Dear friends (both childhood and new), my Bible Study small-group, and places like Deeper Life Bible Camp all hold a feeling of "home" to me as well. Places of community and belonging where you've been a part of other people's lives, and they've been a part of yours. The most recent "home" I've found myself missing, however, has been the Africa Mercy. A big, floating metal box that most of the crew jokingly say is made of glass, "like a big fish bowl". Everyone sees everything and knows everything with any form of a secret being difficult to keep. This large, white hospital ship has been my home for 9 months of the past 2 years of my life. Despite the negative aspects of living in close community with 400+ other people, the depth of friendships, memories, and multi-cultural experiences both on and off the ship make is difficult to forget.
It is a place all of it's own that I often find my heart longing for.
It's almost a cruel trick of Mercy Ships, that they bring crew members from all over the globe to one place to have you come together, deeply invest in one another's lives, share life-changing experiences as you work side-by-side bringing about the healing and restoration of so many, and then sent back home hundreds, or even thousands of miles away from those dear friendships and memories.
However cruel or loving their gestures really are, I have decided to head back to the Ship for the Togo, 2012 outreach! Thanks to SO many generous gifts from many who contributed to my Sierra Leone trip in 2011, I had left over funds equal to the cost of 2 months of crew fees on the ship. I struggled with the idea of going back to the ship as I've been in Minneapolis the past few months, wondering if my desire to go back was selfish in nature, or really was what God was putting on my heart. To be honest, I never really felt a specific direction from the Lord, but eventually decided to apply and see what happened. Needless to say, I was accepted back (officially)not more than a week and a half ago (see what happens when you wait till the last minute), but already had most of the details of travel and preparation organized and ready to go. :) It's beginning to be a bit routine, which just makes me laugh to think about. Who ever thought I'd end up where I am today? I definitely never did. :)
So, January 23-March 19th I will be onboard the Africa Mercy again serving in the wards and helping with outreach set up. I'm not sure what specific capacity I will be serving in or in what specialty I will be working, but I anticipate that I will be asked to be a charge nurse again. As far as which specialty- I'll just have to wait and be surprised! :)
The special joy of going back for this outreach is the fact that this will be a return trip for me to Togo, West Africa. Togo holds a special place in my heart as it was the first country I traveled to with Mercy Ships. I have already had multiple Togolese friends who are returning to work on the ship email me or facebook me, telling me how excited they are to see me! It will be a wonderful reunion! I cannot wait! Not only are the day volunteers (local Togolese workers) going to be cause for reunion celebration, but many dear friends are still onboard who I will see again, including my very first Mercy Ships friend I made, Laura Coles. She actually is working in my old role as one of the Clinical Ward Educators! I will admit I am glad to have passed the baton onto her. Not that I didn't enjoy the teaching and orientation aspect of Clinical Ward Educator; it's just that through that experience I realized that details and secretarial work were NOT my forte! :) She will be fabulous! And I can't wait to "help out" if needed as well. :)
Not only that, but I will be traveling back to the ship on January 17th with an old roommate from Sierra Leone, Melisa, who will again be my roommate for the 2 months I'm on the ship this outreach! Woo-hoo! :) We'll fly to Europe together and then spend a few days there visiting Mercy Ships friends and getting over jet lag before heading to the ship on the 23rd. :)
As I've been preparing and tucking money away to pay for my plane ticket and costs at home while I'm gone, God has financially provided in 2 huge ways for me that only served as evidence of His heart for my return:
1) As I was calling to re-order my extremely expensive anti-malaria medication (expecting the cost of my 2-month prescription to run around $250-$350), the pharmacist informed me that Malarone (the medication), had recently gone generic, and so the cost of my 2 month prescription would be $10. WHAAAATTT???!!! What a HUGE blessing from the Lord!
2) About a month ago I talked with my landlady about the possibility of going back to the ship for 2 months. As I was describing my potential plan to her, she immediately offered, without hesitation, to waive my rent and, instead, charge me a small fee to not only hold my apartment, but also keep my things all set up and ready for me when I returned. My eyes filled with tears at her generosity and support. In all honesty, her offering became one of the biggest financial factors enabling me to go due to the unforeseen inconsistency of my temp nursing job. I didn't know what to say except a heartfelt "thank you".
I'm still working to raise the last bit of funds to cover all my costs for this trip, but if I have learned anything from the last 2 years of my life, it is that God is the Great Provider; faithful and loving beyond our wildest imaginations. There is no one like Him.
If you would consider praying for my time onboard, as well as the entire Togo, 2012 outreach, I would greatly appreciate it. I can't wait to send you more stories faces of beautiful Africans whose lives have been touched and changed forever.
