A Walk Down Memory Lane - 10 years of Service with Mercy Ships

10 Years Service Recognition Award

Far Left - Founder and Co-Founder of Mercy Ships - Don and Deyon Stephens. 

On 31st March 2011 we were presented, along with a few other Mercy Ships staff members, our 10 year service award.  It's actually 11 years in October since we started this amazing journey with Mercy Ships.  The above picture is taken in the Oasis Dining Room at the International Operations Centre in Texas.  

The presentation was an insribed Clock and Compass.

As we look back, we are humbled and overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God to us over this past decade.  We have seen and experienced so many things as a family so we thought it would be good to take you on a journey back in time and pick out some key moments over the last 10 years with Mercy Ships.

October 2000
We moved the family from Liverpool to Newcastle so that Andy could begin serving with Mercy Ships as 2nd Engineer.  The ship was into its 2nd year of re-fit from Danish Rail Ferry to Hospital Ship.  Brenda was transferred within the Civil Service and worked at Durham Passport Office for their first year with Mercy Ships while we did our Support Raising.
We moved into a very small apartment as we figured it to be a good transition to moving into a small ship cabin.  Little did we know at this time that it would be over 6 years till we moved on board.

September 2001
To serve as long term crew with Mercy Ships it is a requirement that an entry level training program be completed.  At that time this was called Crossroads Discipleship Training School.  It was 3 months in length - 2 months classroom time and a month on Outreach to Juarez, Mexico.    Filled with excitement and anticipation we headed for the USA to the Mercy Ships International Operations Centre for our training.  Our flight left London Heathrow on Sept 11th 2001.  Mid way across the Atlantic we were diverted to Newfoundland as the tragic events of 9/11 unfolded.  We were received with such generosity and hospitality by the people of Newfoundland on the day their population doubled, when.... as the title of a book perfectly described "The Day the World Came To Town".
This press article described it well:
On September 11, 2001, 39 heavy aircraft were diverted to Gander International Airport when airspace was closed in the United States because of the tragic terrorist hijackings. Runway 13/31 was converted to a temporary aircraft parking ramp. The airport terminal was turned into an aid centre as food and clothing was distributed to stranded passengers. The airport and its surrounding community afterwards received high praise for their response to the tragedy.

Our plane was one of the last to land and therefore one of the last to disembark after 27 hours on board the plane. 





January 2002
After completing our training programme we returned to the UK and Brenda began full time work in the HR Department.  By July 2002 she was working as the HR Manager.  We continued to serve on board despite the liquidation of Cammell Laird shipyard who held the contract for the m/v Africa Mercy Ship re-fit.  A long and protracted process ensued as a new contract was negotiated with A and P Tyne.
However, after 40 days of prayer and fasting through the season of Lent 2002, the final day brought an announcement that the Oak Foundation was donating $10 million towards the ship re-fit!  WOW! This was an unbelievable encouragement and blessing.

January 2003
Matt had left school and decided to join Africa Mercy as crew in his own right.  He worked for the following two years in Engineering as an Engine Hand and gained much experience.  Later we discovered that this sowed the seeds of a long term ambition to train as an Engineering Officer, following in his dads footsteps.  He is now away at sea on his first ship after completing the first six months of college time in South Shields, training to be an Engineering Officer.
The re-fit project repeatedly started and stalled due to contractual and financial obstacles.
Pic - The Africa Mercy as it looked when Mercy Ships first purchased her, before the bow doors were sealed up.

During 2003 the m/v Africa Mercy was moved across the River to Wallsend and went into dry dock for the next 15 months.

October 2004 - The m/v Africa Mercy was finally re-floated as she came out of dry dock and sailed back across the River Tyne to the Hebburn side of the river where the majority of the Mercy Ships porta-cabin offices had remained.


October 2005
Work on board continued.  Our family continued living ashore in rented accommodation with our kids in locals schools.  Andy and I were proud to receive our 5 year service awards presented by President and Founder of Mercy Ships - Don Stephens.

April 2006 - Liberia - With preparations well underway for the recruiting of post deployment crew Brenda flew out for a weeks visit to the M/V Anastasis for meetings with the leadership team on board.  Many of the m/v Anastasis crew would eventually transfer to the m/v Africa Mercy.  It was a successful week of meetings in which she also managed to fit in orphanage visits  and African Church!

August 2006 - Tema, Ghana

With Emma ready to go into UK GCSE's grades in England and knowing that the kids would soon be studying under a US curriculum it seemed pointless for her to remain in the UK school system. In addition there was a need for an HR Manager on board the m/v Anastasis, so we made the decision to transfer the family to Africa (Ghana) and on 26th August we flew out from Newcastle, leaving Matt behind.  Matt at this point had decided not to join us but instead chose to study in the UK.  Andy settled the family in Africa and then returned to Newcastle to continued his technical work on the m/v Africa Mercy.  He came out to stay with the family several times over the next 9 months.

Pic - Early hours of the morning on 26th August 2006 as we leave the UK for the M/V Anastasis in Ghana.
Another significant event of 2006 was that on 5th December Andy traveled down to London with his parents and sister Laura and also the Africa Mercy Executive Director - Ken Berry and his wife Ann, to be presented with the Merchant Navy Gold Medal Award.

 This was a great honour. There were 10 recipients of various awards. Andy had been nominated (we don't know how or by whom) to receive this award for his Service to Mercy Ships.


