New Home, New Job

I have been calling the Anastasis home for the past two months. I’d like to introduce you to a few of the people who fill my day and tell you a little about what I have been doing these past few months.

Two of my cabinmates, one from Switzerland and another from Holland, just left after completing 6-18 months on board. My remaining roommate is Brenda, a South African who was also my roommate during Discipleship Training School (DTS) last fall and now works as secretary in the DTS office.  During the upcoming dry-dock period (more about that later), she will move off the ship with the students. In another few months, another South African, also called Jean and also a nurse, will be moving into our cabin.  Meanwhile, our 4^th bunk remains unoccupied. That may change at any time. As I mentioned in a previous letter – cabins are small, cabinmates are plentiful!

On the job, Dutchman Eric Vis is my supervisor. He has great plans to have me learn how to scrub and circulate in the operating room! I am actually the recovery room nurse, but have to learn a lot about the OR in the process. We work well together and he has a good sense of humor, so the working environment is pleasant.

There are about 20 long-term crew in the medical department. Long-term means the crewmember has made a commitment of a year or more and has completed a DTS.  When we go on outreach to Benin, that number will increase to ~100 medical crew.

I’ve spent some of my time on walks with Sonja (ward supervisor from Australia) and Lorna (British village clinic nurse). These two have left the ship for a few months, but another friend from my DTS days is returning soon. It’s always good to get off the ship in the evenings and weekends for some exercise and sightseeing.

What are you doing in Europe?

This is a question I hear frequently. During this phase, we are obviously not involved in surgery. That is reserved for the outreaches in developing nations. We are busy restocking our supplies for the next outreach, scheduled for Benin, West Africa December ’97 to mid-April ’98. We’ve been hosting medical receptions, beginning renovation projects, updating inventories and manuals, and collecting medical supplies. Let me share with you some of the blessings we’ve received…

While in Plymouth, England a local hospital performed routine maintenance and repairs on all our electronic equipment in the OR. We also received donations that included two new Land Rovers and two specialized monitors plus a British charitable organization donated money to purchase many of the new surgical instruments needed. In Norway, our we received all the new beds needed to expand the ward so we can use all three of the operating rooms on board the ship. Someone else donated an anesthesia machine and ventilators and a gas company refilled our nitrous oxide tanks. Here in Holland we have additional monitors and items that were specifically on our needs lists for the next outreach. I recently found a ‘wish list’ written several months ago – and realized many of the wishes had become realities through God’s provision. God is good.

Now we are ready (hmm...is anyone ever ready for this next phase?) to enter the shipyard. Some major projects, particularly a fire safety upgrade, need to be completed before we head to Benin in November. Many people are taking leave during this time, but there are 3-4 nurses remaining in the medical department, plus a doctor and pharmacist. We will continue with much of the same work.  

A Highlight from Den Helder

One of the advantages of visiting different ports is that we are able to visit different churches as well. In Den Helder I visited the Berea church for three weeks and developed a friendship with one of the families there. They treated 3 of us to traditional Dutch food and a day in Zandam, an old fashioned village. They were also willing participants in a wonderful practical joke we pulled on Eric (at the medical reception he made an appeal for a wife, so we had this family’s daughter write him a letter in response – and he believed it was true!). The best part of getting to know them, though, was hearing about their ministry among Afghan refugees in Den Helder. They have even made trips to refugee camps in Pakistan to deliver Bibles and to teach pastors. top of page

Praises

I thank God for health, a pleasant roommate situation, good working relationships, new friends, and the abundant provision for my needs. Thanks for your prayers & support!

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