Heading Home.

I am all packed after spending all night downsizing my 2 bags of 40 kilos to 1 bag at 22 kilo...slight mix up on the bag allowance. I did good only a few tears were shed when I had to part with some stuff that I did not want to part with. I was just trying to look at it as God trying to simplify my life just a little bit more. I think i did good after 19 months  gone all I have returning with me is one little bag. 

I head out tonight at 8pm from Tenerife, spend the night in Dublin, fly to Chicago in the am, and then to Stl early evening tomorrow. Please pray that the snow holds of until I get there. I do not want to have to relive last years disaster at the Chicago Airport. 

It has been an adventure of a life time and thanks for reading and keeping up as I went along. 

Merry Christmas... and Happy New Year. 

We made IT.

We docked this morning around 8:30 am in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. We were welcomed by our very own trumpet player. Every time the ship comes or goes from Tenerife this man is there playing his trumpet for us. He was there last year and sure enough he was there this morning. In fact he was the only one there welcoming us. The entire crew loves to hear his music as we approach. It actually is rather moving. Around 10:30 am the mass exiting of sea loged crew began. I asked a few of the kids what they were doing today some answered the park, some answered getting ice cream but one little girl answered We Are Going to McDonalds. What ever the activity be I know we were all glad to be able to walk on dry land. The site of green grass and the smell of flowers and vegetation was enough to make me happy, oh the beauty of simplicity. 

The Trumpet player

Video clip of the arriving tunes

The Numbers...for Benin 2009

This post is for those of you who get amazed at the stats. I must admit they are rather impressive. However the glory goes to Him not use, for we are nothing without him. 

996 reconstructive and plastic surgeries;
185 cleft lip and palate repairs;
1161 general surgeries;
2 local surgeons trained;
3,521 cataracts removed;
570 other eye surgeries (pterygia and stabismus);
2 local eye surgeons trained;
33,851 eye evaluations and other treatments;
7,083 pairs of sunglasses distributed;
5,689 pairs of reading glasses distributed;
18 community eye field workers trained;
154 obstetric fistulas repaired;
4 local surgeons trained in fistula repair;
231 orthopedic operations;
10,175 dental patients seen;
794 dental hygiene patients;
13,174 oral health education;
25 oral health teachers trained;
2 dental assistants trained;
28 patients received palliative home care;
6 Burkitt's Lymphoma patients received palliative support;
19 families trained in wound care;
10 agricultural staff trained;
23 local agricultural trainees;
1 hostel constructed for agricultural college;
19 mental health workers trained;
119 church & community leaders trained in mental health;
50 prison officers and workers trained in mental health;
2 church leaders conferences attended by 602 attendants;
and 12,000 people watched the Jesus Film and many made a commitment to Christ.

That brings the total to about 80,000 people who have been directly touched by this ministry in the past 10 months. WOW.

⁹ I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;

         I will sing praises to You among the nations. 

    ¹⁰For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens

         And Your truth to the clouds. 

    ¹¹Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

         Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 57:9-11

Day7. Peek At The View.

Here is a peek at what I have been enjoying for the last seven days. It has been lovely. The sail is still as smooth as a baby's butt. Praise the Lord. Our ETA for Tenerife is Saturday morning, I leave one week from today, and I am 80% packed already.

There is a light at the end of this tunnel.  

Sunday... Day 6.

MERCY CHRISTMAS.... From our ship to your home. haha

Day 4.

We are still moving,  and this is how I spent my afternoon. :)

Sunrise Day 3

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, 

       for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Au Revoir l'Afrique

Tuesday we sailed out into the Atlantic blue leaving Africa in the long off horizon and our next destination 10 days away. As we left the port I found a few tears making their way down my cheek. I was surrounded by people from all over the world, some who have only been here a few weeks and some like myself who have seen this entire outreach through. From beginning to end. I wondered what most were thinking as the words amongst all of us were few. 

I knew what I was thinking. I was thinking of all the hard work and sweat( literally)  that has went into these last 10 months, all the patients and family members who have in someway or another been affected by our presences. I was thinking of all the randomness that occurs everyday and is now not so random. I was thinking of all the places I had visited over the last 10 months and all the people I had come in contact with. I was thinking of friends who have come and gone.I was thinking of all the challenges and success that have passed me by. I was thinking of all the change that has occurred in my life since the very first day I left home over a year and a half ago.  But most of all I was thinking of how honored I was to have lived such an awesome adventure in my lifetime..not that the adventures in my life are over, just this one. 

When I left home June 2008 I was expecting to see our Father in ways I never thought were imaginable and sure enough He out did himself. It has been a journey and don't get me wrong there have been good day and bad days, but that is life. I leave Africa with a heart empty of things to give and full of blessing received. I knew this would change my life, however I never knew what change my life really entailed. 

So now I sit on a rocking hospital ship that is making its way to Tenerife and from there I will fly home....not sad but happy, blessed, and thankful. It's amazing really. God has granted me such peace about leaving and returning home. He has prepared me in such away that I know that coming home is the next step. Now I wait to find out what steps to take after I step of the plane. 

Liz Meg and I on Deck 8 just before we set sail. 

The tug pulling us out to sea. 

Separation for land and people waving good bye. 

The now empty birth were we lived for the last 10 months.

Togo Advanced Team that will stay in Africa and prepare the way for the ship to head to Togo in February.

Au Revoir l'Afrique!