AFM youth retreat!

"It was great until the jellyfish came."  That was Eli's response when I asked him about the youth retreat that he went on last weekend.  

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!)

Here are some of Eli's thoughts on it all (I asked questions, he talked, I typed...and asked more questions):

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.

What was the retreat speaker like? 
There was a guy named Justin (black shirt and grey shorts in the picture above) 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. 

Did anything in particular stand out to you about hope?
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.

What was your favorite part? 
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.

You slept at a table? Why did you sleep at a table? 

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.

Any other thoughts? 

We had one of our Gurkas with us, Dil.  He stayed up all night. 

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.  

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. 

Were you glad to be back on the ship? 

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.  

There ya have it.  A sixth grader's take on the AFM Youth Retreat!  

And now, a word about/for the youth leaders:

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. 

Ryan, Ruben, Tyler, Keverly, Anna and Jenny - Thank you.  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.  You are amazing individuals - 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).  

Surely there will be more to come.   

A letter to my sister.

Dear Amy,

What a remarkable person you are.  You came all the way across the ocean to sit on the couch and share coffee with me.

Thank you for the financial investment you made to come visit us on the Africa Mercy 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.

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!

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.

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.  

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.

...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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.  

We love you so very much.  Thanks for loving us in such a significant and tangible way.

For all of the Cash Crew,
Your littlest YOUNGER sister who also happens to be your friend (always and forever),
dianna

Surely there will be more to come.

Thursday Night Icecream

Fun fact: every Thursday night (pretty much) we have a Community Meeting at 7:30...and every Thursday night (pretty much) we have icecream after the previously mentioned Community Meeting.  Honestly, we're not sure how long this tradition has been going on...maybe we should ask. (and have we really never written a blog post about icecream on Thursday nights?!?!)

For a while we didn't let our kids go down and get icecream.  It just made the evening too complicated and prolonged bedtime farther than we were willing to go.  But before you start thinking anything about us depriving our children of icecream (how dare we?!), you must know that we would very often go get their icecream for them, put it in the freezer and then let them have it for breakfast on Friday morning.  (score one for the parents - and the kids!!)

Lately we've been letting them have their icecream on Thursday nights (IF their behavior warrants it)(nothing like dangling icecream in front of a kid...it's quite the incentive).   

Emma's favorite spot to enjoy her icecream seems to be on the steps - right in the middle of everything.  The other night the stars aligned just right - she was on the steps looking cute in her pajamas (and freshly washed hair!) - and the camera was present (because of the Academy Health Fair that was going on during icecream)(just slightly ironic).  Thus, a few pictures for your viewing enjoyment.  She's too cute not to share.  

 Emma's friend, Isabella - aka Izzy! - joined her for a while.

Fun Thursday Night Icecream Facts: 

• the icecream serving responsibilities rotate among the departments (there are about 35 departments...so you really only get to serve once every 6 months or so...)
• sometimes the departments "dress up" to serve (in their uniforms or some part of their work garb) or put their own twist on the icecream toppings/accessories). 
• there are generally 4 flavors to choose from:  vanilla, strawberry, chocolate & coffee
• chocolate syrup, caramel syrup & sprinkles are offered as toppings
• the containers that the icecream comes in fit perfectly into the cabinets in the cabins - 2 fit side by side and are perfect for socks, undies, small toys, craft supplies, etc. (we currently don't have any in our cabin...but it's nice to know we could get them if we needed them!!)

Icecream on Thursday nights: just one of the many AFM traditions that help to make this community what it is -- this special...unique...beautiful...challenging...refreshing...rewarding...frustrating...lovely community.  We're glad to be a part of it...and glad to have the chance to enjoy icecream each week! (whether we take the chance or not, it's nice to know we could if we wanted to!)

Maybe sometime we'll take some snapshots of the lines (there are 2 usually very long - but quick moving! - icecream lines) and the fellowship that happens in the cafe and mid-ships as the vast majority of the crew connect over icecream.  It's a delightful picture of the body of Christ coming together over a super sweet treat.  

Surely there will be more to come.

12 March * Birthday * Part 2 - on the dock * 13 March

A month and a day ago Eli turned 10! A month ago he had a party - a party that he planned, organized and orchestrated!  His plan:  

"Invite all the boys in the elementary to our cabin after school on Friday at 3:30. We'll let everyone arrive and then we'll go down to the warehouse on the dock at 3:40.  We'll play some games until about 4:00 and then have some snacks.  At 4:15 we'll go to the other end of the dock and play frisbee and some football (soccer for you Americans) and then we'll come back up to the cabin for blueberry muffins - instead of cake - and to open gifts."

And that, our friends, is exactly how it all went down.  The boy knew what he wanted and he made it happen.  

What a cool kid.  Eli Cash is a leader with a kind and compassionate heart.  He cares for justice and is determined for things to be right and fair.  He is smart and generous...considerate and consistent.

He's also fully ten and fully boy and loves bodily noises...and we're working hard to teach him that teasing his sisters isn't ok.

Turning 10 is a pretty big deal on the ship.  Eli can now fix his own food at meals in the dining room and has more freedom to be on his own in various places on the ship.  Please pray for him as he embraces and explores these new responsibilities and  as he continues to become the man God wants him to be.  Pray for him as his character and integrity are shaped and formed.  Pray that he'll be a good friend - and that he will have good friends.  Pray that he will connect with God and learn to hear His voice clearer and louder than any other.

We're so glad Eli is a Cash.  He makes our family better and stronger.

Surely there will be more to come.

12 March * Birthday * Part 1 - on the beach

A month and a day ago Nick turned 35!  Here are some pictures from our dinner on the beach...complete with cherry coke, cupcakes, candles (that weren't very cooperative in staying lit...that wind is tricky!), frisbee throwing, special birthday stick messages and a super special father-son bonding moment at the water's edge. 

Who would have thought Nick would be celebrating his 35th birthday on a beach in Madagascar?

What a joy and privilege to celebrate this man!  Nick loves and serves and gives and leads.  He is thoughtful, generous, smart, talented, wise, temperate, considerate - and a whole host of other things - those are just the words that immediately come to mind.  We are beyond blessed to have him as husband/father/leader of the Cash Crew.

Surely there will be more to come!