Goodbye Guinea, Hello Congo

   I wanted to give you an idea of the lives that were impacted by the 10 month outreach in Guinea.
There were 2,642 surgeries with this breakdown;
         Eye                                    1,617
         Orthopedic                           116
         Maxillofacial/cleft lip              625
         VVF                                       63
         General                                 281
There were 57,558 Medical Services with this breakdown;
         Physical Therapy Services   3,058
         Eye Evaluations                 13,500
         Dental Procedures             41,000
There were 119 training opportunities for Africans with this breakdown:
         Surgeons Trained/ Mentored     14
         Nurses Trained/ Mentored        11
         Other Medical Training             76
         Agricultural Trainers                  18
The crew also had the opportunity to participate in off ship ministries and weekly visited a men's and a women's prison, an orphanage, and the showing of the Jesus Film, to name a few of the planned outreaches.
   After the work was completed in the seven weeks at the shipyard in the Canary Islands we arrived in Pointe Noire, Congo after a 14 day sail. We crossed the Equator at the Prime Meridian at 0.00 degrees latitude and 0.00 degrees longitude and became Royal Diamond Shellbacks!  (We had to kiss a fish to receive our certificates.)  What a year of "firsts" this has been for me.
   Arriving in Congo was quite emotional.  Mercy Ships founders Don and Deyon Stephens were waiting on the dock along with the Minister of Health and other dignitaries who welcomed us with speeches and music as we watched the festivities from deck 7. Since our arrival August 10th we have been busy getting the hospital ready. Everything is falling into place.  Tomorrow I will meet the 5 local day crew who will be the translators for Admissions and we will begin the process of scrubbing the tent and getting all our equipment moved into our area.  The big screening takes place August 28 and surgery will begin September 2nd. I can't wait to start seeing patients!

                                                                   Last sunset at sea

 As we round the corner to arrive at our berth we see a container ship being unloaded

                                                 The festive dock awaits our arrival

                                                  Don and Deyon waving and cheering

                                                    Unloading the gangway from deck 8

                       Captain Tim goes down the gangway with the Pilot to music and fanfare

                                            The Minister of Education giving his speech

                                                            Don Stephens speaking

                                             The food didn't last long being served on the dock.

                                               The new floor in the hospital shines brightly

                                                                       Before. . . . .

                                                                       And after!

 Yes, I am scrubbing with a toothbrush.  A rag just couldn't get all the cracks and crevasses clean.

                                                              Assembling charts

                                            The Admissions tent is set up, ready for cleaning.

                                            This tent on the dock will be my workplace