Waiting patiently

DHola from the Canary Islands!

It has been an interesting and challenging summer. Shortly after our arrival to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain we went into dry dock. This is looking at the bow of the Africa Mercy.

Several teams of volunteers along with the the local Astican dock workers completed many projects on the ship. Both propellers and shafts were removed and inspected along with the rudders and the bow thrusters. The hull got a new paint job and the anchor chains were lowered, inspected and painted.

Inside the ship a new floor was laid in the hospital and new fresh water piping was installed on all the decks. There were many other projects in the engine room and around the ship but all I can say is that everyone did an incredible job and it was very fascinating to be able to watch.

It is interesting to note that the dock workers here vie for the opportunity to work on the Africa Mercy. They say this ship has a certain "karma" about it, that they are treated differently and enjoy the interaction with the people on board. I know that the "karma" that they refer to is the spirit of Jesus Christ lived out every day by the volunteers here. 

The best part of the summer was the arrival of my daughters Melina and Loren and my sister Ann. We spent an incredible ten days together. I was able to bring them on the ship for dinner and a tour. We took the ferry from Las Palmas to Tenerife where we rented a house in Arona for eight days and visited the Teide volcano, the Los Cristianos and Las Americas beaches, Santa Cruz, and other scenic places in between. We made great friends in Arona and really felt like part of the community. Thank you Dad and Catherine for gifting us with this time together.

Ann, Loren and Melina in the "Aroma Cafe" in Arona

As the world is very much aware of the Ebola situation it has caused Mercy Ships to pull out of West Africa for the time being. When I arrived on the ship in March in the Congo our next field service was supposed to be Guinea. That was cancelled and a team was sent to Benin to set things up there. We have officially cancelled Benin this past week. The borders in Africa are very porous and when people hear of a hospital ship they will travel long distances and cross countries to get to it. Crew safety and the future of our mission is the first priority for Mercy Ships.

It makes one wonder why this would happen, that the people most desperate for help can't receive it, that we should be delayed in departing for our field service. We serve an awesome God, he is sovereign over all. He has a plan for us, we wait patiently and pray for his wisdom. Even today we now see that our being delayed to begin our field service has allowed us to continue to work out an issue with one of our propellers. Many times when we are in the midst of a situation we don't understand why things are happening or the reason for them. Our trust is in The Lord and he knows the plans he has for us.

I was going to inform you of our next destination but we have been asked to wait until next week while some of the details are being finalized. Please keep this in your prayers as there is much planning and preparation to be done.

Again, I am humbled by all your prayers and financial support. God has shown his faithfulness to me through you and I am grateful.

Martha

It all come down to this

Every Tuesday or Thursday, depending on which days we work during the week we have about a half hour devotional with the galley and dining room ship crew and day crew members. We are read the most recent announcements and then someone will share a Bible passage, their testimony or an experience that they have had how God has worked in their lives. This past Tuesday twenty two of us were gathered and we represented ten different countries: Benin, New Zealand, the USA, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Cameroon, Congo, Germany, Lithuania, and Liberia. It is a humbling experience to share in fellowship with people from so many different places all loving and serving the same God. God is working in the lives of all of his children and it is a privilege to be a part of it in this unique environment.

I have had the opportunity to visit with several people and share our faith journeys. What has impacted me the most is how grateful the African day crew have been that someone would actually take the time to sit and chat about God, one on one with them. We share our thoughts, what our faith means to us, and how we can better serve this mission God has entrusted us with. I don't think I had ever been thanked before for just sitting over a cup of coffee during a break, talking about God and praying for each other. People are hungry for the Word. It is our joy and for the glory of God that we get these opportunities no matter where we are in the world, the mission field is everywhere.

Yes, we serve hundreds of meals, wash thousands of dishes, sweep, mop and clean up for the crew that treats the patients and keeps the Africa Mercy running. But to be able to share our faith and listen to someone else's story, and pray with them, this is what the mission is all about. The relationships we make that help grow the Kingdom of  God and deepen my own faith and understanding. This is a most incredible privilege.

This is Jolita from Lithuania.

This is Glorie from the Congo.

This is Grace and Babin from the Congo.

Yes, I really do work with Grace and Glorie!

It will be hard to say goodbye to these friends in a couple of weeks and I would ask that you keep them in your prayers that they would be able to find jobs.

This is a very busy time for the ship as we get ready to sail to Gran Canaria. Please pray for strength, patience and a safe journey.

Well, I thought I was going to add more to the blog before we left the Congo. But right now we have been at sea for six days. WOW              rolls.

                                            this      really

                                                ship

It is a most incredible thing to be out on the ocean, no land in sight. I spend most of my free time just standing on the bow and gazing at the wonder of it all.

This has been such a blessing, thank you all for your prayers, support and love.

