A busy week

Bonjour again

Its been quite a week. I have visted an orphanage, been to a dress ceremony for some of our VVF ladies, to a ward church service which was an experience all on its own and have also been out and about in Cotonou soaking up the African atmosphere! As well as working on the ward of course. I still have to pinch myself sometimes to remind myself that yes I am actually in Africa. Its easy to forget especially if you dont get off the ship for a day or two. With all the creature comforts of home on board like the air con and hot showers, albeit short ones! Then you go into the city and you can see all the poverty thats everywhere here so there can be a bit of internal conflict going on. It definately makes you appreciate what we have back home.

We had our second screening day last Monday as I said in my previous post and unfortunately we were unable to help any of the 1150 people that showed up BUT Mercy Ships have anounced that they will be going to Togo next year! So many of the people that were screened here in Benin will be able to be seen again in Togo next year so it is a huge blessing for those that we had to say no to for this year.

The work on the ward so far has been great. I have been mainly working in the VVF ward (Vesico Vaginal Fistulas for those who dont know) These are ladies who end up leaking urine due to a prolonged labour. They can be in labour for up to 8 days and the pressure of the baby being in the birth canal for so long causes a hole between the bladder and her womb so she ends up leaking urine, often the baby will die because they just dont have the access to medical care like we do back in the western world. Their husbands and families often then abandon them and they become outcasts from their villages. Some of these ladies have been leaking urine for 20 years or more but help is at hand from The Big White Ship! They are so much fun to look after and are so grateful to us for being here. Many of them still have huge faith even after dealing with everything that life has thrown at them. After they have had their surgeries and have recovered we have a dress ceremony for them. We present each of them with a brand new dress and a brand new start in life! Its such a priviledge to be a part of bringing hope and healing into their lives.

I wanted to post some pictures from the ceremony but have to wait a few days for them to be ready from the communications department so will be sure to post them when they are. In the mean time here is a picture of me on the ward with some fellow nurses and some of our very handy translators!

Untill next time, Beccy