Clean h2o Anyone?

What great news I have to report to you all. Thanks to the help of Orphan Relief and Rescue my little kiddies have CLEAN drinking water. Saturday when we arrived at the orphanage the first place we were escorted to was the site of thee NEW well. They were all very proud of their new pump as they call it. They even showed us how it works. As soon as the water tests come back with clearance, the kids at Frances Gaskins Children's Rescue Home will have plenty water.

Also thanks to the help of ORR the latrines/shower block is almost finished, and the crops are growing. Every week the kids are so eager to take me on a tour and show me all the work that has taken place on the premises over the last 7 days. They are gaining a scenes of pride in their home and for their belonging. Many thanks to ORR for all the work they are doing not just at Frances Gaskin but all around Liberia. Thank God for their long term commitment to this country and these children. On December 13 as the ship is sailing off into the horizon I will be able to be content knowing my little kiddies at Frances Gaskin are being taken care of by ORR. Thank You! These kids have permanently take residency in my heart and I am sad to leave them but I know they are in good hands.

For more info on ORR check out their website: http://sharingonline.org/orphan-relief/index.html

Next Saturday is our last week to visit. My little friend Ms. Caroline has already placed a request for a photo of her and me so she can look at it anytime she misses me. Talk about break my heart! Of course I will fulfill her request.

It's Closing Time

Like the lyrics to a very popular Green Day songs reads, It's closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end. Friday was day 1 of closing time for the dental team at Redemption Hospital. What has been called Mercy Ships Dental Clinic for the past 10 months is now in the midst of destruction. We started tearing down and packing up around 9am on Friday and finished our day of hard work around 3pm. By the end of the day the entire team was tired. It was a hot and dirty job, but all in all the day went rather smoothly and we accomplished a lot.



As we continue to close up shop here on Monday and Tuesday we will continue to Thank God for all the work He has managed to accomplished in that place over the last 10 months. It is only through His strength and power that we have done what we have. It's only through His grace that we have made it through.

As the days go by our team and crew continues to shrink. People are leaving in masses. Just today I said good-bye to our fearless leader and coordinator Vicki, and also to a very close friend and coworker of mine. Hanna and I have been through the past 5 months together, she arrived a month after I. It has been a pleasure getting to know such a women of God. We have laughed, cried, contemplated life and God, sang song after song (she put up with my singing), been in a head on collision, hiked mountains, did teeth, worked out to tae-bo and loads more together. I will miss her but also like the words of the same Green Day songs reads:

Closing time, time for you to go out to the places you will be from
So gather up your jackets, moving to the exits, I hope you have found a friend.

I have most definitely have found a friend, and I am so exited to see what God calls her to next.

Next Monday another dear friend of mine leaves, Ms. Emily. I am so looking forward to spending every waking moment with her this coming week. I have to get so full of her energetic and outlandish spirit in order to be sustain with her contagious spirit until the next time I am able to see her.



Tomorrow Day 2 of Closing Time for the Dental Team.

At the beginning of the day on Friday

At the end of the day on Friday.

That's a Wrap!

Today was our last day of clinic. We are DONE treating patients. We finished this year with just under 12,000 total procedures, not too shabby.

Tomorrow we are having a thank you lunch for our day workers, and Friday we start packing up. We have to tear down the entire dental clinic in 3 days and have everything back to the ship by next Wednesday for loading. Busy Busy time here on the Africa Mercy!

This afternoon the President of Liberia made a visit to the ship, for a Thank You Ceremony. I have it all on video and will try to post it soon. She had very nice things to say about Mercy Ships, and our work. She said the next country is Lucky to have us come.

Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving and see you all in a 4 weeks!!!!

Get in the time machine........Dec 24, 2008

This time next month I will be sitting at home on my parents new couch with my momma and my Maggie talking about all the Lord has taught me, showed me, and provided me over the past 6 1/2 months.

This time next month I will be giving my dad the Liberian money I will have brought back for him to add to his collection oh and telling him how he is the best dad in the world of course.

This time next month I will be hugging and kissing my brother like there is no tomorrow..... because I missed him soooo much.

This time next month I will be enjoying the Holidays with all my friends and family

This time next month I will be catching up on all the Grey Anatomy that I have missed since September

This time next month I will be eating GOOD food

This time next month I will be HOME!!!! :)

My day with Lucy!

Remember last Wednesday when I introduced you to Lucy, well today I was able to hang out with her and her family. If you read my previous post on her you would be informed of the fact that I helped her get a replacement tooth, and her way of thanking me was asking me to come to her home for the day.

Let me tell you one thing right off. When A Liberian asks you to come to their home they know who to treat you, well at least Lucy does.

