Kaylee Wills = PIN CUSHION

 Nervously waiting for my injections

So this is a long overdue post since I was a pin cushion nearly a month ago already. Yes thats right a pin cushion haha. My injections weren't nearly as bad as everyone had told me they would be but I definitely could have done without them. I still have to go back in the next 2 weeks for boosters so bring on more injections. But for those of you who tried to scare me, I was apparently the perfect patient and very relaxed. God had my back :)

A total of 5 HUGE injections

The aftermath (pin cushion arm)

Don't look if you hate injections haha

One of the the special donations I have had towards my trip has been one that has come indirectly from my granny. She passed away quite a few year ago now but had left my mom with some shares. My gran had a big heart for the poor and needy and would go out of her way to help them or lend a helping hand. My mom made the decision to sell these shares in order to give me money towards my trip. I think my gran would have wanted this and been very proud to see what I am doing with my life and especially because I am following the dreams god has placed in my heart. I think she would be even happier if I met a Jewish boy on the trip to marry (she was a huge lover of god's chosen people) haha.

I just want to extend a huge thank you to those of you that have already donated to my adventure. It has allowed me to pay for flights and have my immunisations done.

My US Dollar account on the ship is now open and accessible for secure donations in any currency: Simply click on my Fundraising Site address below to visit my personal fundraising page @ http://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/KayleeWills to make a secure online donation.  The graphic on the RHS of the page indicates the amount still outstanding for my accommodation and meals on the ship. This is my account on the ship from where I pay my boarding from, the amount needed here is $1 500.

I am still needing funds in my South African account for things, such as medical aid and cellphone contract. The amount still needed in this account is R15 000. The account details for a contribution towards these costs are as follows:

FNB

Account Holder Name: K H Wills

Account No.: 62445765045

Branch No.: 220426

Type of Account: Cheque Account

Please put reference: *MERCY SHIPS* 

Stay tuned for the next installment of the blog which will hopefully be sooner than later. :)

Plane tickets booked...No turning back

I sat at the travel agent while my payment was being processed and it suddenly got very real to me (also cause that's the most amount of money I have ever spent in one sitting). I decided to only book my international flights through a travel agent and do the domestic flights myself as I get discount with Discovery and Kulula. It turned out that my domestic flights came to R922 and I had R972 in Discovery Miles so got my domestic flights for free, God is so good. 

I leave for my big adventure on the 27th November 2015 and will go spend the day and night with my amazing cousin Lauren and her fandamily. I decided to do this as to not take any chances with missing flights, sleeping in airports etc. My flight to Madagascar leaves the next day at 10:00 am and is only a 4 hour flight which is great for people like me who seem to get sick on every international flight. My whole trip will be just over 3 months in length and I will arrive back on South African shores on the 29th February 2016 (will only be back on the 1st March in Durban though)

I had an sms that came through the other day with a donation of R1500 into my account. I just want to say a huge thank you to this person and everyone else that has donated. I am truly so blessed to have so many people that believe in me.

I have been putting them off but next blog will be about the infamous injections...

Destination: Mercy Ships

So I have decided to start blogging again as I have been accepted to go onto an incredible adventure: MERCY SHIPS :) :) :)

My journey to Mercy Ships

I have always had the sense of adventure in me from a young age. This sense of adventure never left me and during my community service year last year, it was revived again with me working in the community and being away from home. I had the desire to travel somewhere new and help those in need, while gaining valuable life experience.

I started my new job at the beginning of this year and enjoyed the work, met amazing people and got such incredible experience. I still had this need inside of me to go on an adventure, but had no idea to where and to do what. I had been praying to God for a while about it and stumbled upon Mercy Ships while scrolling Facebook one day. The excitement that brewed up inside of me while looking through the photos and reading the success stories was immeasurable. While on holiday in PE my cousin was praying for me and confirmed that this was the right direction for me to go in. The whole process to applying for the ship took some time, as it required a full medical examination, in-depth application process, references and paperwork. It took me about a month to get it all together and at the end I started having doubts as to if I should go.  I submitted my application anyway and hoped for the best. A turning point in the whole process was when I sat down with my mom, sister in law and friend who drilled into me the desire that God had put inside of my heart and challenged me not to doubt it, as it is His plan and so I should not fear.

On the 1^st July I was officially accepted onto the ship - the joy that exploded upon hearing the news, was amazing. God is so good. I start my service on the 29^th November and finish on the 27^th February 2016.

What is Mercy Ships?

Mercy Ships is an American based organisation that has a ship “Africa Mercy” that has a fully equipped hospital on the ship that provides first-rate medical professionals, state-of-the-art medical and surgical facilities and health-care training to communities in West Africa, that lack those critical services. The ship is currently in Madagascar, which is where they will be for the next year and therefore where I will be placed. Please take a look at the following links for more information and to see some of the amazing pictures and stories that touched my heart.

Website: http://www.mercyships.org.za/home.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MercyShips?fref=ts

Instagram: mercyships

What will I be doing on the ship?

I have been accepted as the hand therapist during my stay on the Africa Mercy. This requires me to provide a specialist rehabilitation service for post-operative plastic surgery patients following burns, contracture release and correction of congenital deformities.

While on the ship I will be living in a multi-berth (6-10 beds) in a cabin which has no windows or a porthole.I will be sharing the space with other women working on the ship. Storage space is limited to a small closet and one small drawer. This is all going to be quite an adjustment as I am used to living on my own and having all the clothes that I need available. My parents were kind enough to buy me an early christmas present of a Kway duffel bag that they advised we used instead of a suitcase because it is easier to store away. 

My early Christmas present from my parents 

Mercy ships relies on a team of volunteer crew members who pay their own room and board, travel and personal expenses while serving. This allows the general Mercy Ships donations to be used for direct patient care, community development programs and other costs associated with its field service initiatives. 

I want to thank the following people who have donated or pledged to my adventure so far:

• Fawn and Nigel Jopson
• Christie and Steve Roberts
• Dave and Tracey Mclearie
• Craig Mannheim
• Tina Chetty
• Errol Wills 
• Gabi and Brad Wills
• Dan and Rachel Smither
• Lauren and Paul Henning
• Lorin Ash
• Coral and Alan Wills 
• Hayley and Ryan Braun

Please contact me on kaylzwilz@gmail.com if you would like to be involved in some way.

My next part of my journey is booking my flights and getting around 8 injections so watch this space to hear more...