It takes a village...

There are many of us that come to the Africa Mercy as short term staff bringing an eclectic package of skills and abilities. This week there were staff representing 30 countries on board. We offer what we can and work alongside some of the most gifted missionary surgeons on the globe. This week I have had the opportunity to spend time with Steve Arrowsmith as we shared stories int othe early hours of the morning at the bedside of one of his patients that had dramtically deteriorated after a very simple procedure. While waiting for lab and xray results he shared some of his stories as a missionary surgeon with his young family in Nigeria and Ethiopia. It has not been an "easy" assignment. While on assignment they have survived a Lassa Fever epidemic; have been held hostage; suffered malaria infections; and significant HIV exposure. And yet, he is convinced that he has the "Best Job in the World".

Mothers Day the NY Times ran an article on their work. I tried to paste the article but it is probably better to just send the link and you can read it properly formatted. http://worldwidefistulafund.org/in-the-news/ 

To understand the scope of this condition, PBS presented a remarkable video highlighting several Ethiopian women with VVF and its imapct on their lives. Below are links to the video at both PBS and YouTube. 

http://video.pbs.org/video/980049841/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w-fOmovijc

This week each surgical team is led by surgeons, remarkable not only for their surgical skills but for their passion and love for patients cast aside by their communities. I feel very humbled to work as a part of their teams, privileged to step into the story of what God is doing in West Africa.