And the Trip Lingers...

It has been over a week since Team 2 has returned home but your experiences linger in your mind again and again...

This is a view of UMC Annual Conference in Sierra Leone. Part of the team attended one morning. It was interesting to listen to a few of the reports. We were able to get an update on the university.

Many classrooms are crammed with students and benches YET students are respectful and well-mannered.

This group of fine ladies prepared our meals daily at the hotel. Marci spent time with these ladies. Marci shared some of her cooking secrets while these ladies shared their kitchen secrets.

Oh yes, there is a story here. The head teacher at Urban Center (Brown) shared that they needed a few more stools in their library. Regular chairs take up so much space and the library needed every square inch. The team thought obtaining stools would be a good project so the hunt was on. After a few days of not seeing any stools, Tim spotted a few and he was on a mission. The only problem - these stools were not for sale as they belonged to this "restaurant".

Jane is "fixing" everyone up on the educational team with a name tag.












Hooray for books! Most parents cannot afford school tuition and the required books. It is one reason why much of the school day is spent copying lessons from the blackboard. Less time for instruction. These students have an advantage now. Books were donated to third and sixth graders. The plan is to use the books for the next five - six years for each incoming class. Thanks Chet and Darlene. Chet and Darlene were able to visit one of the schools on our day of departure.

                                                                                        

Exchanging money always brought smiles...along with some frustration.

 Stacey worked closely with the PT staff at Kissy Hospital. They appreciated her so much that they gave her an African name AND fulfilled her wish to "wear a baby".








These are precious containers...used to carry water from the pump to homes.     






                                      
  Although the first few days were slow and frustrating, Marci created a kitchen space. The space was filled with obsolete hospital equipment and dirt. Marci cleaned and painted along with help from Darlene and others.  She also shopped with Victor's (one of our drivers) help to purchase a stove, freezer, refrigerator, rice cooker, and other kitchen essentials. Marci prepared a great meal for many the day before we left for home.

The water looked too inviting for Jane to pass up at a hotel near Lungi Airport. Tom and Kendall took advantage of the pool also before boarding. Others used their time to get a bite to eat.

 Sierra Leone teachers were given time to visit the school library at Urban Center. Many schools do not have libraries. Teachers were given time to read and practice an activity called, Turn and Talk. Teachers seemed excited to try this strategy in their own classrooms. Teachers were appreciative of dictionary instruction given by Pat.

 If you have ever turned pages in celebrity magazines you will notice pictures of women celebrities wearing the same outfit with the caption, "Who wears it better?" People vote and the results are posted on the page. Here are some pics of workshop participants and our own Tim. The question..."Who carries it better?" Cast your vote if you like in the comments.

Photo of educational workshop participants. Many traveled from far distances to attend. Great group of educators who are passionate about their students. I think every grade K -12 was
represented at the workshop.

Jane brought along two boxes of glasses that she had collected from Indiana. Head teachers were asked if there were students who might need glasses. Head teachers were quick to call down students that they knew had difficulty seeing the board. Glasses were tried on and if they helped, students and adults were given a pair of glasses.

 Most of the educational team. Kendall is MIA. 

 Sally gearing up for the day. Incredibly hot when you have C-sections to perform. Lots of surgical garments to put on.

Kids were the most curious at Urban (Brown) Center. You felt a little like an animal in the zoo with all of the touching. Kids kept commenting our skin..."It's so soft!" Their skin was just as soft.




 Notice that the front of the ambulance says Maternity

This ambulance was parked here because it was serving as a hearse for a funeral that was taking place.

        
After his experience picking up stools at a restaurant, Tim decides the store is the best place to get stools for Urban Center School. (Brown) Now I'm not sure where this store is located but I never saw anything close to this store in the 2 weeks I was in Sierra Leone. Is some of the team holding out on the rest of us? Hm...

Home.Sweet.Home

42+ hours of travel. Sleep hours during that time? Little...amount depends on how well you can sleep on a plane.

New love spaces in our hearts have been created by people we have met and worked with in Sierra Leone for the past two weeks. A deeper understanding of a different culture has been built but realizing that we just have a very small understanding of Sierra Leone life . Often people will ask, "Why can't you  _________?"  My response is usually, "It's complicated and complex."

