Day 118 or Screening Day

In the past we've done one or two big screening. Because of the elections, we've changed that this time, with many smaller screenings with any where from one to six hundred people.

I signed up for this past Thurday. My time began on Wensday night, when I managed to fall alseep at one, only to wake up at two. Why, I have no idea. All I know is that I layed in bed till four, when I decided that was rediculal. I headed upstairs and talked to Heather, the receptionist and friend, till six. Got ready and at seven, left for my screening!

We drove for about twenty minutes till we reached Ba, the location for our screening. At seven, there was a line as long as the gate. We entered the compartment to find about twenty or so people inside who had been waiting to be seen since the night previous. Despite the fact that they couldn't have been comfertible on the cement ground, I still recived many smiles.

We were all assigned jobs, with mine being one of the three people who excorted the people either to the Data room when they were expected or the exit gate, when we couldn't help them. It amazed me how something as simple as the direction in which I walked affected how I felt. To walk with someone towards Data Entry was wonderful, and I hoped the best. But to walk towards the gate was hard and unfortanty common. It amazed me time and time again how these people would take the news that couldn't be helped. Was it bravery and courage that let them stand tall, or had they just become numb to the pain?

The people stood outside the gate where they were let in, fifteen potental paitents at a time, with fifteen more next to the gate waiting to be seen. In total we screened somewhere around two to three hundred people, with around five hundred people in lines, counting the caregivers.

To see all these people, each dealing with their own struggle. Bow legs, tumors, burns, anything, they wished for help. All dressed in their best, hoping that the doctors from a ship could help them.

People waited on the side of the gate, and as I walked those who were unable to be helped, Dulce would sweep in, like a giver of mercy, asking if they would like prayer. Many excepted, a few did not.

But there were those who's lives might be changed, who we can make a difference for, by the grace of God. And it is those for whom we are here for. The reason this ship is here is for those people who stand outside the gate, who wait all night, for the chance to be healed.

Day 104 or Saying Goodbye...

First of all, may I say that I am always amazed at how fast time flies... It seemed like I updated just yesterday!

This has been a hard week. First, with saying goodbye to Daniel. Daniel is one of the guys who works on my dinning room team. While we're not saying goodbye forever, he is transferring departments, which means that he will no longer be there to make the dining room more fun...

So what did we do to celebrate his last day? Well.. We had a lot of fun!
For those of you who don't know, it a dining room tradition, that when someone is working their last day of work, they are sprayed with the hose. He knew that. We told him. His response? ''It's my last day, so I'm going to spray you!'' Which he did... point blank range. Needless to say, my doubts that he wasn't going to do it were... quenched. Or should I say drenched?

I then decided to get him back. While picking up utensils to wash, I notice one covered in yogurt. Perfect. With great deliberation, I wiped the yogurt on his arm. I was so focused on the yogurt, that I failed to notice what he was doing. With out flinching, he raised the running hose and sprayed me, once again, point blank.

To top off the morning, we then discovered a drain monster! There is a metal grate about the size of a dinner plate under the sink covering a drain and apparently, a drain monster! Daniel was the one to discover it. He drained the above sink, apparently, to the dislike of the monster, who then pro ceded to grumble and growl. Then he attempted to actually come out! Water came out of the drain and the grate rose and fell as he pushed against the tube, wishing to come out. Rachael though, knew what to do, quickly going to reception to write up a work form and alerting the drain monster's worst enemy! The plumber!

The dinner that night proceed much like that morning. We did run out of food, drinks, dishes, cups and silverware, but still managed to keep on running! Stressful, but we manged to get everyone fed and happy! The clean up time involved everyone getting sprayed at one point or another, a major water fight, a butter fight and a marmite tangle. For those of you who don't know what marmite is, it is a British thing, a yeast extract to be exact. And in my opinion, smells like black death. Which means, I then, or more exactly, my arms, smelled like black death.

So in the end, dining room is hard, stressful, rewarding, tiring, difficult, challenging, and sometimes, a whole lot of fun.


Not only did I have to say goodbye to a good worker, but tonight was the going away party of a good roommate. Kaylee will be going back home tommorrow. I'm sad to see her go, but I'm glad that she gets to start in this new chapter of her life, grad school! 4418 will not be the same without her. Her sense of humor that never ceases to amuse all of us. I will also say that I have never seen someone, especially an American, who can dance like an African the way she can! You go, Kaylee!

We celebrated her last night in the crew galley, door closed, music blaring, cake baking and a dozen girls dancing and singing along with the music. Things won't be the same with out her, but I know that she'll be happy. We'll miss you Kaylee, have fun on your new adventure!


Post Note:
For those of you who were courious, yes, Rachael did actually write 'We have a drain monster' on the work sheet.