Mailing address

Desiree Cabot
Mercy Ships
M/V Africa Mercy
HCS Department
PO Box 2020, Lindale,TX
75771-2020, USA

Grace and other thoughts...

Yesterday was the day for Ward Devotions when a bunch of the nurses get together and talk a little about the Bible/God, ect. So my room mate was leading the discussion and she choose to talk about Grace.

I thought it was so good to hear again. She asked what grace was-That was an easy answer to me-God giving us what we do not deserve. The best example of Grace is when Jesus took the punishment for our sins on himself and died in our place on the cross, giving us the right to come to God as if we have never sinned, allowing us to come to God as his children. So why is it so hard to live by grace? To really trust that God is going to be all that we lack and accept us just as we are. We tend to try to work our way to God, to earn our way to heaven, to earn approval from other people. I know I can sometimes judge people or think in my mind, 'well at least I'm not like them.' -thats wrong, and its not Grace.

One answer we came up with was that, in order to live free of trying desperately to do and be what we cannot do and be on our own, we have to really trust God. We have to give up control. And who doesn't like to be in control? In order to live by grace, there is a point when we say, no it is not me. I tried but I was found wanting... I wished that my heart was good, but i found that my heart really was decietful. And despite that, a God who is Good, and Just, choose to pay a great price for our Redemtion, and through Jesus, wants us to give other people grace too. Not to impress other christians, not to be spiritual, but to Love God back and to take the things he gives to us that we do not deserve. Forgiveness, when we might have sinned on purpose. Righteousness, when we deliberately went against god. Patience, when we took a long time to let God work. Hope, when we reach the end of ourselves.

I am on night shifts this week for 3 days, and I am enjoying the double bed in the sleeping cabin! I have a post-op ortho patient that makes me feel right at home. He had a BKA (Below the knee amputation), after he was in a bad car accident and his foot did not heal. So, being the ortho nurse that I am pushed IV antiemetics, antibiotics and pain meds all night :)

Let me see if I have any great stories... Well ok, the other day I went for a walk with a friend, and walking down the street, a motorcycle drives past with 2 men and a bleating Goat on the back. The goat was practically upside down, and was probably going to be dinner, but he was bleating so loud. It was funny, poor goat. I also got a tour of a fish importing company- who import fish from spain, yeah it was weird. The guys showed us "The real thing"-frozen and dead in the cooler.

This coming weekend I have a 4 day weekend, and not sure what I will do- maybe go camping on the beach, maybe go to an orphanage or something.

I don't know if you've ever had the same feelings as me, at one time or another, but there are times I think to myself, "How did I end up here?" I feel so plain and ordinary and see all these really talented people who love God. The speaker at church tonight was reminding me of how sometimes we can feel that way, and I thought, yes- here I am again.

I have so much growing to do. Learning to trust God, to trust people, to obey God. To give up my wants, my selfishness. My desire to please people. Sometimes I don't want to let go. But then I look at Jesus, and I am convinced again that it is love that will always take to me to the place of real change in my life. Gods love. His awesome, relentless, jealous Love! And He gives grace where I need it.

I worked this weekend on B ward, the ward with the most little kids, and yes, they are adorable, but I realized I do not have as much patience as I previously thought. Some of these energetic kids have been couped up on a hospital ship a little too long, if you know what I mean. The toddlers are getting bored with the toys... Some of my teacher friends need to come and entertain them with creative crafts. :)

I will be working nights for the next 3 days. We will be doing a lot of surgeries this week. If you would, please pray that all will go well, patients will heal quickly and we would be able to encourage each one. And that God will have his way in me.

I am craving Bubble Tea... Peach black with passion fruit jelly and tapioca!

Thank you for reading my blog today! :)

Song Lyrics that encouraged me:

Cannot Hide my Love (don't know who its by)

Holy Spirit
I need your touch,
More than ever before,
O Jesus, I need your love
And I'm desperate for more

When I feel your presence all around me
When I feel your arms as they surround me

I cannot hide my love
I cannot hide my love
My feet will have to dance
I cannot hide my love
I cannot hide my love
My heart will have to sing

I am so in love with
I am so in love with
I am so in love with
You my Lord, my God

Another patient, and pictures of the dress ceremony... I am in the back left, under a cute child.

