I'm going to Togo...

A group of friends and I played this game on the bow during the sail. I can still remember all of them! I checked the things I have so I think I am prepared for the outreach in Togo. We have been here just for a few days and the hosptial is busy cleaning and setting up to start surgery!

I'm going to Togo and bringing:

A: Apple Mac a

B: Book a

C: Camel? Maybe for water collection?

D: Digital Camera a

E: Electric Razor

F: Fishing Pole

G: Gun

H: Hat a

I: Igloo- our cabins are like these.

J: Jesse, the cook a

K: Kite

L: Life jackets a

M: linda's Mom... maybe all of our Moms

N: Napkin a

O: Opal Ring

P: Pringles... Honey mustard, my favorite, but none here

Q: Queen of England

R: Rain Coat a

S: Stereo system... at least an ipod a

T: Tea a

U: Umbrella a

V: VVF patient (maybe a VVF doctor & nurse too) a

W: Wine

X: Xavier, a bodyguard

Y: Yellow Fever Card a

Z: Zipper jacket a

Wordless Wednesday: TOGO!

Pray

Togo is within reach. Actually, just 12 hours from now we hope to be there. I have mixed emotions. I'm torn between wanting the sail to go on, but at the same time to be docked in port in Lome. Life is easy on the sail. I think fear is holding me back. The fear of the unknown of Togo's politics, day volunteers, coworkers, screening for patients, relationships, my new leadership role, outreach programs, and so many unknowns out there. The true test of faith comes when the hospital opens and surgery starts. I am excited to be back in my role as an OR nurse and have a purpose on the mission field. I am one of the seasoned nurses, but I cannot go into it saying, "It will be just like last year." I need prayer from all of you out there in blog world. A wise friend told me I needed three things to serve in Africa and I turned them into prayers for my time in Benin and will do the same this year in Togo.

Pray for patience. Life we know does not going always according to plan.

Pray for flexibility. Life we know does not always go "our way".

Pray for strength. Life we know is not always easy.

The skies

The skies on the sail take my breath away every time I step outside. I watch the sunsets from the bow and gaze at the millions of stars from deck 8. Where else would you get views of the skies like these, unless sailing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? No camera can capture the majestic work of the Creator. No words can describe the heavens I see from this earth; therefore I meditate on David's words. There is a reason He creates these glorious displays.

Psalm 19:1-4

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

Bow

The place to be on sail is the bow. Being my third sail onboard the Africa Mercy, its my favorite place to be. Webster's fifth definition of a bow is "the forward part of the ship." It is so much more than this. The bow is the place to escape, suntan, relax, worship, and place of fellowship. You can find crew out there at all times of the day. I take my lunch and dinner in tupperware just so I can enjoy the open seas. Others take their coffee, ipod, Bible/book, or just a chair to relax. The bow fills with crew, young and old, after dinner, to watch the magnificent sunsets.We all watch the waters in hopes to catch a glimpse of marine wildlife. It is a great time to catch up with friends and make new ones, you might not meet otherwise because of different schedules while we are in country. We are halfway through the sail. We are close to our destination... just a few more days left out on the bow.

I look to my right and see the sun setting behind the clouds. I look left and see flying fish gliding on top of the waves. All around me is the Atlantic Ocean and in the distance is Africa. I cannot wait to be there, be on land, and meet the people of Togo we will serve this year.