NEW CHIEF ENGINEER ON THE AFRICA MERCY

Thank you to each and every one of you who prayed for Andy during his exams. Not only did he pass, he achieved Grade 2 passes in both Mechanics and Naval Architecture. The pass grades range from 1 – 6 (1 being the highest, 6 the lowest)

We are incredibly proud of him. He himself will testify to God’s faithfulness and presence with him during his exams and will give God all the glory, but all credit to Andy too for his hard work and diligence which have been rightly rewarded.

At last night’s Africa Mercy Community meeting Andy was honoured by his Engineering Team who turned up in Dress Uniform (Black & Whites) to support him as he was commissioned into his new role as Chief Engineer. Both the Captain (Tim Tretheway) and outgoing short term Chief Engineer (Pete Johnson) made moving speeches in honour of Andy and the special occasion. He was presented with a working uniform shirt & his 4 stripes epaulettes.

Andy today in his working Uniform

Matt left last week after 5 weeks with the family on the ship. It was wonderful to have the whole family serving together for this time.

For more photo's click on the Flickr grid top left corner of the blog

The Cole Men in Action

Here are some great shots of Andy, Matt and Steve in the Engineering Control Room

Such a great opportunity for the boys to work alongside their dad!

I can't persuade any of them to work in HR - desk jobs are definitely NOT their thing!!

Back to School!!

After a long summer Emma, Chris & Josh are finally back at school for the new Academic Year 2008/2009 and can you believe Josh has graduated from Elementary School into Junior High?

Just before school re-opened the Mercy Ships Academy (as it's known on board) had an open house to which we were invited. The purpose to go and have a look around and chat with Teachers. This year is extra special as both Steve & Matt are on board to share the experience.

During the Summer Holidays:

You may ask what Emma, Chris & Josh did during the summer in the midst of rainy season in West Africa....well after having two weeks at the start of the holidays to just relax and play games etc...they joined different departments to help and do something productive with their time. This was a wonderful opportunity and they made lots more friends on board by being more actively involved in ship/community life.

Emma - worked in the Sales Department, which includes the Starbucks Cafe, Ship Shop & Snack Bar. This was a perfect fit for Emma as she is sociable. She loved the interaction this gave her with the crew.
Chris - worked in the Dining Room. He already had some friends who worked here so it was great fun for him. There is a real team spirit in this department, which is staffed by mainly our younger adult crew members. Josh - worked with the Academy Summer Program. He is a little young to work in a department so this was perfect for him. He loves small children and is very good with him. He's often been likened to the Pied Piper - where Josh goes there's usually some younger kids following!

Mini Break in Robertsport

We just got back from a 3 day break in Robertsport - a 3 hour drive West up the coast from Monrovia.

Stretch break en route!

View taken from our tent. It was a beautiful location. We stayed in tents on stilts with decking flooring. The set-up was so nice it could hardly be called camping!

Every convenience, at least while the generators were switched on!

Bearing in mind it is currently rainy season we didn't know what to expect of the weather. It had rained for 4 days solid prior to us going and we disembarked the ship and began our journey in the rain. By the time we arrived it was glorious sunshine. The sun continued to shine till the morning we departed! We had the most lovely time, relaxing in the sun, reading, watching the kids all play together in the lagoon, playing family games, including a darts tournament, Mexican Train dominoes, and card games.

Two of the evenings we had camp fires and roasted marshmallows and told funny stories including stories from childhood days. What a special family time.

Today is Matt's 21st Birthday and we look back in amazement at how our kids have grown and all that our family has done especially over the last 8 years since we joined Mercy Ships. It has truly been an incredible journey. We listen to our kids talk and realize just what a broad world view they have, along with an appreciation for so many different cultures.

We decorated our cabin door with pics of him at different ages, much to his embarassment!

Opening presents! After opening this one Matt can honestly tell his friends he got a helicopter for his 21st!

This remote control version has done many laps of our cabin today and then out into the mid ships area attracting a crowd.

Thank You for Your Prayers!!

