Looking back

After flying back to the great USA, my emotions and senses are spiraling all over the place.  It is so great to be back in America and breathe in the clean air and not walk by open sewages.  My sense of smell is returning, since in Sierra Leone, everything smelled the same, the smell of sewage/urine/decay/rotten/smoggy odor.  And the food, never realized how good everything taste since coming back.  After soaking in the luxury of what America offers, my mind would continue to race back to Sierra Leone, and the less unfortunate natives.  Spending 4-5 months in Sierra Leone, it really has opened my eyes.  True inhumane poverty doesn’t exist in America.  Sierra Leone suffers some of the worst medical conditions that many other fortunate countries don’t even face or even know about.  Poverty in America is living like a king in Sierra Leone.

It is really hard to explain what I saw and how I feel while living in Sierra Leone.  Many people can’t grasp the conditions that the people in Sierra Leone go through.  Maybe the only way to fully comprehend the conditions is to experience it firsthand.  Sometimes I question if people even care about the environment that other people suffer through.  As if people don’t want to look, because in doing so, they will feel guilty about their own lifestyle.  However, at the same time, maybe people aren’t willing to adjust their lifestyle in order to help people, because they are more concern about their 'wants', instead of other people 'needs.' 

The last thing I want to be is judgmental when I arrive back home, instead, I want to continue to help the less unfortunate and be content with everything I have.  I want to appreciate the gift of life, and continue to grow in my Christian faith.  Its been an amazing journey, something that will shape the rest of my life.

When not extracting teeth, I extract trash and barnacles away from the filters underneath the ship.  The clearity under water isnt all that great either. 

Close to the End

As my time draws near in delivering dental care to the people of Sierra Leone, I continue to see things differently.  I feel like everything I read takes on a new meaning.  Dealing with so many different elements in Sierra Leone, I been expose to so many experiences that I would never have been expose to, and probably never again in the future.  Living here, made me realized how much I miss my family and friends dearly, something we all take for granted.

 I was recently reading about the average time that Americans watch TV: 4-5 hours a day.  In fact, there are more TVs in the average household then there are people.  There is nothing wrong watching TV, however, how can we waste so much time and not look for ways to make a difference in other people lives?  I love it how the locals in Sierra Leone are very engaging and touchy (something I had to get use to).  They seem to be more connected to each other than the people in America. 

Taking some pictures from Mercy Ship, I hope this verse becomes alive to you as we are to follow Christ’s example.  We are to help each other, give hope to people, show Christ's love to others; what life is all about.

Matthew 15:31 “The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised God of Israel.”

Helping those who are rejected by the world:

> Maxillo-Facial surgeries for people with deforming face and neck tumors

> Plastic surgeries to rebuild faces, arms or hands due to burns or disease.

 

Helping the Blind to See through eye surgery:

> 20 minute cataract surgeries allow blind to see

 

Helping the Mute to Speak:

> Repair cleft lips and palates - 4th most common birth defect

> Basic dental care and surgeries

 

 

Helping the Lame to Walk:

 > Orthopedic surgeries on legs and feet give people mobility

Pictures Update!

The streets can be dirty at times (well, all of the time).

People waiting in line for the dental clinic.  We see new patients every Monday and Thursday's morning.  We have desperate patients camp out Friday night to get a good spot in line to be seen on Monday.

My translator :)

Watching out for falling objects at the dental clinic...

Starting to feel like a local

As my time staying in Sierra Leone passes by, I am starting to feel more like a local of Sierra Leone.  During my first several weeks living in Sierra Leone, I am taken back by the culture and everyone's daily lives.  As time progress, I felt more comfortable walking on the streets and talking to everyone.  I felt I have adapted to the weather, even though it can be hot at times.  I continue to deal with bronchitis, diarrhea, and fatigue.  However, the dental care I continue to bring to desperate patients and seeing their gratitude makes it all worth while.  Attempting to live a true Christian's life isn’t easy, whoever said it was, is a liar.  No matter what happens around me or what I am dealing with, I can trust in God knowing in the end He has what is best for me and all things will be set right.  I don’t think I can view what we, the majority of Americans, call "Christianity" as the true concept of what Jesus has taught us in the bible.  How can we justify our actions to be wealthy, when we know that people are starving and need basic medical care that would prevent death?  I just want to cringe when I hear pastors and Christians state that God has "bless" them because they have more faith or gave 10% to church.  I get so tired of Christians saying the reason God bless them, is to bless other people, in order to justify their accumulation of wealth and lavish possessions, where instead we are to be content with whatever we have.  Whenever I go to church and hear testimonies, I rarely hear how God has use them to help other people, instead, I hear God bless them w/ discounts at shopping malls or they won a new car.  I am always weary when a church focuses more on themselves instead of reaching out in helping other people.  I truly believe God will take care of us, when we think about other people.  Do Christians, or people that call themselves Christian, truly understand what is means when Luke 17:33 states "Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it" or

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12 NIV or

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.” Matthew 5:10 (MSG)  or

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Cor. 12:9 – 10   or

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” John 15:18-20 NIV
 or
“Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.” 1 Thessalonians 3:7

Despite the hardships we might face as Christians, we should remind ourselves the promises God as given us, even though we might face pain and sufferings for a mere nanosecond compare to eternity in bliss.  God is more concern about our spiritual eternal life than our short current physical life on earth. 

