I recognize that I am a “White Girl” safely nestled on the ship and not really completely immersed in the community.....BUT.........I Love the People of the Congo!! ............. I love their warmth, friendliness, and interdependence.........I love that they are family oriented and dependent on God. I love the fact that many truly live one day at a time and are thankful for each day!
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:34-35
“Momma Kathy”...............once you have children you become “Ma” or “Momma” to everyone......As a sign of respect you are called “Momma”.........and if you are an older man or father.......you are “Ya” or “Ya Ya” or “Papa”
God created us with a great variety in culture: different thinking, acting, values, & expressions.....
THE SAME BUT SO DIFFERENT!!!
So Precious!!
“We are like parts of the same body. All different and with different skills and purpose”
1 Corinthians 12:27
Cooking is a tad bit different then we are used to!!!
I am beginning to think that I was born in the wrong “cultural climate”...........................
Hot Climate Cultures like Southern USA, Asia, Africa, South America and Middle Eastern Countries are “relationship” based..........the society is mainly feeling oriented, decisions are based on feelings and the person is more important than time and efficiency.
Group - Oriented
Individuals know they are automatically included in conversation, meals, and other activities of the group
Possessions are to be used freely by all: food, tools, etc
It is not desirable to be left to oneself
It is rude to hold a private conversation or make plans that exclude others present
Versus..................
Cold Climate Cultures like Canada, northern US states & Northern Europe are “task” oriented, communication must provide accurate information, society is mainly logic oriented and efficiency and time are a high priority, and taking them seriously is a statement of respect for the other person
People enjoy having time and space to themselves
People are expected to ask permission to borrow something or to interrupt a conversation
Each person is expected to take care of his or her possessions and has the responsibility to protect and maintain them
In a community setting it might be common to label food, tools, etc to set them apart from the groups common possessions
It is acceptable to hold a private conversation or make plans with a few people, not including everyone
Through our many different cultures God is revealed.
I am so excited to get my African Dress made!!!
If we learn to appreciate, honor and celebrate our diversities we will be better at appreciating God and who he is. His creativity knows no boundaries!!!
Reeche......one of our GREAT, Caring Translators!!
Liber invited us to his church to hear him preach!!!
Amazing!! He was on Fire as he shared the Gospel!!
Oh......and the Music and Singing were Awesome!!.....Loud enough that you could not hear my singing :)
Myths and Stories.........Compliments of Jennica’s blog.......(well, I really stole this from her blog, knowing that she would not mind)
As part of this new chapter in Mercy Ships there is a lot of doubt and questions on behalf of the local people. Lots of myths surrounding who we are and what we are doing in their country. Here’s a few of them:
1. Upon arrival, the myth was that we fixed people by magic.
2. If you come on board your family will never see you again/ you’ll never go home. You’ll be sailed away as a slave, because the last time a big ship came in the harbor that’s what happened. (sadly understandable based on history).
3. As crew we are being paid. This has been a big one for the day crew who think they are underpaid and we are overpaid.
4. That we harvest other organs and sell them on the black market- we do surgeries for free but fund our surgeries by selling these other organs. One mother upcountry didn’t want her 12 year old son to come so she told him that we would cut off his ears before we fixed his hernia. Thankfully his grandma brought him to the ship since mom refused. She told him that they didn’t know when another opportunity would be available for him to get his hernia fixed and that they couldn’t afford to pay a surgeon to fix it. So she trusted God that He would see them through the experience on board. When it came to the morning of the surgery, the boy refused to take his pre-meds for surgery and refused to go with the OR Nurse when she came. We had no idea all this turmoil was going on inside of him. The poor boy was so terrified. Finally, with the help of one of our translators, we got to the bottom of it and found out this back story. Luckily one other boy had already come back from surgery. Bernadette, our translator, showed the boy that the other patient still had both of his ears. He still refused to go. Finally Bernadette convinced him to go to surgery by assuring him that she would accompany him to the OR, show him the equipment, and that if he came back without his ears, he could beat her with a big stick. Thankfully that got a small smile out of him and he agreed to go. Thank God for Bernadette and her patience to get to the bottom of what was bothering this little boy! Thank God for Grandma and her leap of faith to come to the boat with her grandson!
In light of the myths above, we’ve had quite a few cancellations in surgery. People that came to screening, are eligible and accepted for surgery, and then never came to the ship. On the flip side, there are way more that have come and I believe that for patients and nurses a like there have been amazing life changing moments, so much love and joy shared between each other. I’ve met patients that I know I will remember for the rest of my life and have shared a few of their stories in previous posts. But it’s been a difficult couple of months in terms of patients cancelling. It makes sense when you step back and look at it. Myths aside, we have never been here before, what we’re offering sounds too good to be true, we haven’t set up a reputation here yet. In West Africa, the countries know when we are coming, we’ve spent about 30 years building relationships with them. People talk about the big white ship coming. Past patients visit the ship showing their operating report, before and after photos, photos with nurses while they were on board. All which have been treasured and kept. But there’s no precedent here, so there’s no way to allay fears except to continue being consistent, following through on our promises, being an organization and people of integrity, and having patients return safely and healed back to their villages to spread news by word of mouth. Slowly but surely I feel that we are allaying these fears of the unknown, we are reaching out to patients and day crew, being constants and consistent in their lives, and I’ve noticed an attitude change over the last month or so. It’s been cool to see and I look forward to how the rest of the field service will go- and hopefully trend in the correct direction! My hope is that whenever Mercy Ships returns to Congo, there will be whispers of the big white ship coming, excitement about us coming back, and an understanding of what we are all about.