Coles Chronicles

Thank You for Your Prayers!! Brenda

Thank you so much for your prayers today for Andy. His first exam is behind him and it went better than he could have hoped for. His exam was from 1:15pm - 4:15pm and I spoke to him about 15 minutes after he came out. I could hear the relief in his voice and the satisfaction, knowing that he had done well. He was able to choose questions that he felt confident in answering and he said the answers just flowed. He went into the exam with a sense of peace and the assurance that God was with him and that there was a whole host of people praying for him....so THANK YOU!

Please continue to lift him before the Lord for the last paper on Friday - Naval Architecture. Please pray that these last two days of study will be productive and that he will be able to absorb and retain all the information he needs. At least now he just has one to focus on!

Again - thanks - your prayers really made a difference

Brenda & Andy & family

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Prayer Prompt - Andy's exams this week!

Coles Chronicles

After 3 and a half months of long and intense study Andy is in the final few days before sitting the two remaining papers to complete his Chief Engineers License. He has worked incredibly hard but he needs and covets your prayers. These are two difficult subjects - Mechanics and Naval Architecture. The Mechanics, in particular covers very broad subject matter with over 35 subjects in the curriculum. The paper has 9 questions of which he has 3 hours to complete 6 questions. There are literally hundreds of mathematical formulas that he has had to learn and remember for this exam - no formula sheet provided. The two exams are on Tues 15th (Mechanics) & Fri 18th (Naval Architecture)

Please pray for:

• Peace and a tangible sense of God's presence with him
• That he would be able to decipher the questions (which are so amibuously worded)
• That he would be able to recall the facts he needs
• That God would reward and honour all his hard work and effort with success, so that he can return and step into this key role within the Ministry on board the Africa Mercy

Thank you so much - we know your prayers will make a difference!

Andy will fly back out to the ship in Liberia on 23rd July. There will be 2 wonderful family reunions, The Cole family reunion and Africa Mercy family reunion

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Steve in Engineering

Can you believe that Steve has already been on board the ship for a month, having arrived on 11th June? It's been more of an adjustment for him than I think any of us anticipated. He is anxious to know what is the next thing that God has for him and is certain that he is not meant to stay on the ship for more than a couple of months! Please pray for him that he will have peace during this time of waiting and trusting God to reveal the way ahead.

We are all excited that Matt will arrive this next week - Wednesday 16th July. Matt will also work in Engineering with Steve and of course Andy returns the following week on 23rd after 4 long months apart.

The pictures below were taken of Steve this week. He had come up to the Dining Room for his break. He's been on a particularly dirty job this last week tracing pipework under the deck plates in the Engine Room. He had a few experiences that tested his patience and endurance, one in particular when he got himself wedged in a very confined space and couldn't move. He was stuck there for an anxious 15 minutes which felt a lot longer, before working his way out!!

Our Recent Orphanage Visits

We have continued to go regularly to the same Orphanage that we were involved with during out last field service - The Centre for the Aged, Orphaned & Abandoned Children.
So far the rainy season, which has now officially started, has not hampered our visits. We continue to have fun with the kids with a variety of:
Games

Relay Races

Song Times - "Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes!"

The recent lessons which are always followed by a related craft activity, have included looking at the Fruits of the Spirit, The story of Zaccheus, The story of Jesus filling the Disciples nets after they cast them on the other side of the boat and then this week we looked at:
The Story of Creation.

It was a particularly fun week as we had recently been given a large donation of individual tubs of Play-Doh! We took these along this last week when we learned about The Creator God. After that kids had a wonderful time creating, plants and trees, fish of the sea, birds of the air, animals great & small and people of all shapes and sizes!

Emma, Chris & Josh continue to come along each time and thoroughly enjoy our time there, getting fully involved in all that we do. Emma loves to hang out with the teenage girls and this week chatted with those busy doing Laundry for the 65 kids that live there. Can you imagine that much Laundry, for that many children, all done by hand with washboards and soap that they make themselves?



No washing machines here!

One of my favourite activities is painting the girls nails. While I was doing this last time, one of the older girls came by and stood chatting to me whilst braiding my hair!