Baby Mercy

Picture of baby Mercy in her laundry basket crib, and picture with mom and the nurse who delivered the baby.

Pictures of some of my patients

VVF patients leaving

Today was the last dress ceremony, and the last 5 VVF patients are leaving today. It was so cool to be able to take care of them and befriend them while they were here. It was an experience I will not forget and I pray the women will not forget what God has done for them. I hope and pray they each feel loved. I will probably never see them again, and in a way I am sad and hope they will not forget me, but at the same time, I can see that all that God is doing for them is not about me, but about God. He loves each one so much and see's their suffering. (The women who left today are still leaking some urine).

I am so impressed with how well everyone on Mercy Ships works together, each one with their own job to do. People here do not try to push to the front and be the hero- but they point to God who gives them strength. It is a reminder to me not to be prideful, but to be who God made me to be, and to give him the credit when what I am doing succeeds. The woman who does a lot of counseling and working with these ladies everyday is sooo cool. She is always reminding the women about the spiritual and emotional aspects of their lives, and she is a strong example of a woman of God! The VVF coordinator is so passionate about these woman, its cool. I really like doing women's health. And there is such a great need for this kind of medical care in the developing world. Its been great these past few weeks!

The kids are cute too. We had a 4 year old come in for a hernia repair. When he first was admitted with his mom, he was sitting on the bed crying. I asked what was wrong and he said he wanted to go home to his papa. After an hour or so he stopped crying and looked petrified. By the next day, he was smiling and playing and running around, and hadn't even had surgery yet. So Cute!

A sad thing happened last evening. We had a 6 week old baby come in this week with a large abdominal hernia with incarcerated bowl. He was only 3 pounds, and had a healthy twin. By the time he was admitted he was a pretty sick little guy. The surgeons on board this week are doing hernia repairs so they thought if he could go to surgery he might have a chance, but last night he died. He was too sick to even take to surgery. I am glad I am not a PICU nurse- I think it was probably most difficult on them.

Today I took the fabric I bought at the market last week to the tailor's. I think it is much more creative than going and buying a purse in the states! I'm having one made :) And looking forward to more fabric shopping someday soon, so I can get a skirt to wear to church. :)


Yesterday I had the day off, and went to ward church (the hospital church for patients) and they had a dress ceremony. My patient who I talked about earlier has no more fistula and was also wearing a new dress and gave her testimony! Praise God!

For my sunday afternoon, I needed some down time. So I sat by the pool on the ship and read my book. It was very refreshing!

A few of the nurses and I are getting together to pray tonight. So that should be cool.

The rain stopped this afternoon and we went to the beach! It was fun swimming and the day was perfect once we got there, that is of course until the down pour. It is so much fun to ride in the land rovers driving through all the puddles, and of course traffic! Seems like driving at home will be boring!! Later we went to a nice restaurant for dinner, and it was so good! To top it off they had a Bollywood movie playing, and english music playing. It felt a little like home! :)

I do miss being around old friends though. Love you all!

1 Cor 1: 25-31 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

I forgot to put in some excitement on the ship, it happened a few days ago during the night (not a night I was working), but one of the little boys that had surgery had his mom staying with him, she was 8 months pregnant. Her water broke during the night and she popped out a little girl, with the help of a midwife who is here to work on the ward. The mom named her baby Mercy! She was about 4 pounds. AW!

I had plans to go to the beach, its my roommates birthday today, but its pouring rain right now.

The past 2 days, on the VVF ward, it has been emotionally up and down. I had a patient who started leaking some urine, which she had not been doing the past week after surgery. She got very emotional and was looking to me to do something! What can I do!? So We prayed, and one of the translators/disciplers who is liberian came and talked to her and calmed her down, telling her to pray and trust God. Yesterday, she was doing better and all evening had no leaking at all-praise God! What is impossible with man is possible for God!

