Welcome/Introduction

Welcome to the blog for our journey to Ethiopia. We are a team of 21 people from Northern California who will be heading to Project Mercy in Butajira, Ethiopia on October 20, 2012. We will spend nearly 2 weeks serving the community of Project Mercy by staffing pediatric medical clinics, providing surgical services, developing educational support for the students of the Project Mercy school, delivering public health education, and improving the infrastructure of the Project Mercy facilities.

Far beyond our desire to help with the physical needs of the community, we most want to come alongside our extended family at Project Mercy and extend the healing touch and love of Christ to those living in proximity to Project Mercy. We hope to do this by caring for each person as a beloved child of God, developing relationships, and being authentic followers of Jesus as we treat, share knowledge and live life together. Our hope is that the community sees Christ in us and that we are the aroma of Him to those who do not know his peace and love.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Safely in Addis...

Wednesday Oct 31st  11:36pm

Today was bittersweet  - we continued work for half the day, then packed up clinic, said goodbyes, and settled into what turned out to be a long road trip back to Addis.

Relationships between the team and the Project Mercy staff and volunteers really blossomed through our time here and tears were shed as we departed.

The OR crew...
Here are some pics from the day:

The clinic crew


Nobody got along in the OR...
Donna helping out in clinic...

Donna and Anya on the long bus-ride to Addis...

Mike in clinic...

Mary Ellen singlehandedly lifting a stretcher that is three times her size!


Sara, our technology maven, demonstrating how it is possible to fully utilize three Apple products at any given time...

Will getting to enjoy seeing one of our little patients up, walking, and recovering well from a difficult surgery
Tonight the team is resting after beginning our retreat led by Mary Ellen.  We are thankful to be here after a long day of travel.  Please pray for good recovery and a blessed time of retreat before heading home.

MVN