happenings.

After a 5 month long rollercoaster ride, I am happy to say that I am finally HEADACHE FREE!!! I never thought the Mercy Ship's mission statement of "Bringing Hope & Healing" would apply much to my own personal life, but my Mercy Ships family, my own family & some friends has most definitely made this statement tangible. Thank you all for prayers, cards, thoughts, and just overall support through this difficult time in my life. You'll never know how much I cherish and appreciate each and every one of you.


I'm so very grateful to move on the next season of my life & especially being headache free!
The best news of all is that I will be returning to the ship to serve another 15 months starting on July 24th.
I will meet the ship in Tenerife, The Canary Islands where it is currently in dry dock. We sail down to Conakry, Guinea in August to begin a 10 month long field service, which I am ecstatic about!


There aren't enough words to relay how thankful I am to have you all walking this journey with me!!


Thank you all once again for your support!!!

still stateside.

yes, i am still currently in the states and continuing to get better. thank you all for your continued prayers & love. the headache is still lingering BUT, im so very grateful to say it is not as bad or as intense as it was even a month ago. 


just wanted to share this story about my friend Papanie who is from the Sierra  Leone. He is set to become a crewmember on the Africa Mercy in May. I'm so very excited about this, because he brings so much joy & positivity into my life. I can't wait to get back and serve alongside him once again!

Papanie Turay – A Joy To Work With!

Mention the name of Papanie Turay around the Africa Mercy, and the response is immediate: “Perpetually happy!” These two words sum up the wonderful joy that Papanie shares wherever he is working onboard.

Papanie’s kind and buoyant disposition is especially amazing when you consider the trials he has faced in his life. Prior to joining Mercy Ships as a day-worker in Sierra Leone in 2011, Papanie endured incredible hardship. Yet, he never abandoned hope nor his mission to “serve with all of my heart.”

Two of his brothers died in infancy before Papanie was born. Then, when he was two years old, his father died. People said that Papanie’s mother was cursed and that she would kill her infant son, Papanie, too. She believed the superstitious gossip. To save her son, she gave him to her sister Fatu, who did not have any children.

Life with his aunt was harsh. Papanie began work as a laborer at a very early age to help feed the family. The extremely heavy loads he carried caused excessive strain on his growing joints, particularly in his right hip. But Papanie could not afford to stop working, and the pain in his hip grew worse.

The remedies from the traditional doctor in his village offered no relief. Wrapping his legs in steamed leaves made no difference. In desperation, Papanie spent precious resources to get advice from the nearest clinic. The news was distressing. Papanie would have a permanent limp, and he must stop carrying any heavy loads to keep from completely losing his ability to walk.

At age fifteen, Papanie came to a Mercy Ships patient screening. The sad news Papanie had received from the clinic was confirmed. There was no treatment that could heal Papanie’s hip or limp.

Because he could no longer earn money as a laborer, Papanie knew he would be an unwelcome burden on his aunt and her family. He left their village and began living on the streets in Freetown.

With his visible limp, Papanie bore the brunt of ridicule and discrimination in addition to continuing physical pain. He said, “My life was survival of the fittest. Any money I earned I had to spend right away or bury. Otherwise it would be stolen from me. I went to school, but I had no lunch, and I could not afford to buy the uniform.”

The only family that Papanie had during these dark years was a group of teenagers who lived in Victoria Park in Freetown. While many street kids turned to theft to survive or to drugs to escape, Papanie did not choose that path. “I wanted a good way for my life, not one that was wrong or would cause the harm I had seen done in others who went this way,” he explained.

When Papanie was first approached by a Christian organization called Word Made Flesh_,_ he resisted the invitation to join their support program for street youth. “I was from a Muslim family and was taught to mistrust Christians,” he stated.

Cami, a warm-hearted Word Made Flesh volunteer, caused Papanie to have a change in heart. “Cami showed me so much love and care. My family never gave me love, and when Cami, who did not know me, gave me what I had missed so much in my childhood, I began to feel differently. I watched how everyone at Word Made Flesh gave love to others, and I decided I would be a Christian, too.”

