It Is God Who Heals

Our lovely Comms team :)

The last two plus weeks have been a whirlwind, with an unbelievable amount of things being accomplished. I started to write out all the things that we’ve been doing but then realized it sounded a bit too much like the press statements I have been writing lately! The media coverage has been nonstop and we’ve done our best to try to sip from the fire hose. In the last two weeks, we’ve hosted several local media at the Dental Clinic; released 3 different press releases; hosted the national broadcaster onboard for a filmed tour of the Ship and hospital; hosted three Ministers (and their entourage) onboard for a quick tour of the Hospital and a meeting (with local media), followed by a large press conference at the local hospital; had a cameraman onboard to film the surgery of a patient that they had found in her village and followed to the Ship; and attended a dinner at the Governor’s residence with 70 other crew members, that was filmed by the media. The last one was quite an interesting experience as the media filmed us arriving, shaking hands with the Governor, eating, dancing, sitting, etc. The Governor was very welcoming and generous and arranged a lovely evening for our crew members.

Being interviewed in the dining room...

I’ve learned that the media say and do the funniest things. At the dinner, their question was, now that you’ve eaten and drunk well, are you strengthened to continue your mission? When Kate and I were answering questions for the team that came onboard, they asked us (on the record),  Are you married? Why not? When will you be married? I had to respond with a typical African response – when God wills it! So now, all of Cameroon knows that we are single. I’ve emailed journalists to point out errors in their stories and they have responded to apologize profusely for any embarrassment they caused the crew, and then not adjusted the story at all. I’ve had Journalism students who are doing reports on Mercy Ships demand to come onboard. I’ve had multiple people from the same media outlet asking for similar requests, each saying that they are different than their counterparts because they use a different medium or have a different purpose for their story. I’ve had a journalist message me the graphic details of his hernia problem. We’ve had ‘fake news’ with what we thought was a completely fabricated story out of left field, only to come face to face with the source the next day and realize there was a huge communication gap happening.

Every day is a new challenge that we’ve never faced, or at least not in these specific ways. I’m grateful for the way that we are able to support the rest of the Ship in a variety of ways, from helping to raise awareness of Dental & Eye screenings, to helping tell patient stories to encourage those who are fearful to come to the Ship, to stepping into more of a spokesperson role to let others focus on what they need to do. I’m also very thankful for Kate, that God sent us someone who is bilingual, kind, competent, driven and a quick learner. I wouldn’t have survived these last few months without her! Outside of our extra duties with the local media, we’ve also been doing our regular hosting – a lovely German lady who is including Mercy Ships in a play she is writing about people who bring hope; a Christian Dutch radio team who wants to bring more awareness about Mercy Ships (they want the Dutchies to take over the Ship!); and this week, a lovely US Vision Trip with guests who have been an encouragement to everyone.

Our orthopedic ward!

The Ship as a whole has been incredibly busy (as always!). I can’t believe how much 400 people are able to accomplish when they have a common goal. The Dental Clinic has treated over 500 people; the OR has done over 130 surgeries; the HOPE Center has welcomed hundreds of patients; the Eye team started screening last week and saw 600 people in one day; an Essential Pain Management course was held in Yaounde; a Biomed course for technicians is on its second week; one on one surgeon and anesthetist mentoring is underway; and so much more. I’ve witnessed people trying to manage the logistical struggle of bringing over 100 patients to the dock every day for various appointments; keeping the HOPE Center running without water, electricity and internet at various times; management navigate the challenges that come from working hand in hand with a government; screening trying to navigate what to do when not enough patients show up, or the wrong patients; nurses try and navigate the sheer number of languages spoken in Cameroon and the fact that we can’t possibly have translators that speak all these languages; the whole Ship come together as it tries to walk through a new way of doing things.

The beautiful ladies who shared their testimonies with us.

