so since its been so long since ive updated my blog im going to do it in Sections hopefully this help keep things a bit clearer, in my mind as i write this and in your's as you read it! : )
From Sept 1st till Nov. 8th -Sobona Sonke ( so all may see)
I was with the Mercy Ships Eye Team Working in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. We Worked in 9 Different Clinics/ hospitals, thats one Per week! Our Eye team was made up of 9 people, Dr Glen the surgeon and his wife Kim, Woody the Optometrist and his wife Robin, Henry and wife Mampho our spiritual support/Chaplains, Glenys the OR nurse, and myself. Our team was split into two team Screening and Surgical. I worked as the screening team coordinator along with with woody, Robin, henry and mampho, the others were the surgical team. we would split up during the week, the screening team going to different area which were typically over an hour away from the surgical sites.During the 9 weeks our screening team moved more than 18 times, going to one area for the work week and then meeting back up with the surgical team on the weekends. It was an amazing experience full of laughs and tears. There were many aspects that were much harder than anyone would have imagined But it was amazing to see God provide Growth all round!
We work in Tight Spaces!
We help move cars
or read books!
A dinner party with local surgeons and their familys.
From Nov 8th till Nov 22nd VACATION
Noel one of my best friends from home and her mom Maryann came to visit!! I met them in Capetown which is in the Western Cape of South Africa. They spent two weeks here with me and it was amazing! We rented a car and drove from Cape town to Gansbaai. While we were driving we stopped along the way to do lots of cool things like see pengiuns, Whales, monkeys, ostrich, taste wine and beer, pet cheetahs. We also took a tour of a local township in cape town called khayelitsha, road the cable car up table mountain at sunset, and we went shark diving!! and all that was in a little over one week! We then flew from capetown to Jo-burg to start our 4 day safari at Krugger National Park, Where we saw lions, Elephants, Rhinos, hippo's, all kinds of deer, wart hogs, Buffalo, different species of birds and lots of crazy bugs!! It was so much fun to see them and all of the wonderful places and animals here in south Africa! I feel very blessed to have friends that would travel so far to see me! and To have an awesome creator, the one and only God!
View Larger Map
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| Noel Ma and I at dinner |
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| Penguins! |
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| Shark Diving! Im in the Cage! |
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| Wine Tasting! |
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| My FAV!! |
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| ZEBRA! |
Nov 22nd till Now- Applesbosch!
Applesbosch was an abandoned school campus, and is now where the Non-technical Crew of the Africa Mercy live, there are 4 Dorm builds 2 for family's 1 of guys 1 of girls, a large kitchen/ dinning room, a gym with volley ball nets and a trampoline and a stage that was used for the mercy ship academy's Christmas play, theres also classroom which were used by the Mercy ships academy and office building which are used by human resources, the finance department and other necessary departments. There is lots of space for the kids here to run and play, we can often here cows mooing or have goats run through the campus, were are in a very rural area about 3000 ft above sea level and 1 1/2 hours from the city! Quite a different experience then living on the ship, there are less people here and the number are steadily dropping as Christmas approaches, Everyone has there own room which is so nice. Since there are so many less people the Community environment is much more inclusive which i love!! I Currently work in the galley helping cook lunch and dinner , if you really know me you know eating is my favorite so im really enjoying it, and i work with a great group of people that make it lots of fun!!
Now i bet your probably wondering why im volunteering with Mercy Ships and living on land? crazy huh?
well our home/ the ship is currently having some repairs done, the generators were old and needed to be replaced and there was some other things that needed fixing so the ship could run more efficiently to be able to help more people in West Africa. The ship was in dry dock for some time and now is floating while having to remainder of the repairs, were hoping to move home sometime in the middle of January and then sail to Sierra Leon the beginning of February...I think!
Prayer Request!
* For God to continue reveling his will for my life, for me to take Steps of faith According to His Promptings.
* For The Ship as it continues to be worked on and the men that are working on it.
*For the crew here to remain safe and healthy, Physically and Spiritually.
*For new relationships/ friendships as new crew arrive.
* For my family and friends at home that i miss so much!!
* For Continued support spiritually and financially!
If you wanna see more pics check out my facebook!!
If you'd like to become a partner in my mission you can do so by donating at the following website:
https://connect.mercyships.org/page/outreach/view/crewmates/hickes
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
LOVE
Shannon
Great to read. Merry Christmas, and all the best!
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