Life

For all of you have been fearing that something is wrong with me because of my lack of posts, let me ease your mind. No need to fear the unknown anymore, something is wrong with me! I will start with last weekend, I worked the 7am-7pm day shifts on both Saturday and Sunday. Then I followed those shifts with night duty Monday, Tuesday, and was graciously given Wednesday off, considering I was not feeling excellent. I saw the doctor on Wednesday morning and was started on antibiotics for a suspected bladder infection, yikes, never had one of those before. My condition was not getting better so, on Friday, I saw the doctor again. The doctor changed my antibiotics. Saturday morning, I had a wicked huge amount of pain in my back and nausea. I could not get comfortable, it hurt so bad. I was rolling in pain crying and crying (although I do have a flair for the dramatic, it seriously hurt worse than any pain I have ever had). The on-call doctor came to my cabin and decided I should go to the hospital. Lucky for me, the hospital is down the hall. An IV was started and I was given lots of pain medicine. I vomited a few times as well. I had two ultrasounds, more pain medicine, and lots of IV fluid. It was decided I should have a CT Scan. The CT Scan revealed tons of kidney stones in both of my kidneys. How they got there, we have no idea. I have had interesting health challenges throughout my life, but no plumbing challenges like these. Yikes. I attempted to rest in the hospital over night. Praise God, the pain medicine I was given, worked. It took away all my pain. I was given tons over IV fluid to flush out the kidney stones. In the wee hours of Sunday morning, one kidney stone came out. Sunday afternoon, I went back to my cabin, where I have been resting and drinking water like a fish. Today I went to the doctor for a follow-up appointment. I had a fever this morning, which should not be possible with all the antibiotics I have been taking, so we are checking for malaria (in Africa, one always has to check for malaria, even if you see no mosquito bites). We are going to continue with antibiotic treatment, rest, and lots of fluids. The crew doctor is also going to have a UN Radiologist review my CT Scan for an additional opinion on all the stones that were found. It is unknown when those stones will break loose and if they are small enough to come out naturally. Therefore, my trip to Sierra Leone, has been cancelled. I am really bummed about the cancellation of my trip. But the trip would not be fun, if the stones were to get excited again, and try to come out. I was going to check out more of this African nation that I am so fascinated with, but I guess there will be time for more adventure later. I am okay and resting! My friends here (& mom) are amazing and it is such a blessing when your doctor prays with you as you are in pain. There is no other place I rather be right now. I am hoping all of you are well! Love you lots!

Loving My Babies

We loaded into the land rover once again, but something was different this time. I was in the driver's seat! Yup, you heard me! Just recently, I became a certified Mercy Ships Driver. This is a unique, special, and frightening privilege. For those of you who have visited 3rd world countries; you know that the roads are crazy and dangerous! Speed limits are nonexistent, drivers pass on the left and right sides of the roads, basically the road is chaos. Here in Liberia, there are no stop signs, or yield signs, and the traffic lights that exist, are not functioning. The potholes in the road are deep and filled with manky, rank, muddy water. If you hit a pothole, there is a good chance you will get sucked in it and end up in China, or need a crane to pull you out. Exciting stuff! Up until this point, I have been only a passenger on these adventurous roads. Honestly, sometimes I even close my eyes, just so I will not scream and scare the driver when I see the cars coming toward us. I never planned on driving here, but often our plans change... Let me tell you how this came to be. Remember my precious babies at the Sister's of Charity that I told you about a few months ago? In case you were wondering, I have not neglected them. I actually go to the Sister's of Charity every Wednesday morning, when I am not working. I am one of the regular members of this outreach team. My regular visits to Sisters and relatively long term status on the ship has ushered me into the role of being in charge of the children's outreach at Sisters. I love to hold the children, kiss them, sing to them, and play with them. Well, I was so touched and moved by my first visit to Sisters, that I spread the word and now many people want to come too. The desire of more crew members to be involved in this ministry required that a second driver be found to take an additional vehicle to the site. I was selected because I was one of the only people who go regularly to Sisters who knows how to drive stick-shift (thanks to my old lawn mowing business), on the right side of the road ( I beat the Brits on this one), and who was not afraid of the task! I am always up for an adventure! Therefore, I am now driving on the streets of Liberia! For all of you prone to worrying.... DON'T! I am alive to write you this story. I only stalled the car once in traffic, I made it up the big hill I was afraid of rolling back down, and I didn't end up in China! I am still in Africa... loving my babies.

