Grumpy

Blog 6 (23/02)

This blog is a difficult one for me to write as I have had much enjoyment this past week but I also received the moving news of the passing of my grandfather.

Grumpy- as he had most of his grandchildren call him- was a Godly man of generosity, faithfulness, wisdom, humility and hard work. I have much admiration for such attributes and thus I respect Grumpy immensely. His stern but never unreasonable persona appeared to be overtaken by a more jovial and mischievous one, as he and I grew older but not before he had given me, without effort, reason to be reverential of him.

Synonymous with the sound of jingling coins or crunching Rice Crispies, Grumpy is a man who will surely be missed by more than just his family and friends. I will certainly miss being described as “civil” by him after just the smallest favour and having my at times bushy eyebrows compared to his!

He and my Grandma are sponsoring a considerable amount to my eight months away and I will not forget such generosity. Thank you Grandma and Grumpy for affording me the opportunity to serve the Lord in West Africa aboard Africa Mercy.

Thank you for your lessons that you taught me by your example, Grumpy. I will see you again.

Following my last bog, I delivered a French letter to Komla. He had left the hospital that day. I was able to leave the letter in his portfolio so that he would receive it when he comes for a scheduled appointment. I have since been told that a young patient, an 8 year old boy who is likely to be aboard for more than 10 days, is needing ‘befriending’. I will meet him on the 28 of Feb!

I was offered a cabin upgrade this week. From my six berth to a 4 berth. It’s the idea of portholes that grabbed me most. The room is essentially the same except the last cubicle contains a lounge instead of bunks. I will, unfortunately, almost certainly be on the top bunk. I am likely to move in next month sometime.

As I mentioned last week, I spent a night in Kpalime this weekend. I went with a colleague Emma, Julie (a nurse) and Josh (dining room service). It seems to be the most popular up-country tourist destination, which is great since it is only about a two-hour bus trip. The police pulled our taxi over about half way there and no one could speak English and explain why. About ten minutes later we were going again and I understood that the driver had paid a 2$ bribe, for what reason I couldn’t comprehend.

We walked around the town that afternoon, deciding to go hiking the next day. I found a pretty good man united away shirt and pants and ate some spicy street meat! We investigated a large, open church and I even found a “Bafana Bafana Hotel”. Unfortunately we didn’t have time for the waterfalls, which are a definite attraction (I’m sure I will return).

We then came south to an YWAM (Youth with a mission) base that hosted us for the night. We walked around that afternoon finding fruit on trees and a dilapidated outdoor Catholic church. It was sad how unused it looked but nevertheless beautiful. We ran back to the 120-year-old wooden house as it began to pour down- the first rains I have experience here. The storm resulted in the power going off. I was worried about being short of water so I left my bottle on the floor outside to catch the rain. We ate fish and sweet-potato chips with a spicy onion sauce for dinner. Very satisfying. We then played many card games before going to bed later than we would have liked!

The next day we had some fresh mango and pineapple (which we bought at the market the previous day) as well as Granola bars. I could not find my Mercy Ship water bottle. I was told that the dog had probably taken it, however, after looking around we could not find it. We set out for the hike along an initially rather indiscernible path, me praying for my bottle’s safe return. We passed through two villages on the way and in both since it as a Sunday morning we could hear beautiful worship! It was a privilege to experience.

Trying to navigate our way out of the second, we attracted the laughter of many young boys. Apparently we were heading to the bucket toilet dump.

When we arrived at the top of Mount Agou we could not see too much. On a clear day we would have been able to see neighbouring Ghana! We had a snack break at the top and about an hour later we were back at the house. My bottle, somewhat scratched but otherwise perfect, welcomed me!

We got a lift to a small town on the highway to Lome. We were so blessed to have a private taxi lift us back for the same price as our lift there (4$)! It even had electric windows! Our driver had probably taken someone there and we were a bonus. So he spoilt himself and his family with 16$ worth of rodent! I’m still not sure what it is but he was picky when choosing. We were so aware of the Lord’s blessing upon our time away, with things going very smoothly.

Yesterday I went into town on a ZimiJon motorbike. That was fun. I found more fabrics, sat a chatted to a friend I have made in the market and bought Phil Collins double disc album! I’m so chuffed! I also managed to play soccer last night. The one dayworker is really good; he was granted a trial at Sundowns but unfortunately never got to SA. I have encouraged him to apply at more clubs and welcomed him to stay should he come to CT.

I have been the minor job of a dental sterilist! I’m so excited to begin! I will only be able to work one day a fortnight, alternating weeks with Josh, but I think it will be an excellent experience.

I have decided not to give anything up for Lent this year since it would be, as I have normally done, a religious act for me. I haven’t felt the Lord ask me to sacrifice anything and feel content not to.

