Hospital Open House 2012...

Before the start of every Field Service, the Hospital opens its doors to the general crew, so that the whole ship can get a taste of what it is like to be a patient or a nurse on the Hospital deck of the world's largest charity hospital ship. This important event happened this past Monday, and I was there to capture - and experience - the fun and activities.

There were many different activities, including wound-care and learning how to do dressing changes, how to insert an IV, how to intubate a patient and many more. It was a great evening learning about the pivotal role that the Africa Mercy hospital plays in many West African nations - it is, after all, the reason why we are here.

Trying my hand at wound-care. (Not a real wound, of course. :-) )

Inserting an IV.

I got that elusive "vein"!

Match the name with the Hospital equipment.

Suctioning a lung.

The Captain tries his hand at intubating a patient.

Eeyore is ready for surgery!

Crew members learn how to suture.

Sterilising machines.

X-Ray room.

Our CT-Scanner.

Candace and I at the Open House. :-)

Togo Update...

Well, we are already on the cusp of February and I have not had much chance to keep my blog updated. So, I will give you a run-down on the events that have characterised my life on the AFM since I last blogged some three weeks ago.

Being back in Togo is just like being home. It is such a change from Sierra Leone and it is lovely to be in a nation where everyone remembers who you are and why you are here. I have gone to the market several times and have enjoyed interacting with the street vendors, and have also enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere on the streets – certainly when compared with Freetown’s crowded roads!

This last weekend I went to the Maison Bethany Orphanage, one of the Mercy Ministries I was involved with back in 2010. It was fantastic to be back and to see the children who still remember me! It’s amazing that a bond can be forged across cultural and language lines. We did the story of Joseph and his colourful cloak, and then did a craft where the children decorated a cut-out of Joseph with felt and fabric. After the activity we played games inside while it rained outside, and then once the rain had eased I played soccer with the boys in the garden. It was great to be back!

And then moving to the primary reason we are here: The Hospital. We have had a large influx of medical volunteers over the last two weeks and are preparing to open the Hospital in the next week or so. Tonight is the Hospital Open House – where non-medical crew can experience a taste of what it is like to work in the Hospital – and then on Wednesday we have our main screening event at the national stadium in Lome. This is where we screen for potential patients. We expect several thousand people to turn up, and we will not be able to help them all. But we do pray that everyone who is there on Wednesday – whether we can help them or not – would have a Divine appointment to receive a taste of healing in their lives. Be it spiritually or physically, we pray that God’s will would be done! Your prayers for this event and all that needs to happen that day would be most appreciated!

So that is what has been happening here on the AFM in Togo. I don’t have any other work-related news from my side, other than life in the Purser’s office continues at a brisk pace, and I am very much looking forward to my break back in Cape Town in February and March. It would have been almost 11 months since I was last home – the longest stint away from Cape Town that I have had since joining Mercy Ships in November 2007.

On a personal note, I do have an exciting announcement to make, but it deserves its own post. Stay tuned for that!

Arrival in Togo! (# 2)

This is the second time in the last two years that I have sailed into Lomé, Togo. The previous time was after a sail of over ten days. This time the sail was only ten hours! And by 18h00 this past Thursday the Africa Mercy was securely tied to our familiar berth in the Port of Lomé.

I am happy to be back in a country that I know so well - but I am much more excited about all the additional people that we can now reach. Some people may have been left two years ago still needing a slice of healing in their lives. They may have felt despair and neglect. But God is faithful and has brought us back to Togo, and we are here to continue the work that was started in 2010. I'm excited to see what's in store this Field Service - are you?

Here are some more photos from our arrival.

We felt very blessed to be given a naval escort into the harbour!

Pilot swings close to the Africa Mercy.

The pilot clambers aboard.

Approaching the Port.

With Candace as we sail towards Togo.

A new harbour tug.

Ships in the port - it is far less busy than Tema.

Heading towards our dock - on the left of picture.

Another older tug stands-by.

Departing Tema...

It was still early in the morning this past Thursday when the Africa Mercy headed out of the Port of Tema bound for Lome, Togo. Ghana has been good to us and being here has afforded many crew members the opportunity to explore the country. While I didn't spend a night off the ship, I was still able to relax in some pretty awesome surroundings. Thank you Ghana!

Sun rises over the Port of Tema as a tug stands-by.

Pilot boat waits in the harbour.

Mooring lines are cast off.

Heading out towards the sea.

Clearing the main breakwater.

Pilot departs.

And heads back to the shelter of the harbour.

Little fishing canoes approaching.

Rice-sack sails - very innovative here in West Africa!

Exploring Accra...

Candace and I went out to Accra, the capital city of Ghana, this past Thursday (29th December). I had wanted to do some exploring in the area for a while, and so we left the ship on Thursday morning with a rough idea of where we were going - but no concrete plans.

We drove out along the Beach Road - which runs from Tema to Accra - and it was along this stretch of road that we made our first stop. We came across the coffin showroom that was showcased in Season 17 of The Amazing Race. The competitors in the CBS reality TV series had to push decorated coffins through the streets of Accra as one of their challenges in the Ghanaian capital. It was amazing to see the actual coffins that I'd seen on TV - and more so because they are carved in shapes to commemorate the person's lifestyle: lobsters, trucks, fish, cameras, etc.

From there we drove on into downtown Accra and through the city centre to the poorer - but culturally and historically rich - neighbourhood of Jamestown, on the coast. Here we explored the magnificent, operational lighthouse, and the fishing village. We were given a guided tour of the community and saw the beautiful fishing canoes and met some local children. In contrast to the beauty and vibrancy of the community, we also saw the darker places where in times gone by slaves were loaded onto ships and sailed across the sea. We walked past the Jamestown fort and saw the remaining tracks where carriages transported slaves to the sea, a fading memory of a turbulent past.

We then headed into Accra and stopped at the Post Office and also did some street shopping, before heading back to Tema via the Mall. It was a good day out that gave me a greater appreciation of the historical significance of Ghana - and how proud the locals are of their rich and diverse history.

The coffin showroom along the Beach Road.

Lobster design coffin.

Small fish - sadly, for a child.

Club Beer and Coca-Cola bottles.

The monument to Ghana's Independence.

Jamestown lighthouse, Accra.

Looking down from the lighthouse to Jamestown Fort.

The fishing village from the lighthouse.

The lamp in the lighthouse.

Candace and I at the top.

Looking up inside the lighthouse's winding stairs.

Canoes in the fishing village.

Another view of the Jamestown fishing village.

The door of the Jamestown fort.

Tema-bound, passing the Accra Mall.