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| Boat Ride! |
This time, we had many important people from Mercy Ships on the dock, along with the Prime Minister of Guinea! Our senior class with our Academy brought the Guinea flag down the gangway, and gave it to a local girl to carry it. Then both our representatives and the Prime Minster, gave some speeches, and they then came onto the ship, for a short but nice reception. Every time we have a field service, we have an advance team, that will often go at least 4 months before we arrive. So when we arrived in Guinea, they were among the many people waiting for us on the dock! Being in hospitality we had to serve at the reception, but were able to watch the ceremony on the dock from inside. We were all in our uniforms and waiting the arrival!
That evening we had the advance team give us a short briefing on their findings in this new culture! Mercy Ships was last here in 1999, so its been a very long time. So we are out spreading the word, for our massive screening!
One thing that was a weekly event in Togo, was ultimate Frisbee. So we are continuing that tradition, a large group of us headed out Friday evening to a field. We played Frisbee, with many locals watching and cheering on! WE also had a lot of kids coming up to us and hugging us! We normally play till it starts getting dark then head back to the ship.
Friday evening, we spent the night playing cards games, and twisters, as it was Chris's last night. The following day, we worked all morning in preparation for our big group of arrivals that evening. We made cookie packs, and made sure everything was set.
Chris, has become one of my very close friends, and it was the end of his time here on the Africa Mercy. Lately Ive found it better doing airport goodbyes, If there is space i go and see them off that way. So this being the first departure from the Africa Mercy, i got to ride along in the back of the land rover. After saying "see you later" to him, we waited around in the rain, for some new arrivals, which took quite awhile, and then made our way back to the ship!
That evening we had about 40 nurses arrive, and a few doctors. Sunday morning we gave them all ship tours, and then we had the rest of the day off.
After my tour was all done, I ventured out with Ben, Sam, and Rox. We walked to a nearby road, where we met a very nice man, who turned out to be a police man, he helped us get a boat, and a nice price. So we set off on a boat ride to of the close by islands. We got to drive right by our ship and wave! Once we got to the island, the same man took us across and we found more Mercy Shippers! and a nice beach! We got to go swimming and just look at the beautiful landscape! On our way back, our boat driver, took us right by a ship wreck, in this port, there is rumour to be over 23 shipwrecks, which is also another reason why we have a local pilot come bring us in. Once we got back to land, this man, wanted us to meet his family! So as we were walking, we met many people, some of them asked us about Mercy Ships, and showed things that we might be able to help! I'm really glad that I'm here and i get to see the patients and be a part of the massive screening! If i did not extend i would miss the screening all together! Just walking around, going to his house makes me so glad to be back in Africa! I didn't know how much i miss it till then!
Ive still been struggling with school, but right now, i think since I've been out of the system for so long, i may just do a couple courses to get back into the vibe and then start full force in September!
I cant believe that Ive been gone for almost 5 months! I would be coming home Saturday, but that changed! And i am so glad! I'm not quite ready to leave this place just yet! I have met so many people. some have gone, but even with them no longer here, i still keep in touch and share many memories with them!
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| Waiting for Gateway! |
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| Chris :) |
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| Love this girl! |
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| Conakry |
