Joy

My last post was one side of what I see and experience everyday. It didn't reflect the joy and love I feel and receive on a daily basis as being one of the nurses on the VVF ward. The women who have had successful surgeries are the joy that radiates out and around the ward. They are the women who have light shining from their eyes and smiles as wide as their faces when you say Ca Va? The beaming smile and eyes raised towards the roof with their hands clasped in praise and thanks to their God is enough of an answer to that question. In saying that there is one lady in particular who although has experienced complication after complication and is still wet is the one who melts every ones heart with her beautiful smile and cheeky ways. She cannot speak very good French or Ewe but has managed to pick up a few words in the weeks she has been here and also has learned a few choice English words which always follows with her mischievous giggle and a huge smile as she gets a reaction of joy from the nurses. 

As a sign of respect and love for these women who have come with such traumatic stories we celebrate them in a dress ceremony. We dress them each in a beautiful dress in the traditional manner with headdresses and jewellery and basically celebrate how great and wonderful they are. The new dress is a sign of a new beginning and also makes them feel very beautiful :) We give them a chance to speak and say a few words if they choose which always begins with a shout of HALLELUJAH and a response of AMEN from the crowd repeated a good few times getting louder each time along with many many songs and a lot of clapping cheering and laughter!!We present them with symbols of hope and the beginning of a new life so they recognise how precious and wonderful they are, trying to undo years of abuse and anguish. First a bar of soap, representing a new and clean life with no need to feel dirty anymore due to their illness, cream for their beautiful bodies, a mirror so they can look at themselves and see a beautiful women with her dignity intact and a Bible so they can grow to know their Saviour more. It is an honor to be part of these women's lives and celebrating them in this way couldn't be more appropriate. An African dance party praising God for their lives and  helping them to recognise that even if their bodies are not perfect on this earth that someday in heaven as daughters of God they will have no more tears, pain or suffering at the hands of those around them. Since I arrived 3 weeks ago I looked after 5 ladies in particular almost every shift so needless to say I became quite close to them and felt such a sense of pride, love and joy when I saw them dancing on the ward in their beautiful dresses as all the nurses, doctors and crew on the ship joining in. 

The final picture is the kind of reception we receive almost every time us nurses come to the ward especially if we have been off work for a few days. Then its exclamations of joy, laughter and oooo's and awww's as hugs and kisses are handed out from each lady. I would like to someday say that if I am ever faced with such sad and devastating circumstances as many of these women are, I will be able to demonstrate and give as much love as these women have.

Their joy is humbling.