Working in the galley means washing hands regularly with soap that my skin does not much like. I have developed a few eczema type rashes on my hands and arms and they are not given the time to recover due to my schedule. The rashes itch and become further aggravated. I have asked that an alternative, more skin friendly soap be employed as another option and it looks possible. Could you please pray for my skins recovery and that I would not have to resort to cortisone. Thank you,

 The Ship Pool

 Church in Kpalime (Emma, Josh and Julie)

 Bafana Bafana Hotel (apparently not a very comfortable stay)

 Two children walking past the YWAM (Jeunesse en Mission) sign

 View from the base before the storm

 The 'inside' the outdoor church

 Along the mountain path, Julie and Josh

 Taken from the taxi on the highway on our return

 Our driver and his dinner

 The Africa Mercy yesterday afternoon

 My Toms!

My very fake but good value album

Love ben

A rushed blog by BG Goble

Blog 5 (15/02)

Hello Hello!

What another fun week it has been :)

Despite working this weekend it was rather fun. On Saturday evening the ship paid for the Screening Advance team to go out for dinner! We went out to a wonderful pizza place called Greenfields. The tables are all outside in a courtyard with large trees overhanging. I had a calzone, it must be 6 years or so since I had my first and it was satisfactory but I did regret not having a pizza rather. Again it was great to get off the ship and socialise informally with fellow crewmates.

I received my tailored shirt (see photo) and pants back! I love them  :) il be sure to get more shirts made!

On Sunday I worked the morning shift and then had the afternoon off. Obviously I much preferred getting work over with and reading in the sun even if I had to rise at 5 30. I researched the topic of ‘corruption’ from the books I brought with me, as that was the Sunday evening meeting topic. This was helpful to get my head around the topic within the context of Africa. The talk confirmed my conviction of not wanting to pay a single bribe/coffee/gift while in West Africa.

After the service many gathered around a TV in mid ships to watch the final of the African Cup of Nations. This was between Zambia and Ivory Coast. There was one poor Ivorian and the rest were rooting for Zambia, even though not one crew member was from there! After 2 hours of no goals the resulting penalties were super tight. In the sudden death Ivory Coast missed and Zambia converted, winning their first AFCON and making many semi-supporters happy.

On Monday I jumped at half a chance and joined some nurses in going to town. It turned out to be very successful as I did a few things I had been wanting to. We went through the market (see Photo), to the Supermarche (which has an excellent selection of imported things, some of which are not even available in CT) and to the Artisan market. I found ‘Toms’, which I had been looking out for, while in the market. Toms are very well made and comfortable shoes that are sold in Europe and America for around 50$. When a pair is purchased, one complimentary pair is sent to Africa of South America for a poor child. I turned out to be that child, for 15$ :) they now appear slightly too big so I will take them whenever I am going past and hopefully change them. The Artisan Market was good because it is away from the madness and hassling of the streets! I would like to return there for gifts.

That evening I waited on the dock to play soccer but again it was not happening. So me and 3 other guys went up to deck 7 on the starboard (right) side, aft(back) to where there is a netted outdoor area. Fortunately I brought my mini ball so we could play 2 on 2. It was such a crazy workout even though it was only about a 12 by 4m pitch.

Yesterday I relaxed at the pool (which has been filled!). Its so nice and quiet up there. Because of the ships sway, the water moves to and fro, more than one might think.

Last night I joined a team that were heading out to a local church to show the Jesus Film. Its incredible how the team just sets up a generator, speaker, screen, mics and projector from the Land Rover. The air is such a good temperature at that time of the day where one is quite comfortable in a shirt and pants. The audience sat on the opposite side of a fairly used dirt road while neighbours walked and bikers scootered back and forth between the screen and us. About ten or more people gave their lives to Jesus! It is so great how we would applaud every one of Jesus’ miracles or wise words against the Jewish priests. Something I couldn’t see happening in our traditional churches at home. The film had the local language of Ewe as a voice over but it was obviously still clear what was going on.

Tonight I have returned from my first ward visit! The ‘Befriend A Patient’ program paired me with Komla. Komla is a Togolese man who had a tumour in the back of his throat removed last week. He doesn’t speak English so there is a translator present to help the conversation along. He really wanted to stretch his legs so we ended up walking up and down the corridor for about an hour! He did have a breathing pipe coming out of his neck, which has since been removed but he would hold the bandage as though it were sore when he spoke. Even though he said it wasn’t. The tumour had been blocking his windpipe at times so it is a great thing that it was removed when it was. I’m not sure when he will be discharged but he does say that he needs to get back to work (as a taxi driver) so that his family receives money. None of them have been able to visit these past ten days since his house is about 60km away. I will try and see him as often as possible and promised that I would write him a letter tomorrow night which would be translated, either by PC or I’ll ask someone to :)

This weekend I hope to go NorthWest for a night, to Kpalime (pronounced Palimay). There is a YWAM (youth with a mission) base there and good hiking! I’m looking forward to my weekend off!

