Lasting Impact in Cameroon

On our return home from Cameroon, we spent three days in Belgium.  It was a great way to re-enter the western world.  Even after five months, it does take some adjustment to return and process all that we've experienced.  We stayed in the beautiful city of Brussels, and also took side trips to Antwerp and Ghent.

One of the highlights was visiting Saint Bavo's Cathedral and seeing the restored alter piece created in the 15th century by Flemish artists Jan and Hubert van Eyck.  The center of the piece is call the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.  It is taken from a scene from the Biblical book of Revelation where Christ is represented as the Lamb that was slain.  This lamb is standing because Christ is risen.  His life giving blood is pouring out into a chalice.  Surrounding the Lamb are worshipers from throughout the world.

The group at the bottom left represents people from all over the world.  Today it would look a lot more diverse that the 15th century European perspective of people groups, but would certainly include people from Cameroon.  Thousands of Cameroonians were impacted by Mercy Ships during the time time we were in the country. Many not only found tangible hope and healing, but also came to understand that life really does get better and that life in relationship with Jesus really makes a difference.

During the time in Cameroon, Mercy ships provided 30,286 surgical screenings.
10,780 patients received dental care and dental health training.
There were 2,746 surgeries performed on the ship.  They were in the following areas:
General surgery:  237
Women's health (obstetric fistula, etc)  278
Orthopedics 82
Plastics (primarily burn victims)  165
Ophthalmic  1542 (primarily cataract surgery)
Maxillofacial  442 (primarily tumor removal, cleft lip/pallet)


In addition 1,475 local health care providers (doctors, surgeons, nurses) received some type of medical training so that the ongoing health care can continue in the country.
There were 89 different medical capacity partners.

There were about 270 day crew, local Cameroonians who worked on the ship.  They received practical work experience and were helped to create resumes for future work.  Many received certificates for specific qualifications making them more employable in the future.  And of course there were many impacted by the mercy ministries to hospitals, schools, orphanages and churches which were all strengthened and helped along the way.

We went to Cameroon simply to serve and be a part of this work.  We left truly blessed by our time there.  To those who have read this blog, and taken an interest in the work of Mercy Ships, thank you.

Chuck

Wrapping it up

Yes, change is in the air.  Tomorrow is the last day of surgery.  I wanted to show you pictures of baby Paul, who is probably the patient who has been here the longest.  He was too small for his cleft lip and palate surgeries.  As you can see from the before and after pictures, he is now all smiles!

Nurses are cleaning the hospital wards, getting ready for the ship to sail.  The pack up team is here,  seven people from Holland, England, and the US, who come every year to help at the end of the field service.  They have been washing the admission and outpatient tents on the dock, and are taking  the tents down today.  That's hot work!

We're saying goodbye to lots of friends.  It's a Mercy Ship tradition to go down to the dock to say goodbye, then everyone waves as the van leaves for the airport.

Mercy ministries is also wrapping up.  This is a picture of my last visit to the  Hope Center.  Maurice always leads the "cadeau" song, which is French for gift.  One cadeau this week was Mama Debbie.  I like being a gift!

Debbie

Celebration of Sight

Cataract surgery is over for this field service in Cameroon.  Cataracts are very thick in Africa, because of the bright sun and because they just keep getting bigger with little available surgery to cure them.  Dr Glenn trains local surgeons,as well as surgeons who can come to the ship.

Every Friday, patients come back for post surgical follow up.  After the check ups, they hold a Celebration of Sight.

There is music, dancing (of course) and patient testimonies. I love hearing the patient's stories, of lives changed and hope restored.

There is Bible teaching, with an emphasis on thankfulness.  It's not thankfulness to the surgeons, nurses, or to Mercy Ships, but thankfulness to God, who made it all possible.

Debbie

African Fabric

Yes, I love fabric.  I love to see the different patterns and the bold bright colors of Africa.

When we were in Guinea, most women wore traditional African dress.  The fabric is beautiful, with intricate patterns.  Women buy fabrics at the market, which are sold in 5-6 yard pieces.  That's about the amount needed for a dress, including a headscarf.  They take it to a tailor, who sews a custom made dress.

In Congo, in was similar in that women wore the traditional dress, but the fabric was different.  The prints were larger, and featured modern prints, like electric fans, high heel shoes, or even computer sticks as part of the fabric's pattern.

Here, in Cameroon, I was surprised to see little in the way of traditional dresses.  Most of the women wear very modern dresses, which are made with African style prints and fabrics.

Here on the ship, we had an African fashion show where the crew got to show off their African fabrics and styles.

And a blog about African fabric would not be complete without a picture of Crazy Scrubs Friday on the ship!

Debbie

On Deck 7

Every day, at 2:30, the patients come outside for some fresh air on deck 7.  The hospital is on deck 2.   Imagine, especially if you are from a rural village, what it would be like to be in a hospital ward on a ship.  With no windows!

They stay on deck 7 for about an hour, playing games and just hanging out.

This is right outside our cabin.  In fact, those are probably our windows in this picture.  If I have the day off, I sometimes go out and watch the beanbag toss.  Lately, I've been playing Uno with some of the patients. It's a good game to play when you don't understand each other's language!

Debbie

Ponseti Celebration

We were able to attend a celebration recognizing the Mercy ship program that treats children with club feet. The "Ponseti" method is the gold standard for treating club feet.  It consist of very minor surgery under local anaesthetic in which the Achilles tendon if cut so the foot can be positioned at a right angle to the leg. It is held in place by plaster casting while the tendon reattached itself. Later the child wears shoes connected with a brace.  The whole treatment takes years, so it is crucial that local doctors can continue this treatment after the ship leaves the country.
This is a great example of the medical capacity building that takes place when the Mercy ship comes to a country.

We learned about the treatment and heard testimonies from parents about their children. As always there was lots of music and dancing.

 Nick Veltjens trains local practitioners in club foot treatment.

Our friend Kalinda was demonstrating treatment techniques.  Treatment can take up to six years using braces.

In most of Cameroon, people don't know that club foot can be treated and children can grow up to live normal lives.  Now more children have real hope for the future.

Chuck

Blind school

The blind school and the deaf school are private schools in Douala that each have a special class.  In this school, it's a small class for blind students.  Lere and his team do a wonderful job with these kids.  Lere asks for volunteers to lead a song.  They come up one at a time, and Lere accompanies them on his guitar.  Notice in the picture that there is a child looking in the classroom from outside.  Sometimes there is a crowd outside the window!

The story was about God leading the Israelites with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire.  These kids are good listeners.  Lere introduces us with our name and the country we are from.  And the kids will remember and be able to tell him our country when we come back.  We don't make a craft, but give them one already made to help them remember and tell the story.  We help them feel the craft.  I wish my French was better, but they seemed to understand.

Lere, Maurice and Thomas come every week to this class and bring volunteers from the ship with them.  They  know this small class very well!

Debbie