The day started at 9am. Emily and I stood on the side of the road waiting with excitement for Ms. Lucy to come pick us up. We waited and waited and waited and an hr and half later we frowned in disappointment and head back the the ship. We were well aware that African time is even later than my time... ahah but we figured after an hr and half with no Lucy probably meant that she is not coming. Wrong! Half way back to the ship we heard this excessive honking of a horn, as we turned around to see what the noise was we saw Lucy hanging out the side of the SUV waving and yelling at us. HAHAHA We both looked at each other and said here we go, let the day begin.

As we were getting in the car Lucy was apologies for being late. We made our way to her house which took 45 mins with no traffic. The entire time we were driving Lucy was explaining to me that she has to take 3 different taxi's just to get to work, and it takes her anywhere from 45mins-2hr depending on the traffic every day! Could you imagine.

Anyway we arrived at her house she changed her clothes and off to church we went. When we arrived at the church Emily and I were escorted to the front row of the preachers section which was located to the right of the stage. After a brief introduction from Lucy we were asked to say a few words. Not being prepared to speak I got up, grabbed my bible and Emily and I stepped to the front of the church. I stared speaking read a verse spoke some more and we sat down. I can not tell you what I said, because I don't remember. Thank God for his promise of giving you words to speak. We listened to the sermon, gave offering and before the end of the service both Emily and I were asked to pray.

At Church with the Preachers.

After church we walked a small small distance to Lucy's aunts house. As we were walking Lucy explained to us that her aunt had suffered from a nervous break down after the war and was very weak. She explained the she goes to visit her every once in a while. We arrived at her aunt's house did introductions and the first thing the lady asked was can Mercy Ships help me with me disease. I informed her that even though I am sorry she is sick, unfortunately we do not have the means to help her. She said thank you, we hugged and were off walking again. As we were walking away Lucy said thank you, I have been trying to tell her for months now that Mercy Ships only does surgeries, but she never believed me. Now that you told her she believes me and knows that I was not lying to her.

We arrived back to Lucy's house she fed us rice and hot dogs and surprised Emily and I each with a dress she had the tailor make us.Oh and she also gave us water in NEW glasses that she bought just for us. She said I know you people wash your cups in the washer with hot water to clean them and since I don't have one of those machines I bought you new cups. No one has ever drank out of them. WOW!!! Talk about treating your guests with the best. We talked for bit and then she called her husband to tell him we were ready for our ride back. This was at 1:00pm. He said ok I will be back small.

Our Dresses

Lucy then walked us down the road to a Catholic Church compound were they were having their Harvest Sunday Celebration. We spent the next 2 hrs talking, dancing, playing with children, sitting, taking tours of the church, meeting the DJ of the party, and visiting the Catholic Church Rehabilitation Center for Children.

Emily and I were sitting talking to children and Lucy walked up to us and asked us to follow her. The word had broke out that two white girls from Mercy Ships were at the celebration. We followed Lucy across the road to the REALLY nice clean building. When we walked inside we were greeted by 21 children who were being treated at this Rehab center funded by the church. It was sad to see these children in their current condition, there were babies with burns, a little girl with a missing leg, a little boy with a cast on his leg, and list goes one; however it was good to see this facility and the care they were providing to these children for free. The head nurse took me on a tour of the building and it was really encouraging. The kids had clean beds, they received baths, and food, and clean clothes, they had toilets, nice rehab equipment. I told the lady I know your job is hard but thank you for all your work you are doing here. It was a sad/happy moment.

The kids at the Rehab Center

After our visit to the rehab center we head back to Lucy's house. her husband was 7 mins away. Mind you It is now 3:00, her husband said at 12:30 he would be there soon. Again African time! haha Once we get back to her house we sat out side and talked and an hr later her husband comes. We take a few photos and get in the car to head home or at least we thought.

The kids and me.... Where in the world is Jess? Oh there I am in the middle of all the African kids!

On the way home we made a stop at the beach for a few more photos, and then made a stop at an ice cream place were Lucy and her husband treated Emily and I to ice cream.

What a day! Lucy is such a blessing, and I am honored to be able to spend the day with her. She gave so much to us when she has so little. I might have forgot to mention 15 people live in her 4 bedroom home.

Anyway Thank God for friendships..... I will miss my Lucy Lou come December 13 when the ship sails away from Liberia, but I am so thankful God has placed her in my life for this time. She has taught me what it means to be generous without expecting anything in return. She has taught me what it means to live life in the moment and she has taught me what it means to give everything.

Who would have thought that 2 white girls could have had such an impacting Sunday with Lucy!

Thank you Lucy and Family!

Stories for Saturday Vol. 2

My last few Saturday's have been jammed packed. This morning at 10am a few of us from the ship made our way downtown to The National Museum of Liberia to take a look at an art exhibition that my journalist friend from the states- Christina Holder organized.

