Day four Mercy Ship. Priceless

A very early 4am start to travel to the most remote eye assessment place. A bit of a rocky start but things went very well. There were only about 1000 there to get assessed. The team is flat out amazing and I witnessed a level of patience and peace the passes all understanding. Yet again. The high today was seeing a man in the line and very clearly hearing the call to talk to him. He very humbly whispered to me that he had no eye problems but had a very bad hernia and gave me a quick peak. I knew I had to find a way to get him help but not draw attention or the masses around would surge to get help for ailments that were not eye related. I put my hands on his shoulders and whispered back to him. Brother today we are going to check your eyes. He understood what I meant and waited hours in Line out of pure faith I would get him past the yes or no treatment check point before the gate. When he got to that point the assessor flashes his light into his eyes and I leaned in to say please let this one pass for me. He was admitted. thank you for this grace this moment this amazing place. Thank you for the opportunity to help to heal to love a stranger now a friend. Thank you for the wind that guided us past the guards and gates and checks. Thank you for undeniable courage to fit just one more and to the trust on a frail wire of soo many needs. Against this high was the darkest sorrow of a youth maybe 14 years abandoned in the line only to be rejected because we just can't fix blindness and there I took his hand to lead him away looking frantically for his caregiver to pop out and then realizing there was no one. As I weeped I lead him to a bench where he sat knowing I too would leave him. Nothing but a prayer in a language he couldn't understand that I said in earnest Clutching his hands slowly backed away in the rain and chaos.

Day three Mercy Ships

A very early start today but everyone here gets up early with the call to prayer. It's a great wake up call and prompt to spend some time in silent reflection. We got on the road and went straight to the site for an eye screening. That's when the good people show up to get their eyes checked. It was a real surprise to see the need with some 4000 people there to get assessed. The high point for me was when I got part of the line singing to relive the anxiety and frustration of a long wait. I had to fight back the tears of joy at just how fast they jumped in to Sing and it all just started with me humming Amen amen amen. The low point for me was watching a very well put together women quietly leave the back of the line after hours of waiting in the rain and heat. So proud and wonderful yet so quietly and deeply disappointed clutching her elbows she walked away as if to say no one found me. I paused and wondered how many times she's tried and given up and wished I could do more but knowing I can't. So I just started humming amen amen amen

Day two mercy ship

We worked in the eye clinic today and checked in 100 or so people. The security and translates were phenomenal. The highlight of the day was being mid stride inside a crowded clinic with no windows and all sorts of cool equipment when a staff comes in to tell us all the power will go out in a few minutes leaving us all in pitch black. I stood there waiting for the moment and then it happened and it was as if the pause button was pressed on an elaborate ball room dance. We all just froze and waited ironically we were all blind together. Once they filled up the generator it all came back to life again as if to exhale and then pick up the serenade to the next step. This melted my heart because off all those wonderful people so patient but still they would have to wait longer to see clear or at all than just I had to for those few minutes. Thank you Africa for showing me that graceful patience and wonderful dance.

Day one the Mercy Ship

I put my camera away to start as this place just  cant be described with a picture.   We attended church this morning in a ward and sat on a hospital bed to sing and hear a good word.  This place is a riot of chaos and an assault to calm senses yet after moments in the street u feel like you'll never get enough of  this place.   The love in every power failure or closed road tackles fear head on and grabs your hand as if to say hang on it will b ok and hand me another brick and also pray I will know where to put this one in my hand

Mercy Ships Service - Sept 14-26th

FBC Deacon and Choir member Shane Finlay has been accepted to serve Sept 14th - Sept 26th in Guinea Africa as a non medical volunteer with the Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships are the world's leading non-governmental ship-based medical organization. Their goal is to transform the lives of the world's forgotten poor. One by one. The hospital ships and land-based teams provide primary medical care, relief aid and community support to the most impoverished people on earth, free of charge.

Shane will be serving either on one singular project or spllit with different crew members in departments on needed projects.    We may have a better idea of what type of service is needed closer to departure.

you can learn more about mercy ships at www.mercyships.org

Push

One of my favorite words going since it’s really meaningful in so many situations.   Those who push have passion more than anything else.  Pushing is the tough round to take but it's generally sweeter in the end  - as long as malice is not at the heart of it.  In today’s competitive landscape organizations need to push for value.  As Warren Buffet says – Price is what you pay but value is what you get.  Any company pushing for value has to seriously consider world class technology like that that found with SAP.    Value Engineering at SAP is an important part of customer interaction.     The push for value is worth it – just look at all the case studies and customer references SAP has.  Next time you are evaluating technology solutions ask yourself – what is this really worth to me? – then let SAP help.  It’s easier to push for value when you have a strong partner like SAP.

Downtown Dawne: Make-up Mania and the Meaning of Life

Downtown Dawne: Make-up Mania and the Meaning of Life