thoughts from today

Screening Day, Pointe Noire, Congo, 28 August 2013, thoughts from dianna

it seemed like the line was unending. no matter how many passed through, the line remained.  thousands and thousands...all looking for some kind of help, some kind of hope, some kind of healing. i wonder if they found what they were looking for...i wonder what miracles God performed today that may never be blogged or tweeted or documented.  

i had seen the pictures and heard the stories and read the blogs...yet i still wasn't prepared for how this day would affect me.

why would i feel such sorrow for the ones who don't get passed through to the next level of screening - the ones who didn't get a small square with a speciality typed on it...the ones who have to settle for "just prayer"??   "just prayer" is far more reliable than appointment cards and surgeries.  do i really believe that?  

what if every person had been healed on the spot today?  what a news story THAT would make.  

i want us all to long for God's presence and healing as much as more than we long for physical healing for these people and for ourselves.  would i wait in a line all day for Him?  (i am glad we don't have to wait in long lines to experience Him....)(but would i?)

i don't ever want to complain about my "wait" at any appointment again - ever.  

our God holds all healing...all power...all blessing...all authority...all people.  He holds each one...He knows them by name...He sees them tonite as they are rejoicing with their appointment card in hand (i can imagine there's some amazing dancing and celebrating going on!)....He sees the one who are devastated....He sees the crew of the Africa Mercy who are still working to clean up, pack up and head home...He sees the ones who are trying to make sense of all they saw, smelled, experienced and touched today.  He sees each one...

thank you for being a part of today.  this is just the beginning....

feel free to go here: Blogs from the crew of the Africa Mercy for links to LOTS of other Mercy Ships' blogs -- you'll be blessed as you read the thoughts and insights of so many of our fellow crewmates (be sure to check back from time to time as it updates with each new blogpost).  

Surely there will be more to come.  

Appointment Reminder: Wednesday, August 28th

The following post was written by a lovely lady here on the ship named Catherine.  It is copied from her blog   My Life Aquatic.  

Appointment Reminder: August 28th.

This is the gate. Ici c’est la porte principale.

On Wednesday, several thousand people will be waiting for this gate to open. They will be watching from this exact vantage point. They will have been waiting for hours; some will have arrived the night before. For many, Mercy Ships Screening Day will be the first time they’ve ever seen a doctor.

It is such a contrast from the kind of waiting I know.

My waiting starts with a clipboard and a ballpoint pen. An armed chair, maybe a fish tank. The View is on mute. I forgot my insurance card. Quick phone call. Scribble numbers. Apologize. Return paperwork. Flip throughTime. Study finds correlation between global warming and ADHD. Good grief. A door opens. Someone calls my name. Nice to see you again.

Again, she says. 

Because I get to go to the doctor every year.

 

 We will see several thousand people Wednesday. Their waiting started years ago.

Screening Day can be overwhelming. No matter how many times I see it, the magnitude of need will always be incomprehensible. When 350+ of us arrive on site before sunrise, we’ll already be outnumbered by those standing in line.

So to level the head count, I signed you up to come help us. Yes, you have an appointment on August 28^th to meet me at the gate. 

Here’s how to get there:

Pray.  For those of us here, and our patients.  For our doctors and nurses, they will spend the day making heavy decisions.  For our translators, who will be delivering news that’s not always easy.  For the people Mercy Ships cannot help & for all of those we will.

Prayer is how we take care of each other when we are far apart. So thank you for continuing to take such good care of us over here. 

We can feel it, I promise.

(photos from screening in Guinea)

--------------------------------------------

Thanks to Catherine for letting us share her incredible thoughts, insight, words & love.

Surely there will be more to come. 

A billion reasons to believe in Africa

this post is especially for courtney (aka bean, aka courtdog, aka mrs. greg brewster)

During a community meeting last week, this commercial was shared - thought it was worth sharing here:  a billion reasons to believe in Africa

Our friend Suzanne said it well on her blog (her really lovely, beautiful blog!):  "I enjoyed this so much, not because coke is the answer to all the world's problems...but because of the way it celebrates Africa.  In under two minutes it highlights the beauty of the warm culture and strong spirit found on this continent. I love celebrating the accomplishments, strengths and potential of this colorful land. It is my honor to partner with the people of West Africa. I hope this puts a smile on your face as well."

