we soon found out was his house. A few moments later we are introduced to his family.



Legit African huts



His mother goes back inside and comes out with an arm full of avocados as a gift! We decided to share our feast with our new friends.

Yum

It was one of those moments you just want to remember forever. There I was sitting in a remote village, eating with an African family while children play football down the hill. Priceless! It was one of those moments that I felt overwhelmingly blessed that God allowed me to come to Africa. After a small football game and a dance party we were off again.

Football game. Prithvi didn't stand a chance against them!



African dancing lesson from our tiny teachers



We walked a small distance and found them .... The bananas! No lie, best bananas of my life. I'm ruined, I've had fruit straight from the source. Kroger or Publix will never suffice!

This is my bunkmate Trudi. The best banana of your life causes uncontainable happiness!

 By now it was late afternoon, time to go home. We said our goodbyes and literally walked down the side of the mountain! Oh what an amazing blessed life I live! I can't believe I did that!

Plastics ... eek!

Plastics! Oh how that scares me. Taking scarred skin and rearranging and/or replacing it with new skin. Just the thought of it and the extensive dressings makes me a little nervous. Luckily this outreach we have a team of amazing nurses that have volunteered to do all the plastic dressings. Whew!

Danielle, June, Amy and Karin ... our amazing dressing team!

Ok, so yeah that was a little vague. Let me tell you a little about plastics. The majority of our plastic patients are having contracture releases secondary to burns. A contracture is when the normally stretchy (elastic) tissues are replaced by nonstretchy (inelastic) fiber-like tissue. This makes it hard to stretch the area and prevents normal movement.They acquire contractures after they are burned and the wound is not properly care for.  The body is an amazing healer, but when you place two fresh wounds up against each other. Say for example your chin and your neck/upper chest. The two will stick together making one scab. Eventually your chin will be attached to your neck. I know this sounds like an extreme case. But this is exactly what happened to Tia (name changed). When she was just a few days old, there was an accident. A oil lamp was accidentally knocked over, splashing hot oil all over her lower face, chest and one of her hands. This would have been a big emergency back in the states, we would have immediately sent her to a specialized burn unit. But there are no specialized places here. She was lucky to even been taken to a hospital. Age is kind of questionable here, I'd say she is late twenites/early thirties (at the most). She has lived with her chin attached to her neck/upper chest all of her life.
Then she came to Mercy Ships. I remember the first day she came on the ward. When you see it for the first time, there is a little shock factor. I mean I see things you would never, ever see in the Western world. But then you look into their eyes and you see the suffering and sadness. No matter what society has said about them all of their life, you have to love them. Tia had her surgery a couple of weeks ago and in the past week I have seen her bloom. Her mouth is closed for the first time in decades, the immediate transformation is amazing. She has photos of her family that she loves to show off and her face lights up everytime. The other day I was walking down the hall and I found her and two of the other female patients dancing in the stairwell. And she laughed and laughed when I caught them. So what do I do? Of course I join, I'm not going to miss a dance party!
Tia is continuing to heal. She has had some issues with infection. So please pray for her continued healing both physically and emotionally.


Tia continuously has a bulky neck dressing (I have no idea what it looks like beneath). Whenever it comes off it will be like a wonderful suprise ... Surprise a neck! Tia is here with one of our great dayworkers, a fellow charge nurse Bethany and some really adorable little boys :)