There are conflicting emotions as you ready for the journey home because you are leaving people you have grown to love but you are also missing homeland soil and your loved ones at home.

Chet and Darlene

Chet, Darlene, Tim and Leonard had one last field trip to a school to deliver books for 3rd and 6th graders. Students held up their OWN copy of their book for a photo. The books purchased will be used more than once. Hopefully they will last for 5-6 years. In Sierra Leone the word grade is not used but class. A teacher who teaches 1st - 6th grade teaches primary and teaches Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Students must pass an exam before going on to junior secondary school. Students then go on to senior secondary school after another examination. If you like ta better understanding of the educational system click on this blog post: Educational System in Sierra Leone

What Did the 42+ Hour Journey Look Like?

After luggage was loaded into the Kissy ambulance. The water ferry is a quicker way to get to the airport than to drive around the bay. Our intended plan was to catch the 2:00 pm ferry. There is also a water taxi but that is expensive for a group as large as ours. After driving to the "dock" we find out that the 2:00 ferry has been canceled for the day. Plan B is now implemented. We drive around the bay to the airport hotel.

Going to the airport: What plan on we on?

Of course we have adventures before reaching the airport. A stop is made to get one car running again - some rearranging of wires and banging on battery connections seem to work for now. Another stop when one of the cars run out of gas. No gas station in sight. Luckily we are not too far from town. Luggage is rearranged in the ambulance. Three pile into the luggage ambulance. Two squeeze in the other car. Anup has a booked room as his flight to California leaves the next morning. The hotel allows us to hang out since Anup has a room. Some of us orders a bite to eat. Some take a swim in the hotel pool.  Time for the airport and all what that involves. For some it was a lucky break that the scale for weighing luggage was broken. Luggage was a little heavier since some left luggage or "boxes" for our drivers. We're thinking they sell them, use them for drawers or as totes. 

Onward to Liberia and then to Amsterdam. Flight delayed. Board plane. Arrive in Atlanta. Rush to connecting flight to Indy. However security really does not seem to care if you have a connecting flight and only a few minutes to get to the gate. Two made it but others did not. Get on the next flight. Some have another 2 - 3 hour drive. Home. Sweet. Home. Thanks for prayers and  financial support for projects. You are so important for these trips. Trips and outreach are not possible except for those of you "behind the scenes"  More students have books and supplies. Patients and staff have a kitchen to prepare meals. Working toilets and sinks. Dental care. Ob/Gyn care. Medical equipment assessment and repairs for better medical care. PT care. Lives touched - yours, ours and theirs. 💗💗💗

The team is already planning a reunion and we are not even homeward bound yet. Team members finished up their work and projects with only a few loose ends remaining.

Marci's Kitchen 

Here is Tom when he is not asking questions that we all want to know.

Marci has created a beautiful space for cooking. In less than two weeks time she has located a space, cleaned and painted, and purchased a freezer, refrigerator, and stove. Sally and Mary Beth designed a paper sign to name the kitchen after Marci. Band-aids held up the sign. Team members were treated to a delicious lunch prepared in Marci's new kitchen.
Speaking of kitchens reminds me of chicken which we often have for lunch or dinner.
Tom observed he had never seen a chicken breast so he asked one of the musicians that entertained us one night. I don't think the singer had ever heard that question but said only the legs and thighs were available in the market. Chicken and eggs are imported. Tom asked, "What do they do with the chicken breast then?" Hmmm...an unanswered question.

It Happened!

One of my highlights of the trip was to see Stacey wear a baby! I was very jealous. The mother graciously showed Stacey how to tie the baby on her back. Stacey showed off "her" baby to all of us. The little one was darling - such a big smile during interactions with team members.

 Not only has Mary Beth and Sally have been delivering babies but they have been part of the Well Baby clinics.













The Line Gets Longer
 

Each day there are more patients waiting in line to see Dr. Chet and his wife assistant, Darlene. Darlene is lovingly called Mom by the dentist in the clinic. And the BIG news is that sinks are working so there is no more spitting outside! Perhaps that the reason the patient line is longer. Many ladies who have been preparing our evening meals have had dental work completed. Dr. Chet was happy to see them smile when he came in for dinner.


