Working on Deck 3

It's just really different working here.
We're in Africa, but we're not really in Africa.

A funny looking hospital

The hospital wards are in the next hall- across from the lab and supply. So it sounds a lot different.
We hear the praise band going from ward to ward with African drums, guitars and singing.

the praise band in a patient ward

When Chuck brings supplies to the ward, there are people everywhere. There are patients in beds that line the walls, doctors checking and making their rounds, nurses and caregivers treating the patients and therapists working with patients in the halls and stairwells.
Chuck has found that people have trouble saying his name. It kind of sounds like "Chulck." They ask, "like Chuck Norris?"  Ohh....Chuck Norris!  They understand that!

morning rounds in the ward

 Chuck had a patient in the general surgery ward challenge him to a game of connect four.  They are serious about their games.

Connect four, anyone?

There is a lot of music.  Not like the lab at home, where we had the radio playing.  Besides the praise band, there are always people singing in the halls.There are African day workers singing as they mop the floors. Chuck has followed the VVF ladies (the women with childbirth injuries) as they walk down the hall singing. They have beautiful voices.

dancing, always dancing

Sometimes we hear crying children.  The lab is next to the x-ray department, and we can hear some of their unhappy customers.

The African day workers bring specimens to the lab from the admission tent on the dock.  One gives us our daily French lesson.  (I'll never be able to speak French)

Inside the admission tent 

People are constantly touring the hospital halls.  Some are official tours to people from all over to see  how this unique hospital ship works.  There are always new nurses and new crew learning their jobs.  They need to know where to bring us specimens, how to sign up to give blood and when to call us when the lab is closed.  Can you imagine working somewhere where the staff is constantly changing?

Mercy Ships advertises this as " the hardest job you'll ever love."

Debbie