[Coles Chronicles] Newsletter #22

Coles Chronicles

Newsletter #22

Africa Mercy - 1 Year Anniversary of Service in Africa

On 30th May 2007 last year, we had a 'Passing of the Torch' Ceremony as the Ministry of Mercy Ships was handed over from Anastasis to Africa Mercy. It's hard to believe a year has passed since then. On 30th May 2008, we had a celebratory meal on the Dock.

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Dear family & friends

As I think about all that's happened since we last sent out a newlsetter, the challenge is to know what to communicate. I thought the best place to start is to share this story of a life recently transformed on board the Africa Mercy.

ANTHONY - CHILD OF GRACE

Monrovia, Liberia - 2008

Slowly breathing through the pains of early labour, Grace felt the weight of her nine month pregnant belly with each small step she took towards the tri-community clinic in Paynseville, Liberia. It was midnight in a country where crime escalates after dark and the clinic was almost a mile away. But Grace, already a mother five times over, knew she needed to get to the clinic as soon as possible; her baby was ready to come into the world. A month before, the doctor examined her and felt that something wasn’t right with the baby. Grace had an ultrasound performed to see what was wrong but technician performed the test incorrectly. The needed view of the baby was not obtained and Grace did not have the ten US dollars needed for a repeat test. She never found out if there was a problem with her unborn baby.
Everyone was sleeping when Grace breathlessly arrived at the clinic. After awakening the two nurses on duty, her husband who had escorted her, returned home; Grace would call him after the baby was born. A few hours later, forehead glistening with the initiation of motherhood, Grace was painfully breathing through narrowing contractions, focused on safely bringing her child into the world. She wasted no time worrying that something might be wrong with her baby. She had put her situation into prayer and trusted God that she would deliver safely. On March 1st at 6 AM, Anthony safely entered the world. But moments after his delivery, Grace’s worst fear came true. With a mixture of concern and repulsion, the nurse that had taken Anthony announced “ The baby has two butts.”

Then Grace saw it; a thin, white fluid filled baseball size bulge attached to Anthony’s lower back. Anthony was born with a Meningocele, a protrusion of membranes that cover the spine and part of the spinal cord through a bone defect in the spinal column, which forms a fluid filled cyst. Meningocele’s are usually repaired within the first 24 hours of life to prevent life threatening infections that can develop if it is left untreated.
Grace’s faith remained unshaken. Upon seeing her baby’s problem she said to herself, “Praise God, the hardest thing is for the baby to come out if it is having two butts.” She called her husband and told him she had safely delivered the baby and explained the baby’s problem. Not wanting a baby with a deformity, he suggested they put the baby up for adoption. Grace was distressed by the suggestion. “I came from suffering for my child all week, I deliver safely, and he said I should adopt the child? I can’t do this.” Grace didn’t know what she would do, but she trusted that God would take care of her and Anthony.
The wife of a pastor and the mother of two children, Maime worked two jobs to help support her family. One of her jobs was at the Paynesville tri-community clinic. On the morning of March 1st, Maime was changing Anthony’s diaper when she noticed the cyst on Anthony‘s back. Curious, she asked Grace what was wrong with the baby. Grace quietly explained Anthony’s problem.

Maime’s other job is a ward translator on the Africa Mercy and she had seen other babies receive the surgery they needed. “I think Mercy Ships can help you.” She instructed Grace to bring Anthony to the ship on Tuesday when there was an opening at the screening clinic. Grace had known that Mercy Ships was in town but did not know if they fixed problems like Anthony’s. Maime had given her hope. She would bring Anthony to the ship on Tuesday.
“See what God can do. He has done a great thing.
He has taken his problem from his back and the
doctor did the operation.”
Tiny screams came from the bundle of baby blankets being handed to the nurse in the screening tent on the dockside. Grace had brought four day old Anthony to the Africa Mercy, hoping they could fix his problem. After examining Anthony, the doctor told Grace she could not take the baby home; if he went home he would probably die of an infection. Anthony needed to be admitted to the ship hospital and started on antibiotic therapy. Knowing that her baby’s life was in danger, Grace’s faith remained unshaken. “When I entered I put my whole problem before the Lord, so I was relaxed. I had faith in me that everything would work out for the good.” Initially, Grace was told she would have to wait a month before a surgeon would arrive who could fix Anthony’s problem, but to her surprise, Dr. Bruce was able to perform the operation on the Thursday March 6, only two days after she had come. Anthony was only 6 days old when he received surgery. Anthony quickly recovered from surgery without any complications. His “second butt” had been removed and were there not a thin incision line on his back, you wouldn’t know anything had been wrong. The Saturday after Anthony‘s surgery, his father saw him for the first time. Anthony was now a week old. When Grace saw her husband, she laughed and told him, “See what God can do. He has done a great thing.