In 2011, Papanie had his second encounter with Mercy Ships, thanks to his involvement with his local church. His youth pastor suggested that Papanie become a day-worker onboard the Africa Mercy. “I wanted to become a missionary, and I didn’t think I would have time for a full-time job. But I listened to my mentor’s advice, and, after working with the hospital housekeeping team, I was so glad. I discovered that the mission of Mercy Ships is also my mission. The work is hard, but I am able to serve with all of my heart,” he said.

Papanie’s family thinks that it is a great blessing for Papanie to be part of the Mercy Ships team. He agrees. “I have learned to serve others, and I have so many good friends in my life. I have put down my pride for a new way – I help others get up.”

A wonderful step in Papanie’s missionary journey was completing the Mercy Ships Gateway training in Ghana. “I learned a lot about leadership, God’s Word and how to work cross-culturally,” he remarked.

Papanie is now working diligently to raise the support needed to continue his service as a volunteer crew member onboard the Africa Mercy. He welcomes the opportunity to serve and to grow in his ability to be a servant leader.

“In my community, I help young children, especially girls, with their education. I led a Good News Club, and every Saturday morning children came from everywhere to worship, sing and share food. Now, I am talking to others to also start Good News Clubs in their communities. Everything I gain as a volunteer with Mercy Ships will help me be of more help to others,” he said.

Papanie has absolute confidence that his path with Mercy Ships is what God has in mind for him. “God has given me a lifetime supply of joy and the will to help raise others up through education, through mentorship, and through showing love. I am blessed to be His servant, and I know I will be blessed with the support to do the work He calls me to,” he said with great assurance.

missing in action....

I am sure a lot of you are wondering about the happenings in Lome, Togo & the latest and greatest adventures with me in regards to Mercy Ships.

I am unfortunately currently on medical leave from the ship. One Sunday evening in early January an innocent game of spoons got slightly out of hand. I was kicked quite hard in the temple by a guy wearing work boots & I have had an unrelenting & debilitating headache for the past two and half months. 

The doctors on the ship tried their hardest and best to figure out what was going on. I was treated for a concussion, but none of the medication seemed to work or even take the edge off. I was treated for malaria & that didn't seem to be the cause.  I had a CT scan on board and thankfully no tumors or brain bleeds showed up! But after a month and half of not being able to work & trying to cope with the constant & incessant pain I made the decision that I needed to come home & get checked out further. I am currently in the states & the doctors are trying to figure out what exactly is going on.

 I have great faith that I will be okay and able to return to the ship. I must be cleared by the doctor first but I truly believe that my time with Mercy Ships is not yet finished!

Thank you all for your continued support throughout this journey and process!!!

I appreciate all of your love and prayers greatly!!!

screening day part deux.

via mercy ships

.."the patient screening went very well! An estimated 3500 people patiently waited to be seen of which 1600 were selected for further screening. Thank you for your prayers and support."

here are a few photos from screening day...

i didn't get the chance to personally go myself, as some people still had to man and work on the ship, BUT next screening in Guinea I will most definitely be there!!!

The first patients arrived today & surgery begins tommorow!!!

Thank you all once again for your support allowing me the privelege and honor of serving the people of West Africa!!



screening day.

today is the day.....

via mercy ships
"The Africa Mercy is holding a mass surgical screening on Wednesday, February 1st at Kegue Stadium in Lomé, Togo beginning at first light, 5:30am. Please join the Africa Mercy crew in prayer as we prepare for this day. We are anticipating to screen between 3,000 to 5,000 people. We will be looking specifically for maxillo-facial tumors, cleft lips and palates, and burn contractures. Both medical and non-medical crew members will be involved in this massive event, as well as the assistance of several dozen day workers who will assist with the crucial work of translation."

Sierra Leone: Round Two.

home sweet home : ]

Currently sailing to Ghana for Christmas after the Ship's 10 month field service in Sierra Leone. Off to Togo for 6 months thereafter.



