First - thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! I can’t believe I’ve been in Africa for 6 weeks already! It seems like just the other day I was eagerly anticipating my flight here.

Second – I apologize for taking such a long time in posting another update. Reason number one for this is I’ve been procrastinating (you all know I’ve very good at that). Reason number two is I keep very busy here even when I’m not working. And reason number three which seems to sound the best in my defence – the internet hasn’t been working very consistently. So, now for the really update.

This week I took my day off to go with the dental team off ship. I didn’t even know there was a dental team when I first learned about Mercy Ships, so I was excited to be educated on their “operations” first hand. We took two land rovers, which was about 16 people and headed into the nicer part of town. Part of the agreement Mercy Ships has with the government is guaranteed buildings for their dental, eye, and hospitality program. The building provided for the dental team was across the street from some government offices. It’s two stories, clean, and air conditioned! (yes, I do love the AC during 90 degree humid days!)

Their setup is pretty sweet. For three of the dentists they have two chairs. The fourth dentist, who’s here long term, has only one chair for larger more complicated cases. They also have one chair for a hygienist who works independently. (That’s a total of eight chairs if my math skills still work.)

They day I went the team worked from 9am – 2pm with 3 dentists and one hygienist. During that time they saw about 50 patients. They did cleanings, filled cavities, and pulled a lot of teeth – even the wisdom teeth of one of the translators because they finished work early!

During the time patients are waiting to receive treatment they are taught about how to care for their teeth and how to educated friends and family. After treatment a translator gives teaching about their pain medication (just ibuprofen) and reinforces the information taught earlier.

So far the dental team has seen over 3000 patients here in Togo. There goal is to try and see about 5000 patients by the beginning of August.

I continue to be blessed as I work with the patients here in the hospital. Just yesterday I took care of two young women 19 and 30, who had successful VVF repairs. (Check out my post about VVF if you haven’t already.) Both women were trying to teach me Ewe (pronounced “A way”). I’m a horrible student, but they had a tremendous amount of patience with me; and laughter, for that matter, as I muddled up the pronunciation of the words. I had to keep saying “baba ray” – I’m sorry. Their grace is so refreshing – just as God’s grace is in my life. All I can say is I’m so thankful!

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Adventures in Togo land continue… I must say that keeping busy isn’t hard to do thanks to many different “off ship” ministries that Mercy Ships has available.

This week I went to one of the local deaf schools after my shift. A group of us – about 16 - went in the land rovers, leaving at about 5:30pm. I found out that there IS rush hour traffic in Lome, Togo and that I don’t like it. Cars are bumper to bumper with zimees (motor bikes) cutting in and out. Additionally there are people in the midst of it all attempting to cross the street! Note to self, bigger is better – at least for safety. J We arrived after about an hour of travel on mostly red dirt roads with a few scattered pot holes. Just fyi – the trip home was about 25 minutes long.

A group of about 40 children greeted us immediately when our white Mercy Ships vehicles pulled through the gate that lead into the schools open court yard. All the children had huge smiles on their faces and energy oozing from their bodies as they made welcoming hand gestures. It was almost silent, but the joy from our arrival was evident - even if you couldn’t hear it in their voices.

One of the teachers for the Mercy Ships’ academy is fluent in sign – and apparently this school uses American Sign Language. So we told/acted out a story with Christina (the teacher) as she translated into sign. Painting was next on the agenda. The children were told to paint their hearts desire. My heart was touched as I looked at their creations. There were motorcycles, airplanes, and for a number of them – a painting of the whole world. The world – that was their hearts desire. For these children, for the people here in Togo - their opportunities in life are far less then mine. What a gift I have been given, and how easily I forget!

I thought I was coming on a mission trip – to do medical work, to share the love of Jesus with those I cared for. But every day I am realizing more and more that this trip isn’t just about others – it’s about me drawing near to God and growing as a person – becoming the woman He desires me to be. It’s scary and humbling - and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!