He has taken his problem from his back and the doctor did the operation. You see my fine baby you wanted to adopt.” Grace looks forward to watching Anthony grow and she will never forget the crew of the Africa Mercy who saved his life.

“He is different from all my children, he is special. Where God has taken him from, no man can take him from there. It’s a testimony on his side when he gets big to tell his family, to tell friends. God has done this miracle.”
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “grace” as unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification. Before turning a week old, Anthony has already seen God’s hand at work in his life in a powerful and unique way. He is truly a child of grace. 

Mercy Ships Liberia Outreach 2008

Story by Megan Petock Pictures by Megan Petock and Debra Bell

FAMILY NEWS

ANDY

Since the middle of April Andy has been back in the UK studying to upgrade his Engineering License to "Chief Engineer - Unlimited. He writes:

'Study hard Dad, we want you as Chief Engineer'

It is not just my children who have said words like these to me, no there have been many in management positions in Mercy Ships who want to see me as the long term Chief Engineer. (Including my wife, I think she has a thing for uniforms and 4 gold stripes!)
During my eight years associated with this ship I have worked under about 10 Chiefs. (Shortest time in the post one week, longest about 3 years!)
In April Mercy Ships released me from my shipboard duties, brought in a relief second Engineer and paid for me to return to England. I am currently half way through an 11 week course at South Tyneside College, South Shields. I am staying in the halls of residence with all meals provided. (This was the one condition of mine, I did not want time diverted to shopping or food preparation and associated clean up!) I need to be fully focused in order to achieve what I have previously failed to do on 3 occasions, to pass Applied Mechanics and Naval Architecture. Both subjects have so many formulae to memorise, a high level of maths and are reckoned by college lectures to be the hardest subjects to pass.(Don't I know it)

Here's a few shots of my College room:

The separation from Brenda, Emma, Chris and Josh is hard, We do stay in touch by phone and Instant Messaging each other at odd times during the week. I believe that the proverb 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' is so true. Roll on our July re-union.

Your prayers are appreciated, this is a huge challenge, it has taken us many years to get to this point, where I can be free to fully focus on studying.
Exam dates of July 15th and 18th with a return flight to Liberia on 23rd July. - Andy

Please pray for Andy

This is an intense time of study for him

STEVE - is now back in the UK. He arrived on 20th May and is enjoying staying with Matt. Andy happened to be round at Matt's visiting when Steve showed up unnanounced (they weren't expecting him for a few more days as he was going to look up some friends in Plymouth before heading North). The travelling isn't quite over yet for Steve. On the 11th June he returns to the ship for at least a few months or until he figures out what God has next for his life. He will return to working in Engineering. It's been quite the adventure since his life transforming DTS which finished in December. Since that time he has been to Melbourne - Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada UK and soon back to Liberia.

MATT - is looking for temporary work at the moment till 16th July when he too comes to the ship for 5 weeks. He has applied for several courses starting late August/early September. His first choice is an Apprenticeship with the NHS in Electronic Engineering. It will be awesome to have him with us and fulfills our dream of having our whole family serving in Mercy Ships together. He will also return to Engineering. You may remember that Matt faithfully served as an Engine Hand for 2 full years after leaving school when the ship was in shipyard in Hebburn.

EMMA, CHRIS & JOSH - are doing well. They have been busy studying this last week, and especially this weekend as they go into 'end of year' exams all next week. They have only 2 weeks left of this Academic Year, finishing school on 12th June. They return for the new school year on 14th August. During the summer break they will each work part time in different departments on ship. Emma will spend most of her time helping in the Ship Cafe and Snack Bar, Chris wants to work in the Dining Room and may also go out one day per week with our Community Development Team, to help at one of the Construction sites. Josh is too old this year for the Summer Program, but he will go along each day as a helper, working with the littlest kids on the program 3 - 4 year olds.

