Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Colombia/Venezuela Trip


Six years ago when I left West Africa to further my nursing education, my hope was to return to the mission field as a nurse practitioner. I have learned whether I am here in Arlington with my international students, or volunteering at the homeless shelter, or across the pond- God can use wherever He has me for His Kingdom purpose. I have been given a great opportunity this past month, my friend, leading a trip from her church to Cúcuta, Colombia, asked me to join the medical team in serving Venezuelan refugees. 

Lately the word “refugee” has been in our news across the globe and it is heartbreaking to know people might not have a safe place to call home. The United Nations estimates 30,000 Venezuelan refugees are entering Cúcuta, Colombia daily because of dire political and economical circumstances. Along with Fielder Church (of Arlington, Texas) and the church in Cúcuta, Casa de Paso has been established for a place for the refugees seeking temporary shelter, food, restrooms, laundry, and medical care. As the team from Fielder church, we will provide respite care for the church and missionaries tirelessly serving their neighbors daily. We will be in Cúcuta from September 29-October 7th. We pray this will be place of refuge, like for the stranger in Matthew 25, who might be thirsty or hungry, who might be sick or in need of clothes. Most of all, we pray these refugees will find hope in a Savior in what looks to be a hopeless situation. 

I would like to ask you to be on my team for this week. The most important need I have is for you to cover me, the mission team, and the people we are serving- with prayer and also fasting if you feel led too. I have set up a “doodle" calendar where you can click (vote) a date to sign up or you can email me the day you would like to be yours to pray and/or fast.  

Here is the link for the prayer calendar (no need for an account): Prayer Calendar

I am grateful for each of you being on my team, some of you since my first Mexico mission in 1999, trips to Guatemala, and while I was in Africa, or joining me now- like Paul in Philippians 1: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” 

Love&Prayers,
Allison 

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Restoration

Douala, Cameroon
It has been almost a month since I returned from Cameroon, but it feels like just yesterday I was on deck 8 watching the sunset. Most evenings, I tried my best to make it to the top deck for dinner and to get some fresh African air mixed with Harmattan sands. 






My bunk
After dinner, my friends and I would head downstairs to play a game in mid-ships or find a place for a movie night. I would eventually make it to my cabin and collapsed into my bottom bunk. I wouldn’t fall asleep just yet as my five cabin mates in 3414 would want to catch up over some chocolate (which I had a stock pile from my Texas coworkers). I would take a moment to open mail and check my prayer calendar. I am thankful for all of you who prayed for me while I was away- daily I was reminded how God answered your prayers. I slept soundly knowing I was (and my mission) was covered in prayer and most likely a busy day on my feet and the hum of the generator helped me sleep too!


Lovely ladies of 3414
I would wake up early enough to grab breakfast in the dining room and head to the café where it is much quieter for a non-morning person like myself to prepare for the day. The chaplains onboard planned the month of January for us to go through the Lord’s Prayer together as a crew. While looking out to the ocean, one particular morning, I read the well-known Psalm 23 and prayed for the patients I would care for in the operating room that day. 




OR Crew on Funky Friday
I headed down to deck 3 where we started in the OR with a team brief and prayer. It was a day of hernias, but the last patient we had to bring back for an infection. That meant a terminal clean (the collection of groans of OR nurses can be heard from far and near). A terminal clean means every surface, piece of equipment, the floor, the ceiling, and the four walls that makes up the theatre has to be cleaned. We may groan, but we blast the worship music, dawn our gloves and eye protection, and clean with vengeance. As I was wiping one of the walls down, I notice a laminated card with a verse on it- “He restores my soul.” Psalm 23. Had I missed reading it this morning? I know from memory- The Lord is my shepherd, He prepares a table in front of my enemies… but He refreshes, renews, and restores. 


I started to pray for restoration- for Cameroon, for our patients, and for the crew. I had the privilege of assisting in cataract surgery, restoring sight to the blind. Caring for patients with hernias and tumors, their life was restored to health. Our cleft lip babies, patients with facial tumors, and large thyroids- their smiles have been restored.

God not only restored the patients when I was on the M/V Africa Mercy in Cameroon- He restored me. I went to serve and to love my patients so they may know the love of Jesus, but God showed me His love in return even more so. He restored my laughter, my joy in serving, a desire of missions, a community around me, and He restored my soul.

Thank you for being with me on this journey. 



 Love&Prayers, Allison


Wednesday, January 31, 2018

M/V Africa Mercy

The sound of the metal shutters going down at Starbucks muffled most of the noise and activity going on in mid-ships. My senses seemed to be on high alert as I looked around the busiest place on the M/V Africa Mercy on Wednesday afternoon. My head and heart felt like they were on overload- unsure if it was just from donating blood or the emotions that come with leaving such a place. I was early for my performance evaluation with my supervisor so I took a moment to soak up what was happening all around me. How was I going to leave this wonderful place?

