"Mummy look at all the diggers..."

This is the current view from our window. We think they might be unloading them from one of the ships: a variation on Ollys number 1 type of ship!!

http://peetfamilyinliberia.blogspot.com/2010/05/top-ten-of-ollys-favourite-types-of.html

But this is better than cars, although when they crash into each other going down the ramp that is quite amusing!

Currently the number 2 on his list is docked behind us - a French navy ship, honestly it is thrilling living in a Port, well if you are three like Joshua anyway :-)

crossed eyes no more

This was an article written by the communications department, I think the pictures are great:

Junior, Akoko, and Gloria are three children with some important things in common - they live in Togo, West Africa, and they were born with crossed eyes. Togo is one of the least-developed countries in the world. Healthcare is unaffordable and often unavailable.
These three children faced something even worse than restrictions caused by poor vision. They faced the ridicule of other children in a culture that does not make accommodations for physical disabilities.
Mercy Ships eye surgeon, Dr. Glenn Strauss, performed a 15-minute operation, called a strabismus repair, for each child. The free surgery improved their sight, their appearance, their self-esteem, and their hope for the future!
Now all three children literally have a new perspective on life. Five-year-old Junior can play ball and ride his bicycle. Sweet little Akoko, also five years old, can hardly wait to show her friends her "new eyes." And nine-year-old Gloria can see more clearly to draw and do paper crafts - two of her very favorite things.
Three young lives were dramatically transformed by a simple surgery that is taken for granted in developing countries - a free surgery made possible by dedicated volunteers and compassionate donors.
Junior's father expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the Mercy Ships medical staff, saying, "I don't know how to thank them. God will bless everyone working on the Mercy Ship."

 Akoko before surgery

 Akoko after surgery

the great big enormous turnip

We were invited to the Kindergarten play, so off we went...

We went to see the mouse in action

Grandad Andre was not strong enough to pull up the great, big enormous turnip

He needed help from Grandma, grandaughter Libby, Daniel dog, Megan Cat and Tom mouse!

A great show Kindergarten!! And yes don't worry we videoed it to show Tommy, so anyone that wants a thrilling couple of minutes - or at least to make Tom happy showing it to you in the summer - just let us know!! I have a feeling it won't be an option for Nanny and Grandma, he is very excited to show you!!

it's International Nurses Day again!!

The nurses have been wearing some slightly unusual hats, Florence Nightingale Style and we get to have pizza for dinner in celebration of International Nurses Day 2010!! Our nurses are working very hard at the moment, it is a busy time in the outreach and some of the patients have been quite poorly of late. Please think of them today!

Josh has been to the British School of Lome for the morning, when asked what he did there the first thing we heard was that he ate two pieces of cake! It was great for the little ones to be able to go there on an outing, they got picked up by the school bus and joined the little kids there for some bouncy castle fun, craft work and spaghetti (and the all important cake!!) lunch. Sounds nice! We have hosted the teachers from the school here and now some of the children from there are coming a few at a time to see the ship and play here with our kids. The bigger kids from here are going there for Sports Day (coming up soon) as they are very blessed with plenty of space that they will share with us :-)

behind the clinic in Sierra Leone

 Ann Gloag is described as Scotlands richest businesswoman through owning the company Stagecoach. She has been funding the fistula centre in Freetown and is now also behind the new maternity side to the Aberdeen Womens Centre as well as being a great supporter of the Ship and other work in Africa:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/2010/05/01/tycoon-ann-gloag-tells-why-she-s-opening-clinic-in-war-torn-sierra-leone-86908-22225261/