Mercy Ships Eye team video

I have been meaning to share this on the blog and I keep forgetting- this Mercy Ships video focuses specifically on a cataracts patient- soon I will be serving others like her!

I always moved by her mothers words near the end: "One day, someday, hope will come."

 

 

Silent retreat

This morning we spent several hours at a nearby state park in our "silent retreat". It was wonderful. Very rainy, but wonderful anyway. We took along journals and Bibles, and spent time being silent and seeking the Lord through prayer, study, journaling or just enjoying His creation.

It really did start to pour rain after awhile, so most of us ended up sitting at picnic tables under a pavilion, watching the rain come down.

I didn't have my camera with me at the park, but I took these back at the IOC this afternoon.

 

Gateway school

Another week of classes for Gateway school...this week was called Faith Foundations. Some of the discussions that will really stick with me involved relationship building and prayer- both very important living aboard a ship!

Classes take place in the International Lounge- flags from around the world hang from the ceiling...

During classtime...

The days are long. This picture was taken in the afternoon and everyone's eyes are starting to glaze over.

:)

The living room area of our dorm...

Having coffee...

I have been doing well, this week was more tiring than last week was. So much sitting and taking notes thoughout the day, but I am learning lots! We are starting to fall into a routine here- getting to know each other more. Some people like very black coffee, others not so much. The routine is to make it really dark and those who want it lighter can add water to their mug. We know which of us always wants a hug and who likes their personal space. :) Nicole is great at telling stories, and we have already asked her to tell about the mannequin hitting her head at the school dance at least 3 or 4 times. Yfke loves the color pink, Maryke says it's hotter here in Texas than at home in South Africa, Erin is always ready to pray together, and Krissy loves almost any baked good. :)

Many of my friends here love to run for exercise. I don't really like to run if I can help it, but there is a pretty good wall of mirrors in the gym. I have my dance shoes with me, so most evenings I have been doing some stretching and getting my exercise through dance. I am going to enjoy the big empty gym space and wall of mirrors while I can.

I miss my family already- and this week I especially missed Jonathan and Levi. I did skype my family a couple days ago, Jonathan told me about bringing his T-ball trophy for show and tell at preschool, and I got to see Levi's wonderful smile. To the rest of my family- don't get offended :) I miss you lots too, but the 2 and 4 year old can't text, email or talk on the phone like I get to with you. ;)

Thanks to everyone who's reading this- I know I am being prayed for! Thank you!

 

Packing for the container

Each of us had the option to put a box on the shipping container leaving soon for the Africa Mercy, which should arrive at the ship a week or two after we do. Yesterday evening we went on a trip to Walmart- we had a 1 hour time limit, which goes by surprisingly quickly when you are trying to pick out items for ship life. So we all ran around Walmart like we were on a scavenger hunt looking for things like multi level hangers and sunscreen.

Here is my box for the container....I promise you there is more than just cookies underneath there. It was nice to pull some things out to lighten my travel bag. Anything that was not essential for the next 6-8 weeks I put in the container box. I did put a jar of nutella in the box- apparently that is one item they sometimes have in the ship shop, but people stand in line to get it and it sells out right away :)

Romina, a ward nurse and one of my roommates, tries to decide what to pack in her box...

I have a pretty bad cold right now. Yesterday when I woke up, I was really wishing I had packed some Emergen-C (those flavored packets with a bunch of vitamin C that you mix in water). I wandered out to the living room area of the dorm and said good morning to Nicole. When I told her I had a cold the first thing she said was "hey, I brought a bunch of Emergen-C do you want some?" Later Erin gave me a shoulder rub, and Krissy made it a point to ask me how I was doing and how the transition to dorm life was going. I have a nasty cold but some very kind friends.

 

Some photos of the IOC campus

I got out my "big camera" and took some photos of the campus today after classes ended. This is my temporary home until we leave for the Guinea field service portion of our training just less than 5 weeks.

In this posts you will be treated to some photos of buildings and random plants and animals Erin and I came across on our walk. It was nice to be using my camera again so just bear with me when I post photos of flowers and pinecones. :)

This is the dorm building...

Trees near the dorm...

The coffee shop- it is open to the public and I have heard it also has very good tea. I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Main entrance of the IOC...

To be good stewards of the land, Mercy Ships raises some cattle and sheep on the property...

My friend Erin!

Some views from the trail around the campus...

This week we are on the Foundations of Mercy Ships course, which is helping us gain a deeper understanding of the vision and goals of Mercy Ships. I have been so impressed its the staff here, they are very welcoming and very good teachers. Looking forward to the rest of this week.

 

Cowboy church

This morning we all piled into a Mercy Ships van and attended cowboy church! One of the things I have looked forward to is worshiping the Lord with many different groups of people- today it was cowboys from East Texas. We sang songs I am familiar with, but with much more of a country twang. :)

Here are a few photos... I didn't bring my camera along, so thank you to Maryke for sharing the pictures

Maryke (from South Africa) got a photo with a cowboy!

A few teammates: Krissy (USA), Dan (Lithuania), Nicole (USA), and Crystal (Canada)

The church also has an area used for rodeo events, and we watched some of the kids doing barrell racing. Here are Harry and Pam (USA)

Marion (USA) and Erin (USA)

Myself and Krystal

Krissy and Nicole

 

 

Goodbye Indiana!

5:30 am- all packed and ready

A rainy morning the way to Indianapolis

Jenna holding the box of Legos for Jonathan to build his spaceship

Mark came from Purdue to join us for breakfast

The time went by so quickly this morning, before I knew it I was hugging my family goodbye at a busy airport. To my family- thank you all for sending me off feeling so loved and prayed for!

Goodbye Indiana!

I am posting this from the Mercy Ships International Operations Center (IOC), I arrived a few hours ago. A long day, but I am enjoying getting settled and meeting the rest of the team!

some details

...and 5 months later she updates the blog

I am leaving for Texas tomorrow morning!

I really was planning to update this blog over the summer...haha.  I am back now though.

Tomorrow I am flying to Texas to begin my training with Mercy Ships at their International Operations Center in Lindale.  I will be spending 5 weeks there with 14 other new Mercy Ships volunteers studying and preparing for service.

Here is a really quick summary of what I been doing the last 5 months:

-I graduated college and took my NCLEX exam.  I am officially Suzanne Scheumann, RN, BSN

- I finished the year as a dance teacher.  This was my 10th year as a dancer and my 6th on staff.  

The program this year celebrated our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our adoption into His family.  RTG dancers- I will miss all of you so much!  Have a great year praising the Lord with dance!

-I worked as a nurse for a local eye surgeon.

 How I happened to come by this job is a long story, but here is the short version:  I have been signed up to volunteer as an RN on the Eye Team for Mercy Ships since March.  I graduated college expecting to do what I could to earn money over the summer, but not as an RN.  Really, who wants to hire an RN for 3 months before she leaves for Africa?  

In May I went out for coffee with a friend and her sister, who had just come back from serving with Mercy Ships this spring.  It was such a blessing to talk with both of them about being a nurse with Mercy Ships, and through another friend of theirs I found out about an open position for a temporary RN.  They wanted a temporary nurse, only for this summer to work with cataracts patients!  I applied and got the job, and have spent the summer working as an eye nurse.  (a very special thank you to Tallie, Beth, and Erin for that fateful coffee date!)

- I went on a road trip with friends!  

- My cousin Katie got married!  I was a bridesmaid and the little boys were ring bearers.  Congrats to Matt and Katie!

- I spent lots of time with my family, who I will miss so much

that is the last 5 months in a nutshell.  more posts to come.