happy holidays from half a world away

Happy New Year!

Sometimes it's hard to believe that I just celebrated Christmas and New Years in Madagascar. I never would have imagined that that this would be my life. I love that God has known this plan for my life long before I ever did, and that I am growing in my faith each day as I see His amazing plans unfold, and the way He is working in my life and in the lives of those around me. I get to witness miracles on this hospital ship, and that is better than any Christmas gift I could ever receive.

With the Christmas holiday comes the longing to be home with family and close friends, to share in traditions from generations past.  I was honestly not looking forward to Christmas very much this year, being so far from my family, and with a day shift to work on Christmas morning. I am so glad that, without me even asking, God completely changed my heart and blessed me with an amazing shift at work. Christmas morning was so much fun on the wards, everyone was so excited to celebrate with each other... the nurses, the patients, the caregivers, the day crew from Madagascar. We all greeted each other with huge smiles on our faces, played games, had an impromptu dance party, then had a ward church service and worship finished off with handing out bags of gifts for every patient and caregiver on the ward. 

One of our patients, Erissa, spent a lot of the day hugging me, giggling, grabbing my hand to go for a walk in the hallways with her, and giving me kisses on the cheeks. My heart was just so full, in ways I didn't think it could be on this Christmas day so far from home. It was such a joy to share this day in such a special way. I then got to spend time with some of my close friends opening gifts and sharing stories. It was nice to know that, while I am away from my family in the states, I have my own family here and am so thankful for that. To top it off, I had the most amazing gift from my brother of a video of friends and family from all over, wishing me a Merry Christmas. I cried and laughed through the whole video and just felt so loved. I then got to Skype with my family to see them and spend time with them!

The following week, our plastic surgeon arrived to the ship and we began preparations for plastic surgeries! I got to work with the screening team on Monday and Tuesday, screening the potential plastic surgery patients for this year.  It was so great to be a part of this! I helped to do vital signs, weights, and health histories on patients. Then, for those who were given appointments, I got to educate about what to expect with their surgery, give them nutritional supplements and instructions on how to take them, and tell them when to return! It was so exciting to see the patients before their surgeries, to see fingers and toes fused together that we can release, to see wrists and feet and necks contracted into tight positions from burn wounds, knowing that we can help to restore function and movement. What a joy to see the patients and caregivers faces light up when we describe what we can do to help them with this problem they had just resolved to live with, until the hospital ship showed up offering them a free surgery. 

It is especially great to be a part of the screening process knowing that I am one of the first contacts they will have with the ship. It is such a big responsibility and blessing to get to start the process of developing trust with them, to show them God's love, to look them in the eye, or hold their hand, because they are so much more than their disfigurement. When they start to believe that, the most amazing transformations happen, not of their limbs, but of their hearts. One little girl came late with her mother to screening, and thus were the last to be seen, as we did not know they had come.  She had gigantism of one of her toes, she shyly showed me her foot so that I would see the problem. She stood holding her mother's hand, patiently waiting. I got out the bubbles and she slowly started playing with me, then started running all around to pop the bubbles. I entertained her with a rubber glove balloon with a face drawn on it. She started giggling and playing with these toys. Once we sat down to go over the health history, she walked over and stood behind me, resting her arm comfortably on my shoulder and talking away in Malagasy to me, giggling after every couple sentences. I would tickle her and a belly laugh would erupt. This simple interaction and transformation, from a shy girl with an over-sized toe, to a beautiful, giggling girl without a worry in the world. These are the miracles I get to witness. And this is just the beginning of her journey with Mercy Ships. And when I remember this, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude that I am here, at this time. That I have been called to serve the people of Madagascar with Mercy Ships, that I am so blessed to have the chance to be here, that I receive so much fulfillment in so many ways. I hope to not forget this, and to take all of the blessings I've been given, and turn it around to bless others and love them fully. This is not so much a New Year's resolution, as it is a life-long resolution, that doesn't have to start on January 1st, but with every new day.

Happy New Year 2015, from beautiful Tamatave, Madagascar.