As I sit and write this newsletter and look out of the porthole in the internet cafe, I look out on Liberia in rainy season. The day began bright this morning, we had a couple of showers and now at 4pm in the afternoon the rain is heavy. Most of the rain tends to be in the second half of the day and most torrential at night time. I am thankful that I am protected from both the heat of the sun and the rain that comes heavy at this time of the year by our nice air conditioned ship. My African brothers and sisters live in small over-crowded houses, with tin rooves. Many can only be called shacks and offer little protection form the heat and the rain. We experience in a small way what thats like when the A/C goes down and the ship (like a giant tin can) gets hotter and hotter. Our cabin even with the A/C is around 27 degress, without A/C the temperature rises to 30 degress+

We so appreciate your prayers. Though we feel so blessed and privileged to be here and in some small way, being used by God to bring Hope & Healing to the poorest of the poor, we do struggle and face some challenges. Living in community with 400+ people has its joys and challenges, the heat can be suffocating, the challenge of never feeling like you are 'off duty'. Being surrounded by so much need and knowing you can't possibly help everyone. Every time you leave the ship being bombarded by requests for help, requests for money.

One of the things we treasure most as we serve here in West Africa is contact and communication from love ones, friends & family back home, who we miss hugely. We would love to hear from you. You can find all out contact details in the left hand coloumn of our blog, Telephone number, email addresses and postal address.

Sent with much Love & Prayers

Andy, Brenda, Matt, Steve, Emma, Chris & Josh

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Wulki Farm Visit

We recently loaded up 4 Landrovers with crew and took a trip up country about an hour and a half away from the ship, to a wonderful place called Wulki Farm. We saw lots of animals that you would expect to see in a farm in England: Pigs, Horses, Rabbits, some Turkeys and other Fowl.However, this is Africa so we also saw Crocodiles & Alligators. The highlight of the trip though was when we came across this mother and baby chimp. They were just walking on the road and as we approached, the baby chimp raised its arms to me to be picked up. We had such a fun time with these chimps. I played "Round & round the garden like a Teddy Bear, one step, two step & a tickley under there" I did it once and raised the chimps arm. The second and subsequent times the chimp raised its own arm in anticipation. This made all the kids laugh so much! Unfortunately Emma wasn't with us that day as she was unwell and stayed on the ship. Josh & Chris came along and had their chance to hold the chimp. The weather was very warm but we had some rain and it made my camera keep steaming up, so the pics are not as clear as I would have liked.

Josh & Chris make a new friend!

Mom & baby chimp checking us all out.

Chris - Work Experience in Engineering

I started my Work Experience in March 2008. I worked on Tuesday 11th and Tuesday 18th of March. I worked in the Engineering department on the Africa Mercy. I started my training with my dad, Andy Cole. Later, I was trained by Ebenezer Yeboah and Denis Sokolov. The Engineering department is quite large, so I had many co-workers. I was given the tasks of checking for leaks, temperatures and oil amounts. I performed a viscosity test with new and old oil and commissioned an Air Compressor. I used a machine called a Lathe which is used to work on metal; I also worked on the Dock and helped weld with Denis.

