Is anybody There..are we here?!

OK, so we really want to make this blog thing work, so that means I had better restart posting stuff to it!  Apologies for those who looked and were disappointed, but we will do better...you deserve that, faithful friends!

Wow, how time has flown...March 2010 already!  The time we spent in Benin was often tough, but many people's lives were transformed one way or another.  Here are a few numbers to give you an idea.  Remember, each number is a real person, many of whom we talked to, smiled at, prayed with, or stood next to!

Known decisions to follow Jesus: 2,438!
Surgery for Blindness due to cataracts: 3,969
Face/neck tumour etc. removal/reconstructions: 996
Cleft lip/palate: 185
Obstetric Fistula: 184
General Surgeries: 1,161
Orthopaedic: 231
Dental Treatments: 22,066
Palliative Care: 604 hours
Also construction of a children's surgical centre, training of local surgeons, nurses, engineers, farmers, dental hygienists, and 33,851 pairs of glasses dispensed!  Remember, each person is someone's son, daughter, husband, wife or parent..and there is no Social Services, no Disability Allowance or anything like that.  It is no exaggeration to say that these people have been transformed...physically, spiritually, emotionally..our God is an awesome God!


Back in the UK, it seems the run up to the elections has started, even though the actual date hasn't been announced yet!  Here in Togo, the elections were on Thursday.  It seems there is always the possibility of crowds gathering etc, so we have been on 'restricted shore leave' for a few days.  For this reason, we've seen a bit more of the dock than we otherwise might.  To help you feel that you are here, here's a picture (the photographer used a 'fish-eye' lens to fit it all in, so things that are straight look curved).

  What I can't help you imagine is the heat (35C), the humidity (high), the smell (don't ask), or the scurrying of rats and cockroaches!  You don't like imagining that part?!  OK, what else?  Well, we have to walk or drive past two security gates (on the left) to leave.  The first one has the typical 'bit of old rope' typical of African road barriers in these parts.  There is also a guard; often asleep on a nearby mat.  They have siesta here from 12:30 to 3pm...very sensible considering the heat at that time of day.  The ship opposite was unloading phosphate (fertiliser) into bagging machines, and onto flat-bed lorries that sagged in the middle!  Togo is apparently the 4th largest producer of that in the world, so next time you are sprinkling some on your garden, it might have come from Togo!  The forklift truck drivers are just as scary here as anywhere else; except here they don't worry too much if the container or whatever is being carried sways precariously.  Fortunately, the port authority put those empty containers down to separate us from such craziness; all of our patients walk along the dock, and our children have PE lessons on it, the little ones chalk-draw on it, and it is a recreation area for all of us who live on board the m/v Africa Mercy.
Just for comparison, here's a view of the Tenerife Opera House (and Elliot) where we were docked over Christmas:

...and here's one of him about to go and ascend an indoor climbing wall while there.  We found a giant kid's adventure place that had two floors of impressive activity stuff; he had such a good time!

Meanwhile, back on the dock..............................................................

What to do when the ships generators have to be turned off because the cooling water filters are blocked...have a barbecue until the power can be restored  Good fun, but putting on the insect repellent has to be taken seriously unless you want Maleria!

Next..some hospital pics...as you see, Elliot has decided to leave school early and start working.  Actually, in case you are worried, no he hasn't; he was just enjoying the hospital Open Evening (and, by the way, patients are not actually given coloured water when they need NG feeds)!

Now we are no longer operating on furry toy animals, but the people we came to Togo to bring Hope & Healing to.  Lifechanging decisions are being made daily...sometimes difficult ones that need God's wisdom for sure.  For example, a 14 year old girl was admitted for surgery on her legs.  Routine tests found that she was actually pregnant (aparently she didn't know).  The surgery normally needs a long General Anaesthetic, but this would be very bad for mother and growing baby.  Spinal anaesthetic was considered, but in the end it was decided that she could not be operated on!  This is, as far as we know, the only chance for this surgery she will ever have, so many hospital staff were quite upset by having to make such a decision.  Thankfully, such things happen much more rarely than the times life-changing surgery can be carried out!

So, you ask, what have those Royston's been up to?  Well, I (Tony) have been setting up the medical equipment ready for use after the sail.  This involves the off-ship dental clinic (for around 10 dentists simultaneously), off-ship eye clinic, and the hospital on-ship.  This included complete new anaesthetic machines for use in the operating theatres.  They had travelled from Oxford (where they were made) to Texas, and on to Benin, where they were secured for the sail, and un-crated and commissioned in Togo!  Not surprisingly after such a journey, they needed some adjustments, but are in use now.

Patricia is busy teaching English and Music in the school on-board.  She is always walking around, being a friendly face to newcomers and 'old hands' alike.  Elliot is learning piano, guitar, recorder and karate, and is doing quite well with them.  He is also GROWING, which of course results in clothes that were one too long becoming too short!

I think that's it for now...next time, church, weekends, and 'a day in the life..'.  Thanks for reading, and please tell others 'they're back online.'!