I'm sorry I haven't updated in a few days, I've been busy and not sure what to blog about.

Monday I rested, Tuesday, my roommate and I caught a taxi to the market place and went shopping for different fabric to take to the tailors to make a shirt/skirt/purse. It was not as overwhelming as I thought it could be! Although some vendors are more persistant than others. I really like fabric shopping! Its so weird to me to come over a hill and see buildings that were destroyed by a bomb. Even though the war is over, you can still see some of the devastation. Just being here and seeing how much of the world lives with dirt streets and no sewage and water in little baggies on the street to drink is a whole experience in itself. I feel so much more thankful for what I have.

Tuesday night I watched a video of how Liberia was founded and some of the events leading up to the civil war. I was suprised to see how big a role America had or at least they had a lot of communication with America during the pre-war time. It was pretty violent and I'm not sure if I can watch the video about the war. It makes me so sad to see the pain that these people went through. To think that some of my patients were affected or definately had family members affected... God is not suprised by the evils of the world, but I am sometimes!

It reminds me of the verse in Matthew where God says in the last days, the love of many will grow cold... and it also reminds me that God is a consuming fire, and can melt the coldness of any heart. He did not go to the cross for nothing, but to save humanity.

I was on the VVF ward again yesterday and loving it! One of my patients gave me a bracelet she made on the ward. It was nice! Later I found out she told my roommate she was making it for her :) Sunday there is a dress ceremony, where the women who are dry(no longer leaking urine, successful surgery) get new dresses and say a few words about the change. There is lots of music and dancing. I can't wait!!

Tuesday morning I went to a dress ceremony and only one of my patients was in it. But it was still so touching! One woman started crying, saying she never believed she would be dry, and that she gives praise to God. Another woman said she lived far away and had to travel alone to the ship. Her family told her not to go but to stay home with them, since she didn't know anyone who lived around the ship. But she said, "If I go, God will be with me, He will take care of me". Now she is not leaking anymore and can return and tell her family God was with her! Then, at the dress ceremony the counselor shares a short message from the bible, telling the women that God loves them, that we would never force or push them to turn to God, but that we want to present the truth to them as well as provide medical care. Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Some of the younger women must have only been teenagers or children during the war.

I also learned some things about the culture in a class I went to. Cold climate cultures vs. Hot Climate Cultures...

Cold: individualisitic, values independence, correct accurate information, time and effectiveness, getting to the point, not wasting peoples time, spending time alone, task oriented, privacy

Hot: values interpersonal relationships over time and tasks, leans toward "feel good" information in coversation even if not 100% accurate, must have relationship established to do buisness, community oriented, spending time alone is not desirable.

So that explains a lot!

A glimpse of the nursing ward- 2am

Hi-O :)

I am here on the ward, its 2am and I'm on my last of 4 night shifts. All my patients are sleeping. I am still loving being here, yes, even in the middle of the night. Its amazing how much Grace God pours out into our lives when he calls us to something. I have always had such a hard time sleeping during the day, but I have been sleeping fairly well! Praise God!



I have been working with the ladies who have had birth trauma injuries. It happens when the baby gets stuck in the birth canal and the woman has no access to medical care. The labor goes on for days and usually the woman finally delivers a dead baby. Then she leaks urine or sometimes stool (called a Vesico-Vaginal Fistula or VVF) because the pressure of the child caused damage to her organs. They are usually then isolated from society due to their smell and leakage. Because of the surgeries, many women become dry again and no longer leak.

I was a little intimidated by the VVF ward because, well, I am an orthopedic nurse. People told me that the ladies were "So special", and now I see they are so right! It is beautiful to see them laughing together, and it is a privaledge to watch their transformation. It is also sad when they keep leaking. I'm so glad I had a few days here with these ladies, as the VVF surgeries are done for the time being. I can't wait for the " Dress Ceremony" where the ladies who have had successful surgeries get a new dress and get to celebrate.

I have been praying that God will use these opportunities to the fullest as the women are here. That they would be so blessed spiritually. There has been some previous spiritual warfare in the ward. If you would, pray that all the plans the enemy has against each one would come crashing down. That not only will they be healed physically but they would see the Love god has for them personally. And that the living God will show up in his amazing Love to set people free in every way.