I must say that it was more bitter than sweet to leave that wondrous place. Sierra Leone is so very special to me. The memories that I have from 10 years ago of going with my Mother. And now the new memories I have made.sorry for the lack of personal photos, but, my camera was ruined in a torrential downpour whilst on a hike my 2nd week of living on the ship. BUT I just received a brand new camera so next field  service ( Which will be in Togo come January) there should be more photos coming your way.

hike to sugarloaf mountain. highest peak in freetown, where i learned what rainy season really is. r.i.p. camera & i-pod.

highlights from this field service...


working security at a dental screening

 it was cool to see firsthand how the whole process works and how many people they help each week as they screened on Monday's and Thursday's.

my first African Wedding.

visits to the hope center to visit with some of the patients.

observing surgery. those of you who know me well, you know that blood and guts isn't particulary my thing. I can hardly watch House or Greys Anatomy type shows due to the fact of me getting extremely grossed out. BUT i decided to be brave and face my fear.

surgery number 1 was a hernia ( which i almost passed out due to the patient's bowels being out when i walked into the OR ). The 2nd one was not as gruesome & was a bi-lateral cleft/palate surgery.  Which I actually quite enjoyed.

* princess anne aka queen elizabeth's daughter stopped by for a visit.

(sorry folks..the princess asked us not to post photos)BUT i hope this photo of me working at reception will suffice 

: )

the dayworkers...they were hired at the beginning of the field service to assist us in many different ways.
these tremendous people are a HUGE part of what makes Mercy Ships work whether it be by translating, teaching us about the culture etc.

-ward instructions on how to use the toilet

This is Pastor Moses. & he has been working closely with Mercy Ships for many years now. He actually remembered me from my trip to Freetown 10 years ago when my Mom & I went to go visit his church.

*WARNING- may be a bit graphic for your liking, but, this is their reality. a few patients from our outreach .Many of them are ostracized & outcast from their villages because of their various conditions.

Shaka before

Shaka After!!!

this is Fanie.

Fanie After!!!

just a small taste of what has been accomplished this field service.

I will miss the magnificent Sierra Leone sunsets on the dock.

Went on an engine room tour of our ship. Was cool to see what happens "behind the scenes."

The Farewell & Thank You Reception for the DayVolunteers

saying goodbye to my buds Paul & Simeon

worst part of living on the ship is the goodbyes. these people become your family. whether it comes to crew members or day-volunteers, them leaving is not a fun process.

will have some statistics from this field service soon....

but until then, I wish the Happiest of Holidays to you all!!!

Yams Farm & Kissy Eye Clinic

The last week of field service was quite productive. We got a lot accomplished despite it being rainy season here in Sierra Leone.

We continued our teaching in Yams Farm on basic hygeine. The construction of the latrine was coming along quite wonderfully. Toni our Dentist and her lovely assistant Annika continued on with the extractions and dental work.

 On Tuesday a large group from my Gateway team headed over to Kissy Eye Clinic to do some prep work for painting. Kissy Eye Clinic is where Mercy Ships does the majority of the Eye screenings to mainly to see who they can help & schedule for surgeries for cataracts etc. so to sum it up...

we sanded.

we painted.

we conquered.

Thursday was our last day in Yam's Farm & Pastor Mark and the community wanted to have a Farewell celebration for us & for the completion of the latrine.

they wrote and sang a farewell song to us..

my buddy moses...such a leader. wise beyond his 10 years of living

 It was sad to say goodbye but thankfully they aren't to far away from us here on the ship : ] I was overwhelmed once again by their generosity...they ended up getting each and everyone of  me and my fellow team members beautiful African Attire. Dresses for the ladies & suave dress shirts for the gentlemen. This experience was so humbling. Twas so amazing to see those who have so little (materialistic and moneywise) want to give so much.

THE COMPLETED LATRINE!!!!!

here's a few extra pictures from my time in Yam's Farm....

 

Zaylib is the spunkiest thing you ever did see...she was another good buddy of mine!!!

And Friday was the epic day we'd all been waiting for ...MOVING ONTO THE SHIP DAY!!!

stay tuned for 1st day adventures aboard the Africa Mercy.