"WOW..."

God "Wowed" us today.  Several times throughout the day we could go to the port side of the ship and stand in awe of all the dolphins and whales.  We even got to see one jump fully out of the water and land with a splash.  I was so in awe and stunned at the power of this magnificent creature, I forgot to take a picture.  But I did get these pictures of a Mama whale and her calf.  The calf would copy exactly what the Mama whale did...even to the slap of the tail.

Mama and her calf.

Mama's tail...

Calf's tail...

"Carnival..."

There are many things we do as a crew to keep ourselves occupied while we are at sea.  Yesterday, the Town Square and Midships area were converted into a floating carnival.

Booths were set up all over and kids and parents roamed from activity to activity...all with one goal in mind...to have fun...

Alisia helped with the face painting booth...

Joshua's grade 6 class set up a shooting target area...although he was having more fun in other areas...

Bobbing for apples...

Water race...

Decorating cookies...no these are not his cookies...

My friend and her son were decorating a picture frame...

It all ended with each child getting a turn to swing at the Pinata...with a cricket bat, of course. All had loads of fun...thank-you to all who were involved in organizing this great activity!

"Land!!..."

For the first time in many days we saw land!   It will still be a bit before we reach Durban. As you can see, the seas are calm.  A much welcome change from earlier in the week!

"The Eye of the Bow..."

I love it that on the bow of the Africa Mercy there is a cross.  Which reminds me that in the middle of the storm when all is out of control, He is the one in control.

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”

Psalms 107:29

"Rock 'n Roll..."

The last few days have been a bit of a challenge for the crew aboard the Africa Mercy.  We have hit some challenging weather, which has caused our "box ship" to do a lot of rocking and rolling.

The Africa Mercy was originally designed as a Danish train ferry.  Which means it is a box shape to allow for the train cars to be loaded and it has more of a flat bottom.  This now causes our little hospital ship to rock and roll a lot rougher than a ship that was built for the open ocean.

The day before all of the weather, I was on deck 7, starboard side, taking pictures of the sunset-while on the port side, the moon was rising...

Notice the calm waters....

Yesterday, Mike went to the bridge to get these awesome shots of the bow...

Once again, I am reminded of the God who created this ocean. The vastness of the ocean and  the power it holds is small compared to the power and the vastness of the Creator!

"Class Devotion..."

I love the fact we live on a ship called the Africa Mercy.  I love the fact we serve the poorest of the poor in West Africa.  I love the fact we can serve here as a family.  I love the fact the children of the Africa Mercy have small classrooms...awesome teachers...teachers who care about what they are teaching the children...who care about investing not only in the daily lives of our children, but in their spiritual lives.

Since we came back from vacation, we had to move cabins.  Our cabin in the aft part of the ship.   Even better yet, we are just outside of the Academy.  As I was walking down the hall to go to our cabin, I notice all these signs, and many others,  posted along the wall...

As I walked down the hall reading each of the names that the children came up with, I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with God...His greatness...His complexity...His majesty...That He is indescribable...But more so, this indescribable God wants me, wants you, to be in relationship with Him...a love so amazing...a God so amazing!

"The Youth Trip to Maison Bethel Orphanage..."

One Saturday the youth group, from the ship, went to an Orphanage with some Bonnie Blankets that Grace Baptist Church, our home church in Lynden, Washington, made for us to give out to the African babies and young children.  The Bonnie Blankets were made in honour of a martyred missionary from our home church.   After a Bible lesson, a snack, and crafts we played with the kids, did nails, and face painted. After about 2 -2 1/2 hours we gave out the blankets and said a sad good-bye.

Face Painting

Playing Frisbee

Drinking Hibiscus juice

Driving through a Puddle to get there.... it was a REALLY big puddle....

Meghan handing out the Bonnie Blankets

Two little Girls happy to have a blanket all their own.

When I found out that the youth group was going to an orphanage I was really excited, because I didn't have the privilege to go to any in Benin or earlier in the outreach. I enjoyed myself a lot and the kids LOVED us. The orphanage was really nice, they had a building with electricity, and running water I believe. It may have  been poor conditions back in the Western World, but here in Africa it was really nice. These kids are lucky to have a nice roof over their heads, meals, clothes, and now blankets.

Alisia Out~

"On Our Way..."

This last Sunday was no ordinary Sunday.  Normally Sundays are days when we head out to a local church and enjoy the lively worship of a the local congregation we had come to know and love.  However, this Sunday began with Nissan's being loaded on to Deck 8.

After the vehicles were loaded, the dock looked very empty.  The tents were all taken down, vehicles on Deck 8, crew on the ship.  This means only one thing...we are prepared to leave Togo.

So, the day began with our regular departure check list...

Life boat drill...check...

Friends all on board...check...

Gangway raised...check...

Wave good-bye to friends...check...

Line up on Deck 7 with friends to see off Togo...check...

Play with friends on Deck 8 till we sail...check...

Slowly pull away from the dock, which was our home for 6 months...check...

Check the starboard side lifeboats...check...

Raise a new Malta flag...check...

Wave good-bye to Togo...sadly check...

Honored by the Togo navy's escort...

On our way...check...

The end of a very sad day...check...  We have thoroughly love the country of Togo, the people we met and ministered to.  We are thankful for the lives we have touched...for those who have touched our lives...