Joy

Instead of a forever long paragraph...like I normally do...I think I'll bullet-list whats been going on lately:

-went to a couple markets yesterday...and am really loving the bargaining!!
-ate a german restaurant, here in Lome
-went to a couple mercy ministries...a special needs school and a deaf school
-bought some fan ice (the local ice cream...thats in a bag) off the street - something extremely common that I just hadn't done yet!
-participated in a rescue boat drill, here on the ship (actually got to ride in the boat, down to the water from deck 7...we rode around for a bit...snapped some pictures...it was fun)
-had an absolute lovely weekend working the VVF ladies* and experienced God's greatness at a dress ceremony for them

Ok...I'm done with the bullet-list idea. haha...you're stuck with paragraphs. :) So VVF stands for veso-vaginal fistula. It's primarily caused from prolonged labor (up to several days) that creates a hole between the bladder and vagina...that then causes women to continually leak urine. In most cases, they are shunned from their villages...shunned from their familes and are left alone. No-one will talk to them, let alone be near them, due to the smell. We had a VVF surgeon arrive last week and since then, I've been working with these gals. And I absolutely LOVE them...

Once they've had surgery and have remained dry, we have a dress ceremony for them! Yesterday, was my first experience at one. They were presented with a new dress, we sang praise songs, they danced (without fear of a wet dress), and they gave their testimonies. All 5 of them had been outcasted from their familes...husbands had left them for other wives...their babies usually died...sisters wouldn't talk to them unless they were on the opposite side of the room...and in one case, her husband even told the whole village to stay away from her - thus, she has spent the past 13 years completely alone (yes...13 years). Their ages ranged from 24 to 50ish (sometimes we/they don't really know their true ages). This whole situation is honestly hard for me to fully grasp the impact, the fistulas had on their lives. And I've even had some experience with abdominal fistulas before...at my previous job. But this was different. And the dress ceremony might have been the neatest thing I've seen since being here...

The joy from them has been never-ending...I think for some of the ladies, the only time they aren't smiling...is when they were sleeping. Another patient was told on Friday, by the surgeon, that he had fixed the problem and she was doing great. Since then, she is continually singing/muttering and waving her hands around...and she says Merci Beaucoup (thank you very much) for absolutely everything you do...even if you are just standing next to her bed. Granted, we aren't able to help all the patients...but I'm not going to dwell on that right now. Right now, I'm praising God for the opportunity to be a small part of these ladies lives...cherishing the time I've spent with them...praying that they give God the full glory for being dry... and praying for the rest of the surgeries. Hallelujah!!

My time here is winding down...and its bittersweet. I feel like I've just settled into the routine...I've gotten to know so many neat people (many of whom, I don't know if/when I'll see again)...and they are so many more things I would love to do here. However, I also look forward to traveling next week and then returning home (seeing family/friends...eating (real) meat, popcorn & berries...new adventures/etc.)

Today's love: I hope to return to Africa someday...but for now, I'm just going to LOVE the rest of my time here... :)