"We Are the "Gates" Family...

The last 24 hours has been a time of challenge, laughter, sadness and "so longs".
To start with, yesterday we went to the Tyler Pool and finished off our Basic Safety Training Course. We had to practise putting on "gumby"suits (it looks just as it sounds) and make a human raft, getting in and out of a life raft with life jackets on and in a gumby suit. This was all in training for "just in case" something were to happen to the ship while it was in transit. The only casualty was Mike's baby toe-somehow he broke it getting into the life raft...oh the hazards of being a missionary. Although as we were leaving the ER we did tell them they needed to get a different style of shoe...not very fashionable! They just laughed as did we...

Then today, we had our final "so longs". I purposely did not use the word "good-bye" because many of our "Gates Family" (as Becca titled us) that we have been with for the last 4-5 weeks, we will be seeing aboard the ship over the next few months. Several of the younger women we have "adopted" into our family. (The door to our cabin will always be open for tea/hot chocolate and conversation!) I have always wanted a large family and we have added many already! Joshua made a wonderful friend from South Korea-Noah.

We have been very blessed to have been a part of a wonderful team during our Gateway Program. Each person has touched and enriched our lives and holds a special part of our hearts. We are looking forward to serving with them aboard the Africa Mercy!