Good-byes are Hard!
 Moses had time to visit family in Bo, Sierra Leone so we said our good-byes. Some of us have been trying to learn how to say hello (Kushɛ) in the native language. It seemed every time we tried we were corrected. I finally asked Moses about vowel sounds. Eureka! There are so many different languages and the vowel sounds are slightly different. No wonder we were having a difficult time - well, at least some of us.

We will be saying good-bye to Anup later today as he will be staying longer. He has booked a hotel near the airport so we might all crash there as we wait for our flight.  We have learned so much about a country I knew so little about, Bhutan. Anup shared a sweet picture of his 95 year-old grandmother who just passed away. She was instrumental in guiding Anup to getting an education.



EdImpact Workshop 

Jane creating name tags for educational workshop.

The education team spent the last 4 1/2 days with a group of inspiring teachers coming from different areas of Sierra Leone. We told teachers to bring a bag so they could take school goodies home. There were a few worries because there is extra cost in transporting a bag if you can't hold it. Buses and other transport can be very crowded. So much learning took place from both sides. So much collaboration!

Four days of learning together!

Even though we will begin our journey home I will write a few more posts as I collect pictures from everyone. Our hearts are full but I would say most of us are feeling a little homesick. We will be glad to be safely home - have heard there is a possibility of a snow storm greeting some of us.

We're Back!

Even though we have been "disconnected" because of having no wi-fi, the team has been very connected with their work and some play time. Difficulty loading photos - hopefully tonight will be magic. Forgive any errors - on our way.

We welcomed Anup who joined the team last  weekend. Anup is working alongside Moses. They are assessing medical equipment and fixing what they can. Assessing the equipment and recording information is important in their work . This will allow them to send available parts and instructions for repair when they are not here. Another challenge is that much of the medical equipment is old - almost obsolete. It is difficult to get parts for equipment that may be over 35 years old.

 Twenty+ WORKING toilets and sinks!  Fans that circulate air! Light fixtures with new bulbs! the building team is making a big dent in the punch list. The punch list shrinks and then it grows again. The team is also able to support the Maintenancedepartment by teaching how to do repairs. Spare parts have been purchased to repair things as they break. 

Mary Beth and Sally have brought new life into the world and examining babies. Part of their time has been spent in holding infertility clinics. Stacey continues providing PT along with PT staff at the hospital. One of her wishes is to wear a baby. A mother has shown her how to "tie" the baby so she is hoping that it will happen today or tomorrow.

 

Some of us heard a shout next to us when bidding began for an informational brochure. The UMC was excited to share the dream of the new United Methodist University. the university recently opened. Read here for more information. UMC University of SL "$300,000!" shouted Kendall. Yes, you read that number correctly BUT it is in leones. It was the winning bid for one of three signed brochures at Friday's annual conference. The currency system can be quite mind boggling. Besides bidding on brochures signed by Bishop Yambasu,  Kendall brought greetings from Indiana to UMC Annual Conference attendees. Mary Beth, Tim, and Marci shared an American minute of the work or projects that each team was involved in. Kendall had a short visit with the Bishop about available time to share. The Bishop was agreeable to American minutes.  An African minute lasts much longer than an American minute.We had a delightful lunch with the Bishop Yambasu, his wife, and other attendees.

 Chet and his wife Darlene are keeping busy with patients coming in for dental work. I have a feeling that business was brisk since the pastor at Brown United Methodist Church announced to the congregation  that he had been in for dental work. Even the pastor at Brown United Methodist Church had been in for a visit. One of the challenges is the small-sized dental room. It is so small that the patient has to get in the chair first and then Chet and Darlene squeeze their way in. Another challenge is there no where to spit unless the patient gets out of the chair and goes outside. This is quite a process since the room is small. Chet and Darlene have to file out of the room and then the patient. The patient walks outside to spit and then the process to get back in the dental chair is repeated.  Needless to say patients do not spit very often during their procedure.  

Marci has transformed a space into a kitchen. Appliance purchases were made yesterday from project money. What a blessing this space will be for the families of patients receiving treatment.

