"Ship Work..."

While we are here in Tenerife, we are getting a lot done aboard the Africa Mercy.  This is the main purpose for us the be here-to get inspections done and get annual upkeep done on the ship.

Underneath the lowest deck of the Africa Mercy (a double bottom), and in places along the side of the ship, are large tanks which hold fuel oil, ballast (sea water), fresh water, and some which are empty. The tanks have to be cleaned to be surveyed (inspected) by a surveyor from our classification society (Bureau Veritas). You get into the tanks by taking an oval cover off the deck or bulkhead (24 bolts), removing the plate and worming your way into the tank. The tanks always hot and humid (water tanks) or dank and very dirty with sludge in the bottom (fuel tanks). 

Volunteers (from non-technical departments such as Stewards, Reception, Nursing etc.) sign up for this and receive special training. The tank cleaners come out after a few hours filthy, tired but with a great sense of accomplishment.

Another job that is happening is the removal of the old logo and painting of the funnel in preparation to put on the new logo.

A major job is the construction of a pool on deck 8. Mercy Ships was blessed with a single donor who wanted to bless the crew with a built in pool.  This generosity is greatly going to benefit the recreational needs of the crew.

Besides the obvious jobs that are happening, the crew is maintaining their regular work hours.  The nursing staff is rewritting medical manuels, cleaning is still happening, repairs are being made by the technical department, the finance department had a major upgrade to their software...and has to work out the bugs from the upgrade, and machinery that needs to be fixed is getting  repaired.  Many volunteers will fly into Tenerife just for the weeks that we are here to give their techinical expertise in many areas.   We are very greatful for the time we have to prepare us for the outreach in Togo.

"Haiti..."

This is a press release from our CEO Sam Smith

Emergency Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund


Mercy Ships activates Disaster Relief Mercy Teams in response.  The most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in more than 200 years has left parts of the impoverished Caribbean nation in ruins, destroying buildings and burying people in the rubble. Mercy Ships is mobilizing Disaster Relief Mercy Teams comprised of both Medical and Non-medical personnel to engage with long established partnerships on the ground in Haiti.

The earthquake measured 7.0 and buildings all across the capital of Port-au-Prince have collapsed, including the presidential palace and the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti.  Currently, teams of highly trained Mercy Teams personnel are being assembled and the biggest need is financial support. Anyone interested in supporting the Mercy Ships disaster relief effort is encouraged to visit our website www.mercyships.org to make a donation and help us bring hope and healing.

"Tenerife Fun..."

First of all, I want to thank everyone who sent us Christmas cards...it has been wonderful to hear how everyone is doing and to have some pictures to put on our cabin walls of friends and family!  And for the people who have supported us, we thank you!

The kids and I spend a lot of time just walking around Tenerife seeing the different sights.  I wanted to share with you some of the sights we have seen. 

This picture I took the other morning for our cabin window...I just love the rainbow over the mountains.  It reminds me of God's continual promises and His faithfulness to us.

Our ship across the harbour.  We are berthed at the end of the cruise ship dock.  It is about 2 miles (1.2 km) to the start of the dock.

We see all sorts of cruise ships come into port.  This is one of my favorite-the Aida Luna.

This cruise ship is 16 decks above the water-it made the Africa Mercy look very tiny!

Whenever we walk past this store, we all yell:  "FUURR-PEEE".  We're not quite sure how it is pronounced or what the store sells, but it us fun to say.  (Sue and Maggie joined Joshua and Alisia in this picture.)

This is the auditorium that we use as a land mark to return to the ship.  We are all debating what kind of helmet it reminds us of...Finally, my favorite picture...

When you're tiny, you can park whatever or however you want!

"Family..."

When you are half way across the world from family, when you do have time together it is precious.  For 2 weeks we had Deb's parents visiting from Canada.  They arrive 2 days before we arrived in Tenerife and left on Jan. 2. It was really wonderful to explore the island of Tenerife together, walk along the beaches, drink coffee, and mainly enjoy each other's company. 

Tenerife is a very diverse island, as we discovered when we drove to the top of Mt. Teide (the volcano at the center of the Island)

Later we stopped at the cutest cafe on the side of the road for a late lunch.  Where we had probably one of the best meals at the most reasonable price.

One of the other diverse aspects of the island is the ocean walkways.  We strolled along the ocean, watching the waves crash over the black sand beaches.  Just the beauty and the power of the ocean is breath-taking.