I also got to witness our first Dress Ceremony of the year where five beautiful women shared their testimonies, about how their lives have been transformed. The moment that really got me was when one woman said, even before she got her surgery, that she had found healing just by being on the Ship. That is why we are here. For those moments when media interview the Day Crew and they say that what they’ve learned the most is how to love people, all people, to care for everyone with a high level of excellence. When the Comms translator comes back from her visit to the dock and is in tears because she’s never seen people with these kinds of ailments. Nothing makes me prouder than those moments where the Day Crew share how changed they are by what they have seen. To hear guests comment on how much everyone loves their job, how they have so much passion for what they do. To hear the Governor say, It is the surgeons who provide surgery, but it is God who heals. That’s what makes this place so special, every single day. God meets us where we are, in our brokenness, and does amazing things.

Mount Cameroon peaking through the clouds.

Outside of work, there has been lots of board/card game playing (one game called Exploding Kittens, is particularly amusing) and late night conversations. There’s been Frisbee and pool parties and babysitting the kids. There’s been more off road adventures, which are always far more hilarious when basically the whole Comms team comes along and the photographers want to capture pictures of everything. There’s been spontaneous worship on Deck 8, powerful Sunday night messages and fascinating Bible studies. I’m thankful for friends who have been thoughtful in letting me know what’s happening [I’m not so good with just hanging out and waiting to see what happens], for friends who are passionate about God, for bosses who offer wisdom and insight, for mentors who make me think about things in new ways and encourage me, for family who loves me even though I’m across the ocean. 

These days, I waver between thinking I could never leave this place and feeling like I need to go home. Moments like when you’re at the HOPE Center for a church service and this cute little boy comes up to you and is laughing and playing with you, then suddenly falls fast asleep on you for half an hour, those are staying moments. Those moments when media teams send insensitive proposals that force you to get up and walk away from your computer, those are home moments. Those moments of visiting a local orphanage with Mercy Ministries and having several young girls play with your hair and give you big hugs, those are staying moments. Those moments when get overwhelmed and then feel like there’s no one you can go talk to in that moment, those are home moments. I'm focusing on making the most of those staying moments, praising God through every moment, thanking him for every thing. I recently read a book that said, what if tomorrow you only had the things that you thanked God for today? What a thought! And a challenge – to be thankful for every moment God provides, every breath, every opportunity to love others. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:17

One of the pictures from our off-roading adventure - this cracks me up every time I see it!

"Not Much Has Been Going On"

Our first patient, Justine, being carried up
the gangway!

Since the Ship’s arrival in Douala, everyone has been all in trying to get everything ready for the arrival of the patients. The first patients arrived at the HOPE Center 6 days after our arrival and the HOPE Center team did an amazing job of getting everything ready in that time. A small window into what that entails: waiting until the deck team can unload the container, with all their supplies, off the ship; unloading the container into a truck and having it delivered to the HOPE Center; building 222 beds (literally putting these metal beds together, which was infuriating at times); cleaning EVERYTHING; making the beds up with sheets and blankets and mosquito nets. And that’s just one of the tasks. With a team that was 4/5 new. And this amazing group of humans managed to get it all done, ready to welcome the first patients when they arrived. This allowed the patients to start coming to the Ship for their various screening appointments, getting diagnostics and scans before being screened by the surgeons.

Almost every department has had this intense level of set up, as we got to that moment last Monday where the first patients of the field service were admitted. On Tuesday we began surgeries and continued throughout the week, with maxillofacial, orthopaedic and women’s health surgeries all under way. What a crazy place we live when people can have surgery on Tuesday and already be discharged before the week is up. We’ve seen patients have their bandages removed and grin as they see their faces for the first time; we’ve seen cleft lips repaired on people of various ages; we’ve seen legs made straight; and so much more. With God’s sustaining love we’ve managed to get to this point, where from my non-medical viewpoint, miracles are done every day. I am still blown away by what our surgeons can do.

Surgeries are under way and we get everyone to help
(kidding! - the hospital had an open house and people got
to play at being a surgeon).

