Después de casi 48 horas de viaje y casi 24 en el aire, el jueves a las 16:30 hrs. Guineanas y 12:30 hrs. Mexicanas, por fin llegue a Guniea. En el aeropuerto un policía que conocía el barco nos ayudó con nuestras cosas y nos llevó a donde nos estaban esperando los de Mercy Ships.
Arriba de una Land Rover, viajamos por la ciudad de Conakry, Guinea para llegar al Africa Mercy, el barco hospital no gubernamental más grande del mundo. Durante el cuarto de hora que pasamos dentro de la camioneta, toda una cultura nos habló a través de la tierra, las casas, los mercados, los autos, las personas y sus acciones. Hablaba de una cultura de sencillez, humildad y convivencia. Donde los niños se bañan con cubetas frente a su casa con una sonrisa iluminando sus rostros. Donde las personas que conocen Mercy Ships y su misión, saludan con gran alegría y bendicen a la camioneta que pasa y les avienta el polvo en la cara.
Después de registrarnos en el barco me toco mi tour personal con Roxanna López como mi guía, otra tapatíam que comparte cuarto conmigo. El cuarto que me asignaron es para 10 personas, pero tiene dos baños y una pequeña salita. Además por el momento solo hay seis personas durmiendo ahí, por lo que dormimos y vivimos muy cómodamente.
El viernes 31 tuve otros dos tours, unorelacionado con mi trabajo, en el que me toco ver todos los almacenes y cuartos de refrigeración y el que le dan a todos los nuevos voluntarios. Basta decir que me sentí enormemente bien recibida por mis colegas y mis compañeras de cuarto.
Temprano el sábado, todos los que trabajamos en las tiendas del barco y algunos otros,
tuvimos una excursión al mercado de artesanías de Conakry. Entre la negociación de precios y la traducción del francés me entretuve unas buenas dos horas. Los resultados, fueron varias estatuillas y llaveros conseguidos a excelente precio y varios boletines repartidos acerca del importante evento del lunes.
Dentro del barco, todo el mundo se prepara para el gran día de "Screening" en el cual revisan a las personas para ver si son candidatos o no. Basta decir que es el evento mas emocionante/ peligroso/delicado de la llegada a un nuevo país, donde miles de personas se forman con la esperanza se recibir atención medica gratuita. Mi trabajo durante este evento va a ser "escoltar" a las personas de un lugar a otro y traducir cuando sea necesario.
La emoción general es tan palpable que es difícil, aunque se sea totalmente nuevo en este ambiente, no contagiarse. La esperanza ha llegado a Guinea y el lunes 03 de septiembre será el día en el que personas antes desamparadas, recibirán una tarjeta, tarjeta que significa que los que antes eran ciegos, podrán ver; los cojos ahora podrán caminar; los sordos podrán oír, una tarjeta que anuncia la buena nueva, la noticia de una humanidad hecha de amor y servicio.
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After traveling for almost 48 hours, of which half were spent flying, Thursday September the 30th at 16:30 Guinea time and 12:30 Mexico time, I finally arrived at Guinea. At the airport, a policeman who knew the ship helped us with our luggage and took us to where the Mercy Ships land rovers were waiting for us.
Once aboard the designated land rover, we traveled through the city of Conakry, Guinea in order to get to the Africa Mercy, the largest non-governmental hospital ship. During the fifteen minutes we spent on the vehicle an entire culture spoke to us through the soil, the markets, the houses, the people and what they do. It spoke about a culture of humility, humbleness, and cooperation; where the children bathe outside their home with a smile on their lips; and where the people who know about Mercy ships and its mission wave and bless the truck that rides by.
After registration I had a private tour around the ship with Roxana as mi guide, a Mexican friend who is also my roommate. The cabin I am in is a ten berth, but only six people sleep there for now, so it’s very spacious and comfortable.
The 31st was a tour day, I took a tour through the storage area and then I had to take the “newbie’s” tour all around the ship. All in all, I felt really welcomed by my roommates and my colleagues.
Early on Saturday, the Sales Staff and some other people went to the Craft Market. We spent about two hours translating and negotiating with the vendors. At the end we got wooden statues and key chains at a very good price. We were also able to announce the big event taking place Monday.
On the Africa Mercy, everybody is getting ready for the big “Screening day” in which potential patients are examined and selected for surgery. Screening day is the most exciting and fragile event upon arrival at a new country; in which thousands of people line up with hope of receiving free medical attention. My job during this event is to escort the people from one place to another, and translate when needed.
The general emotion is so strong that it is hard, even whilst being completely new, not to feel excited too. Hope has arrived to Guinea and on Monday September the 3rd, the forsaken will receive a yellow card, card that means the blind will be able to see, the lame will be able to walk, and the deaf will be able to hear; a card that announces the good news, the news of a humanity of love and service and mercy.
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After traveling for almost 48 hours, of which half were spent flying, Thursday September the 30th at 16:30 Guinea time and 12:30 Mexico time, I finally arrived at Guinea. At the airport, a policeman who knew the ship helped us with our luggage and took us to where the Mercy Ships land rovers were waiting for us.
Once aboard the designated land rover, we traveled through the city of Conakry, Guinea in order to get to the Africa Mercy, the largest non-governmental hospital ship. During the fifteen minutes we spent on the vehicle an entire culture spoke to us through the soil, the markets, the houses, the people and what they do. It spoke about a culture of humility, humbleness, and cooperation; where the children bathe outside their home with a smile on their lips; and where the people who know about Mercy ships and its mission wave and bless the truck that rides by.
After registration I had a private tour around the ship with Roxana as mi guide, a Mexican friend who is also my roommate. The cabin I am in is a ten berth, but only six people sleep there for now, so it’s very spacious and comfortable.
The 31st was a tour day, I took a tour through the storage area and then I had to take the “newbie’s” tour all around the ship. All in all, I felt really welcomed by my roommates and my colleagues.
Early on Saturday, the Sales Staff and some other people went to the Craft Market. We spent about two hours translating and negotiating with the vendors. At the end we got wooden statues and key chains at a very good price. We were also able to announce the big event taking place Monday.
On the Africa Mercy, everybody is getting ready for the big “Screening day” in which potential patients are examined and selected for surgery. Screening day is the most exciting and fragile event upon arrival at a new country; in which thousands of people line up with hope of receiving free medical attention. My job during this event is to escort the people from one place to another, and translate when needed.
The general emotion is so strong that it is hard, even whilst being completely new, not to feel excited too. Hope has arrived to Guinea and on Monday September the 3rd, the forsaken will receive a yellow card, card that means the blind will be able to see, the lame will be able to walk, and the deaf will be able to hear; a card that announces the good news, the news of a humanity of love and service and mercy.
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