Where are we?

What country are we in?

The Captain asked that question at the weekly communication meeting.

I'll give you a hint - it's not Senegal.

I may have mentioned it before, but the flag state of the Africa Mercy is Malta. As long as we are aboard the ship, we fall under Maltese and EU law. I've never technically set foot in Malta, nor does my passport carry a Maltese entry stamp, but every time I step down off the gangway - in theory - I'm leaving Malta and entering Senegal. The screening, outpatients & rehab teams down on the dock sure have a heck of a commute if you think about it that way!

Gives a bit of a different meaning to our 12 month, multiple entry, Senegal visas (which we were still waiting on up until the last couple weeks).

The Maltese flag flies from our stern, and the Senegal flag from our foremast. Another example of how this ship feels like being in 50 places at once.

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We've had some challenges with getting our regular supply shipments released from customs (which is usually par for the course). This has made for some creative meal solutions by our galley crew, but we've had an ample supply of beef, in any case. This is in part thanks to the Senegalese President's promise to provide us with a cow every day we are here. He is Fulani, a culture of nomadic herdsmen in West Africa, and so this gift is both practical and meaningful coming from him. Sadly, we have not seen any of these cows walking up the gangway...but they're getting in somehow. Our meals have been evidence of that. He's also providing us with fuel to keep our generators running - keeping the lights on in this place - which is no small contribution either. 

It is a good reminder that we are visitors in this country, here to serve the Senegalese - but at their invitation - and they have graciously welcomed us with love.

Our worship service this Sunday took place up in the open air on deck 8, under a half-moon, and was a beautiful time of old songs & new, from close to home and from afar. It's always encouraging to see the whole crew, from so many different countries and cultures, coming together in song.

Baba Oluwa Oshe - "Thank You Father God" - a Benin classic.

Hospital Update

 The ward I call home (A Ward) is full of 'visitors' at the moment - overflow from the MaxFax and Plastics wards. This is a challenge as one of the people who newer nurses go to for questions! These are not the specialties I have the most experience with, so it has been very much a team effort, with a lot of help and hand-holding from the other wards, to give these folks the best care possible.

I say it a lot, but it never gets old how happy and willing to help everyone is in this hospital. Even when we're dealing with colds (which are rampaging through the crew at the moment), everyone from the bottom of the food chain to the tip-top managers are powering through.

A few days ago we had a bit of a brutal storm rip through very unexpectedly, which caused some damage, mainly to our tents & dockspace. This one you see below, Jane, our gracious Ward Manager - who could have very easily delegated this off to any number of underlings - was right there in the sweltering heat lugging supplies around and re-organizing so we could continue our programs without interruption.

Don't worry, that's not a real patient. ;)

I promised updated photos of Saliou (the very first surgical case this year), so here's some!

I've been granted permission to do ward photography this year, which means I'll actually get to post photos I've taken in the hospital (with - of course - written consent of the patients)! Stay tuned for that. 

Also, you might have seen this photo circulating on social media recently, of all the ward nurses:

I'm there, I swear, but I'm short and hard to see. See?

I had a dear friend depart last week, and it certainly feels a bit different without her around to hang out. She is, however, returning in January, so I'm eagerly looking forward to that!

Last meal out with Suzanne (second from Left) ♥

With that, I shall sign off for now or I will miss lunch. 

À la prochaine,

        -D