One of our favorite things to do, was to find a cute cafe along the ocean front, and sit and have coffee-just watch the people and the ocean.  For Joshua it was a bit of an experience since many female sunbathers feel very comfortable going topless. (Sorry no sunbathers, just Mike and I having coffee...=)

 

One of the other sights we saw was the amazing churches.  I love to walk and look into the old churches and the grandure of them.  It is very awe-inspiring.

Our time with my parents went very fast.  We know it will be a long time before we see family again, and have treasured the time we had with them. 

"Fruits of Labor..."

Several months ago Aug 8/09, Mike wrote about the Agricultural program Mercy Ships was involved in...we now are seeing the fuit of that program.  This was a picture that Mike took in August when he visited Hevie. 

NOW...
Pascal Gbaglo is a farmer in Hévié, Benin. Life has always been a struggle for him and his family.


For years, Pascal has farmed using traditional West African methods of planting, slashing, and burning the land. His crops have always been minimal, barely enough to feed his family of seven. Sometimes they failed completely. His family did not want to work the land with him because it often produced nothing.

In May, he was standing outside of his home when he saw a line of Mercy Ships vehicles driving through Hévié. He discovered that Mercy Ships and Bethesda, a local NGO (non-governmental organization), were starting an agriculture training program in Hévié. Wanting to learn more about farming, he asked to join the program. Although it was already filled to capacity, Pascal was allowed to stay.

Excited, he began attending every class. The agriculture training program, "Food For Life," teaches biblical organic farming principles, which focus on being a good steward of the land. Pascal began incorporating these principles into his farming practices at home. In a very short time, he noticed something - his crops were growing! And they were growing faster, fuller, and in a much larger quantity. Before long, not only was he producing enough food to feed his family, but he had a surplus of crops to sell at the local market.

"I used to do agriculture the traditional method, but nothing grew," said Pascal. "Now that I have been taught to farm the way God wants me to, my crops are growing well on the same land. Every time we plant, we pray, asking God to bless the work of our hands - and He is."

For the first time, using the money from the surplus crops, Pascal is able to send his eldest four children to school. Already, he is passing down his farming knowledge to the next generation. His entire family is working the land with him - including his 2-year-old son, Gédeon.

Neighboring farmers are coming to Pascal's farm asking, "What are you doing to make your crops grow so fast? What kind of fertilizer are you using? What kind of pesticides?" When he tells them, "nothing," they say, "You have to have a secret; you're not telling us your secret."

Fortunately, Pascal and the "Food For Life" staff are happy to share their "secret" with others.

Ken Winebark, the Agriculture Program Administrator, said, "The principles we are sharing with them are very basic, and they're (the local farmers) grasping it. It's neat because we are having the opportunity to see things start to take shape. Many times, you don't know if you're accomplishing anything. You think and hope things are going well, but you don't really know. To be able to come back four months later and see the difference it's made already is really encouraging. It's great to lead the students through the process of realizing their vision."
Written by Megan Petock; Edited by Nancy Predaina; Photo by Ken Winebark

"New Beginnings..."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
As I laid in bed last night listening to the fireworks and the ship horns go off to ring in the new year...I was praying and thinking of new beginnings.  God gives each one of us a new beginning-"we are new creations in Christ-the old is gone the new has come."  My thoughts then wandered to change-life is full of change the only consistant thread in life is Christ-"for I am the same yesterday, today, and forever."  My prayer for the new year is that in the midst of new beginnings and change-may Christ be your constant thread through the changes of 2010.

"Faces..."

We have spent the last few days, with my parents, exploring the Island of Tenerife.  It has been wonderful to spend time with family.  As my parents prepare to leave, I am putting pictures together for them to take to my brother.  I came across many faces that have become very familiar to me over the last few months.  Most of them patients, whose lives are forever changed because of the vision and obedience of Don and Deon Stephens (Mercy Ships founders).  I had to share a few of these faces with you.

For every one picture there are hundreds of other pictures of faces, smiles, and hugs I could have posted. 

In the book of John, Jesus asked a man:  "Do you want to be healed?"  The man's reply was "Sir, I have no one to help me..."  I have been pondering this for quite awhile, we are the hands and the feet of Jesus on the earth, serving those who want to be healed, but they have no money-no one to help them.  As I think about going to Togo in February, I am wondering who will I meet, who will want to be healed...who will we be demonstrating Jesus too?