Friday's Patient Pick.. a day early.

Here is Friday' Patient Pick a day early........ because tomorrow I am on HOLIDAY and not working. Praise God for rest and days off. 

This patient heard the noise of our drum and voices this morning at devotion time and decided he would join us. He was clapping, singing and even doing a little dancing. After he was enlightened from the Word he then had his teeth cleaned. 

Two for one at Avotrou Dental Clinic! 

Florent in the dark blue scrubs translating the devotion for the the patient. It was so neat to watch this take place.
Teeth cleaning time. 

The dust on my feet.

In just 44 days I will be sailing up the Atlantic Ocean coast with Africa being the blur in the far off horizon and visions of home on my mind. You might ask if I think this will be my last time in Africa, and I would have to respond with I don't know...but I hope not. Today I was basking  in the hot African sun listening to some tunes when a song came on... with the following lyrics. 

now that I have seen, I am responsible

Faith without deeds is dead

now that I have held you in my own arms, I cannot let you go

I am on a plane across a distant sea

But I carry you in me

and the dust on, the dust on, the dust on my feet

I will tell the world, I will tell them where I've been

I will keep my word

I will tell them. 

I must have listened to this song about 15 times this afternoon, and the lines that kept beating at my heart were Now that I have seen, I am responsible. I carry you in me and the dust on my feet. I will keep my word I will tell them. I started thinking of all those who I have crossed paths with in the last year and a half. Faces of my dear little orphanage kids still in Liberia started flashing through my head, patients, day volunteers, and crew members names started passing through my thoughts. 

Then it hit me, just because I leave the ship doesn't me I leave all that I have seen behind. I am still responsible for what I have seen. I am still called to love people and provide for those in need. Now if that is in Africa or America or somewhere else around the world I don't know, and if that is in 6 months, 2 years, or even 10 years I don't know that either. But I do know that if I let all that I have seen go, the dust that is on me feet will with time fade to a mere memory of that time I spent in Africa.

So when I get on that plane and cross the distant sea the dust will still be on my feet, and when I step off that plane in a land far away from where I am tonight the names on my heart will still be there. And that is when my faith will really have to be put into deeds. That is when I will really have to keep my word and tell others of the dust that is currently and forever will be on my feet. Now that I have seen I am responsible. 

As the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

 

Friday's Patient Pick!

This little guy thought he would try on the security guards shoes while he was waiting to be treated. He knew he was putting on a show for me. He just looked up at me with those huge eyes and the biggest most mischievous smile came across his face.  4 weeks from today we will be closing the dental clinic..I can't believe 8 1/2 months have passed by already. Time is flying.

Dental Education Week

Mercy Ships has short term mission trips that churches can sign up for, the trips last anywhere from 10-12 days. The Mercy Team normally comes in and provides assistance to certain departments with special projects going on.

The team that arrived last Friday is from Texas and they came to help the dental team teach dental education to the communities. This has been a huge help for us and I am so glad they came. It has been a busy week so far and it is only Tuesday but it is has been good. With the team helping us with the teaching that allows us to keep our dental team at the clinic still treating patient. So we are really being productive this week. We are treating patients and education children

Myself, our hygienist Donna and one of our translators have been working with the team. The program consists of  5 stations 3 people per station. They are covering Dental Education, Evangelism, Music, Physical Education, and Art all of which are relating back to healthy bodies and teeth. It is a really nice program that the children are enjoying, not to mention a way nicer program than what we would have been able to provide without the help of the team.

Yesterday we went to a school with about 65 children, today’s was around 900, tomorrows around 150 and Thursday’s school around 1,300. I am really thankful for this team from Texas. They have been great, very flexible and very willing to do whatever to make the programs go smooth.  It has been nice to be out with the children that last few days I really enjoy this type of interaction.  Please keep the rest of our week in your prayers as Thursday is going to be lots of children. Pray that they are taking away something sustainable. Prevention really is key and young children need to be educated on this.

Below are a few pictures from our first two days.

Friday's Patient Pick!

This weeks patient pick... a set of twins. Aren't they cute! 

They were a little confused as to why I wanted to take their photo. haha

The Deer Slayer Strikes Again!

That is right my brother Nate loves to hunt, and this past weekend he killed.... what he is calling "the buck of a lifetime." haha anyway I have been telling people about it so here are a few pictures. It was a 35 pointer with 29 of those being scorable. Not sure what all that means but.

