here!

Last night I woke up and realized that something was not right.  It took a minute for my sleep-fogged mind to realize what the problem was...my bed is no longer in a constant state of motion, and the comforting hum of the big engines is stopped.  We are anchored!!

We arrived yesterday, in a flurry of bright african dress, waving hands and smiling faces, and the triumphant rise of our voices - everyone on shore and on ship - singing the proud Sierra Leone national anthem.  We were greeted by new crew, old friends, a marching band, and the Minister of Health: a mixed crowd but an excited one, and one we were excited to finally meet as well.

We've started unpacking pretty much immediately, and it is exhilirating to see the hospital unfold and unpack and start to look like a hospital today.  I celebrated my first time on Sierra Leone soil by riding African-style over to the Hospitality center, on top of a large truckload of dental supplies (picture to come, I hope).

It seems like only yesterday that we crossed the equator and celebrated our shellback seaman status, that we competed in the sail olympics for a prize of a soda can replica of the Africa Mercy, that we put on eyepatches and earrings and danced the night away, and that we prayed for the arrival and ensuing field service.
Well, that day is here at last.  Watch out, Sierra Leone...mercy's on its way!



Can you see it??  Do you see the equator!!