"A Day In The Life..."

 We have an incredible Captian aboard our ship.  His first concern is always for the safety of the crew...which in light of recent cruise ships disasters, it is a comforting thought!! 

On facebook the other night, he posted what his day was like.  I thought it would be interesting to show a "day in the life" of our Captain.

How to fill your day...

1. Help set up elaborate Hospital Evacuation Drill

2. Run elaborate Evacuation Drill after you have the PA system and alarm system repaired.

3. Debrief the Elaborate Hospital Evacuation drill.

4. Send dozens of crew to spend the night at the national football stadium

5. Test communications with the crew at the Stadium
6. Spend an hour in the office
7. Look into the trucker's strike and demonstration at the gate, they are being charged to park
8. Investigate near explosion in the battery locker
9. Help make 1500 sandwiches for crew and Gendarmes to be sent to the stadium
10 Pray for a special someone having surgery today, and for a peaceful night and day tomorrow, as the potential patients are already lining up........

Thank you Captain Tim for your years of hard work and dedication...you are GREATLY appreciated!!!!

"The Results..."

As I have posted in the past, evey Friday night is Ultimate Frisbee night.  A group of crew members go to a local field and play Ultimate Frisbee. 

Now that we are back in Togo, Ultimate Frisbee night now becomes, "let's have muddy leg night"...

No, the kids are not wearing tights, nylons, or leggings....it's just the dirt from the field they play on!

"Too Cute!..."

A few days after his successful surgery to correct his clubfeet, little Sierra Leonean patient Abdul Vandi returned to the HOPE Recovery Center in straight, short leg casts which made walking easier. He joyfully hobbled around on crutches with the other boys who were receiving similar treatment. We are very grateful for every life changing opportunity we are presented to bring hope and healing.

"T I 's' A..."

 Some things in Africa do change.  While we have been driving around Lome Togo we have noticed a lot of new construction in buildings that have been added in the last 18 months since we were here.  We have seen roads that were once narrow made wide.  We see people working late at night to sweep up the garbage off of the streets.  There is evidence of progress everywhere. 

However, there are some things that just don't change.  As we were driving back to the ship on Sunday after church, we had to stop for a random herd of cattle to cross the road...

This Is 'STILL' Africa!

"Student Life..."

Each Friday afternoon, the Junior and Senior High School students have the Student Life Program.  The Student Life program gives the students opportunities to experience different activities that many of the crew help to lead.  Every six weeks the students choose a different topic to experience.  Topics in the past have been:  cooking, sewing, painting, Jr. Security Officers, babysitting, photography, and singing. 

In the current session, Alisia is taking part in the babysitting program, helping to care for some of the nursery school children on the ship.  Joshua (see picture below) is taking part in the fictional writing course, which is being taught by one of the crew who published his first book last year.

The school may not have all the fancy sports and music programs a "regular" school may have, but it has amazing people who invest in lives of our children and build them up on a whole different level.  Thank you to everyone who invests their time and energy on Friday afternoons!

"Snail Mail..."

When mail get sent to the ship from the USA, it often will take 2-3 weeks even up to a month depending upon when the IOC (International Operations Center) receives mail in Texas and then sends it onto the ship. 

It was really exciting the other day when we received a bunch of our Christmas cards...in the middle of January!

It is always nice to be able to catch up with people via Facebook, email, or sometimes on the phone...but there is nothing as wonderful as receiving a note, cards, letters, or even pictures in the mail. 

Thank you everyone for the Christmas and New Year greetings!

"Getting Ready..."

Daily we are beginning to see changes on the dock.  Each day that is completed brings us nearer and nearer to the arrival of the first patients.  Slowly new and returning crew and beginning to come to the ship.  The hospital is being set up in anticipation of the starting of surgery.  The whole focus of the crew right now is preparation. Preparation for the patients who are in desperate need of the gift of hope and healing we have to offer.

Painting the gangway with slip protection.  The land rover repair area in the background.

Admissions tent being set up as well as two other tents that will provide services to the patients.