Night Shifts

It was my fourth night shift in a row and I was tired to say the least. In my weary state I asked God for the strength to get through another night. I had 9 patients in the VVF Ward (the ward for women who have had traumatic pregnancies and now are leaking urine and sometimes stool) and 1 patient in the ICU, actually a friend and crew member who had broken his leg in a soccer match and was waiting for surgery. I was also responsible for 2 patients in a ward down the hall who were from Sierra Leone and would be leaving in the early hours of the morning. At the beginning of the shift I was honored, I guess, with being given the role of charge nurse. I was not given then charge nurse role because my nursing skills are amazing, but because out of all the nurses working that night, I had been with Mercy Ships longest. I felt the stress level rising inside of me. I prayed God would help me to have a positive attitude and strength for the busy night ahead. With shift report over, I headed to see my VVF patients first. That is where the marathon of a night started. It was one thing after another. There were two of us responsible for 18 VVF patients. One of our patients started bleeding, she was three days post-surgery and she should not have been bleeding as much as she was. The doctor had encouraged us to continue monitoring the bleeding and start and IV and check the patient's hemoglobin if we were concerned. We were really getting concerned. The patient's blood pressure was dropping and more blood was coming. As charge nurse, I was responsible for paging the doctor. Of course the pager system would not work. When we finally reached the doctor, he came and assessed the patient. We were told to continue monitoring the bleeding. We were very concerned, but kept checking the patient. In the mean time, my blessed patients, could not understand that I was very busy with an emergency and they kept yelling my name across the ward. One patient wanted lip gloss, another wanted a surgical cap to cover her braids, while another needed some cream (lotion for her skin). I love getting small things like this for my patients, but I was starting to become really frustrated because I could not get everything done when my patients wanted it done. Then I get mad at myself for feeling frustrated because I want to be able to do everything for my patients when they want it, but that is just not possible. My emotions were starting to churn and my exhausted state was hitting an all time max. I was trying to keep my focus, but having difficulty. At this point in the evening, I needed to page the lab technician to come to the lab. Again, the paging system was broken. Uggg, after extra effort, the lab tech was contacted and came to the ward. More patients yelling, "Lada, come!" They try to say "Laura," but it sounds more like "Lada or Laywer." In my hospital at home, most patients have private rooms and the nurse is not in their view all the time, but not here, all our patients are in one large room. This has benefits and drawbacks. This night, I was seriously feeling the drawbacks. In the middle of all this, I was performing the simple task of hand washing. When I turned off the sink to dry my hands, the sink made the most horrific sound. It sounded like a heard of cattle in labor. The screeching was terrible! Immediately my task focus changed, I needed to page the plumber. Yup, you guessed it, the paging system did not work...Oh well! The plumber finally came to the ward and fixed the screaming sink. Meanwhile, on the dock, a patient was found unconscious. She was rushed to the ICU where she was stabilized and sent to my ward. Yikes! It was about 10:30pm at this point on the VVF ward, the doctors decided to do an emergency surgery on our bleeding patient. Not good news for my patient, but a relief for me, knowing the doctors were attending to her needs. We called the OR nurse, anesthesia provider, and the OR staff to come to the operating room. With this patient in the safe hands of our doctors; I moved onto my next task. Time to check all my patients, take their vital signs, fill their water bottles, and empty their catheter bags. One thing after another was happening and taking my attention away from the task at hand. At that moment, when I was ready to pull out my hair, Jane, my Irish roommate, also a nurse, popped in to see how I was doing. She immediately saw the stress and chaos on the ward, went down the hall, put on her scrubs, and returned to help in any way she could. Even though it was her night off, she came to help. Jane has the heart of a true servant. Jane's help gave me the chance to break away and check on my friend and patient, Theo, in the ICU. Now, do not worry, if he was truly in critical condition, I would have checked on him sooner. I knew he was stable. While I was checking on him and attempting to get some supplies out of a cupboard, I stood up really quickly and slammed the dickens out of my head. I saw stars for a second and then the tears just started flowing. At that moment, all my stress started pouring out my eyes in the form of huge crocodile tears. I knew I needed a break. I walked down the hall to my cabin, then let the tears run freely. My roommates, all home, which is very unusual, immediately came to me and started praying. What a blessing, to have my home just down the hall and people willing to carry my burdens to Jesus with me. With renewed strength and an aching head; I went back to the ward. Back on the ward, it was still crazy. My mom, working on the ward next to me was recruited to assist with the patient from the ICU, she graciously helped out, while I was still stressed and trying to catch up on the care for my patients. At 2:00am things were finally starting to calm down. I was standing in the middle of all my patient's charts working on catching up on late medications when Clementine, a ward disciple came through the door. She had heard about the chaos on the ward and was moved to come and pray for the patients and nurses. Amazing, the way God cares for us. In the middle of the storm, God sent someone to pray over me. Clementine richly blessed me as she prayed for God's peace to come upon the ward. Wow, I work in an amazing place! The night hours quickly disappeared, not a chance for me to feel sleepy. At 6:00am I started waking the patients that would be leaving for Sierra Leone. They showered, dressed, and ate. I helped them carry their bags out and watched them drive away. At 7:00pm the night before, the last thing I wanted to do was have the responsibility of discharging patients at such an early hour. But, it was the perfect way to end my shift and start a new day... As I reflect back on this crazy night shift, more of the "busy" details fade from my mind. But the smiles on the faces of the patients walking down the gangway that morning will never fade from my memory. That is what it is all about and for them... I would do it all again.

