tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52075537423775285102024-02-19T06:42:27.708+00:00Cash Family Blog! Serving with Mercy Shipsthe cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-24757029499569758732017-12-15T15:55:00.002+00:002017-12-15T15:55:47.663+00:00How do you end a blog? (a little overdue)How do you end a blog? What's the proper way to bring a chapter of life to a close? (while knowing the pages of that chapter will forever impact and be intertwined with all the remaining chapters of your life...)<br />
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How do you end a blog that feels like it should've been ended months ago? <br />
<br />
How do you write something that you really don't want to write but feels necessary to bring closure?(but that you actually want to write because you're not a fan of dangling loose ends...)<br />
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<i>I guess you just do it. </i><br />
<br />
Leaving the m/v <i>Africa Mercy</i> and resettling in Georgia was as tough as they said it would be. I didn't want it to be tough...but it <strike>was</strike> is... It has had its ups and downs - and truth be told, we're still in the process. Maybe we always will be. I don't even fully know how to put into words why it was tough - I'll leave that to the transition experts. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few things that we found challenging...</span><br />
<ul>
<li>We underestimated the amount of sheer effort it would take to re-establish life back home again after years overseas. Cell phones. Home Repairs. Internet Service. Car buying/maintenance. More Home Repairs. And on and on the list goes. Honestly, we got used to things being complicated in Africa (yet comparatively simple on the ship) - it was understood that nothing was ever as simple as "just run to the store and pick something up." But we didn't expect complicated in America...when in reality it's just as complicated (which makes it all the more frustrating).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Not being able to move into our house when we thought we would be able to was challenging (at least it was for me!)(unmet expectations are from the devil). And it was challenging to try and be content/thankful for what we did have rather than longing for what was coming (though it's good to be excited about the gifts that are coming)(see the conundrum?!). Yes, we were "home"...but we weren't "home"...really feeling like we've been able to settle has just come in the last month as we've moved into our house and unpacked the few boxes that we had.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Spending money. I miss the days of scanning my badge... I miss the days of $18 worth of stuff in the ship shop feeling like a big splurge! Life here is just more expensive than it feels like it should be or needs to be...</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Trying to walk ourselves through this time as well as our children - in particular, the youngest member of the Cash Family. She straight-up misses the ship - the ship is the only life she's ever known. The tears have felt endless at times (hers and mine!). We're still walking with her through this... and praying it only proves to make her (and all of us) stronger and rely more fully on the faithfulness of God.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And a few things that have made transition absolutely wonderful!</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Faithful friends and family who have welcomed us back.</li>
<li>Matt's generosity to put together the wish-list of items that have essentially furnished our home.</li>
<li>Access to Chick-fil-a, Cherry Coke, Krystal, Cracker Barrell, Five Guys...</li>
<li>Ship Friends who have come to visit (and the ones planning to visit!)</li>
<li>Being able to see what God is continuing to do on and through Mercy Ships</li>
<li>Being a part of a healthy & vibrant church community (Christ Community Church)</li>
<li>Knowing we are where God has asked us to be. Nothing beats that. Nothing.</li>
</ul>
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If you're interested in keeping up with us, here's our info:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Physical address:</span></b><br />
Cash Family<br />
10311 Whitesville Road<br />
Fortson, GA 31808<br />
<br />
(you are most welcome to come visit anytime - seriously!)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">e-mail addresses</span></b><br />
diannacash@yahoo.com<br />
nickcashra@yahoo.com<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">blogs/social media</span></b><br />
<a href="https://liketreesplanted.com/">like trees planted</a> (Nick posts incredibly thoughtful and helpful content as he has the time to do so)<br />
<a href="http://obsequiumfidei.blogspot.com/"> obsequium fidei</a> (I post thankful lists weekly and other random thoughts sporadically - very sporadically!)<br />
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I'm also on Instagram (but not so much Facebook): lifeasacash<br />
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<br />
So for now...at least for the foreseeable future, this is it for "the Cash Crew serving with Mercy Ships" blog. Feels like we should sign off with "Cash Crew out." But we're not out. We're still the Cash Crew... we're still serving God... we're still trying to love others... we're just as much in "missions" and "ministry" as we've ever been (though we just call it life with Him) (and as amazed as ever that He would allow us live our lives with Him). <br />
<br />the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-16037666617641879682017-07-28T00:28:00.000+00:002017-07-28T00:30:13.934+00:00FAQs for this season of Cash Family Life<b><span style="font-size: large;">How was the ship?</span></b><br />
That's such a big question! A question we could easily talk about for hours...but, in a cute little nutshell (being eaten by a cute little squirrel), the ship and our time there was... Incredible. Beautiful. Challenging. Eye-opening. Not without its frustrations. Amazing. We are thankful that we were able to serve on the <i>Africa Mercy</i> for the past 5 years, and we would love to talk more about our experiences...please feel to ask us questions (this may come as a shock, but I'm not so great at just talking for the sake of talking... but I love questions... feel free to ask anything, anytime!). <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How has it been for y'all, returning home?</span></b><br />
So far, so good. We have definitely had a bit of a "soft" re-entry as a result of traveling (what a gift that has been - the traveling and the progressive re-entry)...<br />
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We are going out of town once more this weekend, and then we will be back - and <i>then</i> the settling-in will really start. We will start to find our rhythms again and figure out what God has for us in the day-to-day and week-to-week schedules of our lives here in Columbus.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Where are you living?</span></b><br />
Currently we're staying with Nick's parents (their kindness to let us invade their space has been fantastic). Over the last few weeks, we have been in-town and out-of-town and in-&-out again...<br />
<br />
Then, on August 1st, we will move into our cottage (it's nearly twice the size of our cabin on the ship!) while some work is being done on the main house that we will be moving into. I am <i>hoping hoping hoping</i> the work on the house will be done by the end of August (trying to stay flexible as I know contractors are juggling lots and not always able to do things as quickly as I might like them done!). Once the work is done, we will move into the main house and then our cottage will be available to friends and family for visits (come see us!).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
the view from our future front porch</div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you need anything?</span></b><br />
As cliche as it may sound, we need your prayers - seriously. We believe in the power of prayer and know that there is nothing better (even if the world might say otherwise!). Here are just a few specific ways you can pray:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>for all 5 of us as we continue to transition and settle in.</li>
<li>for a successful supporter thank you event on August 6th (you are most welcome to attend!). We long for friends and family to know how grateful we are for the support that has been given these past 5 years. Come enjoy some desserts and hear about our time with Mercy Ships. 4 pm, Christ Community Church, Columbus, GA.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEBHgGYTzzyDfpODdPV9KOqZbLQFSXVpyiHL83W-8tVwWFwEOX-tBi5Db9qZSbvB4mRjtL2RXilIe36Y6NyA-tn8AZTnl8yJ8qJ_BJ3Ofvz2AT7MWpT18KRvqLxuUdAjLgwt2DDwbSa5d/s1600/invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="960" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEBHgGYTzzyDfpODdPV9KOqZbLQFSXVpyiHL83W-8tVwWFwEOX-tBi5Db9qZSbvB4mRjtL2RXilIe36Y6NyA-tn8AZTnl8yJ8qJ_BJ3Ofvz2AT7MWpT18KRvqLxuUdAjLgwt2DDwbSa5d/s400/invite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>for wisdom as we make a homeschooling plan and as Nick begins his job at Christ Community Church in September. </li>
<li>for the <i>Africa Mercy</i> as it makes it way to Cameroon to start a new field service.</li>
</ul>
As far as tangible needs, so much has already been given. If you want to see what is still needed, feel free to check this <a href="http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d44aeae22a5fa7-stuff">online list</a> (huge <i>gianormous </i>thanks to Matt, the generous, for coordinating this effort!).<br />
<br />
At this point, there is still plenty that we need to procure - cleaning supplies and ketchup and laundry detergent and flour and so many other random items... so the most useful item I can think of would be giftcards (Aldi, Wal-Mart, Chick-Fil-A :) would be the cards that would be used quickest!). If this is something you're interested in, feel free to email me - <a href="mailto:diannacash@yahoo.com">diannacash@yahoo.com</a>. But please don't feel any pressure...<br />
<br />
You are also more than welcome to <a href="https://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/cashn/">give one last donation to us through Mercy Ships</a>. Donations will continue to be processed on our behalf until August 31st.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">What's been your favorite part of being back?</b><br />
<b>Caroline</b> - spending time with people I have missed and jumping on trampolines<br />
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<b>Emma</b> - what she (caroline) said!<br />
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<b>Eli</b> - getting to be on vacation, being with friends, knowing our house will be ready soon<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQzwYIfz-lq4aWWwpL68utaPrRRZkJ8oPIfHFW_Dsn8MsaBO3B_VxSu5UesIIhBHjW8lfGaZJG9-eJ4D-pZDqX7UTPKDZwd5GrsnzoPeylJhLF_P4-i1S97DCUVDgk9BZKmXxFRXNhiJf/s1600/white+cash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="637" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQzwYIfz-lq4aWWwpL68utaPrRRZkJ8oPIfHFW_Dsn8MsaBO3B_VxSu5UesIIhBHjW8lfGaZJG9-eJ4D-pZDqX7UTPKDZwd5GrsnzoPeylJhLF_P4-i1S97DCUVDgk9BZKmXxFRXNhiJf/s400/white+cash.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White/Cash kids (or Cash\White kids)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Nick</b> - the familiarity of everything here; seeing long-time friends & loved ones; grass & trees & crickets chirping in the evening & birds singing in the morning<br />
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<b>Dianna - </b>going to aldi; sweet and wonderful time with family and good friends (I highly recommend good friends...and good family); reminders that we are right where we are supposed to be<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1XcwLguaUIW315Eq11LDD-D6vpNWi7aUA1aB1fraIxEjV2aUXBJF7VFLmC1lBG9Q9ZrNvzFhUeOaqxxbzhqo_dW3czjySX-d0crcOL-IB1sUMdDF0djyWytznS0YV-TD7SBczo3M_pXv/s1600/sibs+and+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1XcwLguaUIW315Eq11LDD-D6vpNWi7aUA1aB1fraIxEjV2aUXBJF7VFLmC1lBG9Q9ZrNvzFhUeOaqxxbzhqo_dW3czjySX-d0crcOL-IB1sUMdDF0djyWytznS0YV-TD7SBczo3M_pXv/s400/sibs+and+meme.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McMichael siblings and Meme</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And a few of my not-so-favorite moments:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>hardly being able to speak when I saw a girl wearing a UGA shirt in the London airport (those emotions just hit you out of nowhere sometimes).</li>
<li>the anti-climatic re-entry through airport immigration. I was hoping for a meaningful "welcome home" or "glad to have you back." nope... nothing. ha. </li>
<li>accidentally spending more on one meal than we would for a whole week of groceries (we are re-learning the skill of how to wisely order food in America)</li>
</ul>
<br />
There is so much more that can be said about this transition time - about the importance of preparation (and how wonderful Nick is at that - I <i>[dianna]</i> can say that since I am the one writing this blog!) and the similarities of this transition to the one we made 5 years ago. A whole blog could be written about how having just one good friend in the place you're transitioning to can make all the difference. We will see if/when the time comes to type more on these topics. <br />
<br />
For now, <i><b>please join us in thanking God for the peacefulness of this transition and His great faithfulness every step of the way! </b></i><br />
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Surely there will be more to come.<br />
<br />the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-85508030702009135842017-06-11T21:50:00.001+00:002017-06-11T21:56:58.346+00:00a little walk down (prayer card) memory lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Spring 2012</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Lakebottom Park, Columbus, Georgia, USA</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Photographer: Ritchie White</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;">pring 2013</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Africa Mercy, Conakry, Guinea</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Photographer: Suzanne Scheumann</span> </strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosBc0Zn0PR5gjPVa1nb-iYsFBWsTK7jO-4sEgUUyEISRRH58sMoWKG1Rbd4Ym4tdqK8IQMNQyqA7WIZJpvYSQ8iFwQk2XQ5vvq_1uxKks61QkohyphenhyphenM81VTDBxjOrFU4OJSR-addQ5yUMMy/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosBc0Zn0PR5gjPVa1nb-iYsFBWsTK7jO-4sEgUUyEISRRH58sMoWKG1Rbd4Ym4tdqK8IQMNQyqA7WIZJpvYSQ8iFwQk2XQ5vvq_1uxKks61QkohyphenhyphenM81VTDBxjOrFU4OJSR-addQ5yUMMy/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Fall 2014</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">On the Dock, Tamatave, Madagascar</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Photographer: Catrice Wulf</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku1zEu6bIYwXsFSARG2-WXESNMt1Kez1-QNsdKKifcB1CsAhG4T7cVGCSh9ymhoQVTu3VWBGxq99xnPJmUkKWZ0GE9xc2QjG9kke6mYSG1d4Dp9f5PGmOe1AVWdbLHhTuWOfmFzzVXG_m/s1600/yes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiku1zEu6bIYwXsFSARG2-WXESNMt1Kez1-QNsdKKifcB1CsAhG4T7cVGCSh9ymhoQVTu3VWBGxq99xnPJmUkKWZ0GE9xc2QjG9kke6mYSG1d4Dp9f5PGmOe1AVWdbLHhTuWOfmFzzVXG_m/s1600/yes+1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Spring 2016</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">SPAT Port, Tamatave, Madagascar</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Photographer: Suzanne Veltjens</span></strong> (artist formerly known as Suzanne Scheumann)<br />
