Let the Field Service Begin!

It's Sunday afternoon. I'm in one of my favorite places on the Africa Mercy - the cafe. In Guinea I had a weekend routine of sorts. I'd spend a couple of hours in the cafe watching a cartoon in French, going through an anatomy course on YouTube, writing/journaling and periodically listening to a sermon. Then I moved to an apartment in Senegal with the Advance Team and my routine evaporated instantly. I guess that was to be expected. However, now that I am back on board the ship for a few weeks, I find myself gravitating towards the cafe once again. I've spent hours here writing emails, working on my handover report, and meeting with department managers. Without an office these days, this area of the ship has become my go-to place. I love the wide open space, the sunlight, the water views, the people who pass by to say hello. Headphones in, jazz or an Indie mix on, and I'm in my happy zone. It's great!

In Guinea, I'd look out the cafe windows and see open ocean, a sunken fishing boat, and a couple of islands in the distance. In the evenings I could watch the sunset fill the sky with glorious colors. Here in Dakar, the scene is different. Across the water I see more port activity - cargo ships coming and going with the help of pilot boats and cranes unloading containers. I can't watch the sunset from the cafe this field service, but at night the port lights up and something about that is beautiful all the same. 

Port Side View (no pun intended!)

Watching the Africa Mercy pull into the port was a unique, almost surreal experience. So much work and prayer went into preparing for the field service, and the ship symbolized the culmination of those efforts. As an Advance team we lived in Dakar for a few months, but that time went by like a blink of an eye. Suddenly it was arrival day, and we were moving out of our apartment.

At first the Africa Mercy was just a dot in the distance. 

Here She Comes!

As she came near, we could see the flags of so many nations flying high. And then we started to play "Where's Waldo", straining our eyes to glimpse the faces of friends - so close yet still far in the distance.

Once the Africa Mercy docked, there were shouts filled with joy as those of us on the Advance Team tried to reconnect with everyone standing high above on Decks 7 & 8.

Photo credit: Saul Loubassa Bighonda

And then the gangway was lowered, signifying the start of our Senegal field service!

This is the Moment!

Last Monday, the 250 local crew hired by our Human Resources Team climbed that gangway for the first time. You could see their excitement and anticipation. Many of them started work the next day; others are going through longer orientation sessions and will begin their work in the coming week or two. 

Orientation for Local Crew
Photo Credit: Rachel Thompson

Patient selection activities are well underway. The Screening Team will visit three cities this week, all within a few hours of Dakar. I am very happy that I get to support the team on Tuesday in the city of Thies.

Our first patients will arrive to the dock next week. That is always one of the most exciting days of the year.  

Dockside Setup
Photo credit: Lara Arkinstall

Down in the hospital, everything is getting unstrapped, unloaded, and washed - 3 times. When one establishes a hospital on a ship, everything has to be dismantled at the end of a field service and reassembled once the ship docks in the next port city. The process is tough and time consuming, but it results in a few good workouts, new friends, and one super-clean hospital.

Over the weekend, a stream of hospital personnel arrived and more will join throughout the week in preparation for surgery to start. 

Photo credit: Lara Arkinstall

The Advance Team is dispersing slowly as some return to their departments for work and others disembark the ship. We are now in the season of farewell activities. On Saturday, we went to brunch at a place called Mawa's Taste of America and then played games in the evening - a time of togetherness before the goodbyes begin. Two teammates return to Canada in the coming few days. Next Sunday, another friend departs; she's off to Europe and then home to Australia. Come mid-September it'll be my turn. There are many things that I will appreciate once I get home - spending time with family and friends, cooking in a fully-equipped and stocked kitchen, autumn leaves, and of course, being reunited with my dog, Charlie. However, this has been such a life-giving, joy-filled, satisfying experience. I say that with truth and confidence even in the midst of some recent challenges. 

Brunch in a Garden - Always a Good Idea

In this moment, I don't feel ready to leave. But that's okay - good actually - because there are still 18 special days remaining. I wonder what they have in store...