Well, OK, we have been in Liberia for over three weeks now, but the title seemed appropriate! It's been a busy time, with preparations of one sort or another in readiness for the first patients arriving on board on the 20th, after the main screening day on Monday 18th. That was a long day, with most people involved setting off from the ship at 6am in a convoy of Land Rovers to travel about 45 minutes to the sports stadium which was the screening location. We arrived as dawn was breaking, to find hundreds of people already there waiting for us, many having walked throughout the night (basically no streetlights here) or 'camped' there in the hope of being seen earlier on in the day. Well, more people kept coming, and the last person who was accepted for hospital admission was seen at 10pm!!! For the majority of them, it was probably the only opportunity they would have to be seen by a doctor in their lives. People who had burns whose skin had basically stuck together, causing restrictive movement of limbs, others with huge tumours on their faces or necks, those with cleft lips or palates (often adults), club feet, ladies who had had obstructed labour and who were now completely incontinent...the list goes on. Many of these folks would have been objects of ridicule and shame, where the physical affliction was only part of the story; for each person there was a story to tell.
Patricia has been getting to know some of the patients, and yesterday took Elliot with her to one of the wards to do some cardmaking with some of them, which everyone really enjoyed. I was working at the time, sorting out some autoclave problems, and doing my best to conserve water while testing them, which isn't easy as they use quite a lot. It's very strange walking up any of the hospital deck corridors as it feels like I'm in the UK; British power sockets, same sort of equipment as you could see at home, but look out of a window or talk to a passing day-worker and you are quickly back in Africa again!
We were also honoured to be visited by Her Excellency the President of Liberia, who came to thank us all for being here. She seems to be a lady who is genuinely trying to do the best for her country, not long after so many years of horrific civil war. Just take a look at the rather smart looking bodyguards (there were more not so easily seen) and you are reminded of this. Still, things must be improving, because for her last visit they didn't even bother being discrete with their weaponry!
To close, a photo of Gary Parker & Don Stevens, Chief Surgeon and Founder of Mercy Ships respectively.
Both have, frequently, met with various presidents and other leaders of nations; when George Bush was in Liberia last week as a guest of the Liberian President he personally called Don up to the dais to talk. Yet they both have their feet very firmly on the ground, and their hearts in heaven, if you can understand that. They do what they do with a Christ-given passion for the 'unimportant' people; they treat both presidents and paupers with the same love, respect and care-I've seen it, and they are pouring out their lives daily doing that for His glory. I commend them to you and your prayers!