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Can we have a prayer card for living and serving in Columbus, Georgia? Maybe everyone should have a prayer card - a Christian's call to live and serve on a ship in Africa is no more or less significant than a Christian's call to live and serve wherever it is that God has them living and serving...but if everyone had a prayer card, we'd all need industrial sized fridges to put them on. <br />
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Card or no card, we're greedy when it comes to prayer - we love all the prayer support we can get....and we are so very grateful for all the prayers that have been prayed on our behalf these past 5 years. <em>Please keep praying for us...and let us know how we can be praying for you</em>. <br />
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-19158766038539600282017-05-20T15:49:00.001+00:002017-05-20T15:49:18.451+00:00life lately. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few pictures from our life lately...we've been...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Talking about transition </span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iUot4HXPQqufNxsPkugrR5dRcuM4kPfMqT9v_rN_U-LBfYKgjwB1gXtdSclysKtbWZm9OgIMrNP21l0qFDhugtfrVKXH3ErvZxL2NKGbDDE8pqN0HFMZuHMM2pL-n_oqJspp3d3QLekp/s1600/back+pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iUot4HXPQqufNxsPkugrR5dRcuM4kPfMqT9v_rN_U-LBfYKgjwB1gXtdSclysKtbWZm9OgIMrNP21l0qFDhugtfrVKXH3ErvZxL2NKGbDDE8pqN0HFMZuHMM2pL-n_oqJspp3d3QLekp/s320/back+pack.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">what do we want to take with us in our "backpack"? (emma's response: "i want to take Africa with me.") what do we want to leave behind?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29f_coE1faQ4Ny3Q_ltPFPMoK0yIx1nEIVx_Bwf0AVhjZIswrvDpNEtiNi1KYw2MYil-XeKWU7n4zsQTAy2fz95lEYMmon2anoIgYZawpwPo8QBY4KLGLp7xTvegbWwFiN6ScN7kQ3YOF/s1600/pair+a+ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29f_coE1faQ4Ny3Q_ltPFPMoK0yIx1nEIVx_Bwf0AVhjZIswrvDpNEtiNi1KYw2MYil-XeKWU7n4zsQTAy2fz95lEYMmon2anoIgYZawpwPo8QBY4KLGLp7xTvegbWwFiN6ScN7kQ3YOF/s320/pair+a+ducks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">yay duck & yuck duck - so much of life is a mixture of the good and not so good</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyzcopTtcT0BcTC3rgZzzlwuklVcLJao5Fkcg60g0RpcdIpuYxIIwoqvjF5926lAW2JObOUIU4-D_G_jZu_Xv3q4hHDXXW9-4Hmt_9ymPg28P0We467jKZzRRTsWBjhTRSzmsWI3acRB2/s1600/re+entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyzcopTtcT0BcTC3rgZzzlwuklVcLJao5Fkcg60g0RpcdIpuYxIIwoqvjF5926lAW2JObOUIU4-D_G_jZu_Xv3q4hHDXXW9-4Hmt_9ymPg28P0We467jKZzRRTsWBjhTRSzmsWI3acRB2/s320/re+entry.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">transition ladder</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Packing things up</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SdWvJD-LegN5uRZx6sUhQf8Rk0OXfI7KmfMRqWWh6KS0tWGgW8UYeyN3ezgGTmTjqgBeVay5Y_7jBI8zMgfDH2Y3Pqh_6BO-r8GsMtnIS_agQ9u4YKYPli5ZTYMXlJ-_up57Pib1Cw20/s1600/IMG_4246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SdWvJD-LegN5uRZx6sUhQf8Rk0OXfI7KmfMRqWWh6KS0tWGgW8UYeyN3ezgGTmTjqgBeVay5Y_7jBI8zMgfDH2Y3Pqh_6BO-r8GsMtnIS_agQ9u4YKYPli5ZTYMXlJ-_up57Pib1Cw20/s320/IMG_4246.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">priceless possessions (depending on who you ask)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUxK6cbYnlI9SNQjBinypG7rAWLwuGg5X-Lj6hvfZdhuZOk4Sr_lwIaxo-9buQt3NYiycP4N8-lE5sxjbi-fUBPn_IGyJxAxxLHfBzivBtRoubzfSLf8zlonveujPGgLX6DCICo80Deir/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUxK6cbYnlI9SNQjBinypG7rAWLwuGg5X-Lj6hvfZdhuZOk4Sr_lwIaxo-9buQt3NYiycP4N8-lE5sxjbi-fUBPn_IGyJxAxxLHfBzivBtRoubzfSLf8zlonveujPGgLX6DCICo80Deir/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">sending luggage with generous crew mates (one of which is going to be living in Columbus soon!!!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KgykqK7z5zPRakJ-zwSHhTzysC-gFguuxTDne1La61poaDpSW5Y9B_8IlGqXulq5rDlUR1FWXKaPWuwCUacJrUwp84LgaV3zsWu_af9fQtI4b97KCLIU7MgBYc_Q-gTvshbiZ3XrWYfR/s320/luggage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="206" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Making lists and packing more luggage</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Getting sweet notes</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Writing notes</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Having a Cabin Sale</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Offering some of the things that we can't take with us to friends on the ship</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF40DXhnGmXq4dkPKX0GXTtAP90u_yKJrvRCw4DyRSk_m2U5SDXG5W32oVJsG540Y7tsoZfz8rrwgpEAV1F5zvWmGJ4yVcV7FfSZQwC77WZ1DMLxY1yD1kOZ9WXzBuZHdUQAtwMexZEkYP/s1600/yes1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF40DXhnGmXq4dkPKX0GXTtAP90u_yKJrvRCw4DyRSk_m2U5SDXG5W32oVJsG540Y7tsoZfz8rrwgpEAV1F5zvWmGJ4yVcV7FfSZQwC77WZ1DMLxY1yD1kOZ9WXzBuZHdUQAtwMexZEkYP/s320/yes1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">this pallet star is so special for so many reasons....i was thinking of making it my carry on item. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Taking down the wall of love</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskqKwCp3tn9MZUP-pcmzQRENGyk5tW5CesDW3-n7bggXCsOG-pJP3ARR96m-_P1RgN3AtvvFB6srAksITUMpgCHs9OUoE6fpUTsUn7KmmydqqvQs4DabYkr_y6rwJQ2szc_8X7qErT3nh/s1600/wall+of+love.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskqKwCp3tn9MZUP-pcmzQRENGyk5tW5CesDW3-n7bggXCsOG-pJP3ARR96m-_P1RgN3AtvvFB6srAksITUMpgCHs9OUoE6fpUTsUn7KmmydqqvQs4DabYkr_y6rwJQ2szc_8X7qErT3nh/s320/wall+of+love.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">we're so thankful for the family and friends who have walked with us so faithfully throughout our lives - and especially in these past 5 years.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> getting supporter thank you's ready</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNTjDm0vYfee6iQMnxJReJFypxbn2rGyZRXpS1X1ncff9wLXIFwb_-DQROKki8kRShmvvYwhfn5SOkFylWKbAtMA79M-HN8d103xpKdkujTBLq_3S-PKULSVjONuEYU4TEsoK46RBJ4ho/s1600/thank+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNTjDm0vYfee6iQMnxJReJFypxbn2rGyZRXpS1X1ncff9wLXIFwb_-DQROKki8kRShmvvYwhfn5SOkFylWKbAtMA79M-HN8d103xpKdkujTBLq_3S-PKULSVjONuEYU4TEsoK46RBJ4ho/s320/thank+you.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">#spoileralert</span></td></tr>
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We're so thankful for peace. Peace in the midst of preparing to go. Peace as we think about being back in Georgia. Peace in the good-byes. Peace in the packing. Peace. Peace. Peace.<br />
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Surely there will be more to come. the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-71193856123544659942017-04-26T10:27:00.001+00:002017-04-26T10:27:28.539+00:00What do you think you'll miss most? (and a little of what we won't!)When I asked our children what they'll miss most about the ship, each one's first response had to do with their friends.<br />
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It goes without saying - but we're saying it anyway - the relationships we've formed have been the most valuable part of this journey. God has blessed each of us with various friendships throughout our time onboard the <i>Africa Mercy</i>...some left us waving on the dock and some we'll be leaving behind....some friendships started 5 years ago at the beginning of this journey, while some friendships been formed in just the past few months. <br />
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It's true, "the best ships are friendships" - and this ship has provided us with some friendships that are going to last this lifetime and on into eternity. We have no doubt that we'll be hosting people in Columbus and making plans to visit friends in various places all over the globe in the coming years. <br />
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As we've been thinking about what we'll miss most, we've also been thinking of things we won't miss...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Eli</span><br />
won't miss:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>firedrills</li>
<li>having to walk up so many flights of stairs</li>
<li>life jackets</li>
</ul>
<br />
will miss most:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>seeing his friends all the time (how easy it is to get together with friends)</li>
<li>amount/variety of food offered at each meal</li>
<li>how close everything is (we haven't had to drive to school or church...)</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Nick</span><br />
won't miss:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>the process that is required in order to take a car out into town (looking forward to 2 steps: get in the car and go.)</li>
<li>lack of green space</li>
</ul>
<br />
will miss most:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>getting to follow Jesus with Christians from so many different cultures (35+ nations at any given time)</li>
<li>maintenance needs being so easily and quickly (and freely) taken care of</li>
<li>being so close to the ocean</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdF0VmSf2kPWe-gL41rMoDCTtmz9Pu2XHYfc9oGi_URgR2wi4ywhBBkngwHyPTkaIcvYJ4dCM_h7yOAB028z6yEd91Pv_t6I1vgDDXGnSFW8-l_1anUhseISw9NU4WqPB9Gn5MFjjKv_ou/s1600/Gateway+Group+Oct2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdF0VmSf2kPWe-gL41rMoDCTtmz9Pu2XHYfc9oGi_URgR2wi4ywhBBkngwHyPTkaIcvYJ4dCM_h7yOAB028z6yEd91Pv_t6I1vgDDXGnSFW8-l_1anUhseISw9NU4WqPB9Gn5MFjjKv_ou/s320/Gateway+Group+Oct2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Emma</span><br />
won't miss<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>all the good-byes</li>
<li>the loud alarms</li>
<li>the cold air conditioning</li>
</ul>
<br />
will miss most:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>mid-ships and the games on the computers</li>
<li>the academy</li>
<li>my mom and dad's bed -it's comfortable. </li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGk6HIJD5v98ikl8p99RxQbOMxdpP8e9_DbobxUu_BiwDdUxMdN1ucDgeR3DI1g5jP4Mr92GCmsv2yrRxEXwrIXOKryDPQEgjydL7HQaJCBG4VTHTdS1mQ2CS44fcWOp9jca05Ow50kfVS/s1600/DSCN0490.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGk6HIJD5v98ikl8p99RxQbOMxdpP8e9_DbobxUu_BiwDdUxMdN1ucDgeR3DI1g5jP4Mr92GCmsv2yrRxEXwrIXOKryDPQEgjydL7HQaJCBG4VTHTdS1mQ2CS44fcWOp9jca05Ow50kfVS/s320/DSCN0490.jpg" width="247" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Caroline</span><br />
won't miss:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>small bedroom</li>
<li>getting seasick</li>
</ul>
<br />
will miss most:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>how close everything is</li>
<li>spaghetti in the dining room</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_LBNCXSDzbZ2J4fSZc6kdadOtx-I3be4ii3HJz8KmKy34MNqq2XLNprWwBrFfv5hJtyUF1RydPFy9ed9kF-NSbMsUIgxEpsCj8cRx8UR4to52I-uBU2JuhK_GGWYFhqpzr6l-aLwvYyo/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_LBNCXSDzbZ2J4fSZc6kdadOtx-I3be4ii3HJz8KmKy34MNqq2XLNprWwBrFfv5hJtyUF1RydPFy9ed9kF-NSbMsUIgxEpsCj8cRx8UR4to52I-uBU2JuhK_GGWYFhqpzr6l-aLwvYyo/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Dianna</span><br />
won't miss:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>the sound of the EVAC system</li>
<li>having to "get ready" before going to the dining room to get breakfast</li>
</ul>
<br />
will miss most:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>being able to do 4-5 loads of laundry at one time</li>
<li>hearing so many accents</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEuDv7tuBZjPxEvBnkr5rC4Lxk8LYeRLZPJgBWTNB12sRlMCmtO7_YeowWhVsn9iYYTSMVfFZbyEM2JRWJS7SmljymfVc6ywNekyJWVhU2uUblb4aGaNQPj2Bu8j7Pj6AEeFYllymzlCM/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEuDv7tuBZjPxEvBnkr5rC4Lxk8LYeRLZPJgBWTNB12sRlMCmtO7_YeowWhVsn9iYYTSMVfFZbyEM2JRWJS7SmljymfVc6ywNekyJWVhU2uUblb4aGaNQPj2Bu8j7Pj6AEeFYllymzlCM/s320/IMG_3272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's all a bit bittersweet - bittersweet makes for good cooking chocolate...but it's not always fun in life.</div>
<br />
(and my apologies to the friends who's pictures aren't on this blog...you are loved and treasured just as much as the ones pictured! These are just the pictures that I happened to have easy access to....)<br />
<br />
Surely there will be more to come. </div>
the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-87563670941965028902017-04-12T20:40:00.000+00:002017-04-12T20:40:00.999+00:00numbers and preparation. Our Group Managing Director, Donovan Palmer, likes to use numbers. It's become a bit of his tradition to start any time of sharing with "___ (insert number) of days until the new ship is ready." or "we're on day #____ of the Field Service." <br />
<br />
In honor of his leadership, character and kindness, some Cash Family numbers:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>29 days until Nick & Dianna's 15th wedding anniversary (May 11, 2017)</li>
<li>49 days until the end of the school year (May 31, 2017)</li>
<li>68 days until we depart the <i>Africa Mercy</i> (June 19, 2017) </li>
<li>90 days until we arrive in Columbus, Georgia (July 11, 2017)</li>
</ul>
<br />
While we are preparing to move back to Georgia, there are plenty of people who are preparing for the next field service in Cameroon. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdrK4YhL-RAuYyTo7-mRC2vNNMeWgad6A4THt5A8YWXlVfxcWMfevdZk6B3lZHlW0WUY68Z72zDj_nNhKVn-tbq-PNZ9NaMYwTV7D_PIvW6eyBdVUa701vwL5ZdJQv-57vmKocMXLr1GW/s1600/advance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdrK4YhL-RAuYyTo7-mRC2vNNMeWgad6A4THt5A8YWXlVfxcWMfevdZk6B3lZHlW0WUY68Z72zDj_nNhKVn-tbq-PNZ9NaMYwTV7D_PIvW6eyBdVUa701vwL5ZdJQv-57vmKocMXLr1GW/s320/advance.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Advance Team - some are already in Cameroon; others will be heading there soon</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These screening posters that have been distributed throughout the country of Cameroon have been serving as a beautiful reminder that preparation is important and is pretty much continually going on. <br />
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<br />
These posters have also been reminding me that the work of Mercy Ships doesn't depend on us. At all. Some of you who love us very much might like to argue that point :) but the fact is that we've done what God has asked us to do for the time frame He has asked us to do it. And that is enough. And once we depart the <i>Africa Mercy</i>, God will continue His work in, on, and through the vessel - and in, on, and through us.<br />
<br />
The other night, Emma was quite sad. She was sharing about how hard it is to say good-bye. In an effort to reassure her and help her sort through her feelings, I said, "You know, when we move back to Georgia, we won't have nearly the number of good-byes that we've had on the ship." <br />
<br />
She said, "You mean, we won't be leaving again?" <br />
<br />
"No...we won't...and we probably won't even travel outside of the country for a while."<br />