This is rather rushed as it is late and it has been a long day (I ran after work as well!)

Love ben

Blog 4 (09/02)

So much seems to happen in just a week that I have taken to making notes on my ipod as I go. Luckily and surprisingly much rest and peace making has been achieved!

The weekend-off allowed me to finally choose a fabric for my tailored suit as well as play some sport. I was quite particular in my fabric taste; I was looking for a mixture of African design and colours with Western symbols. Even the girls I went with were tiring by the end of my second visit to the market! As for the exercise, on Friday night about three Land rovers full will go to a near field for Ultimate Frisbee. It was seriously fun… I enjoyed it more than I did when I’d play on camps and such years ago. I did end up on the losing side but it was close!

On Saturday morning I was lucky enough to join in a group going to an orphanage. The 40 children there just want to be held or to sit on your lap. They were so entertained by the disk that turns around my watch as well as the backlight. I enjoyed spending time with them and will definitely try and go again!

I went out for a local meal on Saturday night with two friends and a West African crewmember. Fufu is a starchy white and sticky lump that you dip into your selected curry-like stew. I had fish but there was also beef, goat and what looked like spinach with a snotty texture.  I enjoyed the sauce and the Fufu to begin with but I ended up just eating the sauce alone as the texture and taste of the Fufu became to much. We ate with out hands so we were given soap and a bucket to wash our hands! I enjoyed this part. It was also only about R20 a head.

On Monday night some of us walked to the popular Seaman’s Club- my first time. It’s a chilled-out bar area and hotel just outside the port. We were celebrating a friend Bronte’s 19^th birthday. A Georgian (the Eastern European country) sailor asked me if he could join our group and I asked the birthday girl who said it was fine. This guy was a real sea dog. He barely spoke English but insisted on buying wine for the table and toasting every few minutes. First to God, then to female health and lastly to Bronte, whom he called beautiful because he simply kept forgetting her name. I felt bad for being the one who said he seemed like an alright guy and that he would keep good company. Thankfully after my insistence that he quietens down and doesn’t smoke he left for the bar where he sat alone. He did return, however, with a bunch of flowers about 60cm tall for Bronte so I didn’t feel too bad anymore!

This week the first patients arrived for surgery so the galley began preparing African meals. The day staff make these and the galley becomes a bit more hectic! The food is really good. Most of the galley team opted for this lunch over ours.

I had two of my best meals aboard this week. The first was Mexican night which meant tortillas- with all the toppings! And the other was a Thai green curry. There is a fair amount of spicy food, which I really enjoy.

Last night, yet again, soccer practise did not happen. All the players were seated around the Ghana v Zambia match (Ghana’s loss hopefully means soccer will now happen again). I did manage to go on an unofficial engine room tour last night which was quite amazing. It is really hot and loud down there, I prefer the galley!

Today, after being sick of remaining on the ship due to the lack of people to go out with (the downside of weekdays off), I managed to eek out three people to join me on a cycle along the coast. The ship has a couple of really bad bikes but we managed to find four that could hold air. Breaks were a luxury. I thought I had fixed the front ones on Elise’s bikes but apparently not. While being aware of this she unfortunately could not avoid riding into a young girl carrying sugar and doughnuts for sale. Both Elise and the girl fell to the ground and all the goods scattered the sandy pavement. This and our slow pace somewhat ended the hope of trekking 10km to the Ghana border. We found a cool place, with colourful birds in cages, for cool drinks and then headed back. There was a nice breeze so it wasn’t too hot. I’ll include a picture I took along the way so you can get an idea of the landscape.

Otherwise I am reading in the lounge or on deck in my ample time off. I am determined, however, not to waste any and will jump at any opportunity to explore the city.

I also talked to my family for the first time since arriving this past week. I really enjoyed that; my two hours talk time just flew!

Tonight in our community meeting we watched a film about corruption. I found it quite emotional seeing how bad it is but also the potential for deterioration at home. I am looking forward to hopefully contributing to the discussion during part two of the talk on Sunday evening.

Thank you to those who contributed wisdom, advice and prayers to me over this past week. I have recently started reading a book by Joseph Prince that is most timely and so far very helpful. Thank you aunty Les and uncle Trevor for this last minute gift!

I do have a new request! I have been feeling pressure, uncertainty and fear regarding my studying next year and beyond. Before leaving, medicine, God-willing, was my first option. Now I feel as though anything else would be a disappointment but also that I might not meet the requirements. The long wait of uncertainty (until January 2013) also causes me anxiety. Please pray peace over this matter.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. And for reading this as well!

