This week has been a whirlwind...... We had two days filled with courses for local health care providers. The first, a neonatal resuscitation course, and the second a practical course for nurses on preventing back injuries and prevention of pressure sores. They both came with their own set of obstacles as working in the developing world is never easy, but ended up being a success. It was on Monday that I sent a text message to a friend that read, “why can’t working in Africa ever just be easy?” These words came unfiltered from my lips after three hours of waiting at a hot, dusty train station for participants. Blame it on the heat, or just one too many recent occurrences of “African Time”, but either way my patience for this place was almost to an end. I battled through the day, and two days later found myself in the same situation. Wading through the bureaucracy of working in the Congo was too much yet again, and this time even my translator was frustrated. He said to me, “ Hannah, I don’t understand. You are here and wanting to teach, there are nurses just over there who are eager to learn, but the system just won’t allow it and it frustrates me!”. “Me too Baufray, me too” was my simple reply. As we stood gazing out into the compound of this African hospital it struck me yet again that I wasn’t called to this job because it would be easy or glamorous. I was called here to give every ounce that I have in order to leave a mark in the healthcare of this country. If we gave up every time we hit an obstacle we would be back sitting in our comfortable home, focusing solely on ourselves...and I never, ever, want that....
The week continued on, and for a few days, I couldn’t quite shake this feeling in the pit of my stomach that change was about to occur. For those of you who didn’t know, my plan, and what I felt like God was calling me to, was to continue on with the ship to Guinea and land back in the states in November. I was ecstatic about following up with patients, reconnecting with our translators, and feeling the Guinean dirt on my feet again. I literally have had dreams about what I would say to “T” when I hugged him for the first time in a year. I have had this ache in my soul to return, and it would finally be coming true! Then about 2 months ago the reports of Ebola started rolling into the news. The country that has been through so much and still lies in the bottom 10 of the world was being struck yet again. The situation has improved drastically, but is still not yet deemed “clear” of this deadly disease. I knew somewhere deep in my soul that taking a ship of 400+ volunteers there might not be the best idea, but I thought I might still be okay....
As I mentioned before, this week I just knew that it would in fact not be okay. Mercy Ships announced on Thursday that we would be postponing our visit until a more settled situation is clear and instead sail to Benin for a 10 month outreach. I respect this decision, and understand their change of plans as it is this week that we would have been sending a team of volunteers and containers of supplies to Guinea in the midst of a crisis. Looking at the bigger picture, in the coming months it would have made a difference in our screening days for patients, in our safety as we moved about the country, and it would even be possible that people coming to serve onboard would be quarantined upon reentry to their homelands. Putting all the logistics aside, the idea of ebola on a ship where a simple GI bug spreads like wildfire just isn’t in our best interest....
As I said I respect this decision, but I am very disappointed.
With this disappointment came some soul searching, and I have decided to finish my field service here in the Congo and then head home to figure out what life looks like there. 2 years I will have been gone when I make my re-entry in mid to late August. 2 years of living in the developing world and having my life radically changed by not only the people of Africa, but the people from all of the world that I now call my family. So what I thought I had months to prepare for, I now have 25 days to do. To pack up my life, finishing handing over my work, say my goodbyes to the people who have made a mark on my life, and board a plane.
I don’t feel finished with Mercy Ships, but I know that for now, this chapter has come to a close. It’s an odd feeling to be so sad about a decision, yet know with a deep peace that it is exactly what you are supposed to do. In a few months I will be a nomad again, but this time on my home soil. I will have to go through the “re-entry” that everyone before me has dealt with, and slowly pick up the pieces of a life that feels like a distant memory.
Am I scared? To be completely honest I think I am somewhere on the scale near terrified. But I know that it will all be okay. God has got it together, and he knows my steps long before I ever take them. I look forward to re-connecting, and replanting roots..... I look forward to sharing more of my story with you in the coming months and properly share with you about the people who have changed my life. I came to Africa to serve, and I will leave transformed by the experience.
To all of you who have supported me along the way, I will never be able to fully explain the depth to which I thank you. The last 2 years would not be possible without your love, support, and prayers. From the bottom of my soul, thank you.
