We're Back on the Water

Loooookit that Minnesota sky... :)

"You don't work in a high-risk environment for TB do you?" the nurse at the Minute Clinic asked, scanning through the list of routine questions she had to go through. "That would be, for example, a prison, or some other crowded environment..."
"Well actually... I work on a ship," I began awkwardly, still not used to sharing this information with perfect strangers. Normally I'm surrounded by people who are, literally, in the same boat. Then I realized I should probably add, "With 400 other people."
"Okay," the nurse moved her mouse, clicked, began typing. I glanced around the tiny room for a few seconds. She picked up her paper again, looking for the next question. "Okay," she said again, "Aaand, when was--"
"Um--sorry--I should also probably mention... that there's a hospital on the ship... where I work." I said this as though it had just occurred to me.
"Oh, okay, let me just make a note on that last question then..." Another click. Pause. Typing. Pause. More typing.. Back to the paper. "Okay..."
"Also, one more thing? The ship is in Africa. That's probably important...?"

~~~

It was funny suddenly having to explain all of the things that went without saying for everyone on the ship for the past year. Back home, once I start getting into details, I could keep talking for hours. I'm thankful for those that took the time to listen when I shared, both a lot and a little.

Doing all my favorite "home" things included a weekend at Hope Shores Bible Camp :)

Five weeks in Minnesota felt like *just* enough. I facetiously told my ship friends that this was too short to miss them. I could have happily stayed home longer, sleeping in my giant bed, drinking coffees on the porch, camping and biking with my family, but nothing lasts forever.

Luckily it was enough time away that I was able to feel excited about going back. Thank you to everyone who poured into me this summer, and who prayed for my travels! Despite stories of strikes at airports in Spain on the day I was travelling through, I had no problems whatsoever with delays or baggage check.

Hello Gran Canaria!

I arrived a little after lunch on Sunday. The bags I had packed, along with some things I had moved in before going home, seemed to completely fill my tiny cabin space! I wish I had a photo, but then again, I'm glad there's no evidence... Let's just say I was very thankful in that moment to have that nook to myself, because getting myself organized was not a one-night project, and it would have driven a bunk-mate crazy!

I arrived on in time for the impromptu worship gathering that night.

 After one short week in the Canary Islands, we set sail on Sunday evening. (shout out to the deck and engineering teams, who appeared to be working all day and into the night on the weekend to get everything ready!)

We expect to arrive in Conakry Saturday morning, in time for a ceremony scheduled for that afternoon. The Prime Minister and the First Lady of Guinea are invited. And the First Lady is, indeed, the President's wife. I didn't realize it was possible to have a PM and a President! Although I've been told even the first Lady outranks the PM, who is only 2 months into his term. Pray for him.

Worshiping together on the bow.

You may notice a few (overdue) updates to this blog, including a page with my fundraising info along the top bar, some new prayer requests, and maybe, just maybe (coming soon!) a new background photo that I didn't take in Benin. ;) I've also changed the title at the top of this page, although I've decided to keep the same URL (cameroon-kate.blogspot.com) to avoid confusion.

That's all for now! Thank you for reading. I hope to post more photo from my job in my next update. This should be an exciting weekend... In the meantime, enjoy a few more photos!

One of those places I could have stayed longer--Lake Superior!

Dinner out for David's birthday! (Photo cred: dad)

They wear whatever I give them and it's awesome ^_^

Discovering a new corner of Gran Canaria with new friends.

Exploring the dunes in the south of the island.

Waiting for 0318-US0201-CM

Every time I go to the fabric market, I stop in to see Rafaela and her mom. On one outing, I asked if she'd like her portrait taken. She agreed, and now we each have this photo.

Something I've been really excited for this month is that I think--I think--supply container 0318-US0201-CM will arrive on our dock... And inside is my birthday present!

Yes, my birthday is in March, but details, details... The container was "supposed to" arrive last month, and then at the beginning of this month, and then last Friday, but so far no dice. If you're wondering what it feels like waiting for a container full of supplies and goodies (and peanut butter for the dining room) that you KNOW is just around the corner, my friend Carys, with the help of her brother, the youth group, and a few other maties, made a very informative video...

