Most missions have a team day so that we can have time together & "bond" before we will be working together in what can be a stressful situation where we need to work well together & depend on one another. Here in Morocco they offered us 2 options - because this team is so large & because not everyone would want to get up at 5 am & go on a 3 hour bus ride - but 42 of us did!!! We went to Chefchaouen - "The Blue City" there are a few different stories on how the buildings were originally painted blue - I'm not sure which is accurate. But they have definitely increased their tourism by keeping it blue!!! And it is Beautiful!!! It's a town on a hill - I didn't realize there were so many mountains in Morocco & it is picture perfect. We had to be in the lobby by 5:45 so woke up ay 5:15 & left at 6 & got there about 9 a.m. The town was just "waking up" at that time & we walked all thru the town pathways on cobble & rock streets & heard a bit abut it. That was our first hour & then we were on our own til 2 so we all just wandered thru the town & even though it was small their medina was just as much a maze at times. There was a dear old woman who basically grabbed the 4 of us walking together & for 5 diram (5 cents) she put all of the traditional clothing on us & then allowed us to take a photo - we hadn't planned on it but it was fun & we all paid her more that 5 diram &she kissed us all on the cheek - because we essentially gave her $1 American...things like that really bring perspective to how little money people in other countries live on...in the stated people want $10 to take a photo with a fake movie start etc & here this sweet woman wanted 5 cents. Always HUMBLING.
The shops had leather & brass & silver & soap & argean oil & spices, LOTS of olives, a variety of traditional blankets & clothing & then all the "tourist souvenirs" We had fun roaming thru all the little side alleys looking at all the different hues of blue & the craftsmanship on the houses -the doors the woodwork & iron work. We found a nice café for lunch & I had couscous which I guess they traditionally only make in Morocco on Fridays? but I guess as a "tourist spot" this restaurant has it on the menu every day - it was YUMMY!!!
I had slept most of the ride there & it was still dark most of the way but on the ride back you could see the more humble & impoverished areas different from downtown Tangier where we are at. I can imaging that these types of areas are the places that many of our patients have traveled from. Small cement houses - some better constructed that others, sheep, goats & chickens roaming on the sides of the roads. People on the roads selling fruits & vegetables.
I mostly wandered with Brittney & the 2 high school students on this mission & their sponsor Pete & a local Illam who wanted to make sure we were getting fair prices on what we bought & then carried our bags for us! He was so nice!
While I was wandering with the girls Abigail told me a sweet story. I had been out with them for maybe 30 min during the 1st day of screening before we got patients to the Labwork station - I love that opportunity. Several parents as we were playing with the kids or after would come & pat our shoulders & say something in Arabic that we had no idea what it was but they seemed fine that we were playing with the kids so we didn't worry about it. I guess later when it happened again after I had left & a local volunteer was there the parents were patting us to show appreciation & what they were saying was thanking us for playing with their children & making them laugh & showing them love as they said they don't often get that....WOW...really all we need to do to #light the world is give love & kindness which so many people do everyday without thought of the powerful impact it may be having on others Just another "moment" that helps me to "re-center" love & give more freely & know that it doesn't take much to make a difference :) just an open heart <3
We got back to the hotel at 6 & had to be at our Pre Surgery Meeting at 6:45 - Brittany & I crashed on our beds for 30 min - out cold!!! We went to the mtg & I was REALLY struggling to stay awake...it was all the typical pre-surgery important info but I was seriously nodding off!!! My 5 am wake up was hitting me hard. We were told that there are 184 children on the surgery schedule for the week - so it is going to be a BUSY, LONG WEEK & I am anticipating long days/nights...BUT this is what I signed up for, this is why I am here to do - give with my talents, heart, mind & all that I have!!!
There was a "team dinner" after the meeting - which was 9 pm & I asked to be excused. I wanted to catch up my blog, shower, get packed for tomorrow - my scrubs & nursing supplies, lunch/snacks, dolls & stuff for the kids - plus I was tired. It's 11:20 pm & Brittney just got back & said I made a good decision 0 it was in a large home (supposedly the mayors) but there was no Mayor there, it was dark, cold & moist with mold growing & less than desirable bathrooms & dinner served at 10 pm - I sort of new that it would be a long night I wasn't up for & I need to bring & be on my "A GAME" tomorrow for the 1st day of 40 surgeries...feeling grateful I decided to have a quiet few hours in my room. After tonight I will just see Brittney in passing since she is on nights...I am hopeful she will have a goo 1st mission!
