"Learn as if you were to live forever" - Gandhi

This past week has been a week of discovery, new things and life lessons! Every time I think I know what I'm doing or have become comfortable God rocks the boat (no pun intended), and reveals to me more of His goodness, more ways to love people deeply and areas of my life that he wants to work on. This is incredible, exhausting and exciting. I have also learnt more about the country of Guinea, Mercy Ships and what it looks like to be a nurse serving here, I've expanded a little further below.

A group of us had a training day learning more about the culture of Guinea, how it looks to respect the local people, their beliefs and traditions. We had a lesson on speaking and practising a few of the the local dialects, Susu, Fula, and Malinké. We also tried traditional food dishes cooked by a gentleman who is partnered with Mercy Ships. He lives in Conakry and generously made us fish soup, sweet potato leaf stew and bar bar rice to try, some of his favourite foods. He also demonstrated the art of eating with just your hands, the process wasn't as messy as I thought it would be but their was a pungent smell of fish...

#bringinghopeandhealing #alwaysareasontosmile

Our craniofacial surgeries are continuing and I’ve had the privilege of looking after such gorgeous, cheeky and wonderful patients. I attempted practising my Susu with them and received a few laughs and many corrections to my pronunciation...

The children taught me how to play UNO African style, (simple rule, cheat to win) and thought painting my hands with nail varnish would be fun!

Overall this week I have seen and felt God teaching me a whole new way of loving our patients, how to treat them with the same dignity and respect I'd give my patients back in the UK. Despite the language barriers I've learnt ways of connecting with them and teaching them that they're not only loved by us but also by someone much greater, their Saviour.

Last thing I thought I'd add in this blog is what a day shift looks like for me on the ship. This is a difficult thing to do because the ship isn’t average and no two days are the same but I’m going to try...

0640 - my alarm goes off, sometimes I have a little tantrum but then I don my scrubs and head for breakfast. On a weekend breakfast doesn’t start until 0730 so I go straight to the ward and am sent for breakfast later. 0700 - handover from the night staff occurs. We pray for the patients, each other and the crew who have just finished that they'd rest well.

0730-1000 - we review our allocated patients and carry out the necessary tasks and care needed for that morning. This may include: prepping them for surgery, cleaning wounds and changing bandages, carrying out muscle exercises and of course just playing with them!

1030-1130 - our amazing chaplaincy team come to sing, dance and pray with the patients. Sometimes they bring crafts for the patients to do which they love and the cleaners love cleaning up...

1200-1300 - the wonderful day crew serve lunch for the patients and caregivers, we assist with feeding those that can’t feed themselves or preparing special diets for those on restrictions.

1300-1400 - this hour is either crazy busy with finishing off jobs that I left due to distractions or is a little quieter and patients are sleeping, reading or chatting with each other.

1400-1530 - the evening shift nurses arrive and we gather to pray, discuss the shift and handover our patients.

When this has occurred those who are allowed go to deck 7 with us to play in the fresh (humid/hot) air! We ride tricycles, swing on swings generally get used as human climbing frames while the Mammas, Pappas and caregivers take a break.

1530-1545 - I ensure the safe return of my patients to the ward and that's my shift finished. I then usually collapse in a sweaty smelly heap somewhere until I find energy to take a minute shower or find some place cool!

It's been a learning week for me and now has been for you too. I'll write soon! x