Hi there. I have created this site so that you my friends, family and sponsors can keep in the loop during my year on the Anastasis - in Ghana and Liberia. I will update it as often as I am able, and hope that you can get the feel of life on board a volunteer hospital ship!

Monday, June 26, 2006

Prayer Requests

Hi there,

Just a request for all those praying people out there! Today - Monday 26 is screening day! In particular my home group - who meet tonight need to be aware that at the same time you start homegroup we will be just beginning to screen patients! Therefore - I would love it if you could help out with some staunch prayer:

1) That those who come to the screening will be those people that we can offer help to
2) That we have the strength and stamina to last the whole day seeing patients - many whom we will have to turn away.
3) That those who come to the screening will be witness to Gods love for them through us


Thanks guys - If you could also pray for an anaesthetist to come from August - that would be an added bonus!

Soph

Saturday, June 24, 2006

A Very Busy Week

Hi there. Not much has changed since I last posted - but Ill let you know I have been learning a lot about Ghana!! It was great to be in the town when they bet America 2-1 to qualify for the second round in the World Cup Soccer! Unfortunately Ghana meet Brazil in the next match - we will have to wait and see - luckily we have no Brazilians on board, so we can all support our host nation in unity!



We have been in the ward a bit more since I last posted - setting up the unit for next week. We begin screening on Monday - and expect about 5,000 people to come to be assessed. I will be working taking medical histories from the patients, working with the doctors and nurses to help decide who we will be able to help!

In the meantime - I met up with the other Kiwis on the ship for a NZ photo - Some of you may know these people - spot me in the shade, and my mate from WSCF Lisa Swan!




More from me when something exciting really does happen, Soph:)

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

I Have Finally Arrived!

Hello everyone,

Greetings from Tema, Ghana! It was a long and arduous flight to make it here - about 40 hours total - but was greeted at Accra by a friend from the ship, which made the arrival so much nicer!

It is hot and dusty - but trees and vegetation are plentiful. Ghana is soccer mad - with the defeat of the Czechs in the World Cup Match proving a great talking point!



The ship is larger than I thought - and looks great tied up here at the dock. I share my room with two others, and I have already met lots of great people - The head of Surgery Dr Gary Parker has been here for 19 years, and I had lunch today with people who had served on the Anastasis for 8 and 9 years! So you may not see me back as soon as expected.

Well thats all for now - Medical screening of prospective patients starts on Monday - and from there we will begin our surgeries and other outreach programmes including construction and water purification projects. IN the mean time I am attending hundreds of different briefings and orientations - so I am keeping busy! I will post some photos when I figure out how to use the computers here!!

Until then, Soph