But in between rocking in the fetal position in the ship shop, I supposed we've managed to get some work done. And now, if you think my blogs are better with soundtracks, play this next video and keep reading :)

We are almost at the conclusion of the Cameroon Field Service. As Media Liaisons, Renee and I recently hosted our final vision trip (bringing the count to 16) AND our final media team (of which we've had 10!!)! Sprinkled in the cracks were around 20-30 special events hosted on board and at the off-sites (including one still to go), and wrapping it all up had us breathing a big sigh and cheesing bigger smiles. And in my case, writing a long-overdue blog post. Yeah, I'm really sorry about that...

Since I haven't shared too much "work news" on  here for a while, here's what these past months have looked like: since January, I've hosted groups of donors and supporters from the UK, the US, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and one group of ship-brokers from all over Europe. That doesn't include Renee's four media teams and 2 vision trips. Once a group arrives, work stress fades away and the fun begins, because this ship seriously speaks for itself. It's amazing to see the way these guests, usually first-time visitors to the ship, are so deeply touched by their time here, by interactions with the crew, and with the patients.

One of the Swiss visitors playing with a cleft lip patient on Deck 7 (Photo: Saul)

We had been praying as a crew for a few weeks for the arrival of several containers carrying needed supplies, as well as a delivery of fuel to fill the Africa Mercy's belly before it sails in early June. Some of the deliveries had been running late... and later... until last month. One-by-one, all of the long-awaited containers started getting delivered. I remember one night, looking out my cabin window that overlooks our dock space, and seeing four containers that had just been delivered, lined up like a bunch of gigantic presents fit for a 152-meter ship! A couple days later, the prayers for fuel were also answered, in a BIG way. Crew were all snapping photos and texting each other, "Have you SEEN the dock?"

Let's just say, the port workers' Truck Tetris game was on point.

Although the ship engineers knew they had a long day of transferring petrol ahead of them, they projected a positive attitude about the whole thing. Now the trucks are gone and the dock is back to normal, and there is only one container still to arrive while the ship is in Cameroon: 0318-US0201-CM. And sometimes, I am tempted to whine with impatience, "Harumph. None of those containers brought anything for ME! I want what's mine already!!" Really now, have some patience, Kate!

Recently I was clearing out my personal email (and got it down from 300+ to 13 in my inbox, thankyouverymuch), and found an article that my friend Jenny shared with our small group some time ago, talking about the difference between anticipation and expectation. You can read it here--I'd recommend it!

I'll just highlight a couple parts here:

"I know what I want and how my wants should be met.... By dwelling on my detailed script, I turn inward with expectation; I focus on and clutch at what I think I deserve. And as I have experienced a hundred times... my wants and needs are not met how I thought they should be.... Therefore I release control in order to allow God to dazzle and woo me. He knows the desires of my heart far better than I do, for he created them and shares in them... I am learning to release my expectation of what the summer should be and wait instead for summer in eager anticipation, knowing that whatever form it may take, it will be good."

If my happiness hinged on the arrival of a precious package, on Skype working flawlessly every week, on getting along with every single crew member, on the ship never running out of gluten-free crackers, I'd be a pretty pitiful mess. (It sounds so hypothetical in typing, but... I also have some experience in this area). 

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

-- Luke 11:11-13

If I'm the one with the plan, holding onto the map of my expectations with white knuckles, then straying from the plan is stressful, and can feel like a failure. But God is the one with the map, and knowing that his perspective is simply higher than mine makes all the difference. There are days when I'm bent over with my nose to the map. Realizing how chronically incomplete my perspective is, I've started to ask myself in the middle of the chaos, "What do you want here, God? Where are you working right now? Where am I missing your glory in what's going on? What about it is bringing you joy?"

Justine was one of the first patients up the gangway (Photo: Shawn)

Pierre received surgery for windswept legs (Photo: Saul)

Some of the women who got to celebrate a successful fistula surgery (Photo: Saul)

(Photo: Saul)

(Photo: Saul)

God's work, his glory, and his joy, are manifest in the people we serve. They are truly incredible. (Also shout out to our talented photographers!) Looking at these photos, it's hard for me to believe that three weeks from now we'll be in open water, sailing back to the Canary Islands. Cameroon Kate will still be around after the ship leaves--she's coming with me. By late June she'll meet up with Canary Islands Kate. And then after a 5 week hiatus in the greatest state (if you have to ask which one, you probably don't live there), I'm excited to introduce you to my new friend, Conakry Kate.

