Grounded Travelers

2010-02-28T12:18:00.014-06:00

These photos, taken in January of 2009, capture a small portion of our adventure to Columbia, South America. Mary and I were astonished by the natural beauty of this vast country. For those who don't know, Columbia is a massive country; ranking 26th in the world for square kilometers -- roughly twice the size of Texas. Needless to say, we did not have time to see all we wished to on our 2 week holiday. This picture is of Mary as we are hiking to the ranger station of Parque National de Iguaque. One characteristic of Columbia we soon came to appreciate were the dramatic and frequent changes in elevation! We hiked 3 km uphill to the ranger station (50 min). We then hiked about 4km to a remote mountain lake (3 hrs). Along the way we encountered huge rocks, mud, and slippery inclines that were quite treacherous to navigate.

Colombian food was magnificent. Here I'm enjoying some fried plantains with fruit salsa. In the next picture I have a dish of troucha (trout) prepared locally--awesome!

The highest point of elevation on that hike was about 3600 meters (11.800 ft). I was completely out of breath every couple of steps, and had to stop and rest very frequently. Greatest hike of my life!

The picture of me with the backpack on is in front of a giant salt mine outside of Bogota. This enormous salt mine houses an underground "salt cathedral." It was truly amazing to see.

2006-12-28T15:23:00.000-06:00

Our travels in Cambodia took us to a silk farm (owned by the Artisans of Ankgor) near Siem Reap. Thousands of silk worms are raised and fed mulberry leaves for about 30 days. After that period, the worm begins spinning a cocoon. The cocoon is made of soft, yellow material that people can refine into different types of silk. You can see hundreds of worms here.....hmmm kind've reminds me of spaghetti.

Mary and Elizabeth enjoy the fruits of the tropics while riding in our tuk-tuk.

A beautiful sunset in the capitol city of Phnom Penh.
One of the four faces of Bayon at Ankgor Wat
My wife Mary is a connoisseur of fine foods! I'm adding giant spiders to my list of gourmet cuisine!

This is my beautiful wife Mary as she reads to this little boy. These kids love to play!

2006-12-24T21:14:00.000-06:00

OK....so it's been almost exactly twelve months since my last posting on this blog. No excuses from me--I'm just plain lazy. For the past year I've been home in Central Wisconsin, and not on the Anastasis (though my heart longs to return to Africa someday). If you don't know what the Anastasis is, please refer to the earlier postings of this blog.
God has blessed me in ways I could never have imagined. The picture to the left is of myself and my wife's aunt, standing in the doorway of an ancient Hindu temple (engulfed by a tree) in Ankgor, Cambodia. I wouldn't have dreamed of traveling to Cambodia before meeting my wife. What a blessing it was to go to Cambodia! We traveled the country for two weeks looking at sites, and visiting friends. Cambodians are a gentle and kind people, who have endured a violent history of war and suffering. Tourism, for better or worse, is the most profitable industry for Cambodia today. Amidst a growing tourism market, a staggering forty percent of Cambodians still live below the poverty level. An average citizen, even a professional with a college education, can make less than $2,400 (USA) annually.

This boy lives at a Catholic orphanage in Phnom Penh, the capitol city of Cambodia. He and about 14 other children between the ages of 2 and 5 live there. These kids love to play, grab on to you, misbehave, eat, and laugh loud! We watched in awe as they sang "Jesus loves me" and other favorite children's songs. They all learn to speak some english as well. All fourteen children seemed well cared for, healthy, and appropriately developed for their respective ages. As we sat and played with them one morning, it was almost impossible to believe that they were all HIV positive. Though their time on this earth is uncertain, that simple truth brought from "Jesus loves me" never sounded sweeter to my ears. I pray today that they understand His gift of love and sacrifice.

That boat was near our guesthouse on the beach. The Gulf of Thailand (off the coast of Cambodia) offers some beautiful beaches. The boy (in the other picture) seemed to be picking some sort of water lily from the roots (underwater). The picture on the left is of the largest temple in Cambodia (Angkor Wat). It was constructed in the 12th century by rulers of the ancient Khmer Empire. A mixture of Buddhist and Hindu culture can be found in these temples.