May 2007- Monrovia, Liberia - After successful sea trials the Africa Mercy finally embarked on her maiden voyage from Blythe, UK to Rotterdam for a couple of days of PR, then to Tenerife and finally arrived in Liberia on 23rd May.  The pics below shows the ship pulling into the port of Monrovia, Liberia and shows Brenda, Emma, Chris and Josh waving in Andy and Steve who sailed on board for the maiden voyage.

That same day our family moved all our possessions off the m/v Anastasis onto our new home the m/v Africa Mercy.  The next month was a hive of activity as the crew of both ships joined forces and emptied the m/v Anastasis, transferring the majority of her contents to the new ship.  In July the m/v Anastasis was retired and sailed off for her final voyage to India where she was to be scrapped.  A sad day for the many crew who have served on board over it's 20+ years of operational service.

Early 2008 - Monrovia, Liberia - Andy travelled to the UK for 3 and half months to study for his Chief Engineers License.  He returned to the ship and soon after our long hoped for family dream came to fruition as the family were re-united on the ship and served together as a whole family for the summer.  Matt travelled from the UK and both he and Steve served in Engineering under the leadership of their dad.

Shortly after Matt left the ship in August 08, Andy got his exam results through - He PASSED!!  He was soon after commissioned as the Chief Engineer by the Captain Tim Tretheway.

 Our time in Liberia was very special as we led a Ministry working at a home for orphans and displaced children called "Center for the Aged Orphaned and Abandoned Children".  We became very close to this wonderful group of kids and to the "Mom and Dad" - Dennis and Comfort and their staff.  Our three children were all very involved and we have many happy and wonderful memories of our time there.

February 2009 - Cotonou, Benin - We arrived in Benin in February and spent the usual 10 months there.  Much was achieved, many lives changed.  Brenda enjoyed her involvement with the Palliative Care Team making home visitations, sharing the love and compassion of Jesus to these dying patients and their families in the midst of their darkest hours. 

Towards the end of this field service All the Mercy Ships crew received a very special invitation from the President of Benin -  President Thomas Yayi Boni, to attend a Dinner in honor of all our crew, at the Presidential Palace. 

There were five medals presented (17 November) at the Palace.

Don Stephens - Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin, Deyon Stephens - Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin, Dr. Glenn Strauss - Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin. Also congratulated by the President was Dr. Gary Parker who had already been made a Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin in 2001 by President Mathieu Kerekou which was Mercy Ships second visit to this nation. This is Benin's highest medal and it can only be received once in a lifetime. Daslin Small Oueounou was made - Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Benin. Ken Berry was made - Officier de l'Ordre National du Benin
 

February 2010 - Lome, Togo - Every year the Academy High School students get to participate in the "Work Experience" programme.  Over the years our three kids have worked in the follwing Departments: Deck, Engineering, Hospital Ward, Sales, Reception, Galley , Dining Room.  It has afforded them unique insights into the work of each department and given them the opportunities to asses the areas they enjoyed and give them ideas for potential future career choices.  In this final year on board the ship, Emma worked in the Hospital again...she will go on to study Nursing this Fall at Tyler Junior College - her place has recently been confirmed.  Chris worked in Engineering - he is considering a future in some sphere of Engineering, yet to be determined.  Josh worked in the Galley...now...while he had a great time....he knows this is not for him! He definitely has his sights set on the stage.  More on this in another post!

At the start of 2010 we had no idea that this was to be our final year on the ship, but the Lord knew and he prepared us for what was to come.  In May we left the ship to get Emma some professional help and support as she became emotionally very fragile.  Depression crept up on her for a variety of reasons, not least of all finding it too difficult to cope any longer with the constant goodbyes of the many wonderful friends she made. 

August 2010 - Texas, USA - After successful visa applications we made the move to Texas, USA, specifically the small town of Van to live and work.  This move enabled us to continue our work with Mercy Ships, something that is very important to us.  The Mercy Ships Head Office is based just a few miles from Van.  I could tell you story after story of God's faithfulness during this season.
Emma has received the help she needs through the support of her family and friends and regular counseling sessions with a wonderful Christian Counselor.  She is doing so well!  There's definitely been some bumps along the road, but we are so thankful for the restoration we knew the Lord had in store for her.  We have held on to the promises of God through this difficult time and are so blessed to be able to testify that God continues to fulfill His promises.  'He knows the plans He has for our family, plan to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a future and a hope'.  Jer 29:11.  Also, we are so thankful that what the enemy intended for evil, God has most definitely turned for His good and His glory.
Our family is loving being here and we are convinced that this is where we are supposed to be as we continue to serve Him through this wonderful Ministry called Mercy Ships, hopefully for many years to come.  My work in HR continues to keep me busy as I focus on looking for ways to improve our HR systems, processes and policies for the m/v Africa Mercy.  Andy's role in Marine Ops is somewhat limited as he continues work on commercial ships in between, to subsidize our income here.

If you've gotten this far in reading our update, you've done well for sticking with it!!  I'm sorry it's long....10 years is a long time to reflect back on!   Thank you for your steadfastness and faithfulness over these years.  May the Lord Bless you and encourage you;  so many of you have partnered with us in our work and for that we are grateful beyond words.
We look forward to all the Lord has in store for us in the future.