Welcome!

Welcome to "The Thing with Feathers"!  The intention is for this blog to be a space I can communicate with those back home, and friends around the world, about the happenings on the Africa Mercy over the next eight months.  I have been truly overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I have received from fellow nurses, family members, and friends as I have been preparing for this adventure.  Although there have been some setbacks and long waiting periods along the way, I have felt a true sense of peace about my future service with Mercy Ships.  As an update, I will leave October 10 to fly to Cape Town, South Africa where I will join up with the Africa Mercy. From there we will head out to.... Madagascar!!!!! A little info on our destination:

Location: Where IS Madagascar?
Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world and is located off the lower east coast of Africa.  We will be docked in Tamatave on the east coast of the island. 



Ecology: Madagascar is renowned for its unique ecological system & biodiversity.  Despite deforestation, Madagascar remains home to many species of plants and animals that do not exist anywhere else in the world, including over 60 types of lemurs (species, sub-species).

Languages: French and Malagasy

People:
-Population: 23,201,926
-80% employed in agriculture
-Live on average $2/day
-Religions practiced: traditional beliefs, Christianity, Islam

Healthcare:
- 0.16 physicians/1,000 people
-0.2 hospital beds/1,000 people (1 bed/5,000 people)
-Maternal mortality rate (MMR) = 240 deaths per 100,000 births (For comparison the US, MMR = 21)

For more details, check out the CIA World Factbook:  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html

I am very excited and proud to be a part of an organization that will bring not only physical healing and healthcare education to the people of Madagascar, but also a greater sense of hope to people who have been outcast or forgotten by society. And when I come home, I will teach you all how to "move it, move it"!

As many of you know, we were originally scheduled to travel to Guinea, and then Benin, as ebola swept across West Africa.  Since Mercy Ships is not equipped to handle this type of infectious disease, these plans were appropriately changed. While I am very excited to travel to Madagascar and serve the people there, I am also heartsick that those individuals hoping and planning for a visit from Mercy Ships in West Africa will be disappointed. Thankfully there are many aid organizations present in the area and serving those in need.  Please keep the people of West Africa in your continued thoughts and prayers, and consider helping practically by donating to one of the organizations on the ground featured  in this great CNN article:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/19/world/iyw-ebola-outbreak-how-to-help/