we are finally here! The Africa Mercy has finally arrived in Senegal-Dakar where it will be giving free health care services to this beautiful nation. Here’s the beginning of a new journey, lives will be transformed, the spark of new hope. Yes we are finally here! it is now over a month since we arrived in Senegal. Before we arrived, a lot of work have been going on behind the scene to see to it that we have a successful field service. People have been working really hard and so tirelessly to make sure everything goes well. The Mercy Ships advance team and many others did a great work over the summer holidays. So many prayers were lifted and a lot of actions have been taken so we can finally serve the people of Senegal. This is the beginning of new things, beautiful memories, the lame will walk again, the blind will see again, children who were unable to go to school due to one deformity or the other, would be able to go back to school
Senegal is located in Western Africa with a total population of 15,58 million. It is bordered by the Atlantic ocean, The Gambia north, West and South, Mauritania to the North, Mali to the East, Guinea and Guinea Bissau to the South. And just like other African countries, Senegal is very rich in culture and their values. The capital city is Dakar and it is where the ship is docked. Dakar is very beautiful and has so many big buildings, touristic sites, islands. Daker is known to have a population of about 1,146,0.53 over 2.4million. It is one of the largest cities in Senegal. The official language of Senegal is French. However, most of the population speak a local language called wolof. The wolof is spoken by so many Senegalese. In addition, the Senegalese people are so friendly and welcoming. They have such a big heart with the willingness to also be of help. So far, I thought dutchies were very tall until I came to Senegal and discovered how tall the Senegalese people are!
I have already been to the market fives times. It is my favourite place because it permits me to make new discoveries and interact with people. I have tried one of the most famous local Senegalese meal called “Thiebudine”. Its a mix of rice, fish and different vegetables. it is a communal dish and most Senegalese will invite you eat with them when having this meal. As I earlier mentioned, Wolof is one of the most spoken local language in Senegal and so I have been practicing some wolof lately. At least the basics to help me communicate with my patients and the people. Here are some few words in wolof. Let’s try it this way;
English / Wolof: Hello/salaam aleekum, How are you?/Na nga def?, I’m fine/ Mangui fi. What is your name?/ noo tuudu? , My name is Christelle/ Christelle la tuudu. I don’t speak wolof/ degumma wolof tuudi tuudi, I’m sorry/ Baal ma, Thank you/ Jerry-jef.
Personally, I asked God why Senegal? considering the fact that it is more developed as compared to the other countries that the ship has been to. I struggled with this question for several weeks as I heard other people whisper to me the same question. I would say, I was quite excited to be back home. But had so many questions about our service here. On the arrival day, I was reading my bible and the Lord led me to this passage, Gen 15:7 which says ” The Lord spoke to him, I am the LORD, who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance.” I believe when the LORD directs the Africa Mercy to any nation, its because He has people in that nation HE would like us to help. To me, it also means someone lifted up a prayer in their distress and cried unto the LORD and the LORD is sending us ( The Africa Mercy) as a response to their prayers!
So many things have taken place so far, We did a lot of cleaning to set the hospital and the technical department worked tirelessly to set up the dock tents namely; Eye, screening, outpatients and Rehab tents. We also had our day crew orientation day. Whenever the ship serves in a nation, we serve alongside Local day workers. These local workers help us to communicate to our patients as we can not do our job well without effective communication. In this field service, we hired over 250 day crew to work alongside us. Over the past weeks, the screening team have travelled up-country several times in the search of potential Mercy ships patients. We invited some patients to the ship to see screening again for further health evaluation. Among these patients, was little Saliou who was our first patient to receive surgery on-board for this field service. Our surgeons on-board saw most of these patients and we scheduled most of them for surgery. Last week, we gave out so many surgical appointments to our patients and I’m so happy to tell you that, most of them, just like Saliou have already received surgery!
The screening team will be travelling to all the 13 regions of Senegal for screen for potential Mercy ships patients. We have already been to; Thies, Fatick, Diourbel and Kaolack. Please I would ask you to pray for us as we go about making difficult decisions these coming weeks. Help pray for wisdom and the Lord’s Leadership, trusting that HE who has brought us here, will help us find the right patients. My heart is usually heavy in those days because I feel like saying YES to every patient. But one truth remains, we can not help everyone because even though we are a big organisation, we are limited in the things we do. Thanks be to God who is limitless and knows everything. He is all knowing and our earnest desire is that He helps us reach out to all those He would like us to help this field service. Yes, one thing stands forever, our God is faithful and as a good friend once told me ” Remind yourself that you can not help everyone”. However, we can help them heal emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Sometimes a patient just need that you cry and pray with them, hold their hands and tell them, everything will be okay.
Surgeries have started onboard the Africa Mercy. Our first patients was little saliou with a cleft lip, one could easily see on Saliou’s face how excited he was. Just like Saliou, Many other patients will be opportune to receive free surgeries on-board the ship. We will be travelling to Kaffrine to today screen for more potential Mercy ships patients. Please put us in your prayers as it will be another time to make difficult decisions. Also, pray for our patients who will be coming to see us. I am so excited to see what God will be using us to do in Senegal, What about you?
christel's ship journey 