The education team began their 3 1/2 day workshop on Monday. Their were a few nodding heads by the end of the first day. Some participants had been traveling for several hours to participate in the workshop. By mid-morning Tuesday there were 18 participants. It is evident that all the teachers are passionate about teaching and care very deeply about their students. Accents are heavy so it takes a lot of focus for the team and the participants even though both groups are speaking English. 

Another video creation by Tim: 

Soccer Love 

 

Friday, February 2, 2018

Even though it was a late night arrival our three newest members of the medical team were down for breakfast dressed in scrubs and ready to go. At the end of the day I heard there was one C-section in the surgical room with no air conditioning. Imagine performing surgery with all your garb on in a fairly small room.
Many women came in to be seen in the fertility clinic. Sally explained that most infertility problems were caused by infections and fibroids.
Chet performed a tooth extraction. More details later.
Stacey took a field trip to the Special Needs School which is the only one in the country. Students with physical and/or mental disabilities attend the school. More info later. 
It's difficult at this point to get many photos from the medical and building teams since we are separated now.
The building team continues their punch list - a never ending list.

Uh-oh! Is that sensation what I think it is? 

The education team has proclaimed Jane as our photo and experience seeker. One never knows what experience or photo shoot is around the corner. Today's experiences included a baby goat, rice raking and selling in the farm market.




Besides being our cinema creator, Tim is also known for seeking out soccer opportunities. Time works a little different here. I would say it is "ish" time. 8:00 might mean 8:32. Tim and one of our drivers, Victor, takes advantage of the "ish" time by doing what they both love...kicking the soccer ball around.
CLICK link for Tim's latest video: Glimpses of School Visits

Pat is our historian and gives us invaluable information on past trips, library development, church history and just about everything we need to know.Here is the library at Urban Center which is a school next to the hospital. This is a head teacher in the library.






There is no doubt that Kendall is Money Man. He is always smiling when he is holding stacks of leones that total over a million dollars (in their monetary system) The team really appreciates Kendall, Tim and Victor (our driver). To get the best exchange rate the driver exchanges money with someone on the street.

Leonard's son attends the all boy school, Albert School. This secondary school is for what we considered middle and high school. Middle school boys wear short pants and high school boys wear shorts. Like any typical middle schooler Leonard's son is thrilled to have his photo taken with peers lingering around. Notice the person on the chair...

Source: Text and Photo Source
"In the old part of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, at the center of a roundabout surrounded by a concrete fence stands an enormous Cotton Tree (Ceiba pentandra). The tree is Freetown’s historic symbol and the city’s most famous landmark. Nobody is sure how old the tree is, but it is known to have existed in 1787 when the first settlers arrived. According to some sources, the Cotton Tree is 500 years old. It is believed that when a group of former African American slaves, who had gained their freedom by fighting for the British during the American War of Independence, landed in Freetown, they apparently rested and prayed underneath the shade of the tree"
The photo on the left is one of the team member's. There are billboards and campaigners surrounding the trees for the upcoming elections. A great many birds swirled around the tree as we drove by. The phrase of "flight of freedom" came to mind.
The other photo shows the cotton tree in a different season and view. 

Marci is "walking the plank". There is major road construction going on in Freetown. It can be quite dangerous to cross over to your destination. Of course I'm thinking it is dangerous to cross over without construction. Leonard and the guys are very brave as they often step in the middle of the road so the rest of us can cross. It will be a great improvement when the construction is complete.


We APPRECIATE and COVET your prayers. 

Early Thursday, January 31, 2018

As mentioned before Don and Marilyn sent us off with the words with the 11th commandment...be flexible. Those words have come to mind several times as we go through each day. It is a good opportunity to grow as you let go of expectations and remember to pray for the plan and opportunities that God is orchestrating. It includes the little things such as my expectations for this blog. Today's post is a buffet of well...a little of everything.
New team members are joining us soon!

Marci is on cloud nine as a room has been designated for a kitchen. Before the room was "found" there were locations that would have been a lot of work to set-up. Guess what sign was already above the door? Kitchen! Apparently it was lost and now it is found. It is now cleaned and ready for a stove, a refrigerator, shelving and supplies.