I have noticed a huge difference as far as nursing care. In america, as a nurse, I hear about "relationship based care" but I do not see it. Because relationships take time. Here, we learn each others names. I think Americans could learn so much by just slowing down.

Anyways, I will stop here for now. I am not sure if this will all be coherant since its the middle of the night. :)

More pictures

For a few more pictures, use the link http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2145796&l=677b1&id=8110161

A Liberian Day

Its strange not having a long to-do list on my day off. Somehow the days at home seem so full and rushed. There is always something I should be doing. But today, I had a day off, and no places I HAD to go, and no places I SHOULD go out of duty or need. (Well, ok I did have a meeting at 6pm but I missed it anyway, which I'll get to later. ) It was nice to just sit down and talk to people, get to know them rather than going to "do" something. It was also nice to be able to spend some time praying. Praying for the patient I had last night that spiked a temperature and might have an infection. Praying for the night shifts I have coming up. Praying that I will use the opportunities God has given me to love these people and to be sincere. Thanking God for the opportunity to be here in Liberia, working on the Africa Mercy. For all the little things, too.

So two of my friends and I went for a walk in Monrovia today. I love to leave the ship and be able to see and be a part of Liberia itself. To shop at the market, and just be out with the people. Its such a neat opportunity to get a little more comfortable with what its like to live in a developing country. It makes me thankful for a lot of things I haven't thought much about. Like sewer covers and grates (as opposed to holes in the sidewalk), sewage systems, garbage disposal, not standing out like a sore thumb because I'm white and no one else is. This time on our walk we saw a herd of goats... last time it was a herd of cattle. The little kids are cute and wave at us.
Many people know we are from MercyShips and they say thank you. Many of the boys want to marry us.

The adventurous part of our walk is when we got a little lost. But we eventually found our way back with only a few minutes to spare before we missed dinner. I have to say I was extra glad to get back on the ship! Thats why I missed my meeting. Probably next time we will bring a cell phone with us! :) I guess you live and learn.

A good first weekend

So this past weekend, I went to the Center for Aged, Orphaned and Abandoned Children, about 65 kids. We played with them, did relay races, colored and I painted some of their finger nails and toe nails. It was fun. Then I went to the market and took a 20 minute walk in Liberia.

On Sunday I went to a pentacostal Liberian church. I might try another church next time, but it was a good experience. Sunday afternoon I went to the beach with a few people and it was beautiful. I took a long walk along the beach, it was very nice!

Sunday night, we had a Weslyan Liberian pastor come and share a message. He was very cool. He goes out weekly into villages and show's people the Jesus Film. He told us about this one time they drove out to this village and got everything set up and people came to watch the movie about who Jesus was, and it started raining. But they kept showing the film, and people stayed to watch it. Then the generator kept running out of gas and seemed to be leaking gas. So they were running around buying gas to refill the generator so they could continue the movie. They did eventually finish the movie and some people decided to follow Christ after that. But later when they took the generator home, it was totally fine and not leaking and has not leaked since.

I hope sometime to go out with them to a village when they show the film.

Here is an quote from Charles Spurgeon's evening devotional

"The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according tothe working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when heraised him from the dead." - Ephesians 1:19, 20
In the resurrection of Christ, as in our salvation, there was put forth nothing short of a divine power. What shall we say of those who think that conversion is wrought by the free will of man, and is due to his own betterness of disposition? When we shall see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners of their ownfree will turning to Christ. It is not the word preached, nor the wordread in itself; all quickening power proceeds from the Holy Ghost. This power was irresistible. All the soldiers and the high priests could notkeep the body of Christ in the tomb; Death himself could not hold Jesus inhis bonds: even thus irresistible is the power put forth in the believerwhen he is raised to newness of life. No sin, no corruption, no devils inhell nor sinners upon earth, can stay the hand of God's grace when itintends to convert a man. If God omnipotently says, "Thou shalt," manshall not say, "I will not." Observe that the power which raised Christ from the dead was glorious. It reflected honour upon God and wrought dismay in the hosts of evil. So there is great glory to God in the conversion of every sinner. It was everlasting power. "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." So we,being raised from the dead, go not back to our dead works nor to our old corruptions, but we live unto God. "Because he lives we live also." "For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God." "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Lastly, in the text mark the union of the new life to Jesus.The same power which raised the Head works life in the members.What a blessing to be quickened together with Christ!