Warning: you wont hear these scriptures in most American churches...

Hebrews 11:35-40 "Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.  They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--
the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

The locals love American music!

What a view!

I just arrived back from spending the night at the local beach and celebrating my birthday.   While I was lying in the hammock and reflecting on life (and enjoying the awesome view), I continue to be amaze at how fortunate and bless I have been through the years, despite some circumstances and trials I been through.  I graciously thank God for the breath he has given me to enjoy and experience life.  Since I been here in Africa, time has slow down significantly.  I am not surrounded by television, shopping malls, amusement parks, movie theaters, cell phones, and very limited internet (can’t watch videos or anything that involves high bandwidth over the internet).  As a result, I have become more in tune with nature and the people around me.  Questions about life and the meaning of life become more evident, since in America we tend to have so many distractions, we tend to have a very superficial view of life and avoid asking uncomfortable questions.  As a result, we do not think about what might happen when we (speaking in general terms) die or the actions we take.  With so many distractions, we do not ask the big questions or question ourselves; in addition, we do not observe the people around us and reflect on everything around us.

Despite all the hours I volunteered so far and providing free dental care to patients, I felt like I have received so much in return.  Being here in Africa has helped me view life differently and value what is most important in life.   I continue to enjoy the dental team I am with, their positive attitude and willingness to pitch in whatever needs to be done, continue to impress me.  I have done hundreds of extractions and continue to enjoy every minute of dentistry. 

From from the hammock

View #2 from the hammock

Enjoying the fire in front of the "hotel"

I thank everyone for the continue support and am ever graceful for everything you have done.

Caution: Gruesome photos

In wanting to show how fortunate we are in America, I posted some photos of patients we have treated on the ship.  We, the crew, are not allow to take photos of patients, and can only use photos that the Mercy Ship gives us.  Please note, these photos are copyrighted.

It amazes me, especially in the dental clinic, to see what happens when simple basic care is not provided and a disease/condition continues to progress.  I continue to be evermore grateful, and realize how much I have it made in the US.

Just thinking...

Observing the mind-set of the local people, the emotions and attitude are very different from back home in America.  When comparing to the America’s population as a whole, the natives in Sierra Leone manage life a lot differently.  When living in America, we do not struggle everyday with the basic needs to sustain our lives.  We have more than enough, and don’t even think twice if there enough food to just make it through the day or have your body constantly struggle with malaria.  Even if we Americans lose everything, we can still get food stamps or go to local food banks, find local shelter, and get simple medical treatment.  In Sierra Leone, you are on your own, with virtually no aid.  Nevertheless, spending time with the locals and working on the patients, I find that their attitudes are quite different despite not having the basic needs.  The natives tend to always look ahead in hope better things are to come in the future and are thankful for everyday that they get to live, treating life as a precious gift.  I feel like the natives have every single right to be depressed, suicidal, and disheartened.   However, despite the situations they go through, they are optimistic and fight w/ passion to live another day, clinging dearly on life.   It amazes me to see in America how so many people are on depression medications and mope about their lives.  In the land where Walmarts are on every street and the shelves are stock with trivial, worthless crap, we constantly buy things to satisfy our continuing never-ending gratification. 

                Perceiving it from a Christian’s perspective, I can see why there are so many bible verses in regards to helping the poor and the widows.  One verse that stood out was Proverbs 28:27 “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”  Without going into so many different theological debates in what the verse could mean, I truly believe when you help other people and put selfish desires aside, you get something greater in return.  To experience that human connection through emotions and gratitude from helping the poor, you become alive and what we call life takes on a whole different meaning.  However, someone that constantly place themselves ahead of everyone else and avoid helping other people, especially the poor, will place “curses” on themselves; depression, foolishness, loneliness, irritable, stress, resentment, high blood pressure, etc.

During my time here so far, I have learned so much from the poor, something I cant learn in America.  Being poor in America is like being rich in Sierra Leone. 

I am constantly rethinking about the mainstream and typical churches I have attend in America.  Too many times, many preachers and pastors are preaching that you need to attend church to experience His presence and be touch by Him.  Which is fine, however, I believe God becomes more real when you help the poor and widows, instead of attending a light-controlled stage w/ air-condition and cushion seats.  I believe God becomes real when people sit around and talk about life, struggles, emotions, God; instead of listening to one person the whole time.

Matthews 25:40 "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Isaiah 58:10 “And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”