Merry Merry Guinea Christmas

Keeping up with God sometimes requires a plane...

The International Ponseti Conference – Iowa City

This year has been one awesome journey. Latest on the agenda was traveling to Iowa City to present at the International Clubfoot Conference.

It was such an honor.

I spoke about all the great work we have been doing in West Africa. Now I don’t actually have a photo up on stage and there is a funny reason as to why. One of my friends Erin kindly said she would take the photo (cause it’s not everyday you get to present on an international scale right?). Anyways she said she was that intrigued with the presentation that she forgot to take the photo... funny funny

Anyways she is the one on the left in a cheerleader pose.

All in all the conference was awesome. There were so many people passionate about eradicating Clubfoot across the world and it was great to meet so many of them.

There was also a Gala Ball – which was super fun... lots and lots of dancing :)

There was also a Clubfoot Photo Contest and my entry actually won... Praise God

The conference culminated with a freeeeezing fun run. Talk about a climate change – a week prior I was in warm sunny Guinea.

Unfortunately I was out of training and so I couldn't get my hands on the trophy.

However, it wasn't from a lack of trying...

There were simply too many quality runners...

Now I always love going to Iowa City and it's all because of the people there.

I got to stay with Seth and Karissa again, however this time they had a new addition to their family – Ollie (Lujia).

When traveling I always try to experience the fullness of the culture I am in – Iowa City was no exception.

The Mid-West is definitely an awesome place and I got to have a very unique experience while I was there.

I got to get in an old school plane.

I got to drive lots of different vehicles on the Fulton's farm.

I got to catch up with the Mitchell’s who make the Ponseti braces whom are an amazing family of God.

I also got to carve my first ever pumpkin for Halloween with the Risma’s, Pinkerman’s and Binger – so much fun.

I also got to have my first ever thanks giving dinner with Bill and Shelly. Thanks Bill and Shelly for always making me feel so welcome.

Jamming at Bill and Shelly's last time I was in Iowa City

Now I also try and have as much fun wherever I go and Erin and Danielle definitely helped here.

It’s always great to spend time with old friends in a foreign land :)

Ok so that was Iowa City,

It is great to be a part of what God is doing...

So what’s next?

Back to the big white ship in Guinea. Things will be in full swing with orthopaedics and our Ponseti Program – I can’t wait, as this is what I love being a part of...

As we say in Africa...

God is good,

All the time

And all the time,

God is good...

Teaching, Teaching, Teaching...

Guinea Ponseti Clubfoot Conference...

Life on the ship is definitely in full swing. Screening is over, we have our patients, and now the surgeries have begun.

One of the things I love about Mercy Ships and my job is that we focus on leaving behind a legacy, not just of healed patients, but also of applicable knowledge and training within a medical community. As a part of this effort, I got to organize a Clubfoot conference in Conakry.

I didn’t realize how much work actually goes into organizing one of these so that's why I am super lucky to have a great team.

The Rehab Team

Dr Frank

Hanna was the logistical genius who made everything run smoothly

More than 20 local Guinean doctors and hospital staff members participated in the conference.

The all-day conference consisted of two parts – a theoretical presentation in the morning followed by a practical session in the afternoon. 

During the theoretical session we covered everything from what a clubfoot is to how to treat it.

By sharing this knowledge and then training them in the Ponseti method, we can give them a tool they can use in their own hospitals once we leave. 

In the afternoon, we covered our hands in plaster and taught them how to do the casting.

Dr Frank in action

We also demonstrated that the Clubfoot brace can be made with local supplies.

As a result of the conference, there will be three new faces working alongside us. Twice a week they will train and develop their skills, building on the foundation of knowledge they learned at the Clubfoot conference.

So what’s next?

Well God continues to stretch and challenge me. I will be going back to Iowa City (home of the Ponseti Method) for the International Clubfoot Conference, where I will be presenting.

God is good :)

Guinea screening - “The longest line I have ever seen”

Over the past few years I’ve called several different countries “home” and this year is no exception. For the next 10 months I will now be calling Guinea my home.

Sometimes when I close my eyes and think about where God has me, I need to open them just to make sure I am not dreaming.

If I rewind 10 years and think about what was on my bucket list, living in Africa was definitely not on it. Now, all I want to do is hold my bucket up to God and say “here you go, it’s not my bucket anymore”. 

 

Living such a life definitely has its challenges. Take our recent screening day for example.

It was so physically draining. Our day started at 4.30am and we finished seeing our last patient around 8.30pm. 

I have never seen so many people in one line.  

Over 3,500 people all lined up waiting to see if we could help them. 

Unless someone reminds you to have a drink of water and take a break then you honestly just forget to.

Then there is the emotional roller-coaster. So many ups and downs. One minute you are saying to mother you can help her child.

and the very next you are saying, “sorry we can’t”.

About half way through the day when things were getting very busy I was handed a 3yo girl who presented with a hypoxic brain injury who was incontinent; unable to move her arms and legs; couldn’t speak; and who was still being breast-fed – someone whom we couldn’t help.

Sometimes the bucket is very heavy. In these instances I am just glad that God is right there helping me hold it up.

One thing I have learned over the past few screenings is that we are limited in our understanding and our ability to help others, however God on the other hand, is not. Sometimes God chooses to use us in bringing healing through surgery; sometimes it is through us bringing truth into their lives by saying that they are not a curse.

And sometimes we don’t know what God is doing and during these times I trust that He is a lot smarter than I and that He knows what He is doing still has a way of reaching them.

Even after days like these I still say, “It’s not my bucket”.

God is good.