June 18th LDS CHARITIES

This has been an exciting week for us.We travelled by boat to Savasava on a nearby Island. We were asked to volunteer, along with other senior couples .in the U.S. Navy medical ship, "The Mercy". After nine years, LDS Charities was instrumental in getting the Mercy ship back to the fijian Islands.

The first day we were on a large field with Teams of Dental, optometry . and medical tents set up for non surgical treatment. 

As we arrived , we were blown away by the long line ups of people needing care. It was heart wrenching to see people sent away at the end of each day.They would line up every morning by the thousands. Everyday all day the line was about 2 long blocks long.

We met some wonderful volunteer doctors and service men and woman from all over the world. A lot of them were from LDS charities and members of our church.

Both John and I directed patients  to the dental and optometry areas. You can guess which one I volunteered at! 

In the optometry people were given eye tests. Then free glasses and sunglasses . Many had extreme eye problems. They were so happy and grateful!

In the dental there were 5 make- shift operators. Due to their level of care, 90% of patients needed extractions. All instruments were sterilized in cold boats.See the blog for some interesting photos. vermeerenfijimission.blogspot.com

On the second day we took a tour of the Mercy ship. They preformed over a hundred surgeries. For example repairing a cleft palate on a little child. 

It really was a amazing hospital with state of the art equipment. The ship travels on 110 gallons of diesel fuel for every mile. It has 2 helicopters and a staff of 1300 people. It can hospitalize over 1000 patients at one time.

There are a number of ships worldwide that have LDS Charities and other groups working on Them. We were very Impressed! Have a Blessed Day!

          Elder and Sister Vermeeren

Each area has a designated colour. Patients are given wrist bands the same  colour of the station . 

People were brought off the street into the waiting bleachers about 50 at a time.

Medical history is taken and their vital checked.

there were many LDS Volunteers.

Dental Area

This is Dr. And Sister Hogge from Logan , Utah

Instrument table.

The rain was pouring down. Mud was everywhere.

Testing Vision.

Nutrition Instruction were given here.

Portable Equipment for testing vision.

Sterilization with cold boats.

Everyone has a wrist band for different medical needs. IE: Purple for Dental, Orange for vision, pediatrics blue.. and so on.

Sister Missionaries..

Sister Woodward, Elder Vermeeren, Elder Woodward and Elder Hendrickson

Dr. and Sister Hogge.

Our Humanitarian Service Missionaries Elder and Sister Roth from Switzerland. They have 10 children .

The field was very muddy after a rainy night as demonstrated by Elder Vermeeren.

Elder Utai and Elder Gunderson the Zone Leaders.

Unique way to keep the rain from falling in between Canvas covers.

Dr. And Sister Hogge ,from LDS Charities, are serving on the ship USNS "Mercy"

  for the next three months. There next stop will be Papua New Guinea.

The whole dental Team pose for a photo.

Keeping  the people coming to this area when operator chairs were available.

Giving Directions. Little ones too are patients.

The line ups  started very early ,everyone was very hopeful that they would be seen.

The USNS Mercy T-AH19 in harbour where  the surgeries where preformed.

The Shuttle to the Ship.

The Harward's and the Vermeeren's prepare to tour the Mercy Ship.

Our next Blog will continue with the Tour of The USNS Mercy!