Prayer Request

Dear Friends and Family, I am doing well. I have almost hit my 5 month mark! I am entirely content and blessed to be here in Africa. I do have a prayer request. Pray for my spiritual health and walk with God. There are so many distractions here on the ship. Helping people, fellowship time, adventures into town and across the countryside, ministry opportunities, and the list goes on. I am struggling to find a quiet place and time to meet with God. Do not get me wrong, God is in everything here on the ship, but nothing can take the place of daily time with God. In some sort of naivety, I thought I would immediately have a closer relationship with God away from the distractions of the modern world, but that is not the case. As with any relationship in life, one must take time and invest energy to make a relationship grow, pray I invest plenty of my daily time talking to God. It is my deepest desire to grow closer to God and I need prayers for discipline in this area of my life. Pray that my fulfilment comes from my relationship with God rather than from my ministry for Him. I love all of you!

Prayers for Safe Travel

My Mom left Idaho Monday and should be arriving on the ship in a few hours. Pray for her continued safety as she is traveling here. Thanks!

16- Years Old & Pregnant

Kay was 16 years old and pregnant. It was late at night and she had just drifted off to sleep. Silence had settled over her little village in rural Liberia. Suddenly, the sound of gunfire and screaming erupted, breaking the silence. Kay awoke, startled by the commotion outside her hut. She looked around to see her family members running in all directions. At once, she knew the rebels had chosen this night to attack her village. Kay had no choice, but to run, or become another victim of the rebels. Outside her hut, she found a friend. The two of them, hand-in-hand, ran as fast as they could away from the rebels. The trouble is, Kay's labor process started and she was becoming fatigued quickly. Each time Kay and her friend slowed to a stop and slipped into the shadow of darkness, they could hear their pursuer. They kept running, but continued to be followed. The labor pains were increasing and the baby started to crown. If the two stopped running, all three of them would be killed. But, the expecting mama could not run any longer. Finally, out of pure desperation, the friend grabbed the baby's head, which was now partially out, and pulled with all her strength. Piercing pain circulated throughout Kay's womb. Kay fought back the urge to scream and wail. Kay and her friend briefly looked at the new baby. The baby was dead, its neck had been broken while being pulled from Kay's womb. With heavy hearts, the two left the baby under a tree and kept running. At some point the two found a wheelbarrow and a very weak Kay, with incredible tissue damage to her womb, was pushed in a wheelbarrow to Ghana. Kay's traumatic labor process left her with a hole between her vaginal area and bladder. This hole caused her to constantly drip urine. Kay was ridiculed, told she smelled like "dead fish," and her life became very lonely and hopeless. Kay ended up in a refugee camp. Although life to this point had be traumatic for Kay, God had his hand upon her. Kay knew this and kept praying God would help her. She was selected for surgery on board the Mercy Ship a few years ago in Ghana. The surgery was helpful, but not as successful as hoped for. The damage to Kay's womb and bladder were extensive. Kay needed more surgical intervention, but the Mercy Ship had sailed on from Ghana. While Kay was on the ship in Ghana, a crew member named Shay participated in the "adopt-a-patient" program and befriended her. Shay would visit Kay on the ward, encouraging her, praying with her, listening to her, and loving her. When Kay was discharged from the ship, Shay continued