The Beautiful Ugly

Shipyards aren't inherently beautiful places. Our walk to church today involved dodging trucks and puddles of questionable liquids. Outside of the port gate, as we make our way through the part of the city called Kaloum, the sidewalk is strewn with trash, and is missing pieces at random intervals, exposing the sewage below. As we walked, passing vehicles swept dust across our feet and into my shoes (Which, combined with sweat, turns into mud. In my shoes. Fabulous.)

But sweat eventually dries, shoes can be scrubbed, and clothes can always be washed (or just hung to dry, depending on the weather!). If I am writing a blog post to complain about the mud, I am living on the wrong continent!

Abby, Flavio, and Nicole on our way to church, with the ship in the background.
(I don't think I was supposed to take this photo, in hindsight. Ports are sensitive about that. Whoopsie!) 

Let me start again. Shipyards aren't inherently beautiful places. And do you know what I mean when I say, big cities in general are not inherently beautiful places? But when I take off the blinders, put on the breaks, beauty suddenly infiltrates, and it's impossible to ignore.

A container ship in the right place at the right time.

I remember about 2 years ago when I was living in a house in Saint Paul, our neighbors had a construction project going on. For months, there were outhouses, heavy equipment, and raw materials everywhere. But as I went out to my car each morning and saw the sun rising over the "mess", the light changed the whole picture into a scene that can only be described as heavenly. The phrase that came to mind was "the Beautiful Ugly".

How could I possibly pay attention to the ugliness of the pieces when I felt so captivated by the beauty of the whole picture?

These are the moments no human can plan for. Do you know anyone who would say "I'm going to impress my neighbors with a beautiful yard, and I think I'll do that by covering it in blue tarps and plywood scraps!"

Although I never got a picture of the construction site in my neighbor's yard, I did find a few examples in my pictures from the past month. I want to get better at capturing the things that stir me that much.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

-Psalm 139:7-8

Pictured: A beautiful sunset over the island just off shore in Conakry.
Not pictured: A beach below the frame covered in no small amount of  things
left behind that don't normally belong on a beach...

When you walk around Kaloum looking for the Ugly, you'll focus on sewage and dust and trash, and if you're in a position to ameliorate those things, there is a place for focusing on that. But the Beautiful is also ready for those that look for it--in the way the sunlight befriends the dust as it is kicked up, the brightly-and-beautifully-clad mamans in the market, the two tiny feet of a sleeping little one sticking out on either side of her, friends enjoying each other with no other agenda, and the eccentric dashboard decorations in the local taxis.

On a trip to Kribi in Cameroon.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.

-Psalm 27:4

Abby making friends at the tailor's (aka. the place with the most fun people-watching)

a 7am Skype call on a Monday (yawn) where Ally the Operations Director and Dr.
Gary the Maxillo-Facial Surgeon shared why what the ship does is important
(aaahh :D Nothing like listening to such thoughtful leaders to calibrate your perspective)

Your eyes will see the King in his beauty

and view a land that stretches afar.

Look on Zion, the city of our festivals;

your eyes will see Jerusalem,

a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved;

its stakes will never be pulled up,

nor any of its ropes broken.

There the Lord will be our Mighty One.

It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams.

No galley with oars will ride them,

no mighty ship will sail them.

-Isaiah 33:17, 20-21

Fabric sellers on bottom, tailors on top. There was a constant overtone of sewing machines.

Full disclosure, as I write this post, I'm conscious of feeling a bit "gushy". Maybe I'm just more emotional than normal because someone dear to me left the ship this week. But then again, the beauty of God is something very worthy of our excitement. It points to something bigger than whatever beauty we're beholding.

Someone on the ship referenced a quote. I can't remember where it came from for the life of me, but the story has stuck with me, and it very much applies here:

As someone watched the sun rise one morning, they prayed and told God, "Thank you for this painting." God answered, "You are part of that painting, enjoying it."

The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains,

The world, and those who dwell in it.

-Psalm 24:1

When was a time when you noticed a "beautiful ugly"? I'm really interested to hear if reading this has brought examples to your mind. Pictures are welcome!

That's all for now. Enjoy this second-a-day video of our first full month in Conakry!

"News"

1. New country

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A post shared by Mercy Ships (@mercyships) on Aug 21, 2018 at 1:47pm PDT

We made it to Guinea!! It's rainy season, and arrival day was no exception. But everyone was having a great time :)

I love the colors in the port!!

(Side note: At a certain point did Google how to pronounce "Guinean" so that I don't accidentally say "Ghanaian".)

2. New coworkers

Some of the people with whom I work the most closely... On one of the only days the sun actually came out! (note the squinting, haha) The bow of the Ship is behind us, and where we are standing, there is now a tent, so I'm glad we nabbed a cool team photo while the space was free!

More to the point, what you may not see in this photo is the wealth of godly wisdom, hard-earned perspective, and Christ-like character that this group wields. They are leaders from almost every area of the Ship. I feel privileged to work as closely as I do with each of them.

3. New patients

In the countries where Mercy Ships partners with the government to provide surgeries, the need always outstrips our capacity to help. In Guinea, there are .097 physicians for every 1,000 people (according the the CIA World Factbook; compared to 2.57/1,000 in the US). Most people have never been to see a doctor.

To identify the patients, Mercy Ships put the word out about the types of conditions we treat, and about a pre-screening being held on August 20 at a site called Palais du Peuple (the "People's Palace). Long story short, more than 6,000 people passed through the gates that day, including caregivers and guardians that had accompanied their loved ones. Out of those, approximately 4,980 were potential patients, and at the end of the day, about 1,100 were picked for a secondary evaluation later in the week.

Pre-screening day at Palais du Peuple (Photo: Shawn Thompson)

I came along to the screening as a translator for the Media Liaisons (my previous job!), as local media outlets showed up to cover the pre-screening. But in between media teams, there was always a place to help. It was quite a relief to sit down for lunch!

Translating while a media team interviewed the Hospital Director, Nate (Photo: Shawn Thompson)

4. New Culture

The troop that performed at our Arrival Ceremony! (Photo: Lara Arkinstall)

This is Mercy Ships' fourth visit to Guinea, where approximately 85% if the population is Muslim. We have Muslim patients, Muslim Day Crew, and Muslim partners in the surrounding area. And--I will probably write this multiple times--Guineans are such lovely people! I remember being completely dumbfounded by their kindness while I was helping direct patients at the front of the line for pre-screening. After literally waiting in line all day under the sun and rain, screening candidates and their families were asking me how I was doing. I was floored, and that is just one example.

Discovering this new country is a reminder of the diversity of West Africa. It has made me grateful for the quality time I've gotten to spend in each country where I've lived, because if I were making only cursory visits in each place, at the end I would feel like I hadn't been anywhere.

5. New app

So I've started using the "1 Second Everyday" app (which usually costs $5 but for some reason was FREE when I got it--obviously meant to be ^_^). It's super easy to do, so I want to post "a second a day while I'm away" each month. Here's August:

Here are a few bonus photos from the month:

Handing out name tags for the Partner's Reception with the communications team!

Touring the new HOPE Center with some of the Ship Directors. Jeremy is the
photo-bomber, and I told him, "Jokes on you! I'll post this on the internet!" :D

Praying at the screening site before pre-screening.

The sunset from deck 8. We could get used to this!

Warrie Blackburn, the Ship's Managing Director, with Djene Kaba Conde, First
Lady of Guinea. (Photo: Shawn Thompson)

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.