Our trip to Cambodia was a wonderful experience. Mary and I learned much about Khmer culture and the current situation in Cambodia. We also learned some things about eachother along the way. I thank God each day for the beautiful woman He put in my life. Her adventurous spirit and compassionate heart inspire me to be the best version of myself. By trusting and obeying in Him first, God allowed us to meet and fall in love. God bless you and your families during this Christmas season.

2006-01-03T12:45:00.000-06:00

Some of the 120 beautiful Liberian children from Great Commission orphanage in Monrovia, Liberia

This 5 year old boy is ready for his surgery: release of ankylosis (inability to fully open the jaw) caused by an oral infection (Cancrum Oris) commonly called Noma. Noma (exclusive to Africa) often destroys all external tissue, bone, and teeth, leaving it's victims (mainly children) with large holes in their faces, mouths, and noses-- this boy is fortunate the damage was internal and not visible to our eyes.

Once again, God has faithfully fulfilled his promise to me. As I sit in my central Wisconsin home after two months in West Africa, I've come to realize some things. There are people at this very moment in time, living in conditions far worse than the conditions that my dog Duke lives in. However, lifestyle need not have bearing on the condition of one's heart. The Bible tells us that God looks into a man's heart to see what is really there. I've learned that a positive attitude, moral character, and strong faith are not automatically produced out of "desirable" life circumstances. Many Christian Liberians live on less than $30 US a month. Amidst their undeniable poverty, they are living a life of hope for a better Liberia through the knowledge that God is faithful. They experience true joy in that knowledge! They know that God has raised up a new leader, and they are praying for her. They are excited about how the Living God has brought them a ship of mercy to help them rebuild their beautiful land. I have seen and heard their praises with my own eyes and ears. It is beautiful!

Thanks to all who helped me on this journey. Your prayers have proven more powerful than I could fathom. Your encouragement has been refreshing. Your generosity was gracious and more than adequate. I appreciate your ministry to me. Thank you for your part in God's plan for the people of Liberia.

Please consider these thoughts, and view yourself as the "I" in these statements.

All people are made in the image of God, and therefore, are His children. God desires a relationship with all of His children. It is no mistake that I was born into a rich culture, teeming with opportunity and hope. How will I use what God has blessed me with for the furthering of his kingdom?

This is my personal challenge to you. God planned our lives far before our ancestors even knew their own names! Listen carefully to his whisper--Do you know where he wants to take you?

Link to interesting article on Liberia's new president (Thanks to my brother Paul Texidor!) http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/moe/index.php?ntid=65579&ntpid=2

2005-12-12T20:07:00.000-06:00

Praise God for His goodness and mercy. The miracle of Jesus's birth offers a minute glimpse into God's magnificent and mighty character. He reigns over all creation, yet sent His son as a servant King to rescue this fallen world. And as if that's not enough, He also intercedes on our behalf through the power of the Holy Spirit (our "ace in the hole" here on earth).

We headed out to a nearby beach this past Sunday night to have a bonfire. Twenty of us (between the ages of 18 and 30) piled into two Land Rovers and headed 35 minutes away from our beloved refuge. 24 cold bottles of Coke, 35 bananas, a bag of chocolate chips, plenty of marshmallows, and a frisbee--Does it get any better than that? West African beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. The soft sand and warm Atlantic waters of Liberia make for a relaxing holiday any time of year. As the afternoon became dusk, we built a fire on the beach and roasted our banana s'mores. Ocean sounds competed with spirited conversation and guitar music to fill the warm night air around our camp. Around 10 pm, we packed up and started back for the ship. Taking the familiar route back, we had no knowledge of what we would soon encounter.

Liberia has elected Africa's first woman president-- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity Party. Peaceful elections were held one month ago, with the help of international election commitees. Ellen defeated Liberian soccer superstar George Weah, of the CDC party. She is more qualified, superiorly educated, and of higher moral character than Mr Weah. Since the election results, the CDC has protested, claiming allegations of fraud and ballot stuffing. Sunday night, George Weah returned from a post-election trip, and spoke to his supporters, encouraging them to "...seek justice, and we will use all means to obtain that." According to CNN online, Weah said, "There is no victor for now, and I say there will be no inauguration in the country until the world gets together and finds a means for a peaceful resolution to the problem," For more on his speech, click this link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/Africa/12/11/liberia.election.ap/index.html
Later Sunday night, the CDC rally turned violent, and UN rapid strike forces were mobilized to different parts of Monrovia. Angry CDC supporters assaulted, threw rocks, and shot at passing cars-- severely damaging 11 UN vehicles.