to visit her in the refugee camp. Their friendship has continued throughout the years and the two have become " adopted mom and daughter." It is because of this relationship that Kay was able to come to the Mercy Ship again. Shay, Kay's adopted mama provided the funds for her to travel here. Kay reached Monrovia a few days before her scheduled operation and she was reunited with Shay. One day while Kay was out in town, she was confronted by a man that insisted he knew her. Kay told the man that was not possible, she had been gone from Liberia for seven years. The man persisted and said he knew her family. Kay could not believe that such a concept would be true because she thought all her family died in the war. But, a glimmer of hope sparked in Kay's heart and she followed the man to see if his claim was true. Indeed, it was! Kay was reunited with some of her brothers just a few weeks ago. She had thought they were all dead! She is being healed in more ways than she ever dreamed of. Kay just underwent another surgery on board the Mercy Ship. I had the honor of watching her surgery. Things are going well, no leaking urine. Kay is still on bed rest because of the extensive amount of work that was performed on her, but she never complains. In fact, any time I turn around in the ward, all I see is her sparkling eyes and glimmering smile. She bears the mark of one that has truly found hope and healing.

Rumors

A few weeks ago a local newspaper released an article making extreme and ridiculously false accusations directed toward Mercy Ships. The security situation around Monrovia is better than it has been in years, but nonetheless a baseline level of crime exists. There have been a number of tragic murders lately. All the victims have been found with their kidneys missing. The article that was released reported," that a faith-based, charity, hospital ship, docked in Liberia, was responsible for these murders and organ thefts" (an obvious reference to Mercy Ships). Furthermore, we have been accused of plotting and training others to kill people and steal the kidneys that we "then sell in America for $600,000". Of course these rumors are false and we hoped with time the rumor would die; it has not. Therefore, this past week the captain of the ship has put us on a heightened state of security. Threats have been made toward some of our crew when out in town and a local man approached a member of our eye field team asking "how much money he could get for the kidneys belonging to his mentally challenged nephew". This man was arrested. The captain and security team on the ship have been working closely with the governmental authorities regarding this tense situation. The government has been helpful and totally supportive of Mercy Ships. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has apologized profusely for the situation and she communicates with our safety officers on a regular basis. On Saturday, the Interim CEO/Acting Managing Director of Mercy Ships held a press conference at the governmental buildings in Monrovia making a public statement addressing the false rumors. My concern and prayer requests are not for my safety (yes, it is important, but I feel totally safe in the palm of God's hand), but for the people of Liberia. Pray for those spreading the rumors. Those trying to steal the joy, hope, and healing we offer in Jesus' name. Many of our patients face immense challenges to get to the ship. They do not need anything more standing in the path of God's gift for them: Eternal life, grace, forgiveness, and physical restoration through life changing surgeries on the Mercy Ship. Pray for the spiritual battle happening here. Pray that the road to grace and healing for our patients would be smooth. On the ship we "know the truth and that it will set us free (John 8:32)" Pray that Liberia will see and find this truth.