Serving with Joy,

Martha

"Cliff" Notes

Cliff Tadoussac reporting to you from the Africa Mercy, Pointe Noire, Congo

This is my upper berth in the back of a six person cabin. I just hope the ship doesn't roll too much while we sail, it's a long way down for a little stone like me!

This is my uniform while I'm working in the dining room. I think I look pretty good in red.

My favorite port window. I like to sit here on my days off. I usually read and keep my eye on the activity in the port.

Here I am on the railing watching a ship being moved from one side of the port to the other. The tugs did an excellent job. This is the first time I have ever seen a ship parallel park!

Now we are stern to stern.

One of the most important things is to know your ship and where the safety equipment is.

That's me on top of the life ring.

Today while I was strolling on deck eight I captured this butterfly resting on the rigging.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter.

From Impfondo to the Africa Mercy in Pointe Noire, Congo

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.

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 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.

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

On Board!

Hello from Pointe Noire, Congo!

The last time I posted was back in Texas as we were winding down our Gateway training, several thousand miles west of where I sit today and many incredible experiences since my departure.

We arrived in Brazzaville, Congo on the evening of March 5th. We stayed at the Hotel Bravo which is really a place where missionaries stay short term as they are traveling in and around Congo. We spent a couple of days here getting acclimated. 

We ventured out for a long walk to see the rapids of the Congo River. Along the way we passed vast stretches of the market area. The photo copy "stores" are a series of machines that sit outside for about two blocks. We also came across some foosball tables so we paid our Cifas, played a few games and entertained the locals that were watching. As we neared the river the banks were lined with cars, trucks and motorcycles, this is the local car wash. The rapids were quite impressive and it was easy to see why travel up country is so difficult since there are no roads into the interior.

On Saturday we flew to Impfondo over vast stretches of jungle. From the air it looked like huge broccoli  fields. We had lunch with Dr. Joe Harvey and his wife Rebecca. Dr. Harvey is the founder and director of the Pioneer Christian Hospital. The hospital facility was originally built as a communist training camp but was never used for that so the buildings were just left there. Through much prayer and the grace of God, Dr. Joe was given the facility by the government to open the hospital.

Our task as the Gateway team was to rebuild the playground. When we arrived the playground consisted of two swing sets without swings. A slide and two teeter totters had been removed for welding repairs. Over the course of the next ten days we sanded, primed and gave a double coat of paint to every piece of equipment. We built a cyclone fence around the perimeter, built and installed four benches, planted eight trees and put wooden boarders around each play area filled with gravel. We used shovels, post hole diggers, pick axes, hoes, pole drivers, wheelbarrows, paint brushes, sanding paper, wire brushes, grinders, a drill press, a saws all, channel locks, wire cutters, wrenches and a ditch digger. We also had several wonderful hospital employees from the mechanic and carpentry shops working with us.

Our Gateway team consisted of the project leader, Ryan from South Africa. He has been with Mercy Ships for three years. Stefan from Germany, who has been with Mercy Ships for many years and takes all the Gateway teams on their field service trips and Erin who joined Mercy Ships last fall. The participants were Jamie who will be on the ship for a year working in the IT department, Alice, a dental assistant here for two years, Cassie who will be returning to the IOC in Texas to work in staff development and myself. Near the completion of the work it occurred to me that the playground was built by African design, European engineering and North American blood, sweat and tears. It was difficult, hot, and tiring but very satisfying work. We ran into many snags along the way and there was no Lowe's to run to when we needed something. It was a great opportunity to think outside the box and learn to use what was available.

Jamie and I also had the privilege of observing a Caesarian Section. The baby was in distress as the pregnancy was past due. The baby girl was not breathing when she was delivered and required suctioning and eventually mouth to mouth resuscitation by Dr. Joe for her to begin to breathe. It was tense for several minutes but I believe a witnessed a miracle. 

The people at the hospital and of Impfondo were very gracious to us. My French is very limited and I had never heard the Lingala language before. A smile and sign language can go a long way. We even went shopping in the market and were able to buy the food we needed to make dinner. Nearly every morning I woke up early and went to a small shop on the side of the road to purchase bread and bananas for breakfast. The food selection was very limited but we made due with what we had and I think we ate very well. The fresh pineapple and papaya were fantastic!

Alice and Cassie at the bare swing set.

I found this shape of Michigan in the rocks along the Congo river in Brazzaville.

Crocodile for dinner in Impfondo!

Sanding the teeter totter.

Friends I met along the way.

I will sign off for now as my pictures are taking quite a while to download. I hope this gives you a feel for what I have been doing. I continue to keep you all in my prayers and ask that you pray for my transition into my job and ship life in general. I am overwhelmed by God's provision and grace to me.

Serving with Joy!

Packing up

Hello, Cliff Tadoussac here. Just finished my last "Bubble Island Tea" while I pack for my departure to Africa this Tuesday. For those of you that haven't met me yet, I am from the shore of Lake Huron and have decided to tag along with Martha on her journey.  I will get back to work and let her fill you in on what's been happening.

