Sailing...God is at work.

Flip flops are packed away and the cabin is secured...we are sailing!

As of 3:00pm today (Monday, September 15), "the AFM has traveled 235 NM and has 4246.7 NM remaining. It is cloudy with a visibility of 6 miles with an easy rolling and surging motion."

photo credit: Josh Callow, the incredible. 

We left Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on Saturday evening, and we are heading to Cape Town,  South Africa.  After a few weeks in South Africa, we will be sailing to Madagascar where we will have our next Field Service.  Click here to read the press release: Going to Madagascar

Someone asked what we thought of going to Madagascar... honestly, in many ways, it doesn't matter to us where we go - we're just glad to be going to a place where this vessel can carry out its mission of bringing hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor. 

But even in the midst of the excitement of going to Madagascar...we're still heartbroken about all that is happening in West Africa in regards to Ebola.   We agree with our friend Jenny as she wrote:  

"West Africa and its people, are deeply rooted in my heart, and in the hearts of all Mercy Ships crew, and will remain so always. My most heartfelt prayer is for an end to Ebola in West Africa and the suffering of her people, and to be able to return there as soon as possible."

And as our friend Bethany put it, "Please continue to pray for West Africa as the Ebola outbreak is still rampant in many countries. It may be off the news but it's far from over."

Our friend Kirstie, who was part of the Advance Team in Benin, also put some beautiful words to the fact that we're not going to Benin on her blog. Even though we won't be there for this next field service, it's amazing to think of what God has accomplished through the Advance Team and the prayers that have been poured into that country.

Here's just one tangible example of God's work in Benin: the before and after photos of the site that was chosen to be the Dental Clinic for the Field Service:

It may never be used as a Mercy Ships Dental Clinic (or maybe it will some day down the road!)...but we are confident that God will put it to good use for the local Beninois population:

"the Advance Team leaves behind this newly renovated facility, which has been turned over to the Ministry of Health and will allow them to expand the following services in Zogbo: vaccinations, hygiene, HIV screening, family planning and an extra maternity ward." Read more here

No, God is not sending this vessel to West Africa at this time - and even if we don't have all of the answers behind that reality, we can trust that He's got good plans in store for West Africa and for the Africa Mercy...and for each of us.  

He is at work in West Africa even if this big blue-&-white vessel isn't physically present - thankfully, we're not his only plan for bringing His love and presence and hope and healing to West Africa.

He is at work on the Africa Mercy.  He is at work in Columbus, Georgia.  He is at work in China and Costa Rica and Bulgaria.  He is at work in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Monrovia, Maryland.  He is at work all over the place...and He invites us to be a part of His work.  What a miraculous honor!

May we have the eyes to see how He is at work...and the courage to join Him.  

For now we're joining in with the waves as they crash their praises to their Creator...enjoying the sail...looking forward to what the next few weeks and months hold in store.  

Surely there will be more to come.