Welcome on Board the Africa Mercy

Reception Area - Scroll down and see the progress!

Inside a Family Cabin

The Dining Room

The Cafe & Atrium

The Academy - some classroom shots

The Hospital - Recovery Room & Operating Theatre

My Trip to Ghana

The Anastasis arrived in the Port of Tema, Ghana on 2nd June. I arrived on the 4th June for 3 weeks. Over this time the majority of the Anastasis Crew were disembarking after many years of faithful service and almost an entire new crew were arriving - all those who have been faithfully waiting for the Africa Mercy. It was as you can imagine an incredibly busy time from an HR (Human Resources) processing point of view.

This was at a time when the Anastasis HR Manager was leaving. I was involved in the training of the new Manager and also one other new staff member. Below is a picture of Shannon(left) who I worked with and also Patti (right)who handles all the HR processing for our Marine Technical crew.

Medical Screening Day

Many people stood under Africa’s broiling sun for hours, waiting for Mercy Ships surgeons to examine them. According to the Mercy Ships crowd control team, by 8 a.m., 2,000 people were already in line for the medical screening.

Patients screened will fill a large part of the floating hospital’s surgical calendar. A second screening is scheduled for early July in the city of Takoradi in Southwestern Ghana.
Throughout the day Mercy Ships doctors examined patients with stigmatizing conditions; medical problems that often leave them outcasts of society.

“We see a lot of people with very desperate conditions; people who live in shame; people who have never been to the (city) because they’ve basically been living in hiding,” said Programs Director Chris Guillebeau as he worked crowd control. “They have large tumors on their faces. They have disfigurements and things that cause (them) to be removed from society most of the time.”

Mercy Ships offers hope and healing to these social outcasts. Free surgical appointments were made today for patients with cleft-lip and cleft pallet, disfiguring and debilitating burns, blinding cataracts and crossed eyes, clubbed feet and other orthopaedic conditions, as well as the removal of the outsized benign tumors that are frighteningly common throughout Africa.

Screening day is a challenging, but rewarding experience for the crew. About half of the ship’s compliment of more than 300 laid aside their normal duties to help with the mass triage. They volunteered for tasks that range from crowd control to a counseling and prayer station for patients who can’t be helped medically.

Prayer Station

It was very moving to be able to pray with those who we are not able to physically help. We can however show them compassion at their time of hurt and disappointment and something of the Love of our Lord Jesus. My first encounter after I arrived was of a distraught young woman whose baby boy (1 year) had died right there in her arms before she could be seen. He had a tumour on his head which he had had since he was born. It's so hard in situations like that to believe that you can say or do anything to help, but Jesus can... and His love embraced her.

Those we can help, receiving their appointment cards

Dr. Gary Parker examines a patient.

These eye patients leave very happy with an appointment card to return to the ship for surgery.

Our Pastor's Visit

It was a real joy to welcome our Pastor - Dave Latham on 16th May. Dave came to visit us and see the Ship for the first time. He was accompanied by a very good friend of ours Dave Fryer. Dave Fryer a Chief Engineer, was one of Andy's College Lecturers from Riversdale College in Liverpool where Andy started his Marine Education back in 1978. Dave Fryer also introduced Andy to the Church he was attending. It was at this Church that Andy & I first met at the Youth Group and so our journey as a couple began!
We spent a lovely day with them as we showed them around the Ship and shared our own personal progress & walk of Faith over these last 5 and a half years and also the progress on board the Africa Mercy.

From left to right: Dave Fryer, Andy & Dave Latham our Pastor.

Our heartfelt thanks is extended to both Dave Latham & all at our home Church in Liverpool & Dave Fryer, for taking the time to come and see for yourselves. Your Prayer & Financial Support enable us to be here and serve the Lord in this way. As our Pastor said, it is has been a HUGE undertaking to prepare the Africa Mercy for Africa. Our strong sense of God's call on our lives and our vision to play our small part in bringing hope & healing to the world's poorest through the ministry of Mercy Ships is what has sustained us and spurred us on to keep pressing towards that goal. God has been truly Faithful through all the highs & lows of our journey so far and the best is yet to come!

Touring the Ship

Dave on the Bridge - No, Dave, we're not quite ready to leave yet!! God willing at the end of September we can go "Full Steam Ahead"!









