party

Tonight I am in the peace ward without a second nurse. Just me and my eight patients. I am able to be as crazy as I want too.

We had fun tonight.

My friend Stacy walked by our ward, came in, and said
"I saw a party and I had to come in...I'm a little jealous of the ward nurses."

I really don't want you to get the wrong impression. We do work hard here in Africa. But this weekend was a much needed ship holiday (translation: anyone who works 9 to 5 had Friday and Monday off). So we have had no fresh post-ops since Thursday night. Everyone feels pretty good at this point.

The night started with a the movie "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" featuring the late Steve Irwin. The ward is filled with teenagers at the moment and they laughed and oohed at the scary crocodiles and slimy snakes. I sat on my patient Naymou's bed and held her hand as we watched the movie.

Mastering the art of carrying large objects on my head is a skill I am hoping to acquire during my time in Africa. Tonight I had a lesson from Prince.

Prince is a 16 year old boy who is witty, smart, and polite. His entire right leg is casted. His house has burnt down and he has nowhere to live. So he is staying a few nights with us. In Liberia, woman place carefully wrapped fabric on their heads when they want to carry something. Prince wrapped a pillow case for me and put it on my head. I then proceeded to carry a two gallon container of blocks on my head like a genuine African lady.

I walked the entire length of the hospital hallway. Every mobile patient sat at the door and watched. The others were my accompaniment. They all laughed hard at my half-hazard attempt.

So did I.

When I was finished "practicing" my developing skill, I showed them pictures of my family via the computer. Later we sang some Mary Mary songs. Patricia in bed 60 knows them all. I even tried to teach Esther, a 16 year old patient, some swing dance moves.

You always have to dance at parties.

Around 11:30 it was time for bed. Before they went to sleep I told them why I came to Africa. I told them how much God loves them. I read them the 23 Psalm,

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul."

Prince prayed a bedtime prayer and the lights were turned off.

I went to each bed and carefully tucked them in. It's been a good night.