After talking with my brother on the phone and listening to how excited he was after this kill, I realized we could not be more different from one another if we tried. HOWEVER I love him sooo much and our difference make it more enjoyable. After all what would this world be like if everyone was just alike... BORING. My brother will always prefer the country and I will always prefer the city but that doesn't mean I love him anyless and that I can't wait to see him in 10 weeks and 1 day. Oh and that also doesn't mean I won't enjoy myself some deer chili once I get there. :)

Friday's Patient Pick.......He aint heavy he's my brother

This patient was actually carried into our clinic by his brother. Talk about inspiring and also talk about bringing life to the lyrics of the song He Aint Heavy He's My Brother. When I actually stopped and thought deeply about this man and more specifically his brother's actions... I was left speechless. That can explain why he is being featured in this Friday's Patient Pick. He won hands down. 

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
He's my brother

He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

WOW!!

So tired….yet soooo rested.

In just over 6 weeks the dental clinic will be closing its doors. After 8 months of hard taxing work we are all growing tired. We know it, our friends/families know it, and people around us know it. It seems like this year we have been the most picked team for ship works with days off to request to come spend the day with us. Most visitors start the day off by saying I am so excited to get to spend the day with the dental team. It will be so good to see what you guys do out there. And most end by saying I really don’t know how you do that day in and day out. I am so tired and all I did was watch. It seems like I am experiencing not only physical exhaustion but also emotional exhaustion as well.  The NEVER ENDING need and the realization that we can’t end that need is a big strain on the emotions.

 

I don’t say this in order to gain your sympathy; I don’t need that in order to feel satisfied. I love my job and I choose to be here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get tired.

However God never fails at picking us back up and filling us with just enough to get the job done at the end of the day. Well I guess I can only speak for myself on this and I hope the rest of the team is also experiencing His presences as well, if not they are really missing out. It just seems like every time I get tired and every time I get in a mood God is there to pick me up. Every time I start to think are we really making a difference? God sends someone or something to turn my attitude around. I just love how he works in this way.

 For example: Last night I was sitting outside on the sea wall talking with a friend. We were in the middle of a conversation and this man kept walking by us and stopping in front of us. We could tell he was trying to get our attention but at this point in the evening we were done with the marriage proposals (which had already happened a few minutes earlier.)  As I heard Sister Sister… don’t I know you,  I looked up and saw he was pointing to me.  I almost said I don’t think so but instead I responded with I don’t know do you? He looked at me for a few seconds and said yes yes I do know you. You took my small boys teeth out.  Didn’t you. Yes I am sure it was you. I said yes I might have. He then said remember  his first visit you took out 2 teeth and then the next visit you took out 1. The front one. And then you gave him a replacement appointment.  He got it and it looks good. So good. Thank you , Thank you so much.  Thank you.  I simple responded by saying you are welcome and he walked away.

As he walked away it hit me. We are making a difference, we might not be able to tackle the dental needs of Benin in its entirety but the reality is we are making every day life better for people and actually in some cases it can be a matter of life or death. Last night God reminded me of that. He showed me how happy a small boy and his father were to have a bad tooth removed and replaced with a new one. We might only being fixing one tooth at a time but it is more than if we were not here. So just like that God used this man to bring a smile to my face and a surge of energy to my soul. 

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 

2 Chronicles 15:7

SYTYCD Finale

There has been a group of about 10 of us from all over the world who have been watching So You Think You Can Dance the last month or so. We received the DVD with all of the last season from a friends Dad. We have REALLY enjoyed watching this tv show and Sunday was our SYTYCD Season Finale Banquet. We booked the queens lounge, dressed up, decorated the room, had a 5 course meal, and then watched the finale. We had LOTS of fun and decided we are the coolest people on the ship. We are a bit behind as we understand that currently season 6 is playing at home, however it was all new to us and we loved it.



Thank you Ali's dad for sending the episodes to us.

The room all decorated.

The 3 ladies of the group- we were actually out numbered by the gentlemen.
All of us.


The Food
Engrossed in the Finale.

After the results were revealed photo shoot.
Jeanine WINS!!!!!!

A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL!

Friday's Patient Pick!

This Friday's patient pick is straight from the wild wild west... Zebra Style. 

This is Romain and I loved his zebra print cowboy hat/bling bling shades combo.