<br />
"But we <i>have</i> to leave again, don't we?"<br />
<br />
"No...we're moving back to stay..."<br /><br />
"But Mama...we're missionaries...and missionaries leave their country."<br />
<br />
"Oh, sweet girl...sometimes missionaries leave their country....but what makes someone a missionary is that they love God and want to share His love with others....we're going to be missionaries in Columbus, Georgia. That's where God wants us...the only reason we'd leave is if He says to...and we don't think that will happen - at least not for a long time."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81D8hkXqV4-f6vtqBqqeVeoPsfpcjvnvmgLjuXB2KhrJY2fSFaSIBf3Q6F8NxSkJ_saKKwkUnpAaRHIzTPkHqtZ0tZNX5MA4_3B0s0SCtc0yMXPTrYubAjn1DS9TNl-RpXwj2Z0KQ1gcv/s1600/papa+and+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81D8hkXqV4-f6vtqBqqeVeoPsfpcjvnvmgLjuXB2KhrJY2fSFaSIBf3Q6F8NxSkJ_saKKwkUnpAaRHIzTPkHqtZ0tZNX5MA4_3B0s0SCtc0yMXPTrYubAjn1DS9TNl-RpXwj2Z0KQ1gcv/s400/papa+and+3.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A Papa and his 3 children who all received eye surgeries</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwNaQXC_yhYwkzfpSzy6QCIkff31n7UlnxDZf3hzICEXjYFdvtU7IJ3812hZM2JxZdKtJ_br2S7z5qW4ZBM6Xbz4cbJLqTH9057ca5BKeDURX9btTCy3KpV5QKQNN2kcCMvzTZoZqM3dK/s1600/BEE170312_DRESS_CEREMONY_B_WARD_NURSES_NORMAN_JF0001_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwNaQXC_yhYwkzfpSzy6QCIkff31n7UlnxDZf3hzICEXjYFdvtU7IJ3812hZM2JxZdKtJ_br2S7z5qW4ZBM6Xbz4cbJLqTH9057ca5BKeDURX9btTCy3KpV5QKQNN2kcCMvzTZoZqM3dK/s400/BEE170312_DRESS_CEREMONY_B_WARD_NURSES_NORMAN_JF0001_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A recent Dress Ceremony celebrating successful obstetric fistula surgeries. (fun fact: the OBF surgeon - Dr. Andy Norman, upper left corner - has roots in Lincolnton, GA!)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's been a privilege to be here on the <i>Africa Mercy</i> these past five years...loving and serving God...loving and serving others...trying to be obedient to be and do all that He has asked of us....and now we get the chance to do more of the same in Columbus. <br />
<br />
For now we'll keep preparing...slowly sending our things back in small packages with crew who have extra room/weight in their luggage...figuring out who on the ship needs what of our things that we're giving away...already in awe of how God is preparing the way for us (a post on that to come!)...seeking to finish our 68 days in this place well (this week that looks like orchestrating and facilitating all things Easter for the crew of the <i>Africa Mercy</i>!). <br />
<br />
Surely there will be more to come.<br />
<br />the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-23170939280927740282017-03-05T12:35:00.000+00:002017-03-05T12:35:34.562+00:00Internet Official: An Announcement from the Cash FamilyI suppose it's time to make things internet official. We've shared this with our friends, family, and supporters and we're pretty sure most of our Mercy Ships Community/Family is aware... but just in case there's someone out there that doesn't know -- our time on the Africa Mercy is drawing to a close. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgng39ojTY1fUh8cWXQ4Uh6Edq0QrjpJtxwsdRt0U7HdEyM3RG2_envHVvv4u53kacJCgbrWppR_GQgNJE4b2vYwhvJPNSm31tXmWLEkxFFnoF7XEyUmzA8l5xEglSuNeQXrtpR9mxhaqz/s1600/2012-012-Sail+to+Guinea2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgng39ojTY1fUh8cWXQ4Uh6Edq0QrjpJtxwsdRt0U7HdEyM3RG2_envHVvv4u53kacJCgbrWppR_GQgNJE4b2vYwhvJPNSm31tXmWLEkxFFnoF7XEyUmzA8l5xEglSuNeQXrtpR9mxhaqz/s320/2012-012-Sail+to+Guinea2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">OUR FIRST SAIL! Heading to GUINEA. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's the scoop in bullet form (though each bullet could easily be turned into a blog post of its own):<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Back in 2012 we committed to Mercy Ships for 4-5 years (though when we arrived we realized that kind of commitment was unusual -- most people sign up for 2 years or less... or for an indefinite amount of time. Nick has felt pretty strongly about a 4-5 year time frame for us all along... but I wasn't so sure -- I kind-of imagined us being here for much longer... I imagined our kids graduating from the onboard Academy... but God did what He's so faithful to do -- He gets us all on the same page.)</li>
<li>We knew that the end of this field service (Benin) would be 5 years...</li>
<li>All along we've been saying "God, we just want to be where you want us" (that's what got us into all this in the first place :-) ) -- so we were certainly open to staying... and open to going....</li>
<li>This past summer we spent significant time praying and asking God for clear direction as to whether we should extend our 5-year commitment with Mercy Ships.</li>
<li>He brought us all to the same place of knowing that this would be our last field service. </li>
<li>In June we will be leaving the <i>Africa Mercy</i> and heading back to Columbus, Georgia. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs60BXBr_tMFdQyye0QxpVHgNBTN9gLmQXWLHXMNAmjEybU_k5jD6BN-ydeR1CxbTHdYEUiGu8pf6AoTVpx0LhCujGLaIo7v35NCUXyFgELbxTv5oN9qLROs4cAz6kK8LvSbwk9UO4QSv/s1600/2014-001-Congo+Easter1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs60BXBr_tMFdQyye0QxpVHgNBTN9gLmQXWLHXMNAmjEybU_k5jD6BN-ydeR1CxbTHdYEUiGu8pf6AoTVpx0LhCujGLaIo7v35NCUXyFgELbxTv5oN9qLROs4cAz6kK8LvSbwk9UO4QSv/s320/2014-001-Congo+Easter1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Easter in CONGO</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When God was calling us into Mercy Ships, there was a moment where He used a song to confirm that He was indeed calling us out of Teen Advisors as much as He was calling us in to Mercy Ships. There was a line in the song that said "The one who called you in will call you out." And, even though I've never heard the song since that day pulling out of the driveway at Christ Community Church (honestly, I've wondered if it was actually a song or something that God did special just for me), He's using the same lyrics to call us out of Mercy Ships.<br />
<br />
It's interesting to try and wrap our minds around the "lasts" -- we enjoyed our last Christmas on the ship a few months ago... we just had our last Ash Wednesday Service... we are in the midst of our last season of Lent on the ship... soon the kids will be in their last quarter as students in the onboard Academy. Eventually we will attend our last Community Meeting... respond to our last fire drill... lead our last Worship Gathering... host our last meeting with the Chaplaincy Team... enjoy our last waffle Friday... and, finally, take our last walk down the gangway. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxuw-0_CK0aZ4rEkrWOHdKR6S90Kczm-1_XOzixT_hELMcgod4qkiD9kjdYH84Xb4oguqzxqdbO4L7OwjqRi9ZdtspbbhpdXflYFWVWNzz2_ug_AP2QVkds_25GFTPxt_uwCQNq1S4ubo/s1600/2014-014-Nov-Tana+Lemur+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxuw-0_CK0aZ4rEkrWOHdKR6S90Kczm-1_XOzixT_hELMcgod4qkiD9kjdYH84Xb4oguqzxqdbO4L7OwjqRi9ZdtspbbhpdXflYFWVWNzz2_ug_AP2QVkds_25GFTPxt_uwCQNq1S4ubo/s320/2014-014-Nov-Tana+Lemur+Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visiting the Lemur Park in MADAGASCAR</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the short-term nature of service onboard and all the constant coming & going of Crew Members, we've been saying good-bye ever since we arrived in this place... so that's nothing new... but it's a different kind of good-bye when <i>you're</i> the one doing the leaving.<br />
<br />
There is a deep sense of peace surrounding this transition. Peace about finishing here. Peace about moving back to Columbus. Peace that He is with us and that He has good plans for us! <br />
<br />
We know that transition can be difficult -- and we're going into it with eyes wide open -- but, so far, pretty much everything about this transition has had a sweet peace about it. We're not sure why but God is making the way so smooth and we are so very grateful. We are absolutely amazed at the things that are already lined up / are lining up for us in Columbus.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4T87iTRMiNdsLAAOimV5lIhD7jt0DXv254dON-vVPrz6E-VbAJ6YyVCZALFHyiqgx8CRd98Lm9bGF3AtwthyphenhyphendDi1Fu9k3pv5sYf_OwigqIyDE3Zj1MBqQqApezR-Ymi8iqMswyhlXgLH/s1600/2016-028-Dec-Benin+Hotel+du+Lac.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4T87iTRMiNdsLAAOimV5lIhD7jt0DXv254dON-vVPrz6E-VbAJ6YyVCZALFHyiqgx8CRd98Lm9bGF3AtwthyphenhyphendDi1Fu9k3pv5sYf_OwigqIyDE3Zj1MBqQqApezR-Ymi8iqMswyhlXgLH/s320/2016-028-Dec-Benin+Hotel+du+Lac.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sharing a meal during Aunt Amy's visit in BENIN</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our hope and heart is to finish well here on the <i>Africa Mercy.</i> Ever since we made our decision that this field service would be our last, we've done our best to stay fully invested and to serve God and His beloved people here -- and maybe because we know it is our last, we've been able to stay fully invested<br />
<br />
Please pray for us that we finish our commitment on the <i>Africa Mercy </i>with excellence & effectiveness. And thank you. Thank you again and again and again, for making it possible for us to be here! Your financial support, prayers, encouragement, friendship, and love have made the past 5 years (and really our lives!) possible. <br />
<br />
Surely there will be more to come.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-JyygOCFUlk-fQURnScZk71Bmvasq_-ShIMvdtmrZaRnLHGAVGp7OfwJhtacZBKpsz0L69DmBoMnSxGI65rn5YKcLuE8cbkSxZnKVahycfz3R2dYbXC7rn0Dz9fTwKl5LpiZLTLNixd_/s1600/2016-020-WhitesvilleRd+view+from+front+porch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-JyygOCFUlk-fQURnScZk71Bmvasq_-ShIMvdtmrZaRnLHGAVGp7OfwJhtacZBKpsz0L69DmBoMnSxGI65rn5YKcLuE8cbkSxZnKVahycfz3R2dYbXC7rn0Dz9fTwKl5LpiZLTLNixd_/s320/2016-020-WhitesvilleRd+view+from+front+porch.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A glimpse into what's next: GEORGIA, USA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-2602662428963842342017-02-28T16:21:00.001+00:002017-02-28T16:21:21.035+00:00AFM youth retreat! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>"It was great until the jellyfish came."</b> That was Eli's response when I asked him about the youth retreat that he went on last weekend. </div>
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The youth leaders (who are REMARKABLE) organized an overnight campout for the youth of the AFM. They ventured a not very far distance away to a place called "El Dorado Beach" and braved a night away with a group of 6th-12th grade students. (all photos thanks to Jenny!)</div>
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<b>Here are some of Eli's thoughts on it all</b> (I asked questions, he talked, I typed...and asked more questions):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R2ZFMAwi-ildnNWSBraXPkmAv2sXQViQA39VeXG_kMfA_FPQfrPdgEq0WwD8Ppd3noTYpkZmEW9Vee-l7b45TZot8pjSNebdpEnGW7_ERS3613uwjxcueTqkRnJ-qzGa_Cn-BifekcfR/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R2ZFMAwi-ildnNWSBraXPkmAv2sXQViQA39VeXG_kMfA_FPQfrPdgEq0WwD8Ppd3noTYpkZmEW9Vee-l7b45TZot8pjSNebdpEnGW7_ERS3613uwjxcueTqkRnJ-qzGa_Cn-BifekcfR/s320/IMG_6429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWNbykFAdOG8L_Ev-DUhQFiGV42OSsZXE0RhfEK6LGmwIvTBMhX2_8b12MkhxRCfsexEJ7PQj1hHNq1NyFJEUM_7_KhGFHIdAdl8wNVOc-GFSSQHifptMPPtYWwEFO6vwc19v6VcL30Pu/s1600/IMG_6433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWNbykFAdOG8L_Ev-DUhQFiGV42OSsZXE0RhfEK6LGmwIvTBMhX2_8b12MkhxRCfsexEJ7PQj1hHNq1NyFJEUM_7_KhGFHIdAdl8wNVOc-GFSSQHifptMPPtYWwEFO6vwc19v6VcL30Pu/s320/IMG_6433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
After we left the ship we went straight to the place we were staying and set up our tents. Throughout the weekend we had a lot of free time to play on the beach and swim in the ocean. The youth leaders had organized some games and we swam a lot. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TX4L8KB-9zG9-s7hXQGfuqY5Co9BI3jX19XmVmD1z2tyIxF2ajEEQZ-VB_SNkoVpnGo8UEB1R5Q-kbRuSMubb57U25sggNzWV7VXIfpRo3ccyRREzpCpwSf3IcTm7q6UNXzxuBx2Zvdb/s1600/IMG_6436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TX4L8KB-9zG9-s7hXQGfuqY5Co9BI3jX19XmVmD1z2tyIxF2ajEEQZ-VB_SNkoVpnGo8UEB1R5Q-kbRuSMubb57U25sggNzWV7VXIfpRo3ccyRREzpCpwSf3IcTm7q6UNXzxuBx2Zvdb/s320/IMG_6436.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohbmzTpifc3eo3DkzxMa490i_Nti4anpgB6rM09Sei8L8vJmuxTCbF0kK1EDYVPUWzd3IH-XKUDJlpTpqynXu_DrZsQYVczYAi0SBfvQv-vrEoe0VvVUlW5sweKRBPF_oA8v8pWqFao7C/s1600/IMG_6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohbmzTpifc3eo3DkzxMa490i_Nti4anpgB6rM09Sei8L8vJmuxTCbF0kK1EDYVPUWzd3IH-XKUDJlpTpqynXu_DrZsQYVczYAi0SBfvQv-vrEoe0VvVUlW5sweKRBPF_oA8v8pWqFao7C/s320/IMG_6462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>What was the retreat speaker like? </b><br />
There was a guy named Justin <i>(black shirt and grey shorts in the picture above)</i> with us on the retreat – he’s from the US and is living here in Benin with his wife, Rachel. They work at an orphanage a couple of hours away called Arbre de vie. Justin talked to us a few times about hope. <br />
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<b>Did anything in particular stand out to you about hope?</b><br />
The main thing I learned about hope is that we don’t always get what we want but we can still trust that God will provide for us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltA2gSeQhmI1i5m_fX_ssEFe-D8F_SdJe-hSWDd9APmwyiG2AgnshCT-rdWQnbMjX0GgKOjiZKgJbJQnuOdywU4lQesE3Lb0v0Zqp9_s9A7D1BcVQsE6ZlzLi-Q9ODWMZzq9C3whS3ZvV/s1600/IMG_6475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltA2gSeQhmI1i5m_fX_ssEFe-D8F_SdJe-hSWDd9APmwyiG2AgnshCT-rdWQnbMjX0GgKOjiZKgJbJQnuOdywU4lQesE3Lb0v0Zqp9_s9A7D1BcVQsE6ZlzLi-Q9ODWMZzq9C3whS3ZvV/s320/IMG_6475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm0C3XIjiQz9kXpIRph2Ct8HvyDSJyekgsTSnKKAfTvx6V_454gL6AjH3KCjOOygOFqzHbDbblT2e0aG7kaZJylNiY3e8pXMnLUOJ_GUhDH26WXIC19N45OADH-osyl7Rh8mAs858Ayte/s1600/IMG_6476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm0C3XIjiQz9kXpIRph2Ct8HvyDSJyekgsTSnKKAfTvx6V_454gL6AjH3KCjOOygOFqzHbDbblT2e0aG7kaZJylNiY3e8pXMnLUOJ_GUhDH26WXIC19N45OADH-osyl7Rh8mAs858Ayte/s320/IMG_6476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqBvwinaZf_oLra0fB1xZ2ddemB0H83UPdmZxJsykRkcc9nVgSNIG-3z78mk8G4eF5YQ6JOFIKkF_wbgPosze9zCr6Ek_X37cgP4M_evIOsq18h5xeg18j2deHH8lkxCYdZpWAkabji9Q/s1600/IMG_6478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqBvwinaZf_oLra0fB1xZ2ddemB0H83UPdmZxJsykRkcc9nVgSNIG-3z78mk8G4eF5YQ6JOFIKkF_wbgPosze9zCr6Ek_X37cgP4M_evIOsq18h5xeg18j2deHH8lkxCYdZpWAkabji9Q/s320/IMG_6478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s6lG_KT8Chp6tbNMvyUW9orHCgM9YdVGEOYT2BXYkEQf2JfaE1xd7Rea3f6WGMqC4YlLa8SGRg93DrgmE6SCePskvhbslsHBo7jOCjIliRA48Gza8QvanWgoz2S2sjHnM1lrJxdtS08V/s1600/IMG_6482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s6lG_KT8Chp6tbNMvyUW9orHCgM9YdVGEOYT2BXYkEQf2JfaE1xd7Rea3f6WGMqC4YlLa8SGRg93DrgmE6SCePskvhbslsHBo7jOCjIliRA48Gza8QvanWgoz2S2sjHnM1lrJxdtS08V/s320/IMG_6482.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>What was your favorite part? </b><br />
The bonfire was probably my favorite part. We had s’mores and we had fun being
together. We sat around the campfire and
worshipped…and then we ended up singing fun songs. Yes, I