As we navigated the dark road that night, our land rover duet encountered a road block, forcing us to take an alternative and unfamiliar route. It was our first indication that something might be wrong. We drove for an hour through noisy crowds and traffic. The roads kept turning, and we had to turn around numerous times. Finally it hit me. We (or at least I) didn't really know where we were, or how to get back to the ship! Amidst the confusion, someone from our party established communication with a UN vehicle in front of us. It was a confusing and frightening time for all of us. One of the girls suggested we pray-- so we did. By the grace of God, the UN truck safely diverted us to the German embassy. After waiting three hours, we were given the green light from our security department to head back to the Anastasis via an alternative route. Our convoy was now four, as two other mercy ship rovers had been diverted to the embassy as well. God protected, and the Holy spirit comforted as we rumbled down Somalia Road (the road we took to get back) at 1 am Monday morning. Our captain was on the gangway as all four of his vehicles pulled onto the dock. His face showed nothing but happiness, but we all knew his heart had been heavy this night.

Maybe I don't understand the severity of the danger here. Maybe I don't understand violence or war at all. I just know that through everything that happened Sunday night, people were doing well. We were all calm and no one was freaking out. Most were laughing and joking through out much of the evening. There was tension, but spiritual confidence is an amazing thing. Paul said it in Romans 8:31--"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" And for greater assurance, skip down to verse 39!
Thank you Father for the confidence we can have, not in ourselves, but because you live inside of us! It is only by your strength that my weakness may prevail. Help me to trust and obey you always. Amen.

I love you all. Please order some warm weather for me as I return in 10 days.

2005-11-29T10:00:00.000-06:00

Absolutely unbelievable! Anticipating the holiday season is a lot like watching a large storm front move in. If you are prepared, you have nothing to worry about. However, as the clouds move faster and the sky darkens, there is not much time for decision making. In my 28 years, I have yet to learn and apply this principle to my Christmas time preparation. I prefer procrastination, and rely on the stale "I do better under pressure" theory. During these pre-Christmas months, the added pressure of locating and purchasing gifts usually leaves me feeling less than festive. I get caught in "the storm." Endless lines of cars in frigid weather filled with anxious consumers that are obsessed with finding "the perfect gift (at the lowest price)." Check out lines teeming with eager folks, plastic in hand, just waiting to spend that dollar. There I am. Waiting.

This year is different for me. There is no mall with food court here. There is no snow here. There are festive colored lizards, and jumbo-sized cockroaches here (they serve as great stocking stuffers!). There are endless lines of cars in Monrovia. Most of them are over-filled taxis because 85% of Liberians are unemployed, and can not afford a car. It is hot, dirty, and dark here (no electricity). Christmas lights must be powered by noisy generators that use costly petro-fuel to run. Not too many native pine, spruce, or fir trees around to decorate either. But Liberian Christians are not discouraged during this season. They understand that God's gift of life through His son Jesus Christ surpasses all worldly gifts. The birth of Christ is God's promise of HOPE to those at the end of their rope. Thank you Father-- for giving us your Son; a gift we can treasure, nurture, and cherish forever.

Things here on the Anastasis are interesting. A lot of changes are in the works for this old Italian luxury liner. This coming June, she will be taken out of service. Her maintenance outweighs her productivity. She has served tens of thousands of African people over the last 25 years, and leaves behind hundreds of broken-hearted crew in the wake of her retirement. I am deeply honored to be a part of God's last project for the Anastasis. In June, much of her equipment and supplies will be transferred to a newly renovated hospital ship called the Africa Mercy. After the Liberian outreach is completed, the Anastasis will sail one last time to Ghana, where the transition will take place. Please pray for the hearts of those who may be lost and hurt in this delicate time of change. Many have committed their lives to this ship, and not all have been accepted as crew of the African Mercy. Trusting the Lord with the uncertainty of their personal futures, these folks will be scattered throughout the world again.

