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.