Time for bed - I need to be up at 5:45 & eat a quick breakfast at 6:15 before we leave for the hospital at 7. The last 2 days of doing some "sightseeing" have really been a bonus I rarely get on missions so I am really grateful for that but tomorrow I know we will start changing lives for both the children & their families & that is a gift that as a team we give these precious brothers & sisters of ours for we are all children of God & we are here as an extension of Him using our hands & gifts & talents to do His work. I am SO SO BLESSED to be here & truly feel so supported by so many & that will sustain me this week - so all prayers & positivity welcome as the tough stuff begins!
The shops had leather & brass & silver & soap & argean oil & spices, LOTS of olives, a variety of traditional blankets & clothing & then all the "tourist souvenirs" We had fun roaming thru all the little side alleys looking at all the different hues of blue & the craftsmanship on the houses -the doors the woodwork & iron work. We found a nice café for lunch & I had couscous which I guess they traditionally only make in Morocco on Fridays? but I guess as a "tourist spot" this restaurant has it on the menu every day - it was YUMMY!!!
I had slept most of the ride there & it was still dark most of the way but on the ride back you could see the more humble & impoverished areas different from downtown Tangier where we are at. I can imaging that these types of areas are the places that many of our patients have traveled from. Small cement houses - some better constructed that others, sheep, goats & chickens roaming on the sides of the roads. People on the roads selling fruits & vegetables.
I mostly wandered with Brittney & the 2 high school students on this mission & their sponsor Pete & a local Illam who wanted to make sure we were getting fair prices on what we bought & then carried our bags for us! He was so nice!
While I was wandering with the girls Abigail told me a sweet story. I had been out with them for maybe 30 min during the 1st day of screening before we got patients to the Labwork station - I love that opportunity. Several parents as we were playing with the kids or after would come & pat our shoulders & say something in Arabic that we had no idea what it was but they seemed fine that we were playing with the kids so we didn't worry about it. I guess later when it happened again after I had left & a local volunteer was there the parents were patting us to show appreciation & what they were saying was thanking us for playing with their children & making them laugh & showing them love as they said they don't often get that....WOW...really all we need to do to #light the world is give love & kindness which so many people do everyday without thought of the powerful impact it may be having on others Just another "moment" that helps me to "re-center" love & give more freely & know that it doesn't take much to make a difference :) just an open heart <3
We got back to the hotel at 6 & had to be at our Pre Surgery Meeting at 6:45 - Brittany & I crashed on our beds for 30 min - out cold!!! We went to the mtg & I was REALLY struggling to stay awake...it was all the typical pre-surgery important info but I was seriously nodding off!!! My 5 am wake up was hitting me hard. We were told that there are 184 children on the surgery schedule for the week - so it is going to be a BUSY, LONG WEEK & I am anticipating long days/nights...BUT this is what I signed up for, this is why I am here to do - give with my talents, heart, mind & all that I have!!!
There was a "team dinner" after the meeting - which was 9 pm & I asked to be excused. I wanted to catch up my blog, shower, get packed for tomorrow - my scrubs & nursing supplies, lunch/snacks, dolls & stuff for the kids - plus I was tired. It's 11:20 pm & Brittney just got back & said I made a good decision 0 it was in a large home (supposedly the mayors) but there was no Mayor there, it was dark, cold & moist with mold growing & less than desirable bathrooms & dinner served at 10 pm - I sort of new that it would be a long night I wasn't up for & I need to bring & be on my "A GAME" tomorrow for the 1st day of 40 surgeries...feeling grateful I decided to have a quiet few hours in my room. After tonight I will just see Brittney in passing since she is on nights...I am hopeful she will have a goo 1st mission!
Time for bed - I need to be up at 5:45 & eat a quick breakfast at 6:15 before we leave for the hospital at 7. The last 2 days of doing some "sightseeing" have really been a bonus I rarely get on missions so I am really grateful for that but tomorrow I know we will start changing lives for both the children & their families & that is a gift that as a team we give these precious brothers & sisters of ours for we are all children of God & we are here as an extension of Him using our hands & gifts & talents to do His work. I am SO SO BLESSED to be here & truly feel so supported by so many & that will sustain me this week - so all prayers & positivity welcome as the tough stuff begins!
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