We are privileged to be here....hope you can see a few of the reasons why.  

Surely there is more to come.

Gorge-ous.

Saturday we were able to go on a little adventure to a place called "Gorge de Diosso."  Not sure if it's official or unofficial, but it's been called the "Grand Canyon of the Congo" (for those of you from Columbus, think "Providence Canyon").  It was beautiful...some may even call it gorge-ous (humor me...).  

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

It's always a privilege to be out in God's creation...to be in the midst of such beauty and grandness is sacred.

I (dianna) must admit, I was a bit nervous (or maybe frustrated would be a more honest word) when Emma started fussing about not wanting to hike about 5 minutes after we started.  I thought "there goes our lovely day."  But Nick patiently parented her and she managed to have a pretty decent time.

We hiked along a road (some folks use hiking sticks, the Cash kids brought shovels)...stopped for a picnic lunch...hiked a little more and then headed back to where we started.  We had cokes and snacks at the restaurant where we parked, found some trees to climb in and chairs to sit in (and also found a rather steep trail that leads down into the gorge - we're going to try it next time!!) and then we headed back to the ship.

Definitely a delightful way to spend a Saturday in Congo.

Surely there will be more to come.

celebrating caroline!

We celebrated Caroline's 7th birthday this week!  Friday we arranged to get her out of school during break with the hopes of having waffles - BUT there was a possibility that a container would be arriving (wahoo!!!!) and the arrival (and unloading) of a container takes precedence over waffle making...so we had a back up plan of brownies....BUT, alas, the container did not arrive - so we had brownies AND waffles. 

Sweet friends giving Caroline their best piece of advice to one turning 7.

Some of the pieces of advice:

• wear sunscreen
• don't spit into the wind
• learn to eat like the Europeans (with your fork in your left hand, knife in your right)
• be kind to your little sister 
• learn a musical instrument
• be adventurous

Friday night Caroline got to change her earrings for the first time!  She chose to swap the little silver studs for pink & purple crowns.

Peering at her new bling

Saturday morning she (and the other 2 Cash kids) woke up exceptionally early.  She was super excited to open the gift that Yaya sent back with us this summer.  

Caroline with her "Favorite Things" quilt! 

After opening a few gifts, reminiscing about the morning she was born, eating breakfast & getting our things together, we loaded up with a few other families and went on our first "Congo Adventure."  We went to a place called "The Gorge" and spent the majority of the day hiking, picnicing and enjoying God's amazing creation.  (pictures to come soon!)

We got back to the ship in time for dinner & partying.  

Africa Mercy Tradition:  Someone rings the bell and announces your birthday then everyone sings (loudly!  and beats on the tables at the end!).  Nick did the honors. 

This video clip kind of captures it.  Watch out, Josh, your job may be in jeopardy after the world sees this awesome videography.

 

After dinner, all of the girls in the elementary (plus emma!)(grand total of 10)(two are missing from the picture) came up to our cabin for cupcakes and "Despicable Me" - and a crazy amount of popcorn...those girls can put away an insane amount of popcorn!

Birthdays are special...ship birthdays are extra special.  We think it has something to do with the fact that it's not about the party or the gifts or the money that is spent...it's about the person (which is what we always wanted it to be about when we lived in Georgia....but it seemed harder to achieve that goal for some reason or another).  Celebrating Caroline wasn't stressful or complicated or expensive...it was simple and inexpensive and significant.

Thanks to all of you who added to her joy yesterday with your kind words, phone calls, messages & cards.

Please pray for Caroline as God brings her to mind...may she be exactly who God wants her to be in every way possible.  May she love Him with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength.  May she know His love and be secure in His love.  May she rest in the goodness and kindness of her heavenly Father. May she be an instrument in His hands...useful and useable...bringing His love to this world in every way the Father designed her to.  May her life display the Fruit of His Spirit.

Surely there will be more to come.  