like the bonfire…and breakfast..and lunch…and having my shirt off most of the weekend...and sleeping at a table. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You slept at a table? Why did you sleep at a table? </b></div>
Because I didn’t want to sleep in the tent because my friend Mark
was already in our tent and the tents weren’t really big enough for 2…unless
you’re really snuggling and I wasn’t willing to do that. So I fell asleep in a chair, at a table. I woke up when the sun was rising and it got
bright – probably about 7.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtev4aAiY724Lrl-yIVGU2AilJMonis8o4VdZotiA-k6EFvLX11sKhhjROLs8wqRu72NfZlNvNDrnYTviMjoha8HYS1bXDY1wjTLXmQJ9nXUBkoxBCHlIo4z5U57O0-1b5J7Sc_Sy6JHRd/s1600/IMG_6554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtev4aAiY724Lrl-yIVGU2AilJMonis8o4VdZotiA-k6EFvLX11sKhhjROLs8wqRu72NfZlNvNDrnYTviMjoha8HYS1bXDY1wjTLXmQJ9nXUBkoxBCHlIo4z5U57O0-1b5J7Sc_Sy6JHRd/s320/IMG_6554.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>Any other thoughts? </b></div>
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We had one of our Gurkas with us, Dil. He stayed up all night. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We had toast and egg casserole for breakfast. Then we had more free time. I swam out to the platform in the water –
that’s when the jelly fish showed up. It
was really annoying and difficult to swim back to the shore. Nobody got stung...but I didn't like it. At all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After swimming back we had one more session and some lunch
and then it was time to pack up and head back to the ship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Were you glad to be back on the ship? </b></div>
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Yes...but I wish the retreat
could have been longer – I was really enjoying myself. I was glad to be back because there aren’t
jellyfish on the ship…though there are some in the water just outside the
ship. But that’s ok because I don’t swim
in that water. </div>
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There ya have it. A sixth grader's take on the AFM Youth Retreat! </div>
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<b>And now, a word about/for the youth leaders:</b></div>
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We can't say THANK YOU enough to the youth leaders on the ship. These ladies and gentlemen volunteer on top of their volunteering...they give of their free time to invest in the youth...they are certainly role models and tremendous examples to the youth - and really to all the rest of the crew as well. </div>
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<b>Ryan, Ruben, Tyler, Keverly, Anna and Jenny - Thank you.</b> Thank you for investing in Eli...and in our family as a whole - by investing in him you are investing in all of us! Thank you for being willing to share life with our students and for investing in them with your time,energy, efforts, prayers, care and love. <i>You are amazing individuals</i> - and a FABULOUS TEAM. Nick and I would be more than happy if our kids' lives ended up looking something like any of yours -- young adults loving and serving God. Young adults investing in those coming up behind them. Young adults who know how to love, laugh, dance and enjoy snacks (among other things). </div>
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the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-84787406504651156352017-02-21T19:34:00.001+00:002017-02-21T19:34:05.846+00:00transformation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saw these 2 pictures on Facebook yesterday. I couldn't help but notice the transformation on Maurinho's face is as significant as the transformation of his legs. </div>
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Hope and healing are about so much more than the physical changes that are made possible by your generosity and God's work on this vessel. I'm so very thankful that our God cares about the whole person...not just transformed legs...but also transformed hearts, minds and smiles.<br />
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-8219744880084146472017-02-02T16:13:00.001+00:002017-02-02T20:08:12.502+00:00Sweet Miracle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just look at this treasure. Her name is Miracle and she was born with a windswept leg. She's 3 years old and has been a patient here on the Africa Mercy these past few months. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: inherit;">I did an impromptu interview in the laundry room with Justine, my friend and one of the ship's photographers. Justine said that Miracle is such a sweet and spunky little girl. They started calling her "little peanut" - because she's tiny and little like a peanut! Justine said Miracle tends to suck on her fingers when she's nervous and that it was fun to watch this little peanut come out of her shell. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thought you might like to see a bit of Miracle's journey through these pictures. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757;">(The progression of hair styles is one of my favorite parts!) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: inherit;">Many thanks to our amazing Comms team for taking so many wonderful pictures and making them available for the crew to use! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlLaxAC_VqgiIgkz4uGiTJz3SBAGvZb70LThScZFLR832GPedJZ8SdEiJjjAOSv7GDZ2WxlnMtL7WA3WiWrDRcff0ki5_6Qe_dSVrVJkXPzildy80r8nQsk1jQaCzHqox7Fs9AYIvoxF1/s1600/BEE161126_MIRACLE_PAT08339_WARD_JF0001_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eJHoTS1RYVLMWgt6jvNy7KeOiLTXJYztU0S_kTxyhbB06rjsEKhlzlXQfUcvJ-Bz902a9RYH2s8Z-f2rrd5zeZPptN-5wxaCXQoXFZi_6ZBXDuVt4m7mIFyNfQK6phujFN4Beyqvlai_/s1600/BEE170106_MIRACLE_PAT08339_CAST_OFF_WALKING_MO0005_MID.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhETH5A651nTeyu7EUL-4HFi6vpWzvwOVgGjoAdDKbhM8sjryjsYbxV5sVYYNAc3i60pDX3Io6cSly32BVv7Cbj72ZmsTsE24HqZv9BwUmsVX6-mLM9f1SewIxpLdkYqhjLHO3t_PnlIVG/s1600/BEE170106_MIRACLE_PAT08339_CAST_OFF_WALKING_MO0003_MID.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhETH5A651nTeyu7EUL-4HFi6vpWzvwOVgGjoAdDKbhM8sjryjsYbxV5sVYYNAc3i60pDX3Io6cSly32BVv7Cbj72ZmsTsE24HqZv9BwUmsVX6-mLM9f1SewIxpLdkYqhjLHO3t_PnlIVG/s320/BEE170106_MIRACLE_PAT08339_CAST_OFF_WALKING_MO0003_MID.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Our faithful Father, through the work of skilled surgeons, nurses and physical therapists, has made straight what was crooked...and now there's a beautiful little girl who can run and play and climb trees with all the rest of the kiddos. A miracle for Miracle. A miracle for all of us to get to see God's hope and healing in such a real and tangible way. </div>
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-76298512075253360402017-01-12T17:43:00.001+00:002017-01-12T18:08:43.503+00:00Wrapping up 2016The past few weeks have been full! There was Christmas...and New Years...And in the midst of all this, <a href="http://cashcrewship.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-letter-to-my-sister.html">AUNT AMY's visit!</a> Now we've gotten back into the "normal routine" of school and work. But we didn't want to get too much further into 2017 without wrapping up 2016 well. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Highlights of Christmas Day!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Gifts & time together!</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nick opening his "Christmas Shoe" </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bracelets from MaMa </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cashino Royale</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unicorn Emma in her science lab</span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Brunch! </b> A highlight not only of Christmas but of LIFE. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdTI4hCazHUFvt5TcjpNcqMaC3W1wpoeVJLg3ip8Qs3Wwc-D0QKJ2vUzbb6cLWVUccdnmu885AdU_e65JyGvq4L-EdgCIwSmauwXflWwA6ZBeeCT9PSQm9Ntx7KKh_znvJqvW6k2oRuyX/s320/galley+team.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="256" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Galley and Dining Room Teams doing a walk of honor around the dining room - they do SUCH a remarkable job with this special meal!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Joy to the World all over the place!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Aunt Amy!</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We don't have nearly enough pictures from Christmas Day with her in them...but she was here and that was a highlight!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And Highlights of New Years!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4 shots of espresso</b> </span>in my favorite new mug that kept me up to ring in the new year!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Games!</b> In light of Nick's recent thoughts on <a href="http://cashcrewship.blogspot.com/2016/11/triangles-and-circles.html">triangles and circles</a>, it was interesting to see the many circles that were happening all over mid-ships...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bananagrams - en Espanol</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ninja...or something like that</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Uno with a whole lot of extra rules</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"> Friends!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b> The confetti! </b>It was rather epic (and cleaning it up wasn't so bad either).</span><br />
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<b> </b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>And, of course, AUNT AMY! </b>(and cute pirates named Ben)</span></div>
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2017 has gotten off to a beautiful start. We're excited about what this year holds...and we'll be putting our trust in our Ever Faithful God every step of the way. Thank you for continuing to walk with us on this journey.<br />
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Surely there will be more to come.</div>
the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-63773569278457006732017-01-05T22:07:00.001+00:002017-01-05T22:07:58.012+00:00A letter to my sister. Dear Amy,<br />
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What a remarkable person you are. You came all the way across the ocean to sit on the couch and share coffee with me.<br />
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Thank you for the financial investment you made to come visit us on the <i>Africa Mercy</i> in Benin. Thank you for getting shots and taking malaria medicine. Thank you for enduring the hassle of the travel (...on both sides of your trip. Just how many trips through immigration did you take?!). Thank you for navigating foreign airports and for not melting into a discouraged puddle on the curb when you couldn't find us straight away at the airport in Benin. <br />
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You jumped right into community life here...from getting an extensive tour of the ship while we "drove around looking at Christmas doors" and caroled our way around the decks (you've seen places that many of our crew never have!) to happily putting your shoe out on Christmas Eve and helping to deliver gifts around the ship...you contributed more than you realize! <br />
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You easily fit right in and made life all the more enjoyable. We're so glad you were here to celebrate Christmas and New Years with us....and thanks for participating in the everyday normal of our life here. I appreciate how you let all 5 of us just be us. <br />
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From sharing waffles to going to the pool to walking to get icecream and enjoying our favorite restaurants...from playing clue and banangrams and beat the parents (expertly, I may add)....to enjoying the inexpensive coffee and the plethora of options in the dining room - your presence was a welcomed addition to us these past 2 weeks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE7id7BGCVfpTjo4JH6SaIAxeifbPhivIWWlWQJrIH-OLkC80Zj52cW3Pvds9A7DXfqm8Cpp0Vr9ppGhdou-lF676FQzvQhZkmgOEwDutZcaLSm6qNQuNWf7B3eRs9MuQLZUUvkTAX63w/s1600/ci+gusta+amy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE7id7BGCVfpTjo4JH6SaIAxeifbPhivIWWlWQJrIH-OLkC80Zj52cW3Pvds9A7DXfqm8Cpp0Vr9ppGhdou-lF676FQzvQhZkmgOEwDutZcaLSm6qNQuNWf7B3eRs9MuQLZUUvkTAX63w/s320/ci+gusta+amy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Thank you for giving me the chance to see this vessel and her work afresh through your eyes. Going to the Hope Center and down to the wards and being in the rehab tent with you refreshed my heart in ways that I can't fully put words to. <br />
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...And experiencing Ouidah with you was extra special. Knowing how very much you care about freedom and justice and the right treatment of humans continues to speak volumes to me. <br />
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I loved getting to be with you as you were introduced to the craft market and the fabric market (and the ever-challenging art of just walking away) and to shawarmas and to the sights, smells, noises and amazing vehicle-carrying skills that make up the streets of Benin. I love that you had Ani make you so many wearable and giveable souvenirs. <br />
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You embraced the slice of this incredible continent that you encountered with so much love and courage. It's beautifully different here....and you chose to see the beauty (like you always do).<br />
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Speaking of beautiful things, I can't believe I didn't take you to get a sugar cake! Next time we're in Cotonou together we'll definitely hit up La Galette a Sucre.<br />
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Thank you for believing in us as a family - and for believing in me as a person. You give me way more credit and accolades than I could ever deserve. <br />
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Thank you for loving us enough to come be a part of our world (sounds alot like Jesus to me). The gift of your presence is absolutely priceless and we will always be grateful for these 2+ weeks that we were able to share with you. We made memories that will last a lifetime. <br />
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As you arrive back home, we hope you settle back into life in Athens peacefully - but forever changed because of what you got to experience in and around the AFM. May you find plenty of willing ears ready and eager to hear about the goats on the roof and how you helped with the casting. May there be plenty of people interested in hearing about Noelle's smile and Elizabeth's lovely face. May you even have words to describe the not so delightful noise of needlegunning. <br />
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We love you so very much. Thanks for loving us in such a significant and tangible way. <br />
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For all of the Cash Crew,<br />
Your littlest YOUNGER sister who also happens to be your friend (always and forever),<br />
dianna<br />
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Surely there will be more to come.<br />