My Medical Review

I have been here for 4 months already! I cannot believe how fast time goes! Many of you know I had a number of health challenges last year. Because of these health concerns, Mercy Ships is requiring that I have a mandatory medical review at my 4 month point of service. I told them I was totally fine, but having "brain surgery" on your medical record, does not reassure many people. The medical review will advise them if I am healthy enough to stay until November. I am pleased to tell you... I am not coming home yet! I had my medical review on Wednesday and the doctor says I am doing fine! Praise God; the white girl will have more African Adventures! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

Return to Tenegar

Early this morning, I hopped into a Mercy Ship land rover and made my way to the Medical Clinic Construction site in Tenegar. I jumped out of the land rover ready to work and get dirty! I was greeted by a pile of fire ants and began to dance trying to get the ants out of my pants! Holy cow, those little ants move fast and their bites sting. After I recovered from my ant dance we had group prayer committing the day to God. I was assigned the job of white washing the clinic walls. After about five attempts at making the white wash the correct consistency, I was ready to paint! I painted all day long. The African men and local villagers kept coming up to me saying, "thank you, thank you!" It was really funny when one of the men said, "I didn't think you could work." Oh, he should have seen me back in the days of "A to Z Lawn Service!" After hours of painting, I was putting out a proper sweat wondering if these men ever break for lunch. Just at that moment, a beautiful African lady came into the clinic carrying a huge container of food on her head. I was really craving my peanut butter sandwich, but chose to embrace the eating experience and try some proper African cusine. I grabbed my bowl of rice and joined the other men in a circle on the clinic floor. Then I stared at my bowl of rice and saw a fish staring back at me! Yikes! I was thinking, "Lord, help me eat this so I don't offend these people." I spooned pieces of rice out around the fish and slowly chewed. I was relieved to hear one of the men say, "if you don't want all of it, I will eat it!" Oh, man I was so thankful for that answer to prayer. I ate a little more rice and handed over my bowl and fishy friend to a thankful, hungry, African man! After we were done eating we spent a small time singing and having devotional time with the construction workers. The majority of the men that work on site are Muslims, but God is using the Mercy Ship team to reach them, even in their remote village, through a daily task such as construction work. Throughout the day, I met a few more of God's creatures. A milliapeed freaked me out, some huge black bugs walked past me, and a toad jumped and scared me to death! One of the coolest things I came across was something the locals called "shy grass" or "sleeping grass." It is so neat. It is a type of plant, ground cover, or grass that looks lush and green until you touch it. When you touch it, it immediatly becomes shrivveled and dead looking. It is crazy! I ran around the clinic, kicking and touching the grass to see it shrivle and then "come back to life". God's creations are amazing. It was a great day and now I am ready to hit the hay!

Listen to a Small Part of My World

Dear Friends and Family, I have done my best to try and update you on all that happening here in Africa and I am still working on finding the words to describe some of my most recent adventures. It is so hard to put into words all that I am experiencing, learning, and feeling. But, praise God, a unique opportunity is available for you to hear some of my thoughts and my voice out loud, online! The interviews that I was a part of in May have been edited and broadcast by Moody Radio. Simply, click on the link included here and listen to a small part of my world. Be blessed! Go to www.primetimeamerica.org, click on "Past Programs" beneath Greg Wheatley's photo, scroll to July 24, and click on "Listen."