Touchdown in Mada!

About a week late on posting, but I’m thrilled to say we’ve made it safely to our port in Madagascar for the next 8 months.  Our first day here consisted of welcoming the president and prime minister aboard for a tour, with a celebratory program that followed.  Madagascar is celebrating “The year of volunteer,” and the arrival of Mercy Ships basically started this off.  The president has been an incredible ally for us, offering services we’ve never received in prior field services; they’ve painted and repaired several aspects of a warehouse we need to use, they’re developing means of transportation for people that need to travel from different parts of the country to get screened at the ship.  Praise God for people who are for us. 

A view from our tent at the celebration

I was able to attend the celebration after the president toured.  The entire crew (about 300) had to basically keep in hiding while the tour was happening, so everyone was getting ready and traveling between certain stair cases; it kind of reminded me of something out of Harry Potter.  So the celebration was a large gathering here in Tamatave, located in this large quad area with a stage where several people gave speeches in Malagasy; we understood none of it.  We could pick up “Mercy Ships” every so often.  Some of us walked back with the person who had been briefing us on the Malagasy culture, so he showed us places to go and where to avoid.  He specifically pointed out a clean, attractive looking restaurant and told us none of the MS crew were allowed to go there or even order from that place.  This restaurant was positively notorious for being the place to pick up prostitutes- heart breaking. 

The people are first off, beautiful.  They have a very stoic demeanor; they observe, and can look very serious at times.  If any of you know my default death glare I can have when I’m focused or on a mission- that doesn’t even compare.  Luckily, a smile is usually the key to break that; attempt to converse in Malagasy and it’s like you’re the most entertaining person they’ve met that day- they act very surprised when you spout off a few Malagasy words.  But really, they greatly appreciate any attempt to become more familiar with them as a people and ethnic group.  It’s very sweet actually.

First day of exploring

This week the mission for us nurses is to clean the hospital and start setting up! We literally wiped everything down in bleach, the cabinets, the walls, the bed springs, the toys, even the ceiling- TWICE!  We are welcoming the day crew, who are paid volunteers from Madagascar to basically act as our translators and extra hands around the ship.  They work in the hospital along with several other departments. 

Transporting some suction containers

I became electrician for a day too!  The nurses had a “Bless the crew day” this past week, where we volunteered with other departments while some made cards for all the departments.  I changed light bulbs with 3 other nurses while the Chief Electrician took us under his wing and taught us a great deal of his trade.  His story is incredible.  He and his family lived in South Africa, had to wait years to be accepted to Mercy Ships.  Once they were accepted, they sold everything! They sold their house, cars, and belongings.  He and his wife and kids all came to the ship with two bags each to their name.  They came from a society with some remaining apartheid thinking.  He told us some of his family has disowned them because of the work they do for the poor people of Africa; they don’t think it’s right. 

Talk about taking a step of faith and suffering for the Lord.  I’m blessed to know this man, he has enriched my life.  He’s offered to make us some “real” coffee, not just the ship stuff, and I can’t wait to take him up on that.  I think I said in a previous post, the coffee isn’t quite like the Keurig from home, it’s really not even like the 7-eleven either. Hahaha, but I didn’t come here for the coffee now, did I?

Preparing to set out with the lightbulbs