Sailing to Tenerife.
We sailed from Liberia on 12th December and arrived safely in Tenerife on the early morning of 19th after a stormy sail. It is great to be back on this beautiful Island. There are definitely some adjustments to make having been surrounded by the poverty of Liberia for so long. This Island seems so wealthy and clean and VERY expensive! We are however very grateful to the Lord to have this time here. Emma, Chris & Josh are particularly enjoying the freedom they have here to go off with friends on their own into town, something they can't do in Liberia - it just isn't safe. There have been times in Liberia when we have had to hold onto Emma. She is touched and pulled and proposed to, every time she goes out with us. She takes it all in her stride but its hard for a teenager not to have the freedom to go out without adult companions. We have all really enjoyed some walks into town for ice cream or a nice meal.
I have had a wonderful vacation so far. I stopped work half way through the sail and return to work part time (while the kids are off school) on Monday 5th. I return full time when they go back to school on Jan 26th. This time in Tenerife is also our annual ship maintenance time so our technical guys don't get to have as much of a break as the rest of the crew. Andy has had several days off during the holiday week which has been lovely, but as Chief Engineer he is never really "off duty". The next 4 weeks will be a busy time for him.
Christmas & New Year.
Christmas on board a Mercy Ship is a special time and this year has been no different. We had 4 wonderful advent services leading up to Christmas and then our Christmas Service on Christmas Eve. Our main Christmas Dinner was also on Christmas Eve with a wonderful brunch on Christmas day. As is the usual tradition, gifts are left outside the doors and we enjoyed delivering our gifts to our many friends on board and woke on Christmas Day to find many small gifts for each of us. The gifts range from a sinlge candy to something like packs of home made cookies or nice smellies! Click on the Flickr Grid (top left of blog) to see more pics.
On New Years Eve we had our annual Ball and everyone got dressed up. We had a fun time dancing and just enjoying the company of our fellow crew mates, followed by a time of prayer and praise as we welcomed in the New Year. 5 minutes before midnight we went up onto Deck 8 and at the stroke of midnight enjoyed a spectacular 15 minute firework display at the end of the port. The sound of all the ships horns (including ours) was deafening!
We pray for each and every one that reads this that God will pour out blessings on you now and for this coming year 2009.
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