WOW. My first thought for week one. I’ve had my orientation and started shifts on my own. Honestly, I’m overwhelmed! I’m overwhelmed emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Emotionally, because I’m SO excited but at the same time it’s draining. I am so thankful for translators. I pray the Lord helps me learn and remember this language so I can at least connect in some way with my patients. I want to connect with them and help them feel loved but not only are there language barriers, but cultural differences. For example, the thumbs up I would normally use as a positive reinforcement for saying “you’re okay” can be taken as a rude in some cultures here. Not to mention just language here, Walof. Never heard of it? Yea me neither, but there are about 5 different dialects within this one language. I am just amazed at the translators who speak a minimum three languages each. Most of them have masters level education and took time off from work or school to help Mercy Ships. They are making much less in daily wages than they would in their normal jobs but they are sacrificing because they want to help their people.
Physically, people here in Senegal are such hard workers. We have it so easy in The States. They do much more manual labor than most Americans will ever do. Most have to walk as a means of transportation because they can not afford taxis or a personal car. Gosh, I’m just overwhelmed because it’s so easy to take for granted all that I’m blessed with back home in The States. If I want to go anywhere back home, I can just hop in the car and go. Here, they have to plan ahead and know their trip by walking is going to be a day long journey rather than what would be an hour by car for me. Physically, I pray to have energy that only comes from The Lord to have time to connect and build relationships on the ship with the other volunteers, as well as during my shifts with my patients.
Spiritually, I want so badly to grow in this season and to come back with a renewed spirit and a new depth to my faith. I think for me, I’m trying to find my routine of things. With swapping shifts between days, evenings, and nights- it’s just finding the time for quiet time and surrounding myself with girls I can make lifelong friendships with. My prayer for that has been for The Lord help me remember what I’m here for. Yes, experiencing the culture is fun but keep reminding me of my true focus. I think personally, it’s easy to get distracted here just as much as it is back home. At home distraction comes in the ease in binge watching Netflix over taking time to spend with The Lord. Here, I’m less distracted by shows but could easily be just as distracted by hanging out with some of the other 399 people on board instead of spending time with Him. I pray I can find a healthy balance. The Lord has been so, so good to me. I pray I take the time to truly worship Him for all that he has given me.
Honestly, during these first few days I am thinking “Lord what in the world did you call me to.” I don’t understand any of this terminology, I have never seen these surgeries, and I don’t even know how to pronounce them. I’m feeling very defeated, truly. I couldn’t even pronounce the patients’ names. I’m not sure what I expected but I was kinda hoping to have a little of a grasp on things. Nope, everything is completely new. As an ICU nurse in the US I guess I went into this thinking it’s going to be different but a nurse assessment doesn’t change no matter where you are in this world right? However, these first few days I’ve felt so unqualified for this. It’s so funny how the Lord works. All I can think is, He is saying “Lauren, YOU can not but I can. I need you to trust me.” Gosh how I have trust issues.. But, the Lord uses our weaknesses to show us His strength. One special lady I know, Mrs. Cramer, told us on one Guatemala trip to “always stay fluid,” meaning just always going with the flow. That’s hard for me. My ICU brain is very detail oriented and constantly thinking about the next detail. HA! Well in the last two years God has rocked my world with that term. Just learning to trust Him as the steady point in my life that will never change no matter how much everything else does.
I would like to ask for those praying for me during this journey that you pray for me to allow myself let down my guard and trust His plan. Pray that He helps me pick up this language and all details of these surgeries.
Today I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness to bring me to this place. I can not begin to grasp how he just provided me with the money, supplies, and ability to have a job to come back to.
Thank you Lord for always providing when I could not see a way. All in all, when I’m so overwhelmed about this work, pray that I can be reminded that God hasn’t left me yet and He never will. He does say we will endure trials and struggles but in my opinion, if I hadn’t gone through the rough times, I wouldn’t understand His love and mercy like I do now. Then I probably wouldn’t have listened when He led me here. I am leaning into a true dependence on Him rather than what I may think I want in this life.
Written by Lauren Craig
2020 Global Health Collaboration Missions Scholarship Recipient
Working with Mercy Ships
Dakar, Senegal- Africa