Safe & Sound in Pointe Noire

We are here!  The Africa Mercy pulled into the port of Pointe Noire, Congo around 9:30 this morning.

The Gangway being lowered from Deck 8

Top 12 Reasons I (dianna) Am Glad We Are Here 

(aka "Top 10 Reasons I am Glad We Are No Longer Sailing)
(in no particular order)(drumroll  please):

12. Trash can soon be taken to the trash skip on the dock instead of staying in our cabin

11. The boutique will be open soon and we can take down the boxes of things that are ready for the boutique (our stuff and other people's stuff that ended up in our cabin). I like less stuff/clutter.

10. Flip Flops are allowed now. (if I were ranking these, this would probably take the #2 spot)

9. We'll be able to use real plates, cups, cutlery, etc. in the dining room (plastic knives just don't quite cut it.)(pun totally intended)

8. Water won't be quite so restricted (still limited...but not quite as restricted)

7. We get to open & enjoy the last container of Mini Mix crackers (it was stashed in our emergency at sea bag)(I really wish I had bought more in Tenerife...)

6. We're not rocking anymore

5. All of the things that weren't expertly secured in our cabin are no longer sliding around

4. The 2nd time around is already proving to be more enjoyable (the first time around was amazing...2nd time around is going to be amazing x 12).  What a joy to have familiar faces to wave to on the pilot boat and dock!

3. No more slamming into doorways with my shoulder because I was in the wrong place when the ship rocked (pretty much the same as #6)

2. New country, new city, new people to get to know

1. We are supposed to be here.  That's the #1 reason why I'm glad we're here.

There's such an air of excitement here on the Africa Mercy (as there should be!).  There's a freshness...an anticipation...an enthusiasm about what is coming in this Field Service.  It's lovely.  Thank you, God, for these gifts.  Thank You for all that You are going to accomplish in, around, because of, in spite of, and through the Africa Mercy.

Back in the spring, God shared a word with me about our time in Congo.  He said,

"Wake up! Get ready!  I'm about to blow you away with My Miraculous Awesome Ways.  The Congo will be a marker in Mercy Ships' history."

Please join us in praying that we will be awake and ready - with eyes to see His Miraculous Awesome Ways...and willing spirits to join Him in the work He is doing in Congo.

God's got exciting things in store for Mercy Ships and for the Africa Mercy and for the Cash Family.  Glad you're with us on this journey!

Surely there will be more to come.

Joining with the Waves...

There's something significant about worshipping on the bow of a ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

There's something significant about worshipping on the bow of the Africa Mercy on the way to Congo.

There's something significant about crewmates coming together to join in with the waves to worship the One who is Worthy.

Worship on the Bow is easily one of our favorite parts of life here on the Africa Mercy.  It only happens during the sail and, thanks to this particularly long sail, we've had multiple opportunities to worship on the bow lately.

Many thanks to Debra Bell for capturing these sacred moments with her camera, an instrument of worship.

The song below is a favorite of the crew.  The first time we ever heard it was last year on the bow on the way to Guinea.  It's called "Jabulani Africa!"  Jabulani means "joy" in Zulu (a language of South Africa).  So the song is a call for Africa to rejoice - and a prayer for the Joy of the Lord to reign in Africa.  There's also a dance that goes along with it (or maybe it would be more appropriate to call it a stomp).  Maybe you'll come to the ship one day and sing it with us....



Surely there will be more to come.

