A Barista in Africa

I will understand if you're a bit confused. Yes, it is true. I am working at a Starbucks in Africa. :) Yesterday my friend Jenny and I were trained as baristas and worked our first shift in the cafe. I made a few lattes, chai teas, a frappuccino, and sold some snacks. The Starbucks on the ship is run by volunteers. Basically anyone on the ship can get trained if they wish to.

Tonight there was an open house in the hospital! It was really fun. We got to learn how to tie sutures, administer IV's, identify OR instruments, and more. I learned a good bit.

The other day I had the privilege of meeting Cheryl Solvig. Cheryl is a good friend of my dear friend Kari Payne. Ms. Payne, it was such a joy to meet her and share conversation involving home. I delivered her the package and gave her a huge hug. She sweetly mentioned, with glassy eyes, that seeing me made her miss home. It made me miss home too. Oh! how sweet and comforting is the universal body of Christ. It does not matter where you are, what country you're from, what language you speak, what color your skin is, or what age you are--Jesus unites people.

This afternoon I went off the ship to the craft market. Each time I go off the ship I'm repeatedly faced with the poor material state of the city. Of course the city doesn't change, but after a while I thought I would just get used to it. And to think that Conakry isn't considered poor. I cannot imagine or comprehend what it would be like to grow up here and walk down the crowded, dirty streets, sweating in the blazing sun while carrying a basket of goods on my head. Day after day.In our taxi on the way back to the ship, as we were slowed by the traffic, an albino boy came up to the window and tried talking to us. His skin was chalky white, but all his features were African. His hair was also white. It was so strange. Supposedly Guinea is one of the only countries in West Africa where albino children are accepted. In other countries they would be killed or sent off to a place where only albino children live. We are so incredibly rich in the US. Poverty, however, plagues both West Africa and the US. Man thrives off of relationships. Walking the streets of Conakry you can look into the eyes of so many people and wonder "who are they? what is their story?" Rejection and isolation leave a gaping hole. But our Lord knows every single one of these people. He knows each one by name.