I helped weld more support beams on a metal frame and helped move and weld three metal plates on top of the frame that was very strong. The new platform is now used to help the deck department transport equipment on and off the ship which makes me feel very proud. I was responsible for some of the minor things like getting tools for my Dad and also being kind of the left hand man of the difficult jobs he was doing. The Engineering department supplies electricity, fuel, water, and air conditioning to the ship, which serves everyone onboard. The engineers also help the ship to travel to places like Tenerife.
I arrived on time in the morning and after two breaks’ on both days. I had an attitude to learn and was keen to see the engine rooms for the first time. I stayed positive until I was working in the generator room because it was so hot in there. I tried to listen carefully to instructions, but sometimes I did not get the question or it was too loud to hear. It was embarrassing as I got loads of questions and orders wrong. I was properly dressed, with my bright blue overalls, red ear protectors, and black steel toe-capped boots. The engine rooms are always pretty dirty but for what I could clean up, I did. I was about 60% reliable to do the job correctly first time. By the end I think it was about 70%. I felt that by the end that I was a good beginner Engineer, because I learned many new and interesting things and performed many tasks. So far in my life I am not quite sure whether or not I would become an engineer. I love to work in the engine rooms, it’s really fun, but right now I really don’t know what career I will have when I am older. I have a better picture, which is good so I will now have more options to choose from. As an employee I would work the best of my ability. I would be friendly and social with my work mates. I would bring an attitude to learn and be punctual. I would bring work to a new level.
I really liked the program; I had expectations which were matched. I loved doing practical things with my hands instead of more things to do with the brain. The work was challenging in places, but that made the work a lot better for me as it made me come out of my comfort zone. In particular I think that my favourite thing was the metal work. I liked both the welding and the work with the lathe. I think that next year I am either going to do deck or engineering, I haven’t decided yet, I would love to do both. If I could change something about this experience, I would probably like to have done more metal work, I really enjoyed that. I think a more physical career would suit me best, because I like to use my hands to build and repair things.

BY CHRIS COLE

Emma - Work Experience on the Ward

I woke up bright and early to start my day shift (from 7am-3pm). And for some reason I wasn’t nervous this time, I was ready and prepared for what I was going to do.
Once again, we did handover and received patients from the people on the night shift before us. I was shadowing Caroline Chestnutt and we were going to be nursing four patients. They all turned out to be VVF (Vesico-Vaginal Fistula) patients, which was extremely different from last year as I did not get to work with any VVF ladies last year.
One of our patients was first on the list for surgery, so we didn’t really have to deal with her until she got back. She was called Betty and she was extremely sweet. She wouldn’t stop smiling even after coming back for the second time and two unsuccessful surgeries. I felt so bad.
Today was the due date for changing the patients beds, so I helped put on the new sheets and pillow cases etc. After this we also had to clean our patient’s wounds. All of these VVF women were on ward A. I knew that ward B had a few babies so between times when we didn’t have to do much, I visited ward B and played with the babies there. They were extremely cute.

During my time down on the ward, I took vital signs and tested the women’s blood pressure and temperature frequently. I am used to that now, and remembered what to do from last year.
About 2 hours before my shift was over, Caroline and I went to collect our first patient from the recovery room. And, praise God, the surgery looked a complete success. I had to hold up the IV bag when transporting her to the ward. We gave her some codine and morphine for the pain which she told us she was feeling.
Soon after, the nurses on the next shift, the evening shift from 2-10, came and we handed over. We prayed and some African women sang to us whilst I was chosen randomly to play the drums. It was a great experience and I learnt a lot.

Tuesday 11th March- Day 2

Once more, bright and early I arose to get to my next day shift. Today I worked with Melissa Stromboulis and we had five VVF patients after handover. I helped to begin with by getting all our patients meds ready; the multivitamin, iron and lactulose. Two of the women needed peri-care again, so we had to clean their vaginal wounds and their catheter. I was surprised when Melissa asked if I wanted to actually do the cleaning. I accepted and whilst doing that, I didn’t feel uncomfortable. God is so good to me like that.

After this, we weren’t very busy, so I went over to B ward to see the cute little babies there. Today I felt like I had more to offer. Yesterday at times I felt a little helpless and useless, but today was good.
We did some African worship again at changeover, which made everyone feel happy, including me.

Wednesday 12th March- Day 3

Today was an excellent day for me. I worked the evening shift from 2-10 and this time I was on a totally different ward so I didn’t have VVF patients. I worked with Caroline again which was great, and I felt like we had more to do today than on Monday. One of our patients is set to go home tomorrow, so we only really checked her vitals, but apart from that we did nothing really with her. Another of our patients was sleepy and we didn’t see her awake much. Again we only really checked her vitals and did a mouth exercise with her. The other patient, however, got back from surgery about half an hour after we started and we did a lot with her.

