au revoir guinea!

On Saturday we waved goodbye to our port home from the last 10 months in Conakry, and set sail for the Canaries!

here are a few highlights from the end of the outreach:

 

Eye surgeries wrapped up near the end of April, with a total of 1600+ operations during the Guinea outreach! I had the awesome opportunity to work in both the Peri-Op room and the OR for eye team. This photo was taken on the last day of eye surgery:

 

This is from when I operated on Michel and Mellisa:

(Ok maybe not)

 

A very special note from a patient chart that stayed on the wall in OR 5 for most of the outreach:

The procedure for removing cataracts that we use here on ship is called MSCIS, wich is a manual small incision removal of the cataract- basically it is an operation with very good outcomes that does not require as much specialized (and also really expensive) equipment. This makes it a very good type of surgery to teach to local trainees. In all the teaching that Mercy Ships does, the goal is to use procedures and supplies that are available/workable in West Africa.

I had the privledge to work with excellent surgeons and nurses from around the world!

Getting ready to scrub for a cataract operation:

Once the eye team wrapped up surgeries for the year, I had another awesome opportunity to work on A Ward, which is what I will be doing during the Congo outreach beginning in August.

One last snuggle with a cleft lip patient on the last day the hospital wards were open:

After the ward closed there were a couple weeks to pack the hospital. I did a lot of sorting and packing, cleaning, sweeping, bleaching, scrubbing and dusting. And also scanning and shredding, lots of that too. All the patient charts get scanned into PDF files and saved, then shredded. But first they have to get put into the proper order, which can be time consuming.

A chart sorting party on the empty floor in B ward:

Oh, also rainy season began near the end of may- the day workers told me that the first rains are called "mango rains", and they are shorter and fewer. Eventually it will rain almost all day, every day.

Rain at nighttime from deck 7, such a welcome sight after not seeing any for a solid 6 months or so:

Random photos from the end of the outreach:

none of these are mine, I just stole all of them from my friends Facebook pages. Thank you friends.

Crew vs day workers football match- the crew won and it was an exciting game:

End of evening shift snack with Mirjam....lots of cheese :)

Watching a storm roll in with Nicole:

 

Saying goodbye to our dear Courtney...too many goodbyes around here!

Participating in a remote 5K to support a friend of Stephanie's

Michelle and Moriah enjoying the deck 7 swings:

Being in Guinea has changed me for sure- I love this country and it's people. The last 9 months have been a time of becoming part of a very unique and wonderful community here on the AFM, growing as a nurse, learning how to be God's servant to a culture so different from my own, and just loving and serving lots and lots of people...

When I look back at leaving Indiana last September to join this organization, it feels like years ago but just last week all at the same time. Time is funny like that. Since then I have learned so much, and been very very blessed.

This verse was included on my support letter around this time last year. And this is exactly what God has done- immeasurably more than I asked or imagined. I am so thankful to be following Him.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Goodbye Guinea, I hope we meet again someday!