Multiple personalities aside, I want to share with you that my time with Mercy Ships will not conclude when I return home this summer. At the end of July, I am returning to the Africa Mercy for a second field service, this time in Conakry, Guinea. I will be working in a new role, as the Executive Assistant. I got the chance to sit down for lunch with my future boss and team this past week, and I'm so excited for what this next year will bring. You will be hearing from me sooner rather than later with more updates, right here.

Clockwise: Warrie, AFM Managing Director (USA); Ally, Operations Director (UK); Keith, Programs Administrativ Manager (USA); me; Sandrine, current Protocol Officer (Switzerland); Jeremy, Partner Liaison (Togo)

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." 

--Ecclesiastes 3:11

Seasons

The view of Mount Cameroon, September 11, 2017

Your soundtrack for this post--press play and scroll on

This part of the world sees a unique progression of seasons. Dry season, rainy season, dry season, and rainy season. It's been some months since Mount Cameroon's silhouette was visible on the other side of the Wouri River. It's hidden behind the layers of  matte grey and white, sometimes clouds, but more often dust that blows down every year from the Sahara Desert. We are nearing the end of the dry season called harmattan.

Arial photo of the "official" Mercy Ships Sports Complex (a.k.a. parking lot),
as seen from Deck 8. Photo credit: Saul Loubassa Bighonda

This week, there was a soccer game on the dock between the deck and dental departments (only on a hospital ship...). As the final whistle blew, the clouds billowed in visible layers and turned a deep gray, and it was apparent that in a matter of minutes they would let loose. As I relocated from the dock to the top decks--to get a better view of course--you could hear the wind approaching, and when it hit the ship, rumor has it a plastic chair went blowing clear across Deck 7. I stood with a handful of crew up there and watched the rain soak the dock, pummel the Land Cruisers, come tumbling out of the downspouts. The lightening came next, then the thunder. For the first time in months, I shivered standing in the open air as cool droplets blew in on those of us standing under the shelter of Deck 8, and decided it was refreshing. Rainy season is here once again.

Since the ship's arrival in August, during the last rainy season, the surgical team has performed 1,884 interventions for 1,761 unique patients (I added more detailed numbers on the left sidebar), and the Africa Mercy celebrated seeing its 30,000th patient treated since its deployment in 2007.

The Eye Team celebrates the AFM's 30,000th patient! Photo cred: Saul

Ecclesiastes 3:1,11-14

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven... He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it."

A few months back, I was sitting in the dining room with some friends talking about what we would do if we had only a year left to live. Then we realized the irony of us having this conversation while working on a hospital ship in Africa. I realized that a weekly rhythm that starts out feeling comfortable can easily start to feel monotonous, like any other desk job. It takes intentionality and mindfulness to hold onto the sense of wonder that was fresh and easy at the beginning of the field service. This is a perfectly normal feeling that signals the end of the honeymoon period. Isn't it the same with most fresh changes in life? The last thing I want people "back home" to think is that when I decided to offer my skills overseas with Mercy Ships, I immediately floated away on a happy cloud of khaki, bugspray, and the laughter of small children.

Be encouraged. Wherever you find yourself, be present, working at it with all your heart. Show up, and reach out.That is what it means to have the heart of a missionary, whether in the Midwest or West Africa.  Lord knows it's a choice every day, and I'm the last person who should be pretending to give advice, because I need this reminder right now, too.

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Photo credit: Saul

I've decided to stop this post here, because I tend to get carried away with words, and this update is long past due. For now, I'll leave you with a video that my friend Caleb, the ship's videographer, made in his free time with some of his footage, featuring just a few of the incredible, sweet, and courageous patients that have come and gone so far in this field service. Fun fact: the patient you see at 0m42s and 1m11s is the same man you see at 1m47s. His name is Ernest.