The constant hum of the generator seemed to be in tune with the worship music still playing from Starbucks.  I noticed the dental team huddled around a few tables as they laughed and clinked their coffee mugs together. Most likely a celebration of getting to the café before it closed since they are off ship all day at the dental clinic. A young guy who works in housekeeping walks by with cleaning supplies in hand and a smile on his face. Kids run down the stairs with backpacks in tow, school must have just finished. A carpenter climbs the stairs on the opposite side with a tape measure ready to start a new project. The ophthalmic coordinator sits with her team at one of the tables. At another table, a photographer is teaching one of teens how to use an advanced camera. A mom walks deck 6 with a baby in her arms, the little one greeting everyone they pass by. My supervisor walks into the cafe, with a slight frown and takes a seat next to me and ask "So when are you coming back?" We both laugh and it echos thru mid-ships. 


I thought about the patients I took care of in the OR that day who received sight after cataracts were removed. The patients I hear singing and marching down the hallway because they are dry after leaking. The smiles I see on our patients who did not have them before because of a tumor or cleft lip. They are receiving healing because of everyone I saw in mid-ships that day and those who are working in their offices, in the galley, in the school, and in the engine room. The people of Cameroon are not only being healed, but are given hope every day because of the crew of the M/V Africa Mercy. 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Let it shine

After Hernia land, I find myself in Eye world now. When I first came to the ship in 2009, I had no eye experience, but eventually every nurse will take a spin in the cataract rooms. A literal spin, because that is how fast we go taking care of our four patients in two rooms. Lots of nurses and translators caring for patients as the surgeons go from one to the next removing cataracts in just minutes. Last week I cared for many patients, but a few of them stand out. I led a Papa (African term of endearment) to his stretcher one day and he had the widest smile and was most thankful even before we began the procedure. He was only 90 years old and danced his way out the of operating room after his surgery. Mama, similar generation, came in with her daughter to help with translation. We explained to the daughter what we were going to do, but she interrupted as she had her surgery done just months before on the ship. After her sight was restored, she drove all the way to the north of Cameroon to pick up her mother. We asked where in Cameroon, offering major cities north of Douala and she kept responding, "The village after that and hours away." I scrubbed in on one to assist the surgeon and the Papa on the stretcher said he would choose a wife after he could see. What I did not expect it that he would choose me in the operating room after his surgery! Then there was Frank, just four years old- such a grown up name for a little one. My friend Suzanne and I went over to the ward to visit him and his Mama before surgery and to see the progress of dilating drops. He was not happy (again, no breakfast), but also the drops are always hard for a young patient. Thirty minutes later, I went to pick up Frank and he was a different boy. Reaching out for my face to feel it and he placed his hands in mine- looking out of the corners of his eyes. He was able to see past the cataracts probably for the first time because his pupils were dilated. He had first glimpses of lightness and shadows. He sat in his Mama's lap as we prayed and jumped into my arms willingly to head to the operating room. My friend, Kim, reported to me the next day, that Frank reached out for a sticker in her hand- he could finally see! 



We do cataract surgeries Monday thru Thursday and then Friday there is a Celebration of Sight at the outpatient eye clinic in Douala. Patients come from all over Cameroon for their 6-week follow-up and YAG laser treatment to prevent cataracts from reforming. They come in to the clinic and have several stages to pass- their vision is checked with "E" chart (many celebrations start there), then drops for the laser, another vision test if they need glasses, than the laser. After the laser- just seconds long- I had the privilege of walking them to the discharge table. They receive their last discharge instructions and a French Bible. We finish the long line of patients and then we set up for the Celebration of Sight. Benches are set around the room, but there is not much need for them because we are up singing and dancing soon after. The passage of Nicodemus and being born again was told by a storyteller. Then the testimonies began- any patient could stand up to share just for a few minutes to share their story. First was Mama Paula who was on the back row, she needed help by her son to stand up and move to the front. She left her cane at the bench and took her new Bible with her. Paula urged the crowd of patients "to thank God for your sight" and was grateful she could read her Bible again. One Papa was blind for five years and exclaimed his "medicine now is the Word." Mama Christine had cataracts for three years, another Papa for seven and was happy when the patch came off. A father of a pastor stood up to say his was in darkness for 12 years before having surgery. A wife of a patient said she lost all hope because they had run out of money trying to find a doctor to help her husband. They met someone at the market that knew about Mercy Ships and we were able to do his surgery for free. They all had testimonies, they thanks Mercy Ships, but all of them gave greater praise to God. The end of the celebration came quickly to an end, but not until one last song. The leader asked "Who is happy?" Most raised their hand, others answered with an "Amen" or with clapping. He blessed the patients and told them "Don't keep your testimony to yourself- let it shine!" And then we closed singing the song "let it shine, let is shine, let it shine..."  

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthews 5:14-16


:)

The views expressed here are solely mine and are not the opinion of AWC/Mercy Ships.