Drinking fresh water from a branch in the jungle outside of Impfonfo. Delicious!
Mama Sarah, as she is lovingly called, by everyone in Impfondo, a Canadian missionary for the last 30 years, took us to an Aka village where we attended their church service. Afterward the Aka took us on a hike through the jungle. They know what every plant is and what it can be used for. The water from the branch was sweet and clean.
Did you ever think of climbing a tree with a baby swaddled to your back? These people walk through the jungle like you and I walk through the grocery store. 
Our last day in Impfondo we took a dugout canoe and traveled down the Ouibangui River for about an hour. We stopped at a sandbar and ate lunch. Very beautiful. The river bank is lined with many little villages.
I finally made it to the ship on Friday evening, March 21st. It's great to be home. I am in a cabin with five other women, mostly nurses. They gave me a warm welcome and I settled into my top bunk and tiny closet in no time.
This is definitely the most common form of transportation. These children are about eight or ten years old and probably headed to gather food or firewood.
I started training on my new job Saturday, the 22nd during dinner. There is quite a bit to learn about running a clean effective dining hall. We serve over a thousand meals a day and it is our priority to be able to offer everyone on the ship good food and a comfortable environment. My coworkers have been quite generous with their knowledge and patience.
Tuesday 9-4-14 (here we write the day then the month)
I have today and tomorrow off, so this will be a good time to catch up with everyone. Work is going very well. It is a physically demanding job, moving heavy containers of food and going up and down stairs but we work as a team and have fun. We also have local day workers that help with the dishes and cleaning the dining room. Please keep these day workers in your prayers. Once the ship leaves they will have to find jobs here in Pointe Noire and this is a very difficult thing to do. Usually you have to have connections with someone or be related to them to get a job. Thank you.
We will be leaving at the beginning of June for the Canary Islands with an expected arrival date of the 14th. Our next field service in August is Guinea and I know that it has been in the news due to the reported cases of Ebola. Please rest assured that Mercy Ships is following this situation very closely and will make an appropriate decision when the time comes. Please pray for the people affected by this virus and for God's guidance for Mercy Ships.
Sunset off of the starboard side of the ship, looking toward home. Remember we are just on opposite sides of the big pond.
Thanks for all of your love, prayers and support. I couldn't do this without you.
Serving with Joy,
Martha