Up on Deck 8.

Engineering Control Room

The two Engineer's are at home here and share stories and experiences of their days at sea!

HR Department on board Africa Mercy

Here are the ladies that work with me:
From left to right: Me (HR Manager), Patti Cook (General HR Facilitator), Cindy Schoenit (General HR Facilitator), Pat Barrett (HR Technical Crew Facilitator) & Yvonne Riddick(HR Assistant)
I am blessed, really blessed to work with such a great team!

Steven flies out to Texas for BST

In February Steven flew out to Texas to the Mercy Ships Headquarters to complete a BST (Basic Safety Training) Course with 10 other Africa Mercy Crew. We have around 40 % of our crew BST trained now. The goal is to have 100% of all long term crew BST trained. The course involves, Fire prevention & firefighting (Steven is on the right in the attached photo next to Paul another of our younger crew members. This was taken during the firefighting segment), Personal Survival Techniques, First Aid & CPR & Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities.
Steven thoroughly enjoyed this week, so much so that he is now looking into a future career in the Fire Service once he has completed his commitment to Mercy Ships

Kids visit the Ship

In July this year, it will be 3 years since any of the children were allowed on board the Africa Mercy. This May Day bank holiday Monday was a special day as they had permission to come on board and see their future home. It was great to be able to show them around the ship, but particularly for them to see their cabins and those of their Africa Mercy friends. The pictures above are taken inside our family cabin in the lounge area. Off to one side there are the two kids bedrooms and off the other side is the parents bedroom and wet unit (shower, sink and toilet). We are blessed to have lots of large windows and a good sized cabin. The family cabins are all very different in size and layout. They are allocated on a points system according to your previous length of service, positions held & length of commitment.

Progress on board the Africa Mercy

It's exciting to walk around the ship and see the progress in all areas, though still much finishing off to do. Decks 1 & 2 :- Engine Rooms, forward accommodation, refrigerated & dry stores area. Deck 3:- the hospital wards almost complete, the operating theatres built, the C.T. Scanner installed, the sterilisation units installed. This area really is beginning to look like a hospital! There is also a cargo hold area on this deck with a capacity for 16 containers. Deck 4:- the accommodation deck for most of our single and married crew. Deck 5:- Reception, Dining Room, Offices, Cafe, Ship Shop, Bank and family cabins. Deck 6:- Forward Lounge (large crew meeting room), Galley, Internet Cafe, Laundry, Children's Academy and more family cabins (including ours!). Deck 7:- Bridge, Officer cabins Duty Mess and remaining family cabins. Deck 8 Open top deck:- Children's play area, Vehicle stowage during transit/sailings, paddling pool and hopefully swimming pool(for a later date - funding dependent).

Andy's Engineering Report

On Good Friday the 4 main engines were started, clutches engaged, propellers turned and about 20% ‘ahead pitch’ applied.
This test was called ‘basin trials’. On the morning of the tests the engineering crew started work at 3 am and were finished for breakfast at
8 am. This was such a major milestone that the whole department went out for a celebratory cooked breakfast in South Shields.
The ship, from a main machinery point of view, is now at about 90% completion.
Extensive trials were carried out on the harbour generators. These are the engines that will power the whole ship when she is operating as a hospital in Africa. These are now fully commissioned.
Last week the bow thrusters were started for the first time in 7 years. That was the last major piece of machinery to run. Unlike the Anastasis, this will allow the manoeuvring and docking of the ship unaided (without tugs).
Still to be done:

• Completing of survey reports
• Crew training
• The writing of machinery operational procedures
• Inclining experiment (to check the stability of the ship after all the major changes)
• Fire main system
• Incinerator survey and commissioning
• OWS (Oily Water Separator) to pass survey
• Approximately two days of sea trials
  The loading of fuel and lube oil

The Chief Engineer of 4 years — Alphonse Abraham, left the ship in January after completing his commitment. Since then we have had 3 temporary Chief Engineer’s each of them new to the ship. This has meant extra pressure on Andy as he is the Engineer with the most knowledge and experience of the ship. He has worked long hours during this time familiarising each new Chief, whilst continuing to organise the daily Engineering work schedule, working with the BV (Bureau Veritas) Surveyor, Shipyard Commissioning Manager & various Sub-Contractors. Over the remaining few months Andy plans to push on with completing the last two subjects of his Chief Engineer’s License

How do you know when you're flying over Africa? HERE'S HOW

Brenda's trip to the Anastasis in Monrovia, Liberia

Pictures: Roberts Airport - Monrovia & M.V Anastasis.