She was on morphine and other medicines, and we had to alter the settings on those a bit. To prevent her from vomiting up the Benadryl which we were going to give her, we actually sucked out all her stomach fluids. I had never seen this before so it was great. It looked a strange blacky-browny colour and it was very liquidy. Also, we had to clean out the tubes that were in her nose. She had two nasal-trumpets in a we had to put a tube down them then suck out the blood or whatever was down her throat up. It looked terribly uncomfortable so I felt sorry for her. Again, I went down to B ward which is where a couple of kids were and hung out with them. I also was told a few days ago that I could start an IV on a nurse if one was willing. Lisa Sullins had told me a few days ago that she would be willing so I did with the help of another nurse named Ali Wilks. She talked me through it step by step and by the end of it they both said that I did a great job and Lisa said it didn’t hurt at all. Later Ali let me start an IV on her and this time with much less help and again, I did it on my first try so they said I did great. I certainly felt happy and satisfied.
Today I really enjoyed it and had lots of fun.

Thursday 13th March- Day 4

So today was "observe a surgery" day. I left the cabin at about 8:30am, and the surgery started at 9:00am. The man who had the tumour, had to get part of his jaw removed with the tumour. This meant he also had a metal plate put into his mouth. The surgery was successful and I didn’t get woozy which was great.
The surgery last 3 hours so I took my lunch break knowing that I had a evening shift to do. This meant I had a two hour break today. The nurses said not to push myself too far, especially since it meant I would be working all day, plus a day shift tomorrow. But, I stayed the whole day anyways.
I worked with Nicole Oosterhalt, and she was really nice and let me do a lot.

Nicole & I

I was working on A ward again, so we had all VVF patients. I took vital signs often, and did al the paperwork that went with it. I also did three pericares today, which I am getting used to doing.
We were pretty busy, it never came to a point where we had nothing to do, but we weren’t overly busy. I actually enjoy working with the VVF women, especially since they are all so nice and have a laugh with you. Today was a tiring, but fun and satisfying day, I enjoyed it a lot.

Friday 14th March- Day 5

Today I worked a day shift again, and with Nicole again. We gave out all our morning meds, then we had to do vitals and some pericare. However, after we had finished doing these things, we weren’t busy at all; I actually got a bit bored.
I was asked just before lunch if I would like to watch the beginning of a surgery. The woman who was getting the surgery couldn’t open her mouth, so they had to put a pipe down her nose. They did this whilst she was awake, and it looked most uncomfortable. I was allowed to look in the doctor’s scope which had a cam showing down the throat. It looked awesome. I had never seen inside and down the throat before. After that, we weren’t busy at all. It was a good day, but it was boring at times. I enjoyed doing the medical things though, and hanging out with the nurses.

Monday 17th March- Day 6

Today I worked down in post-ops with a good friend of mine called Lindsay. Post-ops is when patients who have already had surgery come back for a dressing change or tablets or whatever reason they need to. It got off to a slow start for me, but the day got better as it went on. I was allowed to do most dressing changes and I would help out also by going and fetching information from the printer or calling other patients in to see us. It was certainly different from working on the ward. My hours were from 8am-5pm. Today was a good experience and a good day.

Tuesday 18th March- Day 7

Today was my last day working on the ward. I worked a day shift on B ward and I was working with Nicole again, which I was happy about. Like every morning, we go round and give our patients their morning meds, before doing anything else with the patients. We got six patients to take care of, but within a couple of hours, two patients were discharged. One of our patents went into surgery and two of our others were going into surgery. This meant that we couldn’t really do much with them because they are NPO, so that means no food; so we didn’t even give those patients meds. Our last patient was our only VVF patient, however we did not have to do pericare with her.

At 10:30, there was a dress ceremony for four VVF patients who were being discharged. We had so much fun! The four women were in beautiful African outfits and we sang and danced and prayed. It was awesome, you could hear them from the other side of the ship. After that, however, we were not busy at all; I did lots of vital signs though. At about 1:00pm, Rebecca “Red” Rouse took some photos of me in action which my mum had requested for our family blog. There were some cool photos and it was great - check out the Flickr link at the top left hand side of the page for more pics.
Today was my last day, and I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to do what I did in these seven days. I thank Kirstie. Red and Laura, but most of all I thank God.
This week was certainly a week I shall never forget.

I enjoyed making this little one laugh after Cataract surgery

BY EMMA COLE