Yesterday I was given the privilege of observing/helping in the OR. I was able to see a 63 year old Liberian man (Anthony) receive an operation to release burn contractures of his right elbow and axilla. The entire right side of Anthony's upper torso had been badly burned about 8 months ago. Without proper wound management, the body heals itself and replaces the burned flesh with thick fibrous scar tissue. Often, burns occur on or near important joints, and the fibrous tissue pulls the joint into a constant state of flexion and immobility. Anthony's right armpit was burned badly, and he could not raise his arm or hand above his hip. The thickened scar tissue is not elastic like our normal skin, and limits the range of motion needed for functional joints such as arms, legs, and elbows. The result is referred to as a "burn contracture." The plastic surgeon simply releases that contracture by severing the fibrous mass of scar tissue and extending the joint. This of course results in a large, open surgical wound that needs to be covered by something! The patient's own skin is then harvested (usually from their thigh) using special machines and techniques. The pieces of living tissue (skin grafts) are then carefully laid into the surgical incision made upon releasing the contracture (called the "bed"). God created the human body so that our skin can regenerate itself-- and that’s exactly what it does!-- only this time-- the healthy donor skin graft will allow for normal healing and the restoration of function to the joint. So I'm watching this surgeon do all of this (and he does it all in about 35 minutes!), and I'm talking to him-- asking about his kids and his family. God is so amazing!! Anthony will now have partial function of his right arm again-- which is vital to a man in this environment. God is using this surgeon for his purpose! Praise God for only He is worthy. Thank You all for your support and friendships!! God Bless

2005-11-21T03:12:00.000-06:00

I'm drawing blood on this woman (Lord have mercy on her) @ JFK hospital in Monrovia. This was screening day-- you can read about it in a previous post.

Worship. What does it mean to you? Is it singing familiar melodies with arms raised next to other believers we know and trust? Is it praying aloud, offering God the most eloquent phrases of our vocabulary? In my faith experience, worship has most certainly been music oriented intertwined with prayer. "Emotional" worship times are so highly valued and sought after that sometimes I forget why I'm worshiping. The thing is, I'm worshiping God. I'm making an honest attempt to bring an offering of praise to the Almighty-- so that HE is pleased-- NOT me. It really doesn't matter how "I feel" or "what I got out of worship today." It brings me back to the extremely foreign notion that "it's not about me." Getting over myself is my biggest problem, and if you have figured out a 12 step program to a selfless life--- I'm first in line. I realize that being transformed by Christ is a life process with peaks and valleys-- but praise God for his unending GRACE!

So why am I writing about this? God has been teaching me about different forms of worship. I'm trying to understand that worship is a life choice and not an event. Offering God the best version of yourself (the version that he intended you to be when he created you) is a huge part of worship. This involves the utilization of all the giftings and talents God has blessed you with. Thus, worship could mean one of 300 different things, depending on the individual. God is so wonderfully in control!

I've observed much in the short time I have been here in Liberia. There are many Christians here, and West African Christians worship loudly! But why do these Christians shout with joy and offer praises the way I've heard? Their earthly hopes and dreams have been destroyed. Their families have been ripped apart by the war. Their bodies have been mangled and misused. These people have no electricity and no sewer (and it is really hot here!). Their cities are in ruins, filth, and disgrace. Young men wander the street all day long with no job, vision, or future. Young women offer themselves to anyone who can pay. Fifteen years of war has destroyed Liberia. They have nothing, yet their hearts are full. I'm understanding that hope in the Living God can be a source of life and light to those in need.

Thank you all for your continued prayer and comments on the Blog site. Big thanks to you guys from St Clare's!! You are all awesome and I look forward to coming home and working with a quality team. God Bless and stay tuned......

