"Kehr"fully Docked in Dakar

Hey all! Week 11 is underway. It about time that I share some patient transformation stories! The overarching purpose of Mercy Ships is to bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor. The onboard hospital is only a small portion of the ship delivering hope and healing, but let me introduce you to some of the people whose lives are forever changed. (Disclosure - the patients (or their caregivers) have given consent for their pictures to be taken and shared.) Meet Aminata: I first met her when she was admitted to the ward the night before surgery. She was the life of the party. She danced and sung, muttering words that were hard to understand through her cleft lip and palate. We danced with her and laughed until we cried. In the morning, she went to surgery for her cleft lip and palate repair. Upon returning from surgery, this little one had tubes in both of her nostrils, her mouth was incredibly painful, and she was scared.  We worked day and night to get her back to her pre-surger...

It's week 10 onboard the Africa Mercy. Life here has a rhythm, like the beat of a drum. The drum is an invitation to dance and share joy. The beat speeds and slows depending on the day, but the drum is always reverberating. The hospital has completed nearly 100 surgeries, forever changing the lives of the patients. Crew members come and go as their commitments start or end. New, lifelong friendships are formed. Life is good. Suddenly, though, the drum beat has paused. Sickness has snuck onto the ship. Our captain has called for each of us to practice solitude. How do you practice solitude when the drum beat is meant to be a shared experience?  How do you continue to find joy in the stillness? Over the last week, I have been reminded over and over again that Jesus sought out solitude to spend time with the Father.  Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Matthew 14:23 And...

Greetings from Senegal - the country of Teranga! I'm so grateful to be meeting with each of you again! Happy Senegalese Independence Day (April 4)! Teranga = Hospitality. Senegal is known as the country of hospitality. Thank goodness all of the Senegalese people I have met embody the spirit of hospitality and invite me to join into their culture and country. Today is a day off from the hospital for me, so I was able to join in the Senegalese Independence Day celebrations. In 1960, Senegal declared its independence from France. There is a central plaza in Dakar (Place de l'Independence) that played host to a military parade this morning. The Senegalese president was a part of the celebration. While Senegal will likely never be my permanent home, it was a special thing to share in their festivities. I would be remiss to fail mentioning that the Senegalese futbol team secured their spot in the World Cup last week when they beat Egypt! I am honored to work with and learn from our S...