5 Thoughts From Dustin

If any of you know my amazing husband, you know he is an extrovert and a man of MANY words. Thus, I asked him if he’d be willing to write updates to keep all of our friends, prayer warriors, supporters, and maybe just curious internet prowlers updated on what God’s doing in our lives as we serve for 3.5 months in Madagascar with Mercy Ships. His response, “No!” I know sarcasm is not detected in written form, but for those of you who REALLY know my husband, you know he is an introvert, a listener, a quiet, gentle, humble man. As he says, he uses a verbal “filter” a lot. Many of us would actually benefit from more of that practice, myself, included. Thus, he won’t be writing our updates. But, I have asked him every few days for “5 thoughts” just so I know how he is doing and can see a glimpse into how he’s coping and processing this adventure of a lifetime. Some days, his five thoughts are more like two or three, other days, there are seven thoughts, but I’ll take it. So, here are some thoughts from Dustin (in black) my extra information in (green) 

August 30th (after I woke Dustin up at 3:30am jet lagged and standing on the bed singing “The Song of the Cebu”) 

 1. Why are there so many people in the streets? The streets have people waiting for taxis, walking, pushing carts, carrying babies, “normal life” in Africa. 

 2. Tired. 

3. Seychelles doesn’t sell seashells down by the sea shore. 

4. Madagascar is pleasantly cold right now. We are below the equator and thankful for that. We are moving into spring- then summer. It’s mighty humid, but not as hot as West Africa. 

5. Dubai was hot. It was toasty, felt like “112 *F” at 10pm! 

6. I would 100% not be doing this without you! 

7. I have no more thoughts. 

September 1st 

1. It’s hotter. 

2. I’m tired. 

3. I’m going to lose weight. We are not going hungry, there are plenty of food options, just not the routine foods Dustin would chose to eat. 

4.  “Don’t you remember, I said I don’t have very many thoughts?” I told Dustin, “I thought you didn’t have very many WORDS.” He said, “Don’t you remember, when a guy says he’s not thinking about anything, it’s true. We have a ‘nothing box” in our heads.” 

5. That shower is pretty small. 

6.  I hope I like who I’m working with. 

7. I hope you stop waking up at 3:30am-4:30am 

September 2nd 

1. My team sure has a different work ethic. There are 5 electricians on board, from 5 different countries. Dustin is getting a basic intro to the maritime electrician role. I’ve explained to him, that he doesn’t want to be busy, that would mean something is wrong, and a serious problem for a hospital ship. Dustin is a handworker, he did work on our dishwasher when he had influenza and did electrical work in our house with pneumonia. He does not like to sit around. 

2. I hope my closet-workroom isn’t hot like this all the time. 

3. Apparently sharing food is a thing. I asked Dustin if he put food on the table near his co-workers. He sure did. In many cultures, food is for the community, eating all out of one bowl, or pot. His cashews were enjoyed by others, which surprised him. 

September 5th 

1. I cut my own hair. Some of Dustin’s hair is getting longer than he’d prefer already. We have an open crew need for a barber/hairstylist, if anyone is interested. I’m trying to convince Dustin to grow a man bun. He is reluctant. 

2. I may have to drink a Mountain Dew ☹ In the 7 years I have been married to Dustin, he has drank a regular Pepsi almost every single day. He’s now on 7 days without a Pepsi or caffeine. There has been no Pepsi in sight. 

September 8th 

1. It’s hot. 

2. People REALLY have a different work ethic than me. 

3. Not the pace I’m used to. 

4. Lots of nice folks in town, except, apparently those causing trouble that we’ve heard about.

5. I can’t believe I couldn’t find the gym. Our ship had 8.5 decks, you can get turned around a bit at first. Dustin tried to find the gym when I was at work and he couldn’t find it. Nor did he ask. ☺

September 12th 

1.The rain was nice. ….

I’m waiting for more thoughts… Five minutes later I ask Dustin for more thoughts. I said, “I need more thoughts, Luv.” He said, “You do?” 

2. There is a secret staircase in the ship. It’s STEEP! 

3. Stupid Smartphones. 

4. I didn’t get to see the dance this morning. There is a celebration of sight on the dock when our eye patients take off their eye patches and dance for joy when they can see! Dustin was hopeful to see this glorious celebration of the literal moments of the blind seeing, as the Bible says will happen in Jesus’ name, but it was raining today and they moved the celebration of sight inside the port warehouse and Dustin missed it. I would have showed him, but was in a training session for upcoming surgeries. 

5.  I should have waited for my lunch; they have chicken strips now! 

 I asked Dustin to just rate his current view of life on a scale from zero to ten. He said, “You mean the food? “ I said, “No, in general, life on Mercy Ships.” I noted zero means you hate it, ten means you love it. He gave it a 4/10. For reference, he rates life at home 10/10! ☺ I am so proud of Dustin for being obedient to God to come and serve with Mercy Ships. It is a sacrifice to be here, but more than worth it.