<br />the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-88431325136102318942016-12-19T16:52:00.002+00:002016-12-19T20:00:21.034+00:00AFM Christmas - part 3 - Gingerbread Houses (and various other structures)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And then there was the Gingerbread House Contest....</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Eli and the other 6th grade boys</b></span>. I like the team work and creativity...I do believe they may have been the first group to finish (but it wasn't a race)...</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>KJ and the Cash Girls.</b></span> I appreciate KJ's willingness to let it be the creative, fun, messy, sugar filled event that it's intended to be. I'm very impressed with the structural stability of their house (and the cultural stability as well). </div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>A Few Other Favorites</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3zA1chJK6t8iJmbbNVUb56vLZkHacvrMJtntuJrQixBjWnl8CLksC_31APf6oHhBzyA86qhhsun4cuqy2M19b3acjejsMnijZ8heAW1rBiSK26tGAjvNQzEEIQHPxyZ6nC0sQEB4rOCu/s1600/ginger+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3zA1chJK6t8iJmbbNVUb56vLZkHacvrMJtntuJrQixBjWnl8CLksC_31APf6oHhBzyA86qhhsun4cuqy2M19b3acjejsMnijZ8heAW1rBiSK26tGAjvNQzEEIQHPxyZ6nC0sQEB4rOCu/s320/ginger+1.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-39547376645290523342016-12-19T16:52:00.001+00:002016-12-19T20:07:46.752+00:00AFM Christmas - part 2 - Cookies & Crafts & Community <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Christmas Cookie Bake</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The best way to bake Christmas cookies...the dough is ready made by the galley...you just roll it out, cut it out (with whatever cookie cutters you can happen to get your hands on..dinosaurs, sailboats and dog bones included) and put it on the tray that is magically whisked away bycookie fairies and baked...the tray is brought back with the cookies ready to be iced with icing that's been prepared for us! I don't think it can get any easier... </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRbNjD4ztwS8Qbj-2KdtaFKh74lQ3tQk_s4I6hPLPyJifCQxuW5c4ERz6lBaVMijXctDwfZtUHw8F8n33sg6s1Xo3zfPj5Y2Sn2NWq0G8KbeRWso4efwdWZO9fnIqLHDWjYU8WyHjF1CP/s1600/Cookie+Bake-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRbNjD4ztwS8Qbj-2KdtaFKh74lQ3tQk_s4I6hPLPyJifCQxuW5c4ERz6lBaVMijXctDwfZtUHw8F8n33sg6s1Xo3zfPj5Y2Sn2NWq0G8KbeRWso4efwdWZO9fnIqLHDWjYU8WyHjF1CP/s320/Cookie+Bake-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: jasper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Christmas Craft Night</b></span></div>
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Another incredibly delightful event. 20+ Christmas Crafts right at our finger tips...we just show up and create. HUGE thanks to Shelly for coming up with the crafts, procuring the materials and lining up volunteers to run each station. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOXY9wh7qnaM9yqaLH4LfPKGx1bCC5UVQsDCa8oXCW3UAMt2eYLjFKdqCmOgcVBeN5vmbdGiJsKzdNY3rNsVQCoKaLSseUQBGxlTbLpHx_o55fXGt7lSICCVyo5JqF2MoqdJXmMgsuLV3/s1600/Carol+T%2527s+pics+-+AFM+Craft+Night+-+07+Dec+2016+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOXY9wh7qnaM9yqaLH4LfPKGx1bCC5UVQsDCa8oXCW3UAMt2eYLjFKdqCmOgcVBeN5vmbdGiJsKzdNY3rNsVQCoKaLSseUQBGxlTbLpHx_o55fXGt7lSICCVyo5JqF2MoqdJXmMgsuLV3/s320/Carol+T%2527s+pics+-+AFM+Craft+Night+-+07+Dec+2016+%252814%2529.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: carol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnpTHGjk2Yuhyphenhyphen_9idHP01pGCxhlrTVKcz9D5KQ6CyeId-mqH05DVYx1g3AuZ2lydANBsb4CFSHdpjb_T1xfJ0KxftiyCpnI4Hxhnr9T3vlApSqASkNvJps9c1zbGGuvgMQkDfUmm0kUB7/s1600/craft+night+eli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnpTHGjk2Yuhyphenhyphen_9idHP01pGCxhlrTVKcz9D5KQ6CyeId-mqH05DVYx1g3AuZ2lydANBsb4CFSHdpjb_T1xfJ0KxftiyCpnI4Hxhnr9T3vlApSqASkNvJps9c1zbGGuvgMQkDfUmm0kUB7/s320/craft+night+eli.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: not sure...but not me</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Community Performances & Such</b></span><br />
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The elementary kids have worked hard under Ms. Beth's leadership to prepare and perform multiple songs throughout the Advent Season. There's something about children singing that has Christmas written all over it (especially when they are singing Christmas songs). </div>
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Ms. Beth also taught the Kindergarten and Grade 1 Students a set of verses that they shared throughout the ship on Friday:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxgVydVuqiW1fR87dAMME1lPIgZRTYgwBKVyizoYMxy9-whABwpWPEOuCEwRbbMn8LPcmh7y8gDNqL387AV-A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And just last night, 8 of the elementary girls lead us in worship as they danced to "Come and Worship." A definite highlight of our Christmas. Tremendous thanks to Ms. Suzanne for investing in them with her love and talent.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUokPcVF6iDaUkWrsIhSS9aPAtCYwF2vLolP0aTaRfwt9db8jfEwcM-FLpv_aQi-lJGsUDnP6xUNDHXnOKaKsrrtskJ0aYq-tw-4mBp0evqmlmyigmfWLvErYtsz2PXl1Vt6Yulqs191Yu/s1600/IMG_3089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUokPcVF6iDaUkWrsIhSS9aPAtCYwF2vLolP0aTaRfwt9db8jfEwcM-FLpv_aQi-lJGsUDnP6xUNDHXnOKaKsrrtskJ0aYq-tw-4mBp0evqmlmyigmfWLvErYtsz2PXl1Vt6Yulqs191Yu/s320/IMG_3089.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: beth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt9txTYEn3swuCrTEU7V-dxL5CMxIG6W_AqmG6rpLdwN96tY405krzweDjFGZWVjHvapqyH5FPNfWWpDwWDLhOj0Hq7TvYk-lMwo_1VLtiFVX6GkRCRduJ7rK0YHkBYNZOWtE3fNstiYR/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt9txTYEn3swuCrTEU7V-dxL5CMxIG6W_AqmG6rpLdwN96tY405krzweDjFGZWVjHvapqyH5FPNfWWpDwWDLhOj0Hq7TvYk-lMwo_1VLtiFVX6GkRCRduJ7rK0YHkBYNZOWtE3fNstiYR/s320/IMG_3090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: KJ</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Surely there will be more to come.</span></span>
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the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-69170606376293994662016-12-19T16:10:00.003+00:002016-12-19T21:11:43.513+00:00AFM Christmas - part 1 - Sinter Klaas, Winter Wonderland & Santa Lucia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Christmas time is here...happiness and cheer....</i></span></div>
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AFM Christmases have proven to be some of the best times on the ship these past 4 1/2 years. This year is no exception! Here's the beginning of a blog blitz of some of our favorite moments from the past few weeks...mainly pictures with a bit of explanation.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Sinter Klaas</b></span></div>
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The Dutch Tradition of <a href="http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/whats-on/holiday-season-in-amsterdam/sinterklaas">Sinter Klaas</a>! He is supposed to arrive "by steamer" but this year Sinter Klaas arrived in Management Vehicle style (lucky guy - he didn't even have to have his temperature taken at the gate or wash his hands before coming aboard!). Sinter Klaas and his helpers pass out presents to the children (and throw out the the delicious pepernoten - looks like dog food...but it sure isn't).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGVMr_HgHf6YYiPEE4NiHpPlHW0AoOpDUvkR4c1RP6GjRV6FHjmGQpRDjvUOr2ThG3Y_X_TYZ3bZ3VEIful8zegFRsTE0tjhvyhEUN9V9ldmOpz0vLTR3Th5Kwy-PNVzKSsGK8lV0UWBv/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGVMr_HgHf6YYiPEE4NiHpPlHW0AoOpDUvkR4c1RP6GjRV6FHjmGQpRDjvUOr2ThG3Y_X_TYZ3bZ3VEIful8zegFRsTE0tjhvyhEUN9V9ldmOpz0vLTR3Th5Kwy-PNVzKSsGK8lV0UWBv/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Winter Wonderland</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Definitely the AFM shopping experience of the year! (I prefer to sit back and watch! Can you spot me in the 2nd picture?) Dozens of crew set up tables selling all sorts of lovely items - our favorite tend to be the edible ones...Mama Agnes' homemade waffle cones (4th picture down) are always a winner in the Cash Family.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsDBCt_xV35wNosGeJOgt1cqtf0ZOU8efJ8rlIrP1QyQrdgxUyZIRUPEMTrL9UxEWZrJAkmh8ChFI4H0EgSyEnlMhf16XM9pzbNjgcVJH-PkGV0sjY37tivwjLTHw1wp6VZ50pW6uNBXQ/s1600/WinterWonderLand-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsDBCt_xV35wNosGeJOgt1cqtf0ZOU8efJ8rlIrP1QyQrdgxUyZIRUPEMTrL9UxEWZrJAkmh8ChFI4H0EgSyEnlMhf16XM9pzbNjgcVJH-PkGV0sjY37tivwjLTHw1wp6VZ50pW6uNBXQ/s320/WinterWonderLand-26.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Santa Lucia</b></span></div>
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This is the one that always makes me cry. <a href="https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/lucia/">The Scandanavian Tradition of Santa Lucia </a>- the Feast of Saint Lucy - the Festival of Lights! It's so beautiful...(tearing up just thinking about it!). All of our crew from Sweden, Denmark and Norway (and any crew from other places with Scandanavian roots), dress in white and carry candles while singing traditional songs. I hope the video works so you can get a taste of one of our favorite ship traditions...</div>
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-39552779506201591692016-12-07T19:42:00.002+00:002016-12-07T19:42:37.452+00:00the month that was November...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You may need to get your face close to the screen in order to see the numbers and words and pictures...but we wanted to share what's been going on in the Hospital of the <i>Africa Mercy</i> - what YOU'VE been a part of...</div>
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Amazing numbers. Even more amazing? The lives behind each and every number. The patient served...the crew member serving...the families forever changed...the hope and healing experienced in very real and tangible ways. And even MORE amazing? Our One True God who sees and knows each and every single one...<br />
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-27556875782753741702016-11-30T13:29:00.001+00:002016-11-30T13:29:04.542+00:00Triangles and Circles<div style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; padding: 0px;">
<i>If you've talked with us for even a minute, you've heard us say that living here on the Africa Mercy is beautifully challenging. <strong> </strong>Here are some thoughts that Nick shared with our Community of Faith that helps make some sense of why this place is a wee bit tricky. </i><br />
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<strong>Life on a Mercy Ship is part triangle and part circle.</strong></div>
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<strong>The Triangle represents our Organizational Life. </strong>We are an organization – we are a hospital ship. And we have a mission. We have designed programs to fulfill that mission. The ship is the platform through which we deliver that mission. And we, the Crew, are the people who organize together in order to enact that mission – we are an organization.</div>
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<strong>And organizations need structure. </strong>They need workflow. They need layered leadership. They need a chain of command.</div>
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Without organization, the hospital doesn’t function.<strong> </strong>Without organization, no one creates the duty schedules. Without organization, no one tracks the supply orders; no one prepares the menu for meals; no one recruits & trains the volunteers.</div>
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Without the triangle, no one schedules the surgeons, or cleans the ORs, or keeps the financial records, or tests the water for drinkability, or maintains the electrical & plumbing systems.</div>
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<strong>We need the Triangle! </strong>But can we get real for a minute? The triangle bothers some people – let’s be honest. Some people think the triangle comes with too many politics, too many rules & regulations, too many policies & committees. Some people think the triangle makes the ministry feel too much like a business.</div>
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But the Triangle is how we are all here. We all applied for & were accepted into positions within the Triangle. And the Triangle is how we deal with medical crises and technical mishaps that arise.</div>
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In Guinea, my family lived up on the aft-end of Deck 7, and one night – I believe it was Christmas Eve – one of the local fuel trucks that was parked behind our ship spilled it’s load into the ocean right behind us! An overhead announcement called for all Deck & Engineering Crew to rush to the dock for hazardous material containment. It was late at night, on Christmas Eve!, and about 50 men & women from the AFM worked into the early morning hours to contain the massive oil spill.</div>
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Without layers of leadership, without emergency-response protocols, and chains of command, and policies and manuals and after-action reviews – in short – <em>without the Triangle</em> – none of this happens.</div>
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Three weekends ago, on a Friday night, a patient on the Wards was rushed into the OR with severe bleeding from the neck. EMT were called. An OR Team was assembled. An emergency surgery took place late in the evening. And, by the grace of God, a patient’s life was saved.</div>
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<strong>But, would you allow me to challenge your theology there for just a second? </strong>Yes, it was by God’s grace that the patient survived. And yes, He gets all the glory for doing what only He can do! He preserved a life that night that by all explainable means should not have survived. But we played a role in His grace. His grace worked through us and our systems. <em>Do you realize the magnitude of that? </em>We are partners with God, co-laborers with His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 6:1) He frequently performs His divine miracles through our earthly hands and efforts. Isn’t that amazing!? 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that God’s all-surpassing power – His divine glory & grace – dwells within us & works with & through us – we, who are but jars of clay, flimsy earthen vessels.</div>
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<strong>He is at work in & through the Triangle.</strong></div>
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<strong>Then there is the Circle. </strong>The Circle represents our Community Life. And specifically our Community of Faith. The Circle is how we exist here beyond work. Beyond the badge. Beyond the job title. We are people. We are individuals, beloved by God, redeemed by Jesus, indwelled by His Spirit, brothers and sisters with a common faith and an eternal destiny with each other through Christ.</div>
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<strong>The Circle is where we find our spiritual vitality. </strong>There is spiritual equality in the Circle. We can all pray for each other, all bear one another’s burdens, all encourage one another in our faith, all spur one another on towards love and good deeds.</div>
