The Hope Center

Today was such a great day! I woke up having no idea what I was going to do. I was hoping to be able to leave the ship and either go in town or check out the Hope Center. After breakfast, I met up with some friends and they were discussing how they were going to clean their cabins and do laundry. One of my roommates was going to the Chimpanzee park, which I am hoping to do at some point, but was going to be staying overnight with the group of people she was going with. I have plans for church tomorrow and didn't want to do an overnight thing so I decided against going with her.

I have a new roommate, by the way! The turnover is so frequent because people are coming every Monday and Thursday and are leaving on any given day. Everyone's length of service differs and there are always new people coming. Sabrina, is my new bunk mate. She is from Switzerland and is also a ward nurse. We are going to be getting two more roommates on Monday as well. Anyways, Sabrina and I decided to clean the cabin and create a "chore chart" so that tasks like cleaning the bathroom and taking the trash out were being done, but not by the same person everytime. We did some laundry and then found out that Vera, a lady on the ship was planning on going to the Hope Center today. I met up with her and asked if I could tag along for the day. She goes to the Hope Center three times a week; usually on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays but because there was a lot of rain yesterday she decided to go today.

I am so thankful I decided to go. The Hope Center by far is my favorite part of this adventure so far! The Hope Center is located down the street from the dock. It is a rented out building that Mercy Ships uses to house patients who live far away from the ship but need followup care and for patients and their caregiviers who live far away and need a place to stay prior to their admission on the wards. General surgery is ending on the ship because our general surgeon is leaving on Monday. A plastics surgeon will be arriving this weekend and we will begin admitting his patients on Monday. Because of that, the Hope Center has a large number of people who are going to be admitted on the ship on Monday for a plastics surgery. There were a large number of burn contractures, mostly kids. There were also a few facial tumors, some eye conditions, some cleft lips/palates and other conditions that all will be taken care of once each patients admission date comes. There were also many of our discharged patients who were there. Most of them were contracture patients who are there for continued physiotherpy for their limbs.

When we arrived, the kids were so excited to see Vera. She usually brings games for the kids and they were excited to see the balls and the game she brought with her today. The mothers and other caregivers are so happy that people are there to visit. The adult patients almost stood off to the side until I went and introduced myself to them in the little bit of Krio I know and then developed some great relationships which I hope to nourish going forward.

Vera and Aminata, a 2 years 8 month old child who has a facial tumor. As a result, she has difficulty eating and is malnourished, hence her small size. She has been at the Hope Center for some time and has been gaining weight and growing so she will eventually be able to have sugery.

These are bead crafts that many of the ladies were working on.

Simeon and I. He was my photographer for the day. He took most of the pictures.

 In Sierra Leone and, as I understand, in most African countries, photographs and cameras are not quickly accepted. I believe it has to do with some of the history in these countries where foreign journalists would come and take photos of the people and then the people would see their pictures in the newspaper and be upset. Also, they are sometimes ashamed of the poverty and conditions of the country. Because of this, we are not allowed to take pictures in the town or of people without permission. In town, it is not uncommon, if caught taking a picture, for one to get mobbed by a group demanding the camera be confiscated or that they receive money in exchange for the photo. I, therefore, no longer plan on traveling into town with my camera. At the Hope Center, I had to receive permission from the individuals to have their pictures taken. This is also another reason why we aren't permitted to take pictures in the hospital wards. I have signed up to have my picture taken with patients by our communications representative who will then post the pictures on a shared folder on the Africa Mercy computer network, where I will be able to take them and share with you. Please be patient. I will do my best to get as many photos of me with the people.

Josephine, Regina (a patient who will arrive to the ship on Monday) and me!
They were teaching me some Krio while I was there :) They think I can learn in 3 months.
I'm definately willing to try.

A boy who was on the plastics ward for a while prior to my arrival

Hassan, Josephine and Regina.
Hassan is the caregiver of his son Usman who will be coming to the ship on Monday for a burn contracture release.

Usman and Hassan

The view from the Hope Center

The view of the ship from the Hope Center

Sabrina, Usman, Me and Bintu.
Usman was a patient at the ship and was also discharged prior to me arriving. He had an amputation of a leg done. He walks with crutches and plays and runs and is quite good at juggling (three balls even) while standing on one leg. Such a happy boy. Bintu's brother was at the ship and she is there with her mother and brother. She clung to me and stayed with me the whole time.

Usman and me playing hand games while we sang worship songs. He learned them all while on the ship. His favorites were Here I am to Worship, Lord I lift Your name on High, and two others I didn't know. He loves to sing and has an amazing voice.

Me, Bintu, and Usman

Usman and Bintu

Umaar, Bintu's brother getting his physiotherapy on his burn contracture release wound

Miriam getting physiotherapy, also a burn contracture release patient. She is amazing at making those bead crafts which are made into purses despite her hand.

Bintu, Me and Miriam

Sabrina and Hawa, a girl who has a burn contracture. Coming to the ship on Monday!

Today was truly a wonderful day! It was nice to be off the ship and even nicer to be with the people. There were many people who didn't want their pictures taken, which I have to respect. Many of them had very visible facial deformities. Its so nice to be able to see people the way Jesus does- all fearfully and wonderfully made. I can't wait to go back to the Hope Center. The kids asked me to come tomorrow, but I will probably try to go again on Monday. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.