They Are Sailing!

Home Sweet Home for our Africa Mercy Crew.


On 31st January the crew of the Africa Mercy were welcomed back on board the vessel after living for 5 months in a remote place called Appelsbosch which is about an hour and a half outside of Durban, South Africa.

Their home was a college campus that had sat empty for 15 years. They gave new life to the place and now it sits empty again. Only the Technical crew and a small contingent of Stewards staff remained on board the ship; during the intense shipyard time.  Five months of hard work later and in difficult conditions their tireless efforts were rewarded as the ship was restored to 'home' for our crew. 

Then on the 10th February the m/v Africa Mercy finally sailed out of Durban, South Africa. 

See the following Press Release

Mercy Ships Flagship Departs South Africa for 2011 Field Service in Sierra Leone

Durban, South Africa, February 10th, 2011 – The Africa Mercy set sail today for

Sierra Leone after more than four months of retrofitting in the Southern Africa

Shipyard in Durban. Considered the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship,

the 152-meter vessel has six operating theatres, and a 78-bed ward. It is operated by

the international Christian charity, Mercy Ships.

Four new 5L21/31 type MAN generators have replaced the former Frichs and B&W

Alpha diesel generators and will further minimize vibration transmitted to the

operating theatres making the surgeons' task more manageable. For an average of ten

months every year, volunteers onboard provide maxillo-facial, dental, eye,

orthopaedic and vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) surgeries to the poor in West Africa,

completely free of charge.

Mercy Ships Senior Vice President of International Operations, Jim Paterson says,

"We have been very happy with the cooperation received here in South Africa which

has enabled us to complete this major project. We are looking forward to many years

of faithful service from these new generator sets and associated systems.” Mercy

Ships expects the new generators to increase productivity by 32%, reduce CO2

emissions by 20% and reduce fuel running costs by more than five million Rands per

year.

South African Lourens Lessing gave up his custom design and manufacture of solid

wood furniture business in George to be involved in the new engine control system

project, where he helped “in tracking down a route through the ship from the bridge to

the engine room, through which we channeled more than 7km of cable.” Lessing, one

of some 400 medical, engineering, deck, and other professionals who volunteer to

serve onboard the charity hospital ship, says he learnt “a lot of lessons” during the

course of the project, adding that “patience was definitely a big one!”

Between February and December this year, the Africa Mercy plans to support the

Sierra Leone health care system by providing more than 3000 direct surgical services

to the poor as well as building capacity in the local healthcare community.

What a beautiful picture of the ship as she set sail yesterday from Durban, South Africa.  We pray for a smooth sail and are excited at all the Lord has in store for this up coming field service in Sierra Leone.  Please pray for all the crew during the sail for safety and for a time of refreshing as they prepare ofr the next field service. Do also pray that God will hand pick those He has purposes for in Sierra Leone and that many lives will be transformed, Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually.

Family Update

Since last writing our two older guys Matt & Steve came to Texas to be with us over Christmas.  It was not without its drama, the first being the weather delaying the boys arrival till after Christmas!  They should have arrived on 20th December, but weather caused many flights to be cancelled and after making their way there they were turned around to go all the way back to Newcastle.  The earliest flight we could then get them on, was 26th December.  We celebrated Christmas a few days late after they arrived and had a lovely day.

Thankfully they were both able to extend their time at the other end of their trip by a few days.  We had a wonderful family time together, very precious with much fun and laughter.  We enjoyed some great days out together including one very memorable day at the big Theme Park in Dallas called 'Six Flags'.

You may remember Andy was working away  on an Oil Tanker around Barbados, Trinidad, Curacoa  etc...during this time, to bring in some much needed finances, so having the boys here somewhat made up for Andy being away.  He returned home safely on 14th January.

We continue to enjoy being in Texas.  The kids are happy, Emma passed her driving test recently so they certainly have more freedom to go out and spend time with great friends.  Chris continues to enjoy being part of the Basketball Team, Josh is very involved in Theatre and is working hard practicing for his part in the production 'Mid Summer Nights Dream'.  He was chosen for the role of 'Puck'....one of the lead roles and takes it very seriously.  This phase of his Theatre work (also including Poetry & Prose) is competitive with other schools.  Van High School have gone to State in previous years so the heat is one to excel and make it all the way through to State Finals.
Emma continues to do well and feel more stable and happy.  She is in the process of completing her Tyler Junior College application which she will soon submit.  Her hope is to start her Nursing training in September.  She plans to study for the 2 year Associates Nursing Degree.

One really exciting piece of news for our family is that dear friends of ours from on board the Ship, that are  from Canada and have 3 teens the same ages as ours, have since also left the m/v Africa Mercy and had their visas just approved to come to Texas.  We are all beyond excited about their arrival next week.

As many of us do when we enter a New Year, we typically look back and reflect on the year behind us and also look forward to all the Lord has for us in the year ahead.  This time last year I never would have imagined that we would leave the ship so soon.... and I certainly would never have imagined that we would be living in Texas, USA, but HE knew, ...... nothing is a surprise to Him and He has proved Himself to continued to be so Faithful to us.  We are so grateful.  We continue to be honoured and blessed to serve God in Mercy Ships and continue to play our part in serving the world's forgotten poor.  Yes, it looks different now to how it did when we were on the ship, yes we need to remind ourselves at times when we get caught up in the busyness  here at the International Operations Centre and the ship is a long way away...but we know that what happens here, makes what happen from the Ship in Africa possible.
Thank you for your continued love and support and for journeying with us.