An African Christmas

Santa Lucia

Merry Christmas!  Another year is almost over & I have no idea where the time has gone!  Last year at this time we were between outreaches, just finished in Sierra Leone & were recovering in Ghana before moving on to Togo.  This year though we are in the middle of a field service here in Guinea.  A slightly different feel to the Christmas holiday this year with the hospital still open & patients still on board, we aren’t doing any surgeries over the two week holiday break. 

The OR door

The Christmas elves snuck on board again this year & the ship took on a very festive look around the first of December.  We celebrated a lot of different Christmas traditions from all over the world.  First there was Sintaklaus- a Dutch holiday celebrating St. Nicholas; then Santa Lucia- a Scandinavian holiday celebrating St. Lucia.  We had Christmas markets & cooking baking & gingerbread house contests.  The annual door decorating contest is always a big favorite.  The OR has the reputation of having some amazing door designs- we didn’t disappoint!  We took first place in the traditional office door category!

Merry Christmas from the OR!

Christmas Scrub Day



Advent wreath

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBQ on the dock

As Christmas approached, we had a BBQ on the dock, followed by Carrols by Candlelight- a very Australian tradition, complete with The African Wiggles showing up with Santa Claus!  A fun evening of friendship & fellowship.

Light a candle

African Wiggles!

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Christmas Day arrived with the hallway outside our cabin doors piled with presents & a lovely Christmas brunch waiting for us in the dining room.  The food was amazing- ham, mashed potatoes, omelets, hashbrowns, greenbean casseroles. 



Oh the weather outside is frightful!

Come buy from me- I'll give you good price!

Here on the ship we celebrate Boxing Day… a continuation of the Christmas holiday.  This year I took advantage of being in a very warm climate & took the boat over to Rooma Island, just off the coast.  A fun, relaxing day in the sun enjoying the ocean, listening to a local band play & just having a day off.  So nice!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas time.  Joyeux Noel!

 

Blessings