Hello! It’s been a while, sorry. I can’t quite believe it’s been more than two months. I’m going to share a few stories of transformative work done by people on this ship.
One of our surgeons shared some of the life transforming work we do here. Imagine living with a goitre (swelling in your neck) that grows to such a size that it causes you pain, potential death by suffocation and inability to move your neck.
©2016 Mercy Ships – Photo Credit Katie Keegan – Noely before surgery
But that’s not the worst of your problems. A goitre is seen as a sign of being involved in evil or witchcraft and you are pushed to the edges of your local community. Your family and friends reject you and you have little hope for the future, you can’t afford surgery at your local hospital, a day’s difficult travel away. Your prospects are to die alone, painfully and unloved. But then you find yourself offered of a free surgery performed by a world class surgeon on a ship in Tamatave. The medical team is loving and you wake up and find the goitre gone, once again someone who can be loved by your own people. How wonderful it is to be part of an organisation that transforms lives in such a fabulous way. Many patients see the love of Jesus through the love of the staff on ship, and leave healed more than just physically.
Tim told me about the project to refurbish the operating theatres in the city we are based in. They were in very poor shape with equipment that made the jobs of the surgical staff difficult and dangerous. Now the theatres are well equipped with solid equipment that should last many years and trained enthusiastic locals technicians to look after it. Local surgeons are delighted, and as a result this teaching hospital is one of the most attractive in the country to be a surgeon. See more about Tim’s organisation here: http://www.medaid.co.uk/
A side note on medical care in Madagascar. While operations and medical care is technically free, patients have to pay for all drugs and consumables used in their treatment at a varying cost across the country. For many local people this cost may be prohibitively expensive in a country where the average income is less than $1.50/day (2014 figures from world bank).
Capacity building is a big buzz word here. Ali travelled the country for much of the year training medical teams in key techniques that will significantly reduce surgical deaths. They donate and train hospitals in the use of pulse oxygenmeters. The WHO surgical checklist is also taught to the teams. When used both significantly improve the outcomes of surgery. They have seen an incredibly positive response from medical teams across the country. Read more at http://lifeboxjourneys.tumblr.com/post/110261120159/antananrivo-to-toamasina-and-back-again
‘Why are you in prison?’, the dental team asked. ‘I murdered someone’.
©2016 Mercy Ships Photo Credit Justine Forrest; COM138 Heidi van Eijl (NLD) Dental Hygienist with dental equipment from EMS
The dental team was in the local prison, pulling many teeth in a terrible condition and educating the prisoners in dental care. Should they receive free dental care from us, or suffer for their crimes? Should we focus on treating those who are not so bad, or live like Jesus and love those we come into contact with no matter who they are and what they have done? Read more at https://saulogamarra.wordpress.com/
I’m coming towards the end of my time here, and thinking of the future. I love this country, the simple way of life here, the beautiful beaches and great bike rides. The friendly, warm people, the occasional tropical rainstorms and more commonly beautiful skies. But I don’t know there is much more I can give to Madagascar apart from a mandatory return visit in a few years. Currently I’m planning on travelling a little in Madagascar (wanna join me – June 2nd onwards, it’ll be an amazing adventure with a ‘local’ guide aka yours truly), thinking of riding round and exploring countryside, nature, villages, beaches and of course enjoying amazing local cusine… Then when I get back to the UK I’ll work out what to do next, thinking of working less than full time and doing some other useful work with the remaining time…
Tropical rain yay!!
If you like to pray…
- Give thanks for a great few months here, healthy, good teaching, great students, fun weekends and evenings…
- Give thanks for the many successful operations and procedures that have been carried out here
- Pray for continued successful work here for all on the ship in Tamatave
- Pray for health for crew, there is lots of viral and bacterial illness around all the time.
- Pray for everyone to have everything they need. We are very blessed here but rely on the generosity of many people to help us pay the bills, keep the lights on, sponsor our volunteers. Remember we are entirely a volunteer organisation, and everyone pays their own expenses. While I’m not looking for support, many people on ship would benefit…perhaps consider sponsoring someone!
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