30 Days of Africa - #30

My final day in the Congo and more goodbyes... The 10 girls from my room got together for a group photo before a few of us have left to go home and the pictures show what great friends we have become during our time together. Goodbyes are always difficult, but the past 3 months have been a great experience and I'm so grateful for the people God has brought into my life on the Africa Mercy :)

30 Days of Africa - #29

Last day of work at the dental clinic...bittersweet goodbyes to the amazing day crew I've come to know and love over the past 3 months of working together, final Congo dental hygiene patient, and a touching goodbye card signed by all the dental team.

 

30 Days of Africa - #28

Mercy Ships onboard dental clinic! Some of my friends asked me to clean their teeth before I leave, so we had a dental hygiene party last night in the small clinic on ship for crew dental needs... don't these smiles look amazing?

30 Days of Africa - #27

 

Going away dinner tonight for Indian food in Africa with this amazing group of friends! It will be hard to leave them but hopefully we will meet again someday... with Mercy Ships in Africa or local reunions closer to home. Thanks everyone for memories to last for a lifetime!

30 Days of Africa - #26

African food night... Dinner every Tuesday is a chance to eat the Mercy Ships version of African food, so this week was my last taste. Except that the dental team gets real African food every day for lunch... Ever have a saka saka sandwich? That was my lunch today, made of cassava leaves cooked with dried fish in a green mash and spread between 2 slices of bread.

African dinner on the ship

Try the fire death hot pepper sauce if you dare...

 

Dental lunch saka saka sandwiches

30 Days of Africa - #25

 

As my time in Congo comes to an end, I know I will miss the drive every morning to the dental clinic  taking anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. It's hot, dusty or muddy, generously sprinkled with car swallowing pot holes and full of general chaos, which makes getting to work always an adventure. And you can buy just about anything you need along the way including beautiful wooden furniture and random car mats. Also watch out for the ever present Toyota Corola blue taxis which are everywhere and will get anywhere regardless of obsticles or comfort or safety.

30 Days of Africa - #24

Brazzaville wedding! This happened about one month ago, but I wanted to post the pictures before running out of days. Brazzaville was a 14 hour overnight train ride away, but only a 45 minute flight back to Pointe Noire and definitely worth the experience. Oh, and the wedding was lots of fun too! Max who works at the dental clinic took my friend and me to his sister's wedding and the 2 of us as the only American guests were apparently quite entertaining, although not more than the Congolese wedding traditions...and I thought American weddings were complicated and expensive???

Beautiful bride in traditional dress

With the bride and groom - not the greatest photo...

Guests on the brides side, we blend in right?

The proud brother Max (member of the dental team) and his sister

30 Days of Africa - # 23

My final week in the Congo... Found the certificate of appreciation on my door already and it's starting to sink in that I'm actually leaving. Three months with Mercy Ships has gone by too quickly and I'm not ready to say goodbyes yet, but the time is here...