     

This past week we had Basic Safety Training. On Tuesday we donned bunker gear and put out fires. We covered first aid and CPR. We discussed safety on the ship, everything from fires to mishaps at sea. We finished off the week with Personal Survival Techniques. This involved going to a pool on Friday night, donning an immersion suit (you look and feel like Gumby) and jumping off the diving board using the proper technique. Then we had to upright an overturned 12 man raft. I hope I never have to use this training but I am grateful for it. Mercy Ships takes safety very seriously, I'm all for that!

The highlight of the week was the arrival of Melina and Loren. They came on Wednesday afternoon and were able to go to the Community Meeting on Thursday where they met several of the staff here at the IOC. Even though our time together was short I am blessed that we were able to see each other. We celebrated my birthday with the Africa Mercy captain who happens to be here for some recertification training and a previous Mercy Ships captain who is here teaching our safety course. I will miss my girls dearly but I know that they are in God's loving hands.

This has been such an incredible time of learning, growing and making new friends. The staff here have  taught, counseled and prepared us from their hearts, I feel well equipped for the journey ahead. I couldn't do this without the support, both financially and spiritually, from all of you. I hope that you feel like you are part of this journey, I carry your spirit with me. You will be in my prayers and I ask that you keep us in your prayers for safe travel, healthy bodies and joyful spirits. Thank you.

Serving with Joy!

Still in East Texas

     This is what you do on a Saturday morning in East Texas, tie dye a tee shirt with red clay that you collected from the trail in the woods. We made a mess, got muddy and had a ball. I know I need to work on my technique but at least I have real 'red dirt' souvenir! 

     Last week was again a time of new insights, personal growth and a deeper understanding of God's purpose and plan for my life.  We discussed living and working in harmony and conflict resolution, things that I will definitely need to be aware of as I transition to life on the ship.  All of our teachers have been with this organization for many years and have served on the ship, they speak from a broad range of experiences and with a sincere heart to help us understand, grow spiritually and live in the spirit of Mercy Ships.

     I am convinced that the foundation and survival of Mercy Ships is because of prayer.  The people I have met here are authentic, humble and giving and they don't do anything without asking for God's guidance. It truly is a remarkable place to be!

      Just sixteen more days and we leave for the Congo! I'm getting anxious but I know that God is using this time to get me as prepared as possible. 

     Thank you for all the support and prayers, I couldn't nor wouldn't do this without all of you. This is a team effort.  Oh yeah, we are building another ship, due to be in service in 2018....... great opportunities await!

                                                      Serving with Joy!

     

Week two in East Texas

     WOW. We actually had snow here at Mercy Ships IOC today. As I write this it is still visible on the ground. Tomorrow it should get up into the 50's and melt the remainder away.  It was pretty, but I'm not really prepared for the cold since I packed for my adventure to Africa.

     We have completed our second week of training and it was incredible. We discussed Kingdom Principles, communicating with God and prayer. I love being with such a diverse group of people who are willing to share their hearts as we all strive to grow deeper in our relationships with God.

     This evening we went over to a staff member's home for dessert and fellowship. We had delicious brownies and ice cream in front of a warm and inviting fire, along with part of their testimony of God's faithfulness in their lives during their time with Mercy Ships. Thank you Bergstroms! We also got to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at our friends the Grizzards here at the IOC campus. True to form I fell asleep on the couch near the end of the program which is why I am wide awake right now and doing laundry. Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday so I can sleep in.

    Through the generosity of a fellow classmate who has given us her car for the weekend Alice, Jamie and I will venture into Tyler, Texas tomorrow. Looking forward to a little change of scenery and maybe make a few last minute purchases.

     Thank you for all of your prayers and know that I am praying for you as well.

                                                                   Serving With Joy!

Here's what I have been up to.

Arrived at the Mercy Ships I.O.C. this past Friday after a wonderful visit with Steve, Barbara and Andrew Ridge. Thank you for your warm hospitality. David and Ann dropped me off at my dorm room, my home for the next five weeks. Thank you Ann and David for driving me here and for all of your incredible support.

I actually participated, last September, in the first week of training offered here so I have been working in the mail room and warehouse these last few days. It has been a great opportunity to meet the staff  and gain an understanding of just how much work it takes to keep the Africa Mercy supplied. 

I have also met my shipmates Alice and Jamie and we are all very excited to begin our training and preparations for our field service in Impfondo and then on to the ship.

Thank you all for your prayers. It is a joy to serve.

Last meal with family

Just finished a wonderful meal of flank steak and roasted vegetables with Ann, David, Melina, Loren and Nathan. Family time is precious and treasured. Looking forward to the road trip to Steve and Barbara's tomorrow then onto Mercy Ships training on Friday.