We arrived safe and sound in Gran Canaria Friday evening after another week (almost) of sailing. The second week proved to be a bit less rocky than the first (thankfully).
Many of the crew were antsy to get off the ship as soon as possible (apparently more than 50 calmly made their way down the gangway within minutes of the Captain announcing that we had permission to go ashore!)
The Cash Crew headed off the ship Saturday morning. We walked to our favorite park...picked up some groceries along the way and enjoyed a delightful few hours of playing and picnic-ing. We intended to wander a few more blocks to the beach/boardwalk...but managed to enjoy ourselves so much at the park that we saved the beach for Sunday evening.
Part of our picnic included cheeseballs that Emma was especially fond of (she really enjoyed being a chipmunk with her snack).
- strawberries (many packages have been bought)
- plums
- nectarines
- walking into town
- running to the beach
- cafe con leche leche with a lovely friend
- playing on the beach in the evening
- smelling roses
- watching the World Cup
- the temperature outside
- longer daylight hours
- more relaxed atmosphere onboard
- unlimited water useage (ie - looooong showers!)(the ship is trying to get rid of as much weight as possible before being dry docked - this includes extra water!)
Least favorite part of these past few days:
- having to say good-bye to a few more treasured friends
Tonite we're packing up and getting ready to head to the hotel on the other end of Gran Canaria where we'll be staying for the next week. The Africa Mercy will go into Dry Dock on Wednesday morning (that's the reason for families being moved off of the ship and into hotels: no children allowed in/on a dry docked ship). Nick will continue to work this week - he'll commute back and forth (with the other dads) from the hotel to the ship (and vice versa). The rest of us are planning to have a restful, peaceful week enjoying a part of Gran Canaria that we're not as familiar with. Next Wednesday (June 25), we'll leave for our family vacation.
We're looking forward to what God has in store for us in the coming weeks....a few of our "word prayers" for this vacation are rest, laughter, exercise, time outdoors, refreshment, connection, excellent family time, memory making moments. We'd love for you join us in praying for these gifts for our family.
Please also pray for this technical period of the Africa Mercy. There's quite a bit of maintenance, repair work and construction projects that need to be completed in a short amount of time. Pray for the Astican (shipyard company) workers as they come alongside our crew to help make this vessel the best she can be - the best she can be so that as many as possible are able to encounter the love, hope and healing of Jesus in the coming months and years.
One other prayer request: please pray for so many of our crew who are spending time at home this summer - there are many who need to experience rest and refreshment during this time before we head to Benin in August. And there are many who are going home to difficult circumstances and situations and need to know the power, provision and presence of God in real and tangible ways.
Thank you for being more than friends and family - thank you for being ones who come along side of us and hold us (and our Africa Mercy Community) up in prayer. Thank you for talking to God on our behalf...for making these requests known to Him and inviting Him and His power to invade our lives. There's no telling what is being accomplished by and through your prayers.
Surely there will be more to come.
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