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<strong>The Circle is what we look like to outsiders while we accomplish the mission of the Triangle. </strong>That’s what Jesus told His disciples in John 13:35 – it’s not only what you do it, but how you do it that matters – they will know that we belong to Jesus by our love for each other. The Circle is how we treat the other members of the Triangle: with common dignity. With common respect, regardless of position. With common value. With common honor.</div>
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In the Triangle, the Captain and Managing Director lead. Their word carries the most weight. They are ultimately responsible for the safety of the Crew and the success of our mission here. But in the Circle, they are simply men – our brothers in Christ – our equals in our common journey of faith with Father God. Even our Triangle leaders need a safe place to study God’s Word with others, and search the deep questions of the faith with others – in a Circle setting.</div>
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I’ll go even further than that: I am the Senior Chaplain. In the Triangle, it’s my responsibility to step up and be the spiritual leader of this vessel. That’s what my position requires of me, and it is my honor & joy to get to do that in this amazing place, among you amazing people!</div>
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<strong>But I need a Circle, too. </strong>I’m not perfect. I need a safe place to confess my sins to other believers here. I don’t have my life all perfectly fit together – I need a Circle of believers who can pray for me and support me in my own faith-journey – and that’s you guys.</div>
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<strong>The TRIANGLE is our Organizational Life.</strong></div>
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<strong>The CIRCLE is our Community Life.</strong></div>
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<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The TRIANGLE is how we all got here.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The CIRCLE is how we exist together here.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The TRIANGLE is how we get the job done.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The CIRCLE is maintaining our spiritual vitality.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The TRIANGLE has hierarchy – ranked positions.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The CIRCLE has equality – brothers & sisters.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The TRIANGLE has formal leadership.</em></li>
<li style="color: #575757; line-height: 1.5;"><em>The CIRCLE has informal leadership.</em></li>
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<strong>The TRIANGLE makes up half of our mission: </strong>to bring hope & healing to the world’s forgotten poor – through free, world-class medical programs.</div>
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<strong>The CIRCLE makes up the other half:</strong> to follow the 2000-year-old model of Jesus – through spiritual transformation in Christ-centered community.</div>
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The complete mission of the <em>Africa Mercy</em> requires both!<strong> </strong>Our mission is incomplete without both halves of our mission statement.</div>
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This is hard to do. Most people don’t live where they work. Most of us have never shared a communal life with our co-workers, our supervisors, our HR rep, our Bank Clerk, our coffee shop employee, our pastor.</div>
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This is unusual. It’s difficult to hold the tension between organizational life and community life in balance.</div>
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Circles & Triangles: these two shapes normally do not fit together. You cannot put a circular block in a triangular hole. You cannot put a triangular block in a circular hole. It doesn’t work in geometry. <em>But it can work here.</em></div>
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<strong>In fact, successful life onboard requires one to manage this tension well.</strong> It is a tension to be managed (a good thing!), not a problem to be solved (a bad thing).</div>
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All of us, as members of this organization – as position-holders within the Triangle – we have to be willing to submit ourselves to a Circle onboard, or else our whole life and experience onboard will be in the Triangle. It really will be like we just live & sleep at our work, and our lives can become very one-dimensional. When that happens, we tend to reach the end of our service time here exhausted, used-up, burned-out, mad at Mercy Ships, and distant from God. I don’t want that for you. Mercy Ships doesn’t want that for you. And God certainly does not want that for you.</div>
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People weren’t meant to live in the Triangle. Our most healthy lives are lived in the Circle – in community with others who love us, who know our faults and blind-spots, and who graciously support us along in our journeys of faith with Jesus.</div>
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We need the Triangle in order for our work to be effective and efficient: we need hierarchy and positional leadership. We need people to make decisions! We need people to lead the way for the team!</div>
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But we all need each other to thrive in community, and to complete both halves of the mission that we have all been called here for: to provide free, top-notch medical programs that serve the world’s forgotten poor – that’s the Triangle half. And by following the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, to bring spiritual transformation to lives – <em>through</em> Christ-centered community.<br />
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<i>Surely there will be more to come. </i></div>
the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-80446419773815794142016-11-10T13:20:00.000+00:002016-11-10T13:20:23.264+00:00Mercy Ships Core Values according to Eli<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>And now it's Eli's turn to contribute. Again, this was a school assignment (God bless the Academy for giving us so many things to share). Eli was happy to share it because it meant he didn't have to write anything else for the blog...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Values of Mercy Ships - Eli Cash - 2016</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A value is a word or phrase that you model your life
around, whether it is money, love, or God. Values also influence your
decisions. Mercy Ships has four main
core values, love God, love and serve others, be people of integrity,
and be people of excellence in all that we say and do.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Ng3CRc2nsca2BIm54XX-ld1oTIiuoGSjvlKA2aUms0Tjs7WPJ4xUyVJJNaccsrBBTyRylN1KisS95LsDfcImEmyhRItGqad0Yrptvx-ScdRg2AM2v-B5MZkkxAHIJOZhyhqdc-RBe9M/s1600/love+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Ng3CRc2nsca2BIm54XX-ld1oTIiuoGSjvlKA2aUms0Tjs7WPJ4xUyVJJNaccsrBBTyRylN1KisS95LsDfcImEmyhRItGqad0Yrptvx-ScdRg2AM2v-B5MZkkxAHIJOZhyhqdc-RBe9M/s320/love+God.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The people
on the ship are supposed to love God; we show this by going to the community
meetings and participating in worship. The crew also shows this by
participating in mercy ministries, because the Bible says that when we serve
each other we’re serving Christ as well. Finally we show that we love and serve
God when we came to the ship, God called us to go to the ship and we came.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q377EOENyCvfdgyabxvjJVUl5E50xgHrNRq5ok2uAGuOiEAoOZXHIvq1moDn6gyM6jGcD2Rm4-cWifDJ1sOYV-BDGe57-XwYAaNVuaC0XxrHZrC3jVzHqwCZiKdz-whLBoodE7e2hSsY/s1600/love+and+serve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q377EOENyCvfdgyabxvjJVUl5E50xgHrNRq5ok2uAGuOiEAoOZXHIvq1moDn6gyM6jGcD2Rm4-cWifDJ1sOYV-BDGe57-XwYAaNVuaC0XxrHZrC3jVzHqwCZiKdz-whLBoodE7e2hSsY/s320/love+and+serve.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The crew is
also supposed to love and serve others; they do this when they get each other
food or snacks from the ship shop or the dining room. The crew also does little
things for each other like holding open the door for the people behind them in
the hallway. And finally the people on the ship show that they love and serve
others by doing surgeries on the people who get cleared for surgery after
screening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6Cn4FSY763BF1MD5mLArlnzFU-_md-Kt6UogcNV4o8HTd0BBvWUlDe9xXWXuen2JUkhyOjEfwff2k5zjPipXrolVforAr3Dbl_iwy7r3zBlWhHka8GHoO3e8eWGFVTYcEXZbQm4AV7gK/s1600/integrity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6Cn4FSY763BF1MD5mLArlnzFU-_md-Kt6UogcNV4o8HTd0BBvWUlDe9xXWXuen2JUkhyOjEfwff2k5zjPipXrolVforAr3Dbl_iwy7r3zBlWhHka8GHoO3e8eWGFVTYcEXZbQm4AV7gK/s320/integrity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We also are
people of integrity here on the ship. We show this by not stealing from the
ship shop and café when we know that we can do it without being noticed. We
also show this by getting only one of the food items that is under the
one-per-person sign. The crew shows this in how they return the borrowed books
from the library on time.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrip6Wr6LNXM6bP9pRKB_l9-nc7b17yn8fztTokyshwnwdguwAafjeFfpL5er4IagWDD_fzUhQGDmOzjhXOLFy8ZB_ZRtG6EHEpWy_A19R0SdUuhsAVcSdyJbEiDrlaMYouo9XiKH_29DY/s1600/excellence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrip6Wr6LNXM6bP9pRKB_l9-nc7b17yn8fztTokyshwnwdguwAafjeFfpL5er4IagWDD_fzUhQGDmOzjhXOLFy8ZB_ZRtG6EHEpWy_A19R0SdUuhsAVcSdyJbEiDrlaMYouo9XiKH_29DY/s320/excellence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The fourth value is
showing that we are people of excellence in all we say and do. We can show this
by being polite to other people by saying thank you to the dining room staff,
or holding the door open for the people behind us. We also show this by doing our very best in the jobs and tasks we find ourselves doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> The four core </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">values of Mercy Ships can be shown in different ways.</span>The Africa Mercy is a great
place and we can make the best of the good conditions given to us by not only
following but <i>living</i> these four
values.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg892BzrvoKPr_JU_i9YWv8pB4q8Q885POg497B5gT2XY0VZ6OH1r5iWv3DIOIqfWsTLScUQaLgZTdK0GWPfzgVT-vY4MrAuKFrCUrDxVW9yIektCOEi_o0lu-FesX59dKNhQydirk57p5u/s1600/BEE161019_ACADEMY_ELI_CASH_GRADE_6_JF0001_MID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg892BzrvoKPr_JU_i9YWv8pB4q8Q885POg497B5gT2XY0VZ6OH1r5iWv3DIOIqfWsTLScUQaLgZTdK0GWPfzgVT-vY4MrAuKFrCUrDxVW9yIektCOEi_o0lu-FesX59dKNhQydirk57p5u/s320/BEE161019_ACADEMY_ELI_CASH_GRADE_6_JF0001_MID.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli, School Picture, October 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Surely there will be more to come. </span>the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-69035982456271473392016-11-03T19:32:00.000+00:002016-11-03T19:32:03.978+00:00A Giant See-Saw for a Home<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Caroline wrote the following for a school assignment. She gave us permission to share it here (reluctantly...but permission, none the less!!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Have you ever seen a giant see-saw with hundreds of people on
it? Well, I live on one. It's a ship called the Africa Mercy. The Africa Mercy is a great place to live for the
following reasons: our destinations, friendships, and community life.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsos-kx6kLqeHfzqZHKL3Ry7yKvwz7-140f0Cq3JQevINuhJuq64-Y9VurZD6mPqabfN5GeuxiFVUMxFi1Oc061v6GCjebori_t40cJonwc_-JFY7oeMvqm4QwLVBHb7X5BF9_x5UZ140O/s1600/caroline+guinea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsos-kx6kLqeHfzqZHKL3Ry7yKvwz7-140f0Cq3JQevINuhJuq64-Y9VurZD6mPqabfN5GeuxiFVUMxFi1Oc061v6GCjebori_t40cJonwc_-JFY7oeMvqm4QwLVBHb7X5BF9_x5UZ140O/s1600/caroline+guinea.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinea, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ship goes to many exotic
places - that is one of the main reasons why I love the ship! First, in August 2012 until June 2013 we went to Guinea. There was an amazing hotel and pool with these adorable
little kittens. There was also an amazing park which provided a great
field trip spot and a good place to play. Then, in August 2013 until June 2014 the ship went to
Congo which had an amazing beach very close to the port. There were also with
many restaurants with low prices and good food. In October 2014 we went to
Madagascar. It was so awesome we went for two years.(JK we went cause we had
nowhere else to go because of the Ebola crisis in West Africa) There was a very grassy soccer field where we played
Frisbee and there were many amazing spots that people went to for relaxation during the weekend. Most recently, in August of this year (2016), we
have arrived at Benin! Here there is an amazing treat called fanice! It is
absolutely delicious. If you are looking for an international traveling home
then you should move to the Africa Mercy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3tKX27qKlKZjSRDEvIWglp92a8DT6iGkLi5aPaEDGWstKKMXC7FT8God1IuPX4uAvvpzTzZASuJmMtAxVHtAqnWM449FpZKDCVSLFXfvn-n_QH7JqCYgcvCwzdyj07Jkb1x0NHM3lrQ1/s1600/IMG_2656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3tKX27qKlKZjSRDEvIWglp92a8DT6iGkLi5aPaEDGWstKKMXC7FT8God1IuPX4uAvvpzTzZASuJmMtAxVHtAqnWM449FpZKDCVSLFXfvn-n_QH7JqCYgcvCwzdyj07Jkb1x0NHM3lrQ1/s320/IMG_2656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Arbre d'Vie Orphanage a few weekends ago</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I love the ship because of my
friends who support me in smooth times and rough as well. First of all, I have met kids
from all over the world. It is almost like visiting the world in one day. For
example Maya, who is from America, and Anna, who is from Liberia, would have
never been my friends if I had not come and lived here. Secondly, I see my
friends almost 24/7 which makes our friendship as strong as steel! We ripstick
on the dock a lot and we usually play Frisbee on Fridays! Unfortunately, being
an MK (Missionary Kid) has its down sides. Often times my friends go back to their home
countries or get reassigned. It makes me feel very sad; sometimes
I sit and wonder why people have to leave. Still, I love the diversity of my
friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_je1tgRIDjmJTX6JxKMW2j5tWh1U2AFZSNaZzUA5sj74KZGJUZ88QgGs4wMHvLTncvqMpslq5qqtx7Pmea4WQHj_Cn865f2QOGRNnnmJwio_neFo02DlQjNjtncNMehIPbUsw9gsjIAr/s1600/caroline+and+elsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_je1tgRIDjmJTX6JxKMW2j5tWh1U2AFZSNaZzUA5sj74KZGJUZ88QgGs4wMHvLTncvqMpslq5qqtx7Pmea4WQHj_Cn865f2QOGRNnnmJwio_neFo02DlQjNjtncNMehIPbUsw9gsjIAr/s1600/caroline+and+elsa.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline and her sweet friend Elsa (one of those hard good-byes)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although,
the ship is very large we are all a very close community. To begin with, unlike other
