Happy Leap Day!!

It seems somehow appropriate that LEAP YEAR is the year I jump into something totally new for me. 24 days to go...but who's counting? I am, that's who! I continue to prepare for my next adventure. At work, support has come from unexpected directions. I am confident that I will be able to meet my goal of having at least 3 full cases of supplies to bring to Ghana.

Before I go any further, perhaps I should explain how this all started. I have a friend from Ghana who brought this about for me. Ernest is a truly wonderful person - kind, intelligent, honorable, hardworking - I feel most fortunate to have met him. Inasmuch as he is a paramedic/EMT and I am a RN, we spoke about going to his homeland to do a medical mission involving his village, Atorkor. Unfortunately, he was called up for active military duty with the US Navy and those plans were put on hold. Before leaving, he initiated a process with his cousin who is the head of an NGO that was formed to help develop Atorkor village. Basically, his cousin Sam invited me to come to Ghana and arranged for me to participate as a healthcare volunteer in their new health centre. Thus began a flurry of emails back and forth, making plans & preparations for my arrival. I cannot remember the last time so much courtesy has been extended to me. Everything from my housing to weekend excursions and even a cell phone for my use has been provided for. In return, I have been working to acquire a number of items which will be needed for the clinic. Littmann, 3M, Nexcare and Bayer have all been kind enough to send me donations, including stethoscopes, bandage tape, single use thermometers and glucometer strips. The combined value of these items must be well over $800. My friend, Frankie Flynn, purchased a sterilizer/autoclave for me to bring. My co-workers are taking up a collection.(Cheryl Drayton deserves a word of thanks for that) I hope to receive some additional sterile dressing supplies from my hospital, Jacobi Medical Center. My biggest concern at this point is getting to the airport & checking all my excess baggagge. Once I get on the plane, I can no longer worry - it's in God's hands. Sam assured me that he will be able to meet me and help get me through customs, so that's it.

I have been meeting all kinds of people with a Ghana connection. It is all coincidental? I tend to think not. Too much has happened to be just chance. I cannot help but feel that it is all simply a sign that I am on the right track in the greater scheme of things. I had been contacting Delta to ensure that all of my bags will be able to travel with me - I cannot imagine getting there to find that some of my supplies/luggage would be arriving on a later flight. A very nice woman named Shelley called me to allay my concerns. It turns out she has inlaws living in Accra and gave me her extension to call if I have any additional issues. She even called again to alert me to a change in the price of extra luggage. Very nice. On this past Monday, I had a chance encounter with a young lady from a surgical supply company who turned out to be originally from Ghana. She was quick to give me some tips on where to do the best shopping and where to find the best American style cheeseburger & fries in Accra. That last bit might really come in handy after about 3 weeks in country. She is also affiliated with the Organisation for International Development. I will be getting in touch with her at some point in the future.

Even my patients are excited about what I am doing. I had one gentleman I was caring for who is from Ghana. In attempt to draw him out, I told him of my plans and asked questions about where he comes from. Sometimes when he has visitors, I overhear him say with pride, "Thats MY nurse...she's going to Ghana." It's funny how people make a fuss about me doing something special but I am the one who feels blessed in being able to do this. God is good and I hope that I will be able to act as His instrument for positive change. We shall see where it all takes me.

Hindu Wedding Sept. 07

In Septemer 2007, I was invited to the wedding of my good friend's daughter. It was an experience unlike any other I have had thus far. I was priviledged to participate with the family in preparation celebrations and witnessed up close a culture so unlike yet like my own. I am blessed to know such a wide variety of people. My life has been enriched by good people from all walks of life.

This is a test and only a test...

...if this were an actual life, you would have been provided with further instructions.

So here goes. My test run as it were in setting up a blog. This is in preparation for the my trip of a lifetime (thus far) as I am going to Ghana as a healthcare volunteer. My father is very concerned that I keep an accurate record of all that takes place up to and during that event. So, this one's for you Dad!

We are only passing through... thoughts on life, great song (Earl Skaggs & friends, reading by the late, great Johnny Cash who made my life miserable with his hit song, "A Boy Named Sue" but I digress), a philosphy on life. We are only passing through so lets do some good along the way. I have travelled a bit - not really into the typical, all inclusive resort, tourist thing. I like to sample the real life, real environment of the places and people I visit. When in Jamaica, I was fortunate enough to make some friends who showed me both sides of that coin. Now, when I go, I have someplace I love to stay (yardie style) and be at home, spending my time with regular folks and getting a taste of what I call Paradise. But I can appreciate the hardships that go along with that life. Politics, economy, realities of the living situation of many folks - it is not the idyllic island paradise that the tourists see. But life is good and so many of the people I met proved to me that money is not everything when it comes to living well and being happy - however, it doesn't hurt to have some either. Jennifer James and her family @ Greenleaf Cabins made me feel very much at home - I recommend them to anyone that wants to visit Negril and live simple. Nothing is more relaxing to me than the warm tropical climate, clear skies and beautiful beaches of Jamaica. I will be going back again.

Now I am passing through into a different phase of my travel life. I am currently preparing for a trip to Ghana, not as a tourist but to go as a healthcare volunteer and try to do some good. This is something that I have wanted to do for some time now, but this particular opportunity just fell right into my lap like a gift too good to let pass.