Hi! To see a few pictures from my trip to the orphanage, go to this link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2145050&l=a6fd1&id=8110161

Thankful to God!

Well, this week has been so good considering it was my first week in Africa.

I have worked on the ward for 2 days now taking my own patients, and I got to keep the patients I had when I was training, it was encouraging! Its nice to start out with a few good days!! I love that you can build relationships with the patients! They are so different from American patients in a good way. They are very thankful, and I'm glad I can get to know them as individuals. I haven't had any patients yell at me, or patient family members.

Its neat to me to be able to have a community atmosphere, where the patients can interact. And it helps me to be able to see everyone at once... not like in the US when I sometimes don't see a patient for a few hours because I'm running around. Here everyone's in the same room, its easy to keep a closer eye on them.

The doctors are amazingly nice! They are so helpful and listen and teach! Maybe the word is sincere! The other nurses here are amazing! They are helpful and nice and I think it's so cool that at the beginning and end of our shift we can pray together, and give all that we do into God's hands. I'd love to tell you some stories, but I want to also preserve the dignity of each person. So when I come across one I can share, I will post it! Today, I did have a cute 9 month old with a cleft lip repair who kept smiling at me! He is adorable!

I am so grateful to God, who is just so gracious and patient with me.

Here is some Liberian English I've learned:

Liberian English=English
Fine-O=Fine
Plenty Plenty=a lot
Small Small=a little bit
Hi-O=Hi
Bye-O=bye
Toilet=poop

Address

Here is my address on the ship where I can recieve letters, please do not send packages because it is expensive for me to recieve. Thank you!

Desiree Cabot
Mercy Ships
M/V Africa Mercy
HCS Department
PO Box 2020, Lindale,
TX 75771-2020, USA

Yey! My Laptop is working! That means pictures should be coming soon!

I'm having a relaxing day as my orientation was short today. I took a detailed tour of the wards, where different patients are recovering. It seems neat. Very different charting, and patient care.


For example, a nurse told me the other day they found a patient putting a bedpan under another patient. That would never happen in the US. They are all on the ward together and seem to have a good sense of community.

Then I was able to pay my crew fee's today, and I got another sweatshirt to keep me warm. Believe it or not, I am cold (due to the airconditioning). But I'm not complaining, I am happy in my hoodie :)

I need to thank God for being with me and being so good to me these past few days. I'm so thankful that God didn't leave me in my sin, but he revealed himself to me. It's so good to trust God for all I need, I want to be in that place of trusting Him much more often. For all the things I have to do. In John 15 in the Bible it talks about how we are the branch and God is the vine. I love that. What does a vine do? Provide nurtrients, water, supports the branch, provides stability, direction, and removes waste. What does the branch do? Just remains connected to the vine and then it just produces fruit. I think it means to live surrendered to God.

Basically I want to recieve from God and allow Him to take those things in me that are not good, and to fill me with His love. And through all that he provides, I can do whatever I need to do. Not by my own strenth or energy but by Him working in me.

Thats good because I have to work 4 night shifts next weekend. And I'm going to need God to supply me with the ability, the rest, and the health to do it. Because you all who know me know that I don't do to well working nights. A good thing is that my cabin has no windows and It'll be nice and dark.

Church last night here on the ship was really good!! I loved all the worship songs we sung, and the message really encouraged me. It was taken from Nehemiah chapter 9, it talks about all the attributes of God. Who the Bible says he is... and it was good to remember that God is not just a crutch but He is living, active, knows all and is above all.

Pictures are coming soon. By the way, thanks for all the comments, and no, unfortunately I did not try any belgian waffles. Sorry!!!