Safari

It has been a busy week since coming home from my safari last weekend. Just trying to catch up on life on the ship! I will blog about surgery later on this week as I have many stories being in the Maxiofacial speciality now. So I just posted my pictures on facebook from my safari and the link will be on the left side of the screen- under the clock. 

On Friday, some friends and I got together to share pictures and some fun memories from our Safari trip while enjoying mango smoothies (yum!). I thought of another list to share about m safari and to give you a few laughs...

You know when you're on an African Safari when...

1.  You worry about having mozzie nets & air con where you stay overnight.

2. You can eat 5 bananas in day and they are as small as your ipod.

3. You judge how fast the bus is going based on how much you fly off your seat.

4. The only thing clean on you are your teeth.

5. You're so dirty, you look like you have a horrible spray-on tan.

6. Most popular souvenir are 100 mangos for a dollar.

7. You get dehydrated while sleeping & keep a nalogene by your bed.

8. It takes 3 people to make a PBJ sandwich on the bus and that is all you eat for four days.

9. You're happy to go home when you see a spider as big as your palm in your hotel room.

10. You make it home after a 8 hr bus ride and your bus driver ask about eye screening.

Psalm 42

This past Easter weekend, I spent four days with friends in North Benin on a safari. While we are there enjoying fellowship and God's wonderful creation, Psalm 42 was on my heart.  Here is just two pictures of many to go along with my prayer tonight...

Psalm 42

"As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 

When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food 

day and night, 

while men say to me all day long, 

"Where is your God?"

These things I remember 

as I pour out my soul: 

how I used to go with the multitude, 

leading the procession to the house of God, 

with shouts of joy and thanksgiving 

among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? 

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him, 

my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you

from the land of Jordan,

the heights of Hermon- from Mount-Mizar

Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.

By the day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me-

a prayer to God of my life.

I say to God my Rock,

"Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?"

My bones suffer mortal agony

as my foes taught me,

saying to me all day long.

"Where is your God?"

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed with me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God."

Laughter

I love laughing, but man, it hurts when you laugh so hard! On the ship, I have people across the room or even on another deck- hear me laugh and know its me! Most of you know, its one of my favorite things to do! I thank God for laughter and the joy in so many things in life. Here are things that have made my belly ache, my cheeks blush, my head hurt, and doubled over and out of breath with tears coming down! 

1. Hearing "cherrio" and it not pertaining to breakfast.

2. Being called "teacher" by a Benin nurse as their preceptor in the scrub role... since he probably doesn't remember my name!

3. Playing Catch Phrase and learning that Velvetta is a quality, processed, cheddar cheese. Also, did you know that animals make different noises in other countries? 

4. Introducing & watching "I Love Lucy" marathon with a dozen of friends. 

5. Karaoke sessions with Ashley in the dinning room- including Ace of Base, NSYNC, and Celine Dion. We also throw in hymns between the pagan music. 

6. Passing out chocolate in the OR during a fire drill- what else to pass the time?

7. Listening to a conversation for awhile at breakfast, realizing its not English, but Dutch.

8. Having a 20 lbs, 6 year old patient in diapers and a 32 year old that was alive in 1947.

9. Being asked to teach water aerobics- yes, we have 4 feet pool on the ship! 

10. Using words without thinking like- "brilliant", "lovely", "trolley", and "rubbish".

May your endorphins increase and your laughter be heard for all to hear!