Health Care is so different.......I am told that there is no option of health insurance.....each has to pay upfront for any services. If you do not have the money for care, you do not get services. You are sent away. When you are admitted for surgery....the MD writes a prescription for all the medications and supplies that you will need. The family then goes to the local pharmacy and picks it all up prior to surgery. So....if you do not have enough for pain medications.....you do not get them.
When in need........it is very common to help each other out......to give money to your family or friends that are in need.......thus.....living "interdependently versus independently".......Everyone helps out!!!
"Daily Visuals"......which is now part of my norm!!
The cuties at the baby orphanage........something or someone caught their attention.....They took a break from their strawberry cake :)
Just some general "stuff" that stemmed from my conversations when I was home for a few weeks..................
Did you know..........That Africa is HUGE!!!
That the United States fits into 1/2 of it
That there are "real" people in Africa........not everyone are "natives" with bones through their noses like we see in National Geographic
That these are all countries in Africa
That the people are the same as you and I......they all have the same needs as we do.....they hope for love, acceptance, grace, mercy and connection just like the rest of society.....
They hope for "options" and opportunities in life......unfortunately theirs are very limited
That corruption goes on everywhere in the world....I feel safer in Pointe Noire than I do in Akron, Ohio
That Africa has so many beautiful areas!
Typically Mercy Ships docks for 10 months each year along the Upper West Coast of the continent. This is the first time they have ventured more west central....We are currently in the "Republic Congo"....which is NOT at war.......versus the Democratic Congo (DRC) which is still at unrest. The DRC is located in the purple region in the middle. The Republic Congo is red continent right next to it.
My geography is terrible....I had no idea that many of these countries were in Africa
Just like in America.....not all Americans are the same and should not be all put in the same "cultural" group......thus, the same goes for Africa......even in the Congo......just because one pocket of people feel one way or another, does not mean they all do........That is one of the big "take-aways" that I will have from this experience......I've learned not to judge.....don't say "ALL" to or for anyone....
GET TO KNOW THE PERSON, NOT THE GROUP!
I LOVE MY JOB......I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF THE CONGO......
I LOVE THE MISSION OF MERCY SHIPS AND I LOVE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH!!!
I can't seem to wipe the grin off my face.....I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!
"He grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised."
Romans 4:20-21
When the work is done......it is time to play.....the drums come out at all times of the day!!!
Success!! Follow up with all the Plastics Patients.
Our spectacular Plastic
Surgeon is upfront with the sandals on :)
Middle Class Living???
"The Lord gives strength to his people: the Lord blesses his people with peace."
Psalm 29:11
Bianca and I sat at the Batisserie for 5 hours one Saturday afternoon........had brunch, drank tea, chatted, read our books and “watched” people...........Women walking with big tubs on their heads full of all kinds of “goods” to sell, kids running around, a young man came beside us begging for food/money (I even gave up my pastry that I was saving for later)......and Big SUV's with well dressed people coming in and out picking up pastries.
A very Random, Eclectic Afternoon that left me with a lot to process and think about at the end of the day!!.......So many different people and levels of poverty to wealth.
From this to this.....Side by Side
As with many places in the world....corruption and greed are filtered throughout...........many levels of disparity
Taxi's and Buses are the main form of transportation.....Very few "middle class" own cars. There are big SUV's and Expensive Cars around...yet I believe these are driven by the European Business Class that work in the Gas/Oil Companies.
If it rains......transportation often comes to a halt. This is a picture of the main roads which are passable, but the side streets are all dirt/sand and easily become flooded. On rainy days, we know that our local day crew staff and our patients may be hours late.
I am not really sure of the "classes" of people.....Those that I work with I would call middle class.....as they have a roof over their head, they live in the city versus the outlying villages......yet they live very basic.....they do not drive, they hand wash all of their clothes, they cook over the fire, they have no refrigerators........This is the "norm".......Once again.....So different than what we are used to!!
Being next to the ocean is definitely a perk to living in Pointe Noire......Free entertainment!!
OK.......that is enough for now!...........I have to admit that I pulled this blog together from the comfort of my couch in my condo......candles lit, sipping a glass of wine and overlooking the snow on the trees...:)
I made a quick trip home to visit my brother who was ill!! Praise God he is stable.....requiring dialysis 3x/week......but tolerating well!! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!
In the process of coming home........I realized how much healing I've had from this time last year. So much sadness and loss occurred .......yet, through the grace and love of God.....I am so happy and content now.
I've learned that Life is such an interesting journey - we are not meant to just "be", just "function" - we are meant to JOURNEY - to see, to learn and to grow!
"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us.
Because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit which has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5
"The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