places, we have a school right here onboard. We have this funky celebration called Jabulani day
were everyone dresses up using the basics of a theme. It is totally
breathtaking! Also, everybody knows almost everyone else. I trust a lot of adults
and I feel comfortable enough to just walk up to someone and say "hi" even if I
do not know them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad2k1npoigOMcuu6QQXB64OR6toHQNsDuEV477Sio3rYC0DlVuKP7_5oSH9EKU7nQ9RO2fz_PT82ezni0wXQQ64s1jBj-t9ryALocLx2E7S2vhI1tBBbipZ_vMwnb8i5iIsh9-4Wd5oo_/s1600/crew+congo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad2k1npoigOMcuu6QQXB64OR6toHQNsDuEV477Sio3rYC0DlVuKP7_5oSH9EKU7nQ9RO2fz_PT82ezni0wXQQ64s1jBj-t9ryALocLx2E7S2vhI1tBBbipZ_vMwnb8i5iIsh9-4Wd5oo_/s320/crew+congo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crew of the AFM, Congo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Obviously, the ship is one of my
favorite places on the planet! I feel like everyone is as close as a giant
“family” that travels together all around Africa. God bless the Africa Mercy
now and forever!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDDt3M2VSG3p7WuSbeDba9rNl2W6T_Js14FdeInAbYqq7bF9X6HRkOAT0lDUbToysw_GhBXogGHgqN-iSYlsOqyAjvSpgce30HfBhGxa82ugSkwbFp9efG432rAOwIX5lpTQk4sTaRj_4/s1600/acc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDDt3M2VSG3p7WuSbeDba9rNl2W6T_Js14FdeInAbYqq7bF9X6HRkOAT0lDUbToysw_GhBXogGHgqN-iSYlsOqyAjvSpgce30HfBhGxa82ugSkwbFp9efG432rAOwIX5lpTQk4sTaRj_4/s320/acc.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surely there will be more to come!</span></div>
the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-7433180070299702852016-10-03T16:15:00.001+00:002016-10-03T16:25:26.981+00:00All God Does Is Good<br />
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<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit;">A lovely nurse named Cara wrote something on her blog a few weeks ago about one of our patients. It has stayed in my heart and mind and I want to share it with you:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Iyebiye kan // Precious one</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="posted-on" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://caradaniels.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/iyebiye-kan-precious-one/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">SEPTEMBER 15, 2016</a></span><span class="byline" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="sep" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> / </span><span class="author vcard" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://caradaniels.wordpress.com/author/caradaniels/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">CARAD</a></span></span></b></span></div>
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"Today is our third day of Maxillofacial (MaxFax) surgeries on the Africa Mercy for the 2016-2017 Benin Field Service. And I am one happy pediatric nurse! We have a recovering and adorable 6-month cleft lip baby named Patricia, today we operated on a beautiful six-year old cleft palate named Minabelle and tonight we welcomed an 8-month baby boy (also cleft lip) named Israel. I’ve already kissed Patricia’s hair more times than I can count and gave her a bath on Monday night that made me far happier than it made her. I have shaken Israel’s hand twice in welcome, enjoying the way he regarded me with solemn and inquisitive eyes. I got to spend time reassuring Minabelle and her mom this morning not to be afraid and then again this afternoon promising that we would care for her, that we had her bleeding and her airway and her pain under control.</div>
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But there is one sweet baby in the corner of our ward, in beloved Haingo’s old bed, who has stolen my heart in a special and particular way, one who is especially precious to me.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Her name is Bignon. </strong></div>
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Just like Haingo, Bignon is a cleft lip and palate baby, too – and our first medical admission of the season. Bignon weighs 4 pounds and is three weeks old. Bignon’s mother arrived exhausted and defeated, with a dehydrated and lethargic baby who barely had active reflexes and didn’t even have the strength to cry during her blood draws. Yet already during Bignon’s first 24 hours aboard, both mother and baby look far more full of life than they did the previous day, both full of food and receiving rest and good care.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On Deck 7 today, during fresh air time, I asked one of our day crew to ask Bignon’s mother if the baby’s name means anything. </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It does,” our translator told me. </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It means ‘All God Does is Good'”. </strong></div>
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I had chills. How fitting. How perfect. How well that name illustrates the powerful story of this fragile little baby and this brave, brave Mama. Can you imagine someone laying your baby in your arms, after hours of laboring, and seeing how small she is, seeing her bilateral cleft lip for the first time, being frightened and unsure of what caused this enormous, obvious, difficult defect —</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AND YET still turning your eyes to heaven and choosing to name this darling little girl “All God Does is Good”? </strong></div>
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If I had faith like that, if I had trust like that, how different my every single day would be. How different my relationship with God would be, my relationships with my loved ones and <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">my relationship with myself </em>would be.<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em> It is nearly beyond my comprehension to imagine what depths of peace you would feel in knowing, knowing THAT intensely that God had everything, every hardship, every struggle, every curveball under His control and that He was making choices for you and your family that ultimately were good, no matter how scary they seemed at first?</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That kind of faith is the kind that they say moves mountains. </em></strong></div>
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Upon our return to the ward, my heart still full and my throat still lumpy and my eyes still stinging, I watched Patricia and her Mama greet little Israel. I watched Patricia’s mom showing off the nasal bolster, pointing at the steri-strips, gesturing to the nurses and talking fast and excitedly. I watched Bignon’s mom coming over, showing off her own little clefty girl, her own pride and joy. I could hardly tear myself away. Three cleft lips and their mothers having a party in the back of the ward in our incredible unit on a floating hospital docked in Cotonou, Benin.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indeed. All God Does is Good."</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Amen. If you'd like to read more of Cara's heart and thoughts, </span><a href="https://caradaniels.wordpress.com/" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">here's the link.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Surely there will be more to come. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-65394700790557505932016-09-09T16:01:00.002+00:002016-09-09T16:01:20.191+00:00smorgasbord - benin, screening, set up and open house!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For your reading and looking enjoyment: a few pictures, 2 links (alongside the first 2 section headers - click on them, you'll be glad you did...but you may need tissues if you read Kayla's) and some 6 word phrases (a smorgasbord of treasure and delight!).</div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Benin -- <a href="http://theveltjens.blogspot.com/">Nick & Suzanne's blog</a></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Colorful, zemidjan filled, beautiful, beloved Benin. </li>
<li>So very thankful to be here. </li>
<li>Much to be seen, tasted, smelled. </li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANjmolfhq1j6sgMMeh9euuAX8aSjXWU0JmiDH7WWltHPGsAI4yswpxb0rvyB6_QESK1nCcZhIupcsscvfMjPVhIonAeyu6ga_V9J051X_ol7awJHCDnkRWOz27LEl0LcNiXyhHUfh29av/s1600/fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANjmolfhq1j6sgMMeh9euuAX8aSjXWU0JmiDH7WWltHPGsAI4yswpxb0rvyB6_QESK1nCcZhIupcsscvfMjPVhIonAeyu6ga_V9J051X_ol7awJHCDnkRWOz27LEl0LcNiXyhHUfh29av/s320/fruit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk-jSXJzZW9wwV7ihVm-l8DikvBYLpm7g7W9OAOXJuf0hhKEkWaEBFagz3EWStyqiosdsOPi-cwxEYdf-P4jLkw9cuV2s2mMEt5n7d0GS-PkfuJuFK3HiS8CEmdmut4IEAfdAbb95dXk0/s1600/street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk-jSXJzZW9wwV7ihVm-l8DikvBYLpm7g7W9OAOXJuf0hhKEkWaEBFagz3EWStyqiosdsOPi-cwxEYdf-P4jLkw9cuV2s2mMEt5n7d0GS-PkfuJuFK3HiS8CEmdmut4IEAfdAbb95dXk0/s320/street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Screening -- </span><a href="https://sixfeetandgrowing.com/2016/08/27/playing-god/"><span style="font-size: large;">Kayla's thoughts</span></a></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Heart achingly breakingly beautifully tough work.</li>
<li>Thousands lined up...hope is rising. </li>
<li>Wish we could help them all. </li>
<li>Well done good and faithful screeners. </li>
<li>Each form represents possibility: life change.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XqQpHB8YsGfirXxUuRCpQ8Ho07JZ-wMeIx6Ra6n3sTTvY6IQpT5RzX-qo6v2FGiJO3rZXIY7CAD7T7BVGfamyBFVOjZeW9wf18u1VPtBejm45vvTdbmfjDOPLiqdnHcoGO7UQHFUm5Xp/s1600/BEE160823_SCREENING_GEN_MO013_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XqQpHB8YsGfirXxUuRCpQ8Ho07JZ-wMeIx6Ra6n3sTTvY6IQpT5RzX-qo6v2FGiJO3rZXIY7CAD7T7BVGfamyBFVOjZeW9wf18u1VPtBejm45vvTdbmfjDOPLiqdnHcoGO7UQHFUm5Xp/s1600/BEE160823_SCREENING_GEN_MO013_LO.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC81VPqFqvqE5eB_WqaVI5qcmXRlV6kNGdkDVzXVOTrexk2e3Xh3E9VFcyzedrY7UKpEmW4NaDWEb4hW4dupw6o71hPGlrmBiDndfszAWDGvEkEfkUyh7IWskIeTbc4q2kJyrWbVGArSa/s1600/BEE160829_SCREENING_CENTER_KC0009_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC81VPqFqvqE5eB_WqaVI5qcmXRlV6kNGdkDVzXVOTrexk2e3Xh3E9VFcyzedrY7UKpEmW4NaDWEb4hW4dupw6o71hPGlrmBiDndfszAWDGvEkEfkUyh7IWskIeTbc4q2kJyrWbVGArSa/s320/BEE160829_SCREENING_CENTER_KC0009_LO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkegafzO9LiITCfe_MCjJeWXMZC2USWkacFG06xYxKLtP-dE6kr4DJ2B2m9FgR0mtfr0XkwWUCxBg2swktBVB-kCaP2eThG5guYdE6yttWg8cv2SzUhwcoDh4qWAXdjIa1kn0FEX6-3qH/s1600/BEE160822_SCREENING_CENTER_KC0001_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkegafzO9LiITCfe_MCjJeWXMZC2USWkacFG06xYxKLtP-dE6kr4DJ2B2m9FgR0mtfr0XkwWUCxBg2swktBVB-kCaP2eThG5guYdE6yttWg8cv2SzUhwcoDh4qWAXdjIa1kn0FEX6-3qH/s320/BEE160822_SCREENING_CENTER_KC0001_LO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hospital Set up</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Before and after, what a difference.</li>
<li>Hours of cleaning, unpacking, setting up.</li>
<li>Every moment an act of worship. </li>
<li>Getting it ready for honored guests. </li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip8S6NBR-iUu9dazL9Q2fs_AShyRQV-VNk752JgjOvNQ4psOY-5c2_3pyhqna3_kNPRPRyqKupfvdxmaLSdyhliFAETAzgvr2AHsD9KKBzHgE0plWyXkWXeDRFGJ4YrcuSjYv3VWpihST/s1600/BEE160902_WARD_BEFORE_AFTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip8S6NBR-iUu9dazL9Q2fs_AShyRQV-VNk752JgjOvNQ4psOY-5c2_3pyhqna3_kNPRPRyqKupfvdxmaLSdyhliFAETAzgvr2AHsD9KKBzHgE0plWyXkWXeDRFGJ4YrcuSjYv3VWpihST/s320/BEE160902_WARD_BEFORE_AFTER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Hospital Open House</span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Hands on learning is the best.</li>
<li>Such fun happening on deck 3.</li>
<li>Injections, surgeries, sutures and lab work.</li>
<li>Maybe we have a future surgeon?</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pCFnJIDf3o-9OEJPvIQsw2QraTDc-xnhL0n6SLNTU8vZoAHXJFzPO3nhVyNzWdAOAYTIN97tRj53usdwATSUBS2-iNyDtVjbOFoKAhlwL1r5TsWLIoc_Um1lLXEB-6GKeLpxoGWnxspC/s1600/open+house2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pCFnJIDf3o-9OEJPvIQsw2QraTDc-xnhL0n6SLNTU8vZoAHXJFzPO3nhVyNzWdAOAYTIN97tRj53usdwATSUBS2-iNyDtVjbOFoKAhlwL1r5TsWLIoc_Um1lLXEB-6GKeLpxoGWnxspC/s320/open+house2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dizZrIsDuNuGRTxjJIa63dzimQ2SjozXJdfc_3I_0YlDr4DWjtTCpT-ivXhaaa09yRfqs-WR2HtF10SGja1pG128Dz2oQ9_lNJ_I8Cm2zRZ9pCLXOQK3cXveREIiaCeKWzbmbogM_wO_/s1600/open+house+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dizZrIsDuNuGRTxjJIa63dzimQ2SjozXJdfc_3I_0YlDr4DWjtTCpT-ivXhaaa09yRfqs-WR2HtF10SGja1pG128Dz2oQ9_lNJ_I8Cm2zRZ9pCLXOQK3cXveREIiaCeKWzbmbogM_wO_/s320/open+house+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3r8NeGNNFZ2J2-pCBWk_7TE3pXxyZ0j-jMeG3OT-jb7zURK5M1rBXTdAdjx2dSJdABZKPRzDq1CcTfiU91puq2G6060JMr711siaNzTue_SAkt0uH6YvnCIuPq3knR7pDa-CebDkSZ-c/s1600/open+house+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3r8NeGNNFZ2J2-pCBWk_7TE3pXxyZ0j-jMeG3OT-jb7zURK5M1rBXTdAdjx2dSJdABZKPRzDq1CcTfiU91puq2G6060JMr711siaNzTue_SAkt0uH6YvnCIuPq3knR7pDa-CebDkSZ-c/s320/open+house+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Surely there will be more to come.<br />
(or "Surely there is more to come" if you really want to stick with the 6 word phrases).the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-36407538105742511902016-08-18T19:56:00.000+00:002016-08-18T20:44:42.370+00:00Arriving in Benin - Containers of Hope and Healing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We arrived in Benin this morning! </div>
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Arriving into a new country is tremendously significant. It's very nearly overwhelming to try and wrap one's mind around what exactly it is that we're pulling into the port to do. It's quite emotional....quite powerful...quite humbling...quite a reminder of how very much we need God and how we can do nothing without Him. </div>
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We were standing up on Deck 8 this morning around 9 as the ship was maneuvered so very carefully into her berth, and I said to my friend Michelle, "Ships do this every day...coming in and out of ports....but this is so much more significant..." She's a wise, brilliant one. She replied (in her beautiful South African accent), <b><i>"We aren't here for a quick stop to offload containers filled with goods. We're here for months because we need to offload hope and healing."</i></b></div>
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We have containers of hope and healing to share with God's beloved people of Benin. In fact, we are the containers. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Truth on the wall outside of the Preschool Classroom of the Academy</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The kids have been studying Benin </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benin looks like a turkey leg...or a key...depends on which map you're looking at. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Benin flag was raised on the ship this morning as we entered Beninoise waters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Advance Team awaiting our arrival this morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRV5kclhG5KzCxS39slviPjw0RscOavuDkvC_mCLZhdodD8bT0OLuQjF2ELUYjAh3hRh6pQcyWv0Ie4T6GusSRykx4EU1mtUwwcRDOpBvVVskXTqONDJuDH4Q6Kd8KbY6tCJzT8b45JK9/s1600/IMG_2118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRV5kclhG5KzCxS39slviPjw0RscOavuDkvC_mCLZhdodD8bT0OLuQjF2ELUYjAh3hRh6pQcyWv0Ie4T6GusSRykx4EU1mtUwwcRDOpBvVVskXTqONDJuDH4Q6Kd8KbY6tCJzT8b45JK9/s400/IMG_2118.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sidling up to the dock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the dock</td></tr>