And amongst all this busyness, we’ve been bombarded by the local media, wanting to know what’s going on, wanting to come on the Ship, wanting to talk to patients, etc. We’ve been trying to craft an African media strategy on the fly, while honouring our close partnership with the Government of Cameroon, and protecting our patients. This was part of a very short article published on Friday in the Journal du Cameroon: Meanwhile, the hospital recently presented a report of their three weeks stay in Cameroon. This was during a meeting at the banquet hall in Douala.  Since the arrival of the Africa Mercy at the Douala port, not much has been going on.

Well there you have it. I’m surprised I can find anything to write about since nothing has been going on. We had a good laugh when we read that. On the flip side, I’m pretty sure my parents never thought I would be famous in Cameroon. This is from the Cameroon Tribune: In a statement, Africa Mercy’s Media Liaison, Renée Joubarne, says: “We are excited to begin the first of approximately 3,000 surgeries that will be performed during our time here.” The health exercise kicked off after about two weeks of being in the country, during which installations of medical equipment were going on board and in the three local hospitals in Douala. We’ve been fighting a numbers battle (some stories saying we will do 30,000 surgeries, 10,000 surgeries, 6,000, etc.) so I’ve been repeating the same number over and over. I’ve spent the week crafting (and translating) statements to be sent to the media, and to be read by various members of our leadership team on camera. Every few days the Day Crew come up to me and say, hey Renee I saw you on TV last night! Lovely…I’ve had to make a few statements in French and English, to the media when there is no one else available. Look mom, I’m on Cameroon TV! ;)

The whole Comms team celebrating Michele's birthday!

For all the stress and running around that has come with this, I always appreciate a new challenge, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to develop new skills and to gain new experiences. I’m learning I actually enjoy this kind of work. I’m particularly thankful to work in an organization that is fairly flat in terms of hierarchy, where I can be standing in the Managing Director’s office crafting a statement with the Hospital Director and they ask you for your input (and listen to what you say!). There can’t be too many organizations where you would get opportunities like this, and this week made me especially thankful for how special this place is.

One of my favourite things about the last two weeks has been all the dancing and singing going on. On Thursday, we hosted another edition of Comms Karaoke, with crew members writing new lyrics to Disney songs, coordinating dances/performances to well known songs, and just willing to be silly with us. We also went to the Malagasy Karaoke place with a big group of people, including all the Malagasy, and it was fun to see everyone laughing and singing and having a good time. My absolute favourite has probably been the office dance parties, with a few of us in an office, just dancing and being free. It’s been great to start to build deeper relationships with people (although these guys are all night owls and might kill me with all the late nights!).

Our Dental clinic is also up and running, with the first
screenings taking place last week.

One of the most difficult things this week was a situation with a patient that really got to me. I’ve always struggled with the dynamic that comes from needing to share patient stories vs. protecting patients privacy (I am heavily on the protecting patients privacy side of the argument, making it ironic that I’m on the Comms team sometimes). The Government flew in a young girl from up north because our surgeons told them it was urgent. I was really touched by how invested the Government was, that they would fly this one patient and a caregiver and cover the cost. But with that comes the fact that they invited media to cover her arrival, which if I’m honest, is probably the same thing my government would do if they were spending hundreds of dollars helping someone. That didn’t make it any easier for me to stand there as they emptied everyone else from the plane and had her come down last so that the media could capture it. It was an incredibly uncomfortable moment and I had to marvel at the courage of this young girl – she’s never left her village, never been on a plane, she’s here without a parent (the man with her was the only person in their village that happened to have an identity card and was able to come).

It really brought home the challenges that people face in receiving the health care they need. Even with the surgery being provided for free, there are so many other obstacles! Logistical problems, fear of the unknown, pressure from others in the village – every single one of our patients is so brave in taking a big leap of faith and trusting us with their lives. I’m grateful for each patient that God brings to us, allowing to cross paths with them, even if it is brief. We are so blessed by their courage and faith. This beautiful young girl is having surgery next week, please pray that it would go well, that God would wrap her in His arms and that she would feel so loved and valued during her time here, that we would be the hands and feet of Jesus.

But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 

~ Titus 3:4-8

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. 

~ Titus 3:14

This all crew photo took place after a hospital evacuation drill and took lots of coordination from our Comms team - we're so excited to be here in Cameroon!