“War Child” was the name of the exhibition, and the art explored Liberia's violent past and hopeful future. There were more than 30 paintings depicting life and war as seen through the eyes of five artists who were children during Liberia's 14-year civil war.

One artist was an ex-combatant, one was a refugee, and others were simply trying to survive in postwar Liberia. They all shared the common bond of living through the war.



I was very impressed by the quality of the paintings. They were beautiful. I browsed around, read their stories, chatted with the artist's, chatted with fellow art show attenders, and bought a lovely painting.

It was really cool to see the the artists use their talents and gift that God has provided them with in such a positive and passionate way. They all have such skills and talents and compose wonderful art, and props to Christina for organizing such an event for Liberia. Just another step in the right direction for this country.

Me with my purchased painting and the artist who painted it!

We arrived back to the ship at 12:30, and I had 10 mins to get myself ready for the after noon of a life time. I have been anticipating this afternoon for an entire week now. My little darling from Frances Gaskin were coming to my area for a visit, and I could hardly wait.

At 1:oo they had arrived. I was standing at the gate waiting for them and to my surprise they pulled up and out of a 10 passenger van came 36 people. 30 kids and 6 adults. What a site, there were children stuffed in every square inch of that vehicle. The kids looked so cute!! They all had on their nice clothes, with clean cuts for the boys and braids for the girls, new shoes, and BIG smiles. I am not sure who was more excited the kids, the adults, or us Mercy Shipers.

As we walked down the dock I think the look of amazement was unanimous. One little girl looked at me and said" I have never seen the sea, It is so big." To think that she lives in a country with such beautiful coast line and she has never been able to witness Gods beauty in the seas here. Most of the children would peep over the edge of the dock and look down at the water that flowed below them, but making sure they did not get to close. The small fish really impressed them.

After we took a few group photos on the dock we transferred our party inside. Walking up the gang way was a VERY big deal! Most of the kids did really well until they looked down and saw the water. Then they were scared. They very carefully took one step at a time until they had successfully reach the top of the gang way.

Half of the group in front of Liberia's flag
Once inside we had cookies and juice, games, ship tours, veggie tales movie and popcorn, crafts, visits to my room, dancing, and visits to the bathroom(they had never used a toilet before. Most of them if not all of them visited the bathroom at least 5 times in the 4 hours that they were here, the loved the flushing noise).

Time to go pepe!!! Me taking the girls to the bathroom.

The highlight of my day however was defiantly when 5 of the girls performed a cultural dance for us in honor of their appreciation for all our help. It was amazing. So much history is held in the dances. I was honored to be witnessing them preform such a dance. They may be young, but they can dance.

The Cultural Dance

As we were walking the kids to their van one little girl looked up at me and said. " I am so happy, thank you for letting me come to your house today. It was the best day". Around 4:30pm we waved good bye to all our little kiddies as they drove away waving at us until they could not longer see us anymore. They had a GREAT time and so did we!!!!!!!

Waving Good-Bye

What a blessing today was, My heart is full!!!

Meet Ms. Lucy

Meet Lucy!

About 3 months ago I was assigned to scrubs duty, meaning after work I take the dental scrubs down to the hospital laundry room for them to be laundered, and then before I go to bed I go down pick them up and place them in the dental clinic for people to come and get clean scrubs for work the next day. My first day on the job I was introduced to Lucy a ships day worker; she is the wonderful lady amongst others who launder our scrubs.

She said oh you are the new scrubs girl. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to get an appointment. You see I have this tooth that hurts me and is almost gone and my kids often ask me ma why don’t you have a tooth. My helper flags immediately went up in my mind and I thought not only can I get you an appointment to get your tooth out I can help get you a new tooth. The next thing you know…… she was in the clinic getting the tooth out.

Mercy Ships pays a portion of the fees for patients to get replacement teeth if it is a front tooth, and that is just what we did for Lucy. After the tooth is extracted the patient is given a card that has a date on it. It is normally about 3-4 weeks after the extraction. On that date the patient takes the card to JFK Hospital and they get fitted for a replacement tooth. So for weeks we were anticipating Lucy’s replacement date.

Last Friday night when I went down to visit with Lucy she had a surprise for me. A new front tooth! She was so happy, she had received her replacement tooth and there was no longer a gap in her smile. She said her kids and husband LOVED it. “I can now smile big, all the time” were her exact words. She thanked me over and over again for all my help and I then thanked her for all her hard work she does on the ship. To show her gratitude she invited me to her house and her church on Sunday….so on Sunday at 9am she will come in a taxi to pick me up and I will be spending the day with my friend and her family. I can’t wait.

BEFORE


AFTER