2005-11-14T11:34:00.000-06:00

Greetings from the Anastasis, and praise God for his goodness. First things first; A thousand apologies, but I still can't post pictures on this site or hotmail. Know that I am taking plenty of photos, and I will gladly share them upon my return. Things are well here, and I am very busy aboard the ship. Tonight I will work my first night shift. We currently have between 20-30 patients at various stages of recovery. The OR schedule remains full each weekday. Our 2 maxillo-facial surgeons schedule 3-5 cases a day. The plastic surgeon usually operates on at least 3 patients a day, and our eye surgeon may help up to 10 people each day! On the ward, we work a 40 hr work week. I have had a fair amount of time off, and enjoyed my first West African beach this weekend. It was a beautiful beach with soft sand and warm water. Swimming in the Atlantic brought back memories of Florida and the family. Riding to and from the beach was yet another wonderful experience. The sights, sounds, and smells of an African marketplace leave little to the imagination. I also had the pleasure of worshiping at Monrovia Christian Fellowship Church on Sunday. It was an awesome time of worship and learning for me. There were about 200 Liberians praising the Living God in this American planted church. I was overwhelmed with joy as I saw how these folks burst forth in jubilation almost continuously! A young Liberian pastor of about 35 preached a solid and dynamic sermon on Neamiah. Words cannot express how impressed I was with this man. I then had the pleasure of eating lunch with the missionary couple who planted the church. They're story was simply amazing. God is @ work here. Next on my list will be to visit an authentic African Church that has had little Western influence---I'll bring my water bottle.

Last week our captain cancelled shore-leave as political tension surfaced between the 2 major parties in Liberia. Presidential candidates from the CDC (congress for democratic change) and the UP (unity party) had a run off on Tuesday, November 8th. As it became clear that the UP was going to win, supporters of the CDC began to march in protest. Unfortunately, some of the protesters began throwing rocks and were quickly introduced to an irritating chemical commonly known as "tear gas." Things have settled down this week, although I heard the CDC was marching on the US embassy today (keep your eyes open, maybe Liberia will make CNN).

Thank you all for your continued prayer and comments.

2005-11-06T05:42:00.000-06:00

Greetings to all from the Anastasis. Praise God for His goodness and faithful promise fulfillment! Let me first apologize for my lack of pictures on the blog. I may email selected photos using Microsoft outlook for lack of a better option. Let me also apologize for any medical jargon that slips through in my writing. See a nurse or doctor if you do not understand. Thanks to those who are reading, commenting, and praying.
yesterday we took our entire medical staff and many volunteers to JFK hospital in Monrovia to conduct a final screening for our surgical patients. Over 500 Africans had appointment cards from a previous Mercyships screening, and were given a final answer as to whether they would receive an operation or not. Surgical candidates were guided by volunteer transporters through a confusing maze of screening stations set up throughout the hospital. People were screened and then prepped (simple H&P and labs) for eye surgery (cataract removal), plastic surgery (skin grafting, benign tumor removal, and other procedures), and maxillofacial surgery (goiters, large facial tumors, cleft palates, cleft lips, facial noma, and many things I've never seen and don't know how to describe). Musicians played African worship music as many people waited in a large entrance area. Liberian interpreters were assigned to each station to facilitate effective communication. Amidst the stagnant heat, foul smell, and dirty floors, children were given balloon animals, coloring books, and stickers to pass the time. I was simply amazed at the amount of children we saw! I was assigned to the lab station, and performed more pediatric blood draws than I ever imagined (or wanted). For those who were not selected for surgery, a prayer tent was set up and staffed by Mercyships disciplers, chaplains, and volunteers. For many sick Liberians, receiving 1 cold cup of water, or feeling the touch of a hand was more than they had been given in years. These people have been hurting for a long time.
I was also amazed at the teamwork I observed within the crew. The teams involved included the medical team, security (very important!), the galley, general crew volunteers, drivers, and interpreters. A nurse practicioner from the States and anesthesiologist from the UK did about 180 H&P's in 12 hours-- that's amazing! As nurses we took vitals, recorded histories, handed out pre-op meds, drew blood, and made appointments. It was hot, smelly, dirty, boring, and exhausting. Thanks to our galley, we had fantastic food and cold water all day! I drew blood on the last patient @ 7 pm, and we packed up the rovers to head back to the dock (about 25 minutes through downtown Monrovia). Monrovia on a Saturday night in the back of a Land Rover the day of a political ralley-- now that's an experience I'll have to share with you in person! Praise be to the Almighty God for the rest he has given me-- I'll be ready for my 1st shift on the ward tomorrow.

