Why we do what we do

This is the blog that I have been waiting to write for a long time, ever since I knew I was coming to west africa with Mercy ships. But now it's here....I realise just how difficult it's going to be to explain how amazing, moving, unbelievable, awesome and...well....you get the idea!

Last week, the hospital began to run its screening days at a number of different sites across Lome, to sift through the huge numbers of people in order to pin point those who the surgeons can work on. The first 7 days, which included the dental and eye clinics, saw well over 4000 people turn up - all of whom had need of medical care. We will be running these screenings for another 10 weeks.

How can I begin to explain the atmosphere at these places. The sense of excitement, the nervous rush of adrenaline, the huge crowds moving and swaying as one as they bunch together, all desperate to get into the lines to be seen by one of the nurses. The heat, the smell, the dust, the noise - the colour! I have had the privilege to go and help at 4 of the screening days so far, and I will never forget them. Waking up at 4 or 5 a.m, clambering into one of the land rovers and making our way down the pot holed roads. Getting ever closer to the sites and seeing the numbers of people increasing constantly. Pulling round that last corner and seeing a line of people stretching as far down the road as you can see. Pulling into the compounds and being in complete amazement at the hundreds of people who are already standing waiting.

These are the moments that I will never forget. These are the moments that help to put things into perspective. These are the moments that motivate and challenge.

In these moments of need and desperation, in the face of such despair and hopelessness, life becomes much more simple.

How good we look in what we wear all of a sudden does not matter. How important what other people think of us fades into insignificance. Those small irritants get forgotten and we become acutely aware of how blessed and fortunate we really are. In these moments, the words of Jesus become alive as I run them through my mind;

"I have come that you may have life to the full", "Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me", "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

These are a tiny tiny tiny number of people who's lives will be changed for ever. These are the people for whom we are here. These are the forgotten poor.

Thank you thank you thank you for your support. I am blessed and privileged to be here.