Africa Mercy

well im finally here in Cotonou. i'm home!! (for the next two months at least). Ah my heart was so happy last night it could have burst!! i flew first to paris and then to benin and God was ssoooo good in sending people my way to befriend all along the way!! A big guy from New York named Leo helped made the hour and a half trek with me to the airport early wed morning. then on my way to paris I met an older guy from california who had spent most of his life on ships and had of course been to Benin (who knew!!). He was a musician turned phd professor who told me all about the rhythm of the music in Benin and how it was the most unique thing he had ever heard and it changed his life. Then i met an accountant from Cali in paris...he was pretty self absorbed but whatever. Then i met a couple from Norway on the plane to Africa who were also joining up with Mercy Ship! It was so nice to have someone familiar to wade through the African airport with. Our plane was delayed a bit for security reasons and when we got off at about 9pm we were greeted with 80 degree humid weather and crowds of people. Trying to push my way through a sea of people just to snag my bag was an adventure! and it made me so happy! :) An african man named Rene picked us up and was so incredible. I wish I spoke French soooo badly!! i'm going to take lessons and will hopefully learn fast. I got to practice some norsk with the norwegian couple and then we made Rene teach us French phrases. I hope i learn fast! uffda. Driving was insane...not as busy and crowded as India but definitely NO traffic laws of any kind. people were driving over medians and curbs and sidewalks in their jeeps..pretty fun. I loved the way people were dressed and out and about! The poverty along the water was so sad...its amazing how poverty looks so different in every country. I'd say its similar to Bangladesh but different...not really sure how to explain it yet. Then we got "home"! Rene joked with us and stopped to drop us off at a ship that was a half sunk, run down shack.haha. No, our ship is beautiful!!!!! its huge. very welcoming. gorgeous. it will take some time to get used to swaying all night and day but such is life. i am staying in a cabin with 8 girls...i have a top bunk bed and small closet. id say its a bit bigger than a 2person dorm room at college. its tiny! ha. today i have orientation. its amazing to me how many people come and go on this ship! only one other girl in my cabin is a nurse so its nice to meet people from all different departments. The hostess girl that loves working out and seems fun is named Suz! ha. and my bunkmate is a really cute girl from South Africa. i got unpacked and have learned a little about the ship...we have more freedom than I expected. I will find out my shift schedule and then we are free to go off the ship as we please if we have a partner. Safety is a big thing here...there are no safe beaches and the dock is the only safe zone but relatively safe if youre with someone. they have someone on guard all night and day looking for pirates and "swimmers" who are people who swim around the back of the ship to try to climb up and steal. But so far so good. This ship houses about 350 people! and new people come and go almost every day. That will be a blessing and challenge..it seems you have to be used to change constantly. But, there are always groups and activities going on and i want to sign up for as many as possible once I get my schedule! There are running groups three times a week, an aerobics class, french classes, groups that meet from every different country, groups that take trips to surrounding countries (pray i get to go on one!) groups that go to the orphanages (i really want to do this!), prayer meetings and bible studies, and groups that do psychological counseling stuff. Rene was telling us that because of all the war it has left people so psychologically damaged. uffda. so all in all im so excited to be here. I still have no idea what to expect in the hospital or anything. I also dont know who my friends will be as it seems all my roommates and I have very different schedules..they say they dont even see eachother that much! sad. so tdoay its a bit lonesome as i explore on my own. so pray for someone. God has been faithful thus far, i know He will do it again! pray for boldness to dive in here. The hospital is packed full and is booked solid thru the summer and they havent even had their second screening day. i guess for hte first screening day people came from countris all over to get an appt for surgery and we are soo busy. which is awesome! praise God. And a Norwegian engineer guy told me that I came at a good time because we will be sailing this weekend out to sea! He said this is the only time for the next couple months so im excited! well love youall, hope this doesnt bore you!! dont know how much ill get to email as its slow as honey here. ha. love to you all! praying for you...let me know specifics. your ang