Oh, I really had to laugh seeing this...his ramblings about a breeze especially. It reminds me of him and good times we've spent with him telling me funny things.
My brother Luke or Lucas or Luqa, he's great! Yup, I am proud to introduce you (if you don't already know him of course). ;-) Anyway, go to his blog if you want to know more and I hope he will post more too. Have to warn you though...he looks a bit like me, even his blog does! :P
He used to ask me if I didn't feel like a breeze...like being one. I left him on an island and moved to Belgium, only to find myself joining a Flemish youth-organisation that goes by the name of Breeze. (By the way, that link goes to a Belgian site, most of it in the Dutch language, but there should be some part in English sometime soon.)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Iye Sowodie’s “Gladdie, Gladdie” Day!
Below you will find the story of Iye Sowodie from Sierra Leone. It's also on the website of Mercy Ships.
I'm doing a study on how to prevent the birth complication she suffered from. Not a pleasant topic, but I think you can bear this story, because it's all "gladdie, gladdie" in the end.
I'm doing a study on how to prevent the birth complication she suffered from. Not a pleasant topic, but I think you can bear this story, because it's all "gladdie, gladdie" in the end.
40-year-old Iye Sowodie is typical of ACFC (Aberdeen Clinic and Fistula Center) patients. Iye has given birth to five children during her life, two have since died. During Sierra Leone’s decade long civil war, Iye was captured by rebel soldiers. She was made to cook for the rebels and beaten when they didn’t like 
what she prepared.
Since the birth of her youngest child, 17 years ago, Iye has suffered from extreme incontinence. Not just a tiny trickle, but a steady stream day and night. Iye’s husband abandoned her because of the terrible smell and because she couldn’t bear him more children. She was left destitute and survived for a time by scrounging for whatever she could find in the jungle.
Iye recently learned about the Mercy Ships Fistula Clinic in Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone. She was told doctors there could make her dry and treatment was free. Iye’s surgery was successful and she spent two weeks on the ACFC ward recovering. One morning Iye was singing and a Mercy Ships staff member asked why. Mixing English and the local Creole Iye answered, “I’m gladdie, gladdie to God! I’m going home tomorrow dry!”
Thursday, March 23, 2006
countries i've seen
You might as well get to know a bit about me, while you're on my blog, right? It seems that the visited country map is very popular among people that have lived on ships, like me.
Yes, I've been to all the red countries, which means I've been around the world a bit, but not quite. 44 countries is only 19% of the world. And I have to admit, I haven't been to Alaska.
As for Russia, well...only the part on the West and not that huge block of red that you see on the map. Yeah, the map shows me slightly cooler than I am, but there's plenty of white left hey! ;)
Anyway, that is 44 countries I've been to, which is 19% of the world. Conclusion: the world is huge!
create your own visited country map
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
blessed beyond reason
Hi, there's a suspicion I have and sometimes I feel certain that I'm truly the most fortunate girl in the world.
It's not the first time I say this. Why? I think it's mostly because I know it. It's all a matter of knowing how to count your blessings...perhaps I'm gifted with that. It's a gift I profit from in the first place.
A lot of this is also because I simply know myself loved. There's a great multitude of people in this world, who do not know themselves loved like I do. I doubt I deserve that, at least not more than others.
My shortcomings are ever present, I've lived with myself long enough to be aware of it. I'm loved despite all of them. By God, Who would love me no matter what...it's called grace. But also by a great number of amazing people...all the ones that I'd want to be loved by I think. Knowing that helps me even love myself, which is a tough job for most girls. (c;
It's not the first time I say this. Why? I think it's mostly because I know it. It's all a matter of knowing how to count your blessings...perhaps I'm gifted with that. It's a gift I profit from in the first place.
A lot of this is also because I simply know myself loved. There's a great multitude of people in this world, who do not know themselves loved like I do. I doubt I deserve that, at least not more than others.
My shortcomings are ever present, I've lived with myself long enough to be aware of it. I'm loved despite all of them. By God, Who would love me no matter what...it's called grace. But also by a great number of amazing people...all the ones that I'd want to be loved by I think. Knowing that helps me even love myself, which is a tough job for most girls. (c;
Thursday, March 02, 2006
cry
Studying midwifery in a country where abortion is legal during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, you are expected to visit an abortion clinic. I did today. It was awful. They don't tell you that it's awful. They say that 1 in 5 women here will at some point before they reach the age of 50 choose for such a procedure. I hope that's not true. I fear it will be true.
It is just too easy, even though you are sent home after some counselling for a 6 day consideration period. They say people are against it, until they need it. The law states that a woman must find herself in an emergency situation, for her to be allowed an abortion. However, this is not specified and so she has the right to decide whether her situation is an emergency.
The rights of women are protected somehow. The rights of a new life, not yet able to stand up for itself, are not. The people I met working at the abortion clinic, are glad to work there. Their job is one with variety and regular hours and women are thankful for their support. They value their work and some say it is "addictive" (the way helping people can be addictive). They don't seem to think about the children that die under their hands...they are not yet children, they are called "unplanned pregnancies". They will never have the chance to become children. We kill them before we can recognize their shapes. Or else we do it with our eyes closed.
I cried my eyes out thinking about where I've been today. I bet God cried more...He created. The price of a child - that is, for a woman to get rid of it - is twice €1.45 (as she must have two appointments). Life has become cheap, don't you think?
It is just too easy, even though you are sent home after some counselling for a 6 day consideration period. They say people are against it, until they need it. The law states that a woman must find herself in an emergency situation, for her to be allowed an abortion. However, this is not specified and so she has the right to decide whether her situation is an emergency.
The rights of women are protected somehow. The rights of a new life, not yet able to stand up for itself, are not. The people I met working at the abortion clinic, are glad to work there. Their job is one with variety and regular hours and women are thankful for their support. They value their work and some say it is "addictive" (the way helping people can be addictive). They don't seem to think about the children that die under their hands...they are not yet children, they are called "unplanned pregnancies". They will never have the chance to become children. We kill them before we can recognize their shapes. Or else we do it with our eyes closed.
I cried my eyes out thinking about where I've been today. I bet God cried more...He created. The price of a child - that is, for a woman to get rid of it - is twice €1.45 (as she must have two appointments). Life has become cheap, don't you think?
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Beginnings
I'm starting a blog and asking to be silenced. That's because you never know what foolish things I may say and I hope someone will stop me when it gets bad!
I considered blogging, because sometimes I read or experience things that I want to share and why not post that where people read it who choose to read it. But I do dread the consequences of everyone being able to marvel at my ponderings.
I'll be selective then. Someone said I could start a blog and not mention anything religious so as not to offend anyone, but what is left to say that could possibly be of importance if I cannot speak about the One I love the most!
God is the one who gives me life and I admit I do forget to mention Him so often in everyday life. Well, not on this blog. (c:
I considered blogging, because sometimes I read or experience things that I want to share and why not post that where people read it who choose to read it. But I do dread the consequences of everyone being able to marvel at my ponderings.
I'll be selective then. Someone said I could start a blog and not mention anything religious so as not to offend anyone, but what is left to say that could possibly be of importance if I cannot speak about the One I love the most!
God is the one who gives me life and I admit I do forget to mention Him so often in everyday life. Well, not on this blog. (c:
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