Stay tuned!

Chances are a few people may have just started reading this repository of ramblings. So... hi there. As most of you now know, Peleke (the XY representative of this marriage's online pseudonym) is abroad on a deployment with the Air Force for a while. We decided that this is the opportune time for me to head overseas to work with Mercy Ships. It's something I've always wanted to do, and with the exception of a few hiccups all systems are a go. With both adult and pediatric ICU experience, proficiency in French, and the great timing, I find myself getting ready to head out in one week. So without further ado, here is the rundown:

Benin. According to Wikipedia, Benin is a country in Western Africa bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It sits between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator on the Atlantic Ocean. Half of its population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day. The life expectancy is fifty-three years old. Elementary schooling is done in the local language and then continued in French. Why has Mercy Ships docked there in the port town of Cotonou? Because entire villages are without basic medical care. Things we don't even think about in developed countries are devastating (and sometimes deadly) because there just isn't any way to correct them without the infrastructure. Things such as cleft lips/palates, head and neck benign tumors, encephaloceles, TMJ ankylosis, cancrus oris/nasalis, cataracts, club feet, improperly healed fractures, contractures, severe keloids, VVF, and a handful of general surgical cases that are routine in the US.

Mercy Ships. I'll sum it up with a cut & paste from their site:

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. [They] bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor by mobilizing people and resources worldwide, and serving all people without regard for race, gender, or religion. Our crew of both professional medical and non-medical volunteers have chosen a very powerful way to share their blessings. Mercy Ships has chosen to follow the 2,000 year old model of Jesus: the blind see, the lame walk, the mute speak, and the Good News (the nature and character of a loving God) is proclaimed and demonstrated among the poor.

I'll be back stateside on Halloween if all goes according to plan. I plan on updating frequently since the ship, the Africa Mercy, has amenities you might not expect on the coast of Western Africa- wireless internet being one of them (then again, considering they have one of the only CT scanners there maybe it's not so surprising).

I can't believe it's finally happening :)