Where in the world is NEXT?





Hello and back again! I know around the same time last year I started posting about Mercy Ships Congo and really appreciate the following and great responses to the pictures and stories from that amazing experience this spring with my brother Jay. In case you're wondering what's happened since then, I was home in Ohio for the summer working as a dental hygienist and recently moved to the Washington DC area, also for work at a pediatric dental practice. Recently however, one of my good friends from the Congo dental team, Karen, invited Jay and me to join her church group on a mission trip to India for several weeks in January. We will be doing medical/dental treatment and also assisting with pastor training in 3 different locations around central India. I've very excited about this opportunity because serving God in India has always been a dream of mine and working with Karen and Jay again will be an extra special bonus to be sure.


Jay, Karen, and Julie adventuring together in Congo... and on to India next month!





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.