Being An Example - thoughts from Tracy Swope

The following is a "Leadership POV" (Point of View) that was posted on Navigator (Mercy Ships' internal website/communications tool).  It was written by Tracy Swope who is currently in Congo and is the Advance Team Leader. Her thoughts & insights are well said, beautifully challenging, and thought provoking. Thought you might enjoy reading this... "By Being an Example" Incredible, a year has past and I am in another country, following God through the steps of a waltz set to hip-hop music.  Once again, I find myself standing on my father’s toes and relying on God to know the steps. After “advancing” five countries (and might I say my last), I respect how each African country is different: culture, language, religion, music, kindness to strangers, and efficiency.  Each  nation is unique based on the above matters and it's history.  I often wonder, why does mankind have so many different ways, styles, languages, tribes, and nations.  Would it not have been easier for God to have limited our DNA and made us more alike? I am God’s creation and therefore I assume God knew what he was doing when he made each  human with over 100 trillion cells and created so many options for the human body and personality.  After all “from one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth . . . God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.”  (Act 17:26 NIV).  Rev 7:9 states  “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne”.  Wow, God meant for us to be different but to have one goal…to seek God.  God desires different cultures, languages, styles of worship, styles of prayer, and all the different combinations of 100 trillion cells to unite into one goal: To know God. I have a task for you.  I know, I know, I am not keen on interactive articles myself, but take a minute, yes, right now, and reflect on the number of tribes, languages, and nations in the world.    - - -   What a staggering, awe-inspiring number!  What an impressive reflection of God’s creative ability. So how can Mercy Ships, which consists of over 36 nationalities, impact the Republic of Congo?  The Republic of Congo itself is a reflection of European culture in the cities, former USSR influence in the Government, West African in the grand Marches and the different ethnic cultures in the rest of the country.  In theory the population is 85% Christian and the church is just as diverse as the culture.  So I ask again, how can Mercy Ships with it’s diverse AFM crew and national offices impact the Republic of Congo with it’s diversity? Possible answer:  Be an example. The Republic of Congo Liaison visited the Africa Mercy in Guinea.  After a few days of watching surgery, making rounds in the ward with the doctors and nurses, touring the engine room, spending time talking to the crew the liaison came to me and said: The Republic of Congo needs Mercy Ships.  The Republic of Congo has the money for equipment and salaries, but we need Mercy Ships to model how to provide good health care [he was addressing the technical side of health care delivery] but we can also learn from how you model compassion. [Unknowing, he was talking out our united goal to show God’s love to our fellow human beings] Some crew will wonder why we are in the Republic of Congo.  I did at first.  But this is an opportunity to model, to be an example. This year, Mercy Ships is providing the largest Health Care Education package ever offered by Mercy Ships.  What an opportunity!  While we deliver the surgical services and educate the medical community,  we can model to the nurses and doctors and yes, even the government that health care is more then a science but it includes respecting the person, building relationships, and showing compassion. We are not here to change their culture, their language, form of Government, or style of worship.  How can we, when we reflect over 35 nations and even more cultures and languages.  We are called to be examples of God’s love to individuals who will then impact their own nations, governments, and cultures.   Hope you enjoyed reading these thoughts.  Thank you for continuing to share this journey with us.  Please pray for us as we get ready to arrive in Congo.  May we be the example that God has called us to be.  May we love well in Congo.   Surely there will be more to come.

Sock Golf!

We're one week into the sail!  Approximately half way from Tenerife to Congo!  So far, certainly so good.  

It may be too soon to say it (but we'll say it and claim it anyway):  we're not feeling any cabin fever or going stir crazy -- the fact that school started this week helps tremendously with that.  Something else that helps is the fun activities and "goings on" that have been planned by our Social Activities Coordinator (makes us sound more like a cruise ship than ever!).  

Tonite's activity:  Sock Golf 

Imagine putt-putt/disc golf...but with a sock as the ball/disc...and indoors (and specifically on a ship in this case).  Some brilliant minds put together an 18 hole course all throughout the ship (it's different each sail)....up and down stairs, through hallways, around corners...one piece of paper on the wall shows where you tee off.  The hole is another piece of paper hung on or from something.  The goal is for your sock to hit the hole in as few throws/rolls as possible.    You play in teams of 4...the team with the lowest score wins.  

Nick getting his sock ready.  There is an art to it. 

Nick teaching some new comers the art of making the perfect sock ball

The Sock. 

Team Awesome: Jordan, Caroline, Nick and Eli 

A Tee Box/Nick getting the scorecard set-up

Caroline tee-ing off at some hole

Team Awesome didn't win...but they had a good time.

In other news:  the piece that 60 Minutes did on Mercy Ships should be re-airing tomorrow (Sunday, August 4).  Feel free to watch it :)

Surely there will be more to come.