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And what's more overwhelming than pulling into a new berth space and seeing in person the tangible results of prayers and dreams and hundreds of hours of hard work? What's more overwhelming than knowing you're pulling into the ship parking space that will be your home for the next ten months? What's more overwhelming than thinking about what it really means to unload hope and healing?<br />
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What's more overwhelming is the fact that God has been bringing hope and healing to Benin long before we arrived...and He'll continue to bring hope and healing after we're gone -- but for this sweet season, we have the honor and privilege of joining in with Him in bringing hope and healing to the people of Benin.<br />
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-80202594454572458612016-08-07T13:33:00.001+00:002016-08-07T19:35:49.438+00:00End of the School Year: Character On Display<div>
In the whirlwind of the end of the school year (the week of May 22-26) and leaving the ship for our summer in Georgia (Friday, May 27) and then being with friends and family in various locations over the summer, I haven't taken the chance to post one of our favorite Mercy Ships Academy Traditions from this year. <i>Until now</i>...</div>
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As in previous years (click on these links if you have time and are interested in reading more from <a href="http://cashcrewship.blogspot.com/2015/05/end-of-school-year-celebration.html">2015</a> <a href="http://cashcrewship.blogspot.com/2014/05/academy-awards.html">2014</a> and <a href="http://cashcrewship.blogspot.com/2013/05/character-traitsend-of-school.html">2013</a>), we gathered in the International Lounge on the morning of the last day of school to commemorate and celebrate the end of the school year. As in years past, the teachers called up each student and read out words of Life, Truth and Affirmation - a character trait and a special verse for each one.</div>
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Now, we certainly don't have anything against academic achievements being celebrated - but there is something remarkably significant about students being recognized and applauded for their character. </div>
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It is with grateful hearts for the character God is developing in our children that we share the traits and verses that their teachers gave them.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Eli -- </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Understanding and Loyalty</span></b><br />
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Written by Ms. Remy: "Eli has been a loyal classmate and student this past year. Eli is someone that his peers can count on. He is patient and shows great self-control in challenging situations. He has a deep desire to be kind and generous to those around him. He is a loyal friend, always willing to lend a hand. Eli has the ability to observe and understand situations and issues that occur in and outside the classroom. His understanding can often help being the solution to a problem. What a wonderful way to honour and glorify our Lord.."</div>
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<b>Eli's verses -- Psalm 119:30-35</b></div>
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"I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight." </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Caroline -- </b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Joyfulness and Obedience</b></div>
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Written by Ms. Remy: "Caroline comes in smiling and, if she gets the opportunity, she would be jumping up and down as well. She enjoys life and gladly shares this joy with her classmates and teacher. Caroline is not only a girl filled with exuberance, she also has a beautiful obedient heart. She respects and obeys her teachers and any authority figure set before her. She wants to learn from them and accepts any feedback with grace. Her joy and obedience bring honour to God."</div>
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<b>Caroline's verse -- Joshua 22:5</b></div>
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"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Emma -- </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Joy</span></b></div>
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Written by Ms. Katie: "Emma's heart is bursting with joy on a daily basis. But "daily" does not even describe it accurately - her joy is more on a minute-basis! She walks in the door with a smile, laughter, enthusiasm and exciting stories to share, and she stays that way all day. Her enthusiasm knows no bounds - no matter what we learn, discuss or do, Emma is happy and excited. She sees the joy in absolutely everything. This joy is deeply rooted in her heart and it finds its way into the hearts and lives of the people around her. There is no way to not be affected by Emma's radiating joyfulness, and this is a very special gift that God has given her. What a powerful way to impact people's attitudes and lives. This is a a rare and beautiful gift. Never lose your joyful heart, Emma!" </div>
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<b>Emma's verse -- Romans 15:13</b></div>
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"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."</div>
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We cannot thank God enough for the Academy and for the teachers that have invested so very much into our childrens' lives. <br />
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The new school year starts this coming Tuesday, August 9 (my goal was to post this before the new school year began! #score #2daystospare). Please join us in praying for the teachers and students as they begin the 2016-2017 school year. May they each be all that God created them to be - striving for excellence, soaked in grace and truth, looking for Him and to Him at every turn. <br />
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Surely there will be more to come. </div>
the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-1962552485327185702016-07-07T02:21:00.000+00:002016-07-07T02:21:58.642+00:00Change of PaceSometimes a change in perspective, pace and/or scenery can make a boat load of difference. It helps to view things differently sometimes...to look at circumstances or people from a different angle or to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Sometimes the literal separation can bring much needed clarity and calmness to a situation. <br />
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This is the stuff I've been thinking about lately - and the thoughts can all be traced back to a few pictures that came across my desktop at some time or another in the past few months:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Madagascar from Space</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Africa Mercy from the Air</b></span></div>
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I've been reminded lots this summer (or winter for those in the Southern Hemisphere) that it's good to look at things a little differently sometimes. It can give one a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of vision. It can help one see things more clearly or give a deeper appreciation for what something is or is not. </div>
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Maybe it's just for a few minutes - I've certainly had plenty of moments in our cabin when I've been frustrated and have told my kids that I'll be right back ("I'm taking a quick break and you'll be better off for it.") I step out and usually head up to Deck 7. I stare at the water a while...and talk to God about how I can't do this and how much I need Him. I feel my pulse start slowing down...and I try to listen as He reminds me of who He is and who I am...then I take a deep breath and head back to 6318.<br />
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Or maybe it's for part of a day, a day or a weekend....an afternoon with a trusted friend...a night at Calypso....a weekend getaway to Jungle Nofy...<br />
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Or maybe it's for a week at St. Simons Island...or a a few months in the States...or a longer season wherever the Lord may be leading you...<br />
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It reminds me of those rhythms of grace that He's inviting us to live in...of sabbath rest...of letting Him set the pace...<br />
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Dead Poet's Society is one of my favorite movies. In one of the scenes, the teacher played by Robin Williams is inspiring his students to not settle for the status quo - to seize the day and choose to walk through life differently. He climbs on the desk and says <i>"I climbed on the desk to remind myself that we must always look at things from different angles. And the world looks different from up here."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdmMN7HDUyATUAF4drrwuu5fmSE0oKdOz1i-fUcv_QHdHyJTEocbaRkhJ9OkLOE2x1lddxiWrBn56asDZiJPMFuA-nXUv7rDjXGLcTHq-kb90uMQi6hr-CchSfzn623jL35o2GqN6qlvx/s1600/robinwilliamsondeskdeadpoetssociety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdmMN7HDUyATUAF4drrwuu5fmSE0oKdOz1i-fUcv_QHdHyJTEocbaRkhJ9OkLOE2x1lddxiWrBn56asDZiJPMFuA-nXUv7rDjXGLcTHq-kb90uMQi6hr-CchSfzn623jL35o2GqN6qlvx/s400/robinwilliamsondeskdeadpoetssociety.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sometimes seizing the day can mean taking a break from our day/week/life and looking at it from a different angle...there may be more that God wants us to see - but it may mean making the effort to climb up and a willingness to take a fresh look. <br />
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<i>Random glimpse into my childhood: I can remember climbing up on the built in cabinets in my room and standing...and sometimes I would lay on my bed and hang my head upside down off the side and look at my room from that angle - just looking at it differently. </i><br />
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We've certainly been enjoying our change of scenery and the chance to see things from different angles this summer. Our time in the States has been so very refreshing (well, in THE State of Georgia...our travels haven't taken us outside of this lovely land!)(except our few moments in the Miami airport on our way in). We've gotten to connect with so many friends and family - getting to spend unhurried time sharing meals and conversations and coffee...what gifts! We've enjoyed Chick-fil-A and getting to be at Christ Community Church. We've loved getting to spend so much time enjoying nature and a variety of outdoor activities. It's also been wonderful to have special time as "the Cash 5." Time as a family that is not at all crowded with the "regular" stuff of life (school/work/schedules) is a rare and splendid treasure! <br />
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We'll be heading back to the <i>Africa Mercy</i> in a few weeks - we'll meet the freshly maintenanced ship in Durban before she sails to Benin. We're excited about <b><u><i>all</i></u></b> that God has in store for this next field service - for the people of Benin, for the crew, for our family! We're looking forward to experiencing the promise from Isaiah 55:12 of "going out in joy and being led forth in peace!"<br />
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We welcome, appreciate and need your prayers (and your friendship and love!). Thank you for continuing to invest in us and in the work our God is doing in, through and on the Africa Mercy! <br />
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Surely there will be more to come.the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5207553742377528510.post-37803012228344441202016-05-24T12:16:00.001+00:002016-05-24T12:16:12.133+00:00pie charts and life change <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The final surgeries have been completed and one-by-one the patients are being discharged from the wards. The hospital (and all of the rest of the ship) is being packed up and readied for the sail to Durban. Crew are finishing out this field service with all the tough good-byes that this season brings...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As those things are happening, it's nice to have visual reminders of <i>some</i> of what has been accomplished through the <i>Africa Mercy </i>in the last 9 months. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3tw9_3sE6_RTVAj8bRbiR5-q4PkYksO6iYzWGkiR3_as68gr_o7s4vY0tQFOjz7bDm3IEz7ZOLbCSCBvggMgkIMyj1D4fYboS0vgvY5pZ4yeb-PsoW_POSDBhLT-aPGgwGkAdC6cFBMu/s1600/stast+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3tw9_3sE6_RTVAj8bRbiR5-q4PkYksO6iYzWGkiR3_as68gr_o7s4vY0tQFOjz7bDm3IEz7ZOLbCSCBvggMgkIMyj1D4fYboS0vgvY5pZ4yeb-PsoW_POSDBhLT-aPGgwGkAdC6cFBMu/s400/stast+3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have time, take a few minutes to study these charts - to read the fine print...to consider that each number is a person. Each percentage represents impact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's mind boggling is all of the lives that have been affected that are NOT represented by these pie charts. Crew. Guests to the ship. Neighbors of patients who return home without the tumor or cleft lip or leaking body that they left with. Caretakers. Health officials. Doctors. Nurses. Friends and family of crew back home. The random person in Seattle who happened to click on a link where a story of a patient was shared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then to think of future lives that will be affected (whew...that brings tears to my eyes)...those lives that will be saved because safe surgery practices are being used...the babies who will be able to breathe because a Malagasy nurse took a course...future crew who will come serve on a Mercy Ship because they hear the story of a current crew mate....hundreds and thousands of lives forever changed because of God's work through the <i>Africa Mercy</i> in Madagascar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few songs are coming to mind and filling my heart: </span><br />
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<li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">To God be the glory great things He has done...</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tell Papa God Tenki...</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Great things He has done. Greater things He will do...</span></i></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He is our good, good Father...what a privilege to be a part of His love here on earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Surely there will be more to come.</span>the cash crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470745571524591595noreply@blogger.com3