"Here is Your Indiana Government" 

 

Another discovery was a set of books in the library at the all boys school. It is wonderful to see books placed on shelves. It was uplifting to see a few students sitting in the library.
As you gain a little understanding of the culture and environment and see what books have been sent over through donations, you realize that some your donations perhaps would not be meaningful for Sierra Leone students and teachers.

John and Moses

I don't know if you can comprehend that toilet facilities can be very limited at a hospital. When we arrived at the beginning of the week only 3 patient toilets were working but now 22 are thanks to the building team. The guys (John, Tom, and Moses) spend their days upgrading and repairing.

The PT clinic is always buzzing with activity. It is always a blessing to hear about the collaboration that goes on between Stacey and the PT staff. There was a strong relationship built by the first medical team which makes it easier for the second team to continue the work.

Three year old sister with a new baby brother. Joyful mom! 

 

 Pure sweetness in the maternity ward. Sally fills her day with well baby exams, surgical procedures, and ob/gyn exams. No lighting for a procedure...no problem...nurses just use their phone's flashlight.








The education team continues to build relationships with teachers and make observations as they prepare for professional development next week. It is amazing to observe Sierra Leone educators teach with very limited resources and facilities. The girls are having their lunch or snack in the "cafeteria". No picture can show how tight the spaces are. There is no outdoor area. Very small indoor rooms are very dark. If this school was a state park the trail (hallways) would be labeled treacherous.



Answer to the plunger:

Monday, January 29, 2018

SO many experiences were packed in today. We all even walked the plank. (Photo later)
I noticed sleepy, nodding heads as we traveled home from four school visits and a hospital tour.  The medical team was a wonderful addition for classroom visits. They often brought up questions that helped lead to new perspectives. The medical team also had a meeting with the hospital administrator and a few members of the staff.
 
 Did You Know?

• ...that teachers usually have only one copy of a subject's textbook?          Teachers copy the textbook on the chalkboard that is sometimes difficult to see. The children then copy the info in a student "workbook".  

• ...often a newly certified teacher is usually not paid for teaching?                    The government doesn't have enough funding for the payroll.   The teacher may try to find a second job. The principal may try to find support from various outside sources so the teacher can make a living. That is passion!                              
• ...if you are a patient in the hospital that a family member comes along to prepare your meals?                                                                                                              If you don't have a family member then you have to get a friend or I imagine pay someone. Marci is here to begin the process of setting up a kitchen.
• ...that it is difficult to repair donated equipment because it is obsolete? Parts are difficult to find. Moses is evaluating equipment.
• ...that we saw a primary classroom with 86 students? Yes, that number is correct. The teacher even brings her two-year-old so that she can teach. Yet, she had the biggest smile and showed such joy with this challenge.
• ...the most seen patient cases are malaria, typhoid, pneumonia? Hepatitis B cases are climbing also. 
• ...casts are removed by pouring vinegar over a cast to remove it? I'm not sure how long that takes! Staci has brought a tool to remove casts. 

Evening Campfire 
No fire was burning but the atmosphere was the same. The team lingers in the evening at the dinner table to share highlights of the day, debrief, and talk about the itinerary for the next day. Tonight someone randomly asked, "How did you come to be on this trip?" I would love to post each story - powerful and fascinating stories that only God could set in motion. Don and Marilyn played a part in almost every story.  They are truly here even though they are physically not. It is also evident that your prayers are weaved into each story AND each day's experiences. Your prayers for our safety (riding in an vehicle is always an experience), open minds for ourselves and the people we come into contact with, and wisdom to see opportunities to show God's love are ESSENTIAL. It is a joy to see the impact and the connections the first team made the previous few weeks. Thank you for making our road smoother as well as our team members that have been here before. Pat, John, Jane, Tom, and Moses have been invaluable with their insights and knowledge.

 And now you know...

Tim nailing it on the beach "field".  The team was quite impressed.

 You have to wait to know who was the only person to change into a swimsuit and plunge in the surf. Blogger needs some tech advice. : )

 


 Next riddle- Who do you think is setting their alarm before 6 am to be in the hotel kitchen to learn and share about food preparation? We will get enjoy that blessing at our breakfast.

Check this post again as this blogger hopefully receives tech support from team members to post photos from various sources. Just don't hold your breath as she uses that knowledge.