"The End..."

To everything there is a season...one month shy to the day, three years later, we are leaving the m/v Africa Mercy.  It has been an incredible journey which has marked and changed our lives forever. 

The disembarkation forms are signed...

We wave good-bye to our home for the last three years...

Joshua, Mike, Alisia, and Deb

When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I have done
For love's rewards
Will stand the test of time

Lord, your mercy is so great
That you look beyond our weakness
That you found purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing your praise
Here on earth and in heaven after
For you've joined me at my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone.

Lyrics by Robin Mark

As we look back at our journey, we can almost see, but definately feel the presence of all those who walked this incredibale trek with us.  To all of you who prayed for us, supported us financially and gave us moral encouragement we give a heart felt thank you.  You may never know how important each and every one of your are to us.  To those who followed us on our blog, thank you, in times when we wondered if it really mattered, we would notice the numbers increase in those following our blog.  Yes, we physically walked the journey - but ALL OF YOU gave us the strength.

The end of this journey...we wait upon God to show us the next...



"It is Official..."

Tomorrow we will walk off the gangway of the m/v Africa Mercy for the last time...it has been an amazing three years!

"Arrival..."

After 10 days at sea, we found land...Tenerife, Spain.  This will also be our last port arrival for the Jacobsen family. 

 I took this picture for my dad...the Tenerife Opera house or as most of us call it "the Helmut".

 Our new friend decided to ride the ship into land instead of fly...

 Joshua and his friends...

 Alisia...

 Mercy Ships flag...

 The Pilot boarding the ship...

 Docking...

AHHHHH...the mountains of Tenerife....

"Power..."

The last few days have been a bit more rough...but really not that bad!  I am always in awe of the majesty, beauty, and power of the ocean.

Thanks Shelly for the pictures.

"Activties..."

When you are on a hospital ship with 240 people sailing from West Africa to the Canary Islands for 10 days...what does the crew do?

 Hang out on the bow with friends enjoying the sun...

 Watch for flying fish and dolphins...

 Watch the waves...

 Appreciate the sunset...

 Laugh with friends...

 Worship on deck 7...

Play for Open Mic Night...

Play golf...sock golf actually...

Othere activties scheduled are movies nights, board game night, Pirate night and dance...basically the sail is a time to get caught up on work, rest, relax, and have some fun with friends...

"Sailing..."

So what does being at sea look like?

 View from where we have come from...

 View to where we are going....

 View from the port side...

View from the starboard side...

...basically 360 degrees of water...

"Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink."

From:  The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"Good-bye Africa..."

The time has come where the Land Rovers have been lifted onto Deck 8...



Where they have been secured for the sail...

Where patients once slept, now hospital supplies are tied down and stored...

All crew members have been accounted for...

 The dock is empty and clean...

The gangway is lifted...

 We wave good-bye to friends...

 Sharing this moment with family...

And we waved good-bye to Togo...to Africa...it is our prayer that one day God will bring us back to to this amazing continent...Africa will always remain in our hearts...the drums will always resound in our soul...we have forever been touched and changed by the people we have met and the worship we have shared...

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace..."  Numbers 6:24-26