(this hasn't been proof read)cLove ben

Togo 3 (02/02)

Hello friends!

Just finished my two-day week, Thank Goodness. I need some rest

On Monday I had the day off and me, two girls and Tom, a day worker from the galley, went to the market in search of fabric. Unfortunately I couldn’t find what I was looking for- I don’t know exactly what that is but il know it when I see it. After that we took another taxi, to the tailor who lives near Tom. The girls were measure for dresses and skirts and since we were there I had myself measured as well. Tomorrow, which begins my weekend, we will return to the market for fabric finding! I also hope to play ultimate Frisbee in the evening.

On Tuesday I slept in and missed breakfast… trying to get max sleep before the Screening Advance leaving that afternoon. The Advance is a cautious security strategy which resulted after someone was trampled during Sierra Leone’s screening. Screenings being the process whereby thousands of people are seen by doctors or nurses to determine whether or not the Mercy Ship can help them. We left the ship at 14h0, travelling in convoy along with some nurse and technicians setting up for the following morning. We constructed our Control at the top of some stairs overlooking the outside area of Lome Stadium. After helping construct queues using plastic “caution” tape, we split into pairs. I was with a very nice Lithuanian an, Dennis. Dennis reminds me of Allan Garbaccio. He too is an engineer, is loud, funny and has a refreshing outlook on life. We two were posted at the main gate for the first two hours. This basically and unfortunately meant that all we had to do was make sure that the Gendarme, the local trained riot police, did their job of ensuring no one entered during the night. A bit demeaning, I thought. I slept fro about half an hour on a step at Control and a very short while in a hammock that some genius decided to bring. Dennis and I also manned the ‘Patient Gate’ where potential patients waited since that night to be seen in the morning. At 22h00 two nurses arrive to ‘preprescreen’ the waiters so that they could spare some the night out by sending them home if they could not be helped. We ‘escorted’ the nurses as they did, more to keep us from being bored than for security- the Gendarme were outside as well. By the end of the night there were about 120 people waiting. Conversations, my book (despite poor lighting), takeaways from KFG (not KFC and it took about 90mins to prepare!), chocolate chip biscuits and water (we were sponsored 4000 bottles- a treat to have such good water!) sustained us until the first convoy arrived at about 06h00.

I didn’t even feel tired when I arrived back at 07h30 to be at work at 8! I had a very good ‘2minute’ shower. During my lunch break I went up to the 8^th deck to read and devotion in the sun… I fell asleep with my bible open and woke up half an hour later sweating, a lot. Just as well… on Sunday the stand in chef woke me at 6 15 when I overslept. Once was enough. I finished work, ran 18 times of the pier, showered and went to bed at 20h30. Slept brilliantly.

I really enjoyed The Advance. Despite thinking it was perhaps over cautious, the screening did run smoothly with about 4000 people arriving. We each had a radio and code names. Mine was Legolas, the elf from the Lord of the Rings. It was heaps better than some of the other guys’. The radios provided much laughter and were no doubt useful. It was a real night for the boys. It was sad that I couldn’t be there for the day itself. We were told NO CAMERAS so I didn’t get any pictures. I regret not taking mine because that order seems to have been aimed at people attending the actual screenings. I will try to get some pictures from those who did take and put them up.

For prayer, I am struggling with feeling distanced or far from God. I really wish to end any such feelings as soon as possible so that I might get the most, spiritually, out of this year. I have been chatting with the chaplain, whom I met at the Plumstead MS office before leaving, and he is a wonderful man. It is good to have someone such as him to open up to. So please pray that God may reveal Himself to me powerfully so that this stress may be removed and so that I may grow!

I was asked this week to be a cabin checker during the fire drills. The cabin I must check are three floors up and toward the back of the ship! We had a drill on Tuesday, while I was trying to catch a good mornings sleep. I jumped out of bed super quick and ended up waiting on the dock for about 40 minutes. I was starving!

Tomorrow night I plan to make Panzerottis, the crest shaped dough with tomato and cheese, since there is a good tomato paste in the fridge, which is deep fried (thanks Rocco!).

I am looking forward to my visiting an orphanage on Saturday morning, my first outreach. Hopefully I will be able to attend a local church on Sunday. Also, Man united versus Chelsea on sunday. I am told it is also the Superbowl...

 As for the Pictures, I took them shortly before my impromptu nap… I am continually surprised by the amount of ships at the sea here, all waiting to come into port. I took this at port side (left) aft (back).

The beautiful ones of the screening were all taken by my roommate, JJ. He is clearly a very good photographer :)

Also there is a picture of a friend having a 'surgery' at the Hospital open house. It was really fun and involved games of emptying drips and throwing items into bed pans!

Thank you for reading this, I enjoy relaying my experiences.

ben x