Once it became clear that the Africa Mercy would not be ready to arrive in Ghana for the start of the outreach it was decided that, because the Anastasis was retiring at that time, we could start the outreach from on board the Anastasis. It was therefore necessary for Brenda in her role of Africa Mercy Human Resources Manager to travel to Liberia to meet with HR there to carefully plan the staffing for this transition. She was there for just 1 week and had a busy but successful time of meetings. Forty of our current crew will leave Newcastle in June along with the many crew around the world who are approved to serve on the Africa Mercy. They will all now travel to the Anastasis to start their service initially on that ship till the Africa Mercy arrives in October. Brenda will travel to the Anastasis at the beginning of June for 3 weeks, to help with the embarkation of our new crew as the Anastasis crew disembark after their many years of faithful, loyal service. Apart from Brenda's 3 weeks in Ghana, the Cole family will remain with the Africa Mercy, along with all the other technical crew and their families who will be needed to sail the ship to Ghana in the Autumn. It has been an eventful couple of months, with exciting times ahead.

Sights, Smells & Sounds of a Liberian Market Place

It was hot, very hot. The noise and hustle and bustle of the market place was amazing. It was a huge market amid squalor and filth. The stench of rotting garbage and sewage clung to the air, intensified by the heat. The stall holders looking to make a living selling anything from fried plaintain, wood carvings to brightly coloured fabrics. I bought a wonderful "mother & child" carving for $6. I was glad to have Mark, a more experienced crew member with me, to help with bartering to get a good price. The market was surrounded by buildings stripped by the rebels.

Church Africa Style

On the Sunday, I attended a local United Methodist Church. It was Palm Sunday, so we marched down the village high street waving palm leaves, then into Church. The choir were amazing, accompanied by organ, jimbe and drums. The service was about 3 hours long (short by African standards!)It was extremely hot and humid and I admit to being rather relieved to be back in the air conditioned land rover at the end!

Surgeries on board the Anastasis

A highlihght of my time on board the Anastasis in Liberia was visiting the ward, praying with patients before and after surgery and viewing a 4 hour surgery. Kollie came to surgery with a huge tumour that invaded the whole of his lower jaw. As a result the lower jaw was completely removed(see picture) and replaced by a new titanium jaw. Next year when the Africa Mercy arrives in Liberia, Kollie will have bone grafts added to the titanium plate and will at a later time be able to have dentures molded to the new jaw. It was incredible to watch the skill and resulting transformation.

Visiting an Orphanage

Visiting a local orphanage was a highlight of my time in Liberia. There were between 30 & 40 children at this particular orphanage. Mercy Ships had rebuilt the dorms and the school room. Most of the children here had witnessed their parents savagely killed by the rebels during the war. They loved having their photographs taken. My visit ended with them singing a couple of songs for me.

Trip Down Under

In February Brenda and Emma travelled to Melbourne, Australia for 3 weeks, to visit Brenda's sister and her family - Heather & Dave and their lovely girls Victoria (7), Ellie (5) & Zoe(4). They had a special time. Brenda was last there in October 04, but it was almost 4 years since Emma had seen her cousins and Heather & Dave. We hope it won't be too long before the rest of the family can get to see our family in Australia.



While in Australia, I also visited our dear friend Jill Cowan and her husband Graeme who live in Adelaide. Jill has played a huge part in our lives, helping us to discover the reality of the love of Jesus and His amazing Grace. Jill is pictured holding one of her twin grandaughters.



Jill - We love you!

Sisters

Heath and I had a wonderful time together catching up. For those who don't know, I am the middle of 3 girls, Heath is the youngest, but by only 13 months :-) Heath is an Intensive Care Nurse, though as she is the full time mum of 3 girls herself, she works as a Nurse, just one night a week. Gill, our older sister by 5 years still lives in Liverpool close to our parents.

Melbourne Zoo

Emma had such a lovely time with her cousins. This photo was taken on a day out to Melbourne Zoo