im here!

hello from humid africa! I'm here safely, if you didnt know that already, and am beginning the long process of settling into new life onboard the ship the Africa Mercy. as you can imagine there is so much to share...the last 4 days have been completely packed with orientation, making home in my minute cabin, making friends and today was my first shift on the ward. it is all a bit overwhelming at the moment, but i am doing good. i am healthy, keen, well fed and ready for the all that the next year is going to bring.
ok a quick rundown of what has been going on so far....
arrived late friday night - good flight, met lots of other crew from mercy ships in paris so we all made our way to Benin together. I have to say it was good seeing some familiar faces in the baggage reclaim - it was like a cattle market, with one rotating belt and hundred of people. the heat and humidity was intense, but my two bags arrived safely, as did everyone elses. Praise God :)
the weekend was a chance for relaxation and settling in - it did really feel like a holiday!! a new place, new friends and TIME! so my cabin is looking a bit more like home...i have made some connections (its hard with 400 crew - mostly either other nurses or other new crew that i arrived with). I am in a cabin with 5 other girls, all nurses. the cabins are set up in pods, for 2 people. top and bottom bunk, mini wardrobe and a little cupboard in about 6ft square. I will attempt to post some photos on here to give you guys an idea of what its like. but the bathroom is pleasant - warm shower - even if it can only be 2 mins long (called a ship shower!) so i am truely blessed.
during the weekend all the new crew also went on a tour of the city in some of the mercy ship landrovers. I will describe the sights with photos another time. and we were treated to some tasty pizza, in a local hotel, by the hospital manager. i also wandered to a french bakery with another friend, went for a run!! (yes, keeping fit is going to be challenge, especially with 2 cooked meals a day!!) went to a local church on sunday morning - experiencing my first taxi ride with 6 ppl squashed in the car. we were truely welcomed and i hope to make this church home for the time being.
so...as for the nursing (the reason I have been brought this far). its been a good day. yesterday was a whole day of orientation and practical exercises to help all the new nurses settle in and today was my first orientation day on the wards. tomorrow will be the last orientation day! yup just two days before i am left to fend for myself!! but its been a good day. to finally get involved; to see the sparkling white teeth shining out through a smiley face, to play with little ones sitting on the floor, to shake an old mans hand as he thanks us for our care, to pray for the patients before surgery, to see them get up to brave the walk to the toilet just hours after their operation. it is all an honour and truely inspiring to think that this is now my new job. to be able to show them love, to smile and touch their shoulder; love them, not as an outcast but as an equal. to be able to offer reassurance when everything gets a bit scarey. admittedly the language barrier seems huge at the moment. i seriously need to get the hang of some french and fon (the local language) phrases. cos at the moment i feel so restricted in my communication with everyone. yes their are excellent translators and they are on hand to talk for you at any point, but it would just be nice to say a few words myself!! so if anyone has any french greetings/phrases that they can share, it would be much appreciated!

well i will leave it there, before this entry gets too long. it would be lovely to hear from you. do feel free to email or even send me post! just ask for the address if you havent got it already.
thankyou all for your support and prayers - i am truely blessed.
love to you all xxxxxxxxxx