2005-11-02T17:34:00.000-06:00

We're getting the ward ready!! There is a 40 bed ward (and 2 ICU beds) on the ship that we use to help recover our Liberian patients after they have had their surgery. It measures about 1000 square feet from end- to- end, and I assure you there is NO wasted space! We also have 4 operating theaters (rooms), an ancient CT scanner (takes 45 minutes to scan a head) and x-ray machine, a 1 room lab, and a small pharmacy. We are in port now, but when the ship is sailing, the ward is all packed up (including the beds) in hold#2 (a giant warehouse type place in the bowels of this massive ship!). The past few days have been spent setting up the ward and preparing for our patients. This saturday, we will conduct a final screening to determine all of our surgical candidates. We will be out in Monrovia at the John F. Kennedy hospital. I'm scheduled to be in the lab station performing my favorite task of phlebotomy---just like the old plasma center I'm sure!
We're also getting more medical staff today. I believe 10-15 doctors and nurses are flying in tonight to swell the crew. What will happen when all of our African patients/families arrive?? This experience is certainly altering my perception of "personal space." Although ship life is such a blessing. The people-- they're amazing. A multicultural crew from more than 30 different nations (good thing English fluency is mandatory onboard...or is it?) , these people know God. They love God. They worship God on a boat in Liberia. They work endlessly and joyfully to show others this. I'm excited!!

2005-10-31T14:15:00.000-06:00

Praise God and greetings from Liberia, Africa! Let me first apologize for spelling errors as my spell checker is not working and I don't have a dictionary (do they still have those things?) After traveling some 7000 miles--including stops in Chicago, London, Brussels, and Freetown (Sierra Lione), God has faithfully brought me safely aboard the beatiful Anastasis hospital ship. We are docked off the coast of a land that has been ravaged by war for the past 14 years-- and it shows. Over 15,000 UN peace keepers patrol the streets of Monrovia day and night to snuff potential riots that ensue quite frequently. From the moment I stepped off the plane at Robert National airport (about 45 miles from Monrovia), I could almost taste the desperation in the air. I was ill prepared for the 50 minute Land Rover ride on which I would observe deserted --half blown-up buildings and vehicles, hundreds of people living in candle-lit shacks, and UN tanks with armed guards. Welcome to Liberia-- welcome to West Africa!
On a lighter note, my international sanctuary aboard the Anastasis offers modest-- but more than adequate facilities. The crew is joyful and friendly, the food is colorful and heavy (we have an English chef), and sleeping quarters are anything but spacious! To say the least, ship life has been unique and rewarding. I am truly blessed to have been given this opportunity. B

ig thanks to my roomate John from Oregon for letting me use his laptop to write this-- the ship's internet is dreadfully slow at this time--I'm unable to send pictures for now-- hopefully this will change soon. Thank you for your continued prayer support!!-- We'll gear up and begin surgery in 1 week!
Stay tuned for more......

Once a beautiful city, Monrovia is now a collection of skeleton buildings such as this. Many Liberians seek shelter in this structure.

2005-10-07T09:14:00.000-05:00

Mr. Duke-- up close and personal (watch out for the tongue!)

2005-10-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

Duke's #1 favorite game of fetch could last for hours!

2005-10-07T09:11:00.000-05:00

What a good puppy!

2005-10-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

Warm fall days are the best!

2005-10-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

Duke the dog is in the driveway of our little house in Whiting, Wisconsin.

2005-10-03T14:06:00.000-05:00

My neice Elise and I had fun in Medora, North Dakota.

2005-10-03T12:40:00.000-05:00

Greetings to all,
New experiences excite me. However, the notion of an online journal is a bit frightening. Oh it's fine for me to read about someone else's life, but when it comes to spilling out my own thoughts and experiences to be made available on the world wide web-- now that's just scary! Overcoming my fear of journaling will become a necessary process for the next few months as I travel to a place far different from what I know.
I have been greatly blessed, and given the unique opportunity to travel to Liberia, Africa. A global charity named Mercyships (www.mercyships.org) has graciously invited me to serve as an RN aboard their hospital ship. Beginning in November, the Anastasis (meaning "resurrection" in Greek) will be docked off the coast of Monrovia for their second Liberian outreach of 2005. I will be providing post-operative nursing care for those who receive operations on the ship. Praise be to God for providing me with the means and opportunity for this adventure! A special thank you to all my family and friends who have supported me through prayer, financial gifts, and thoughtful gestures-- You know who you are and I love you all!