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.   

transformation.

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. 

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.

Surely there will be more to come.

Sweet Miracle

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. 

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. 

Thought you might like to see a bit of Miracle's journey through these pictures.  (The progression of hair styles is one of my favorite parts!)  Many thanks to our amazing Comms team for taking so many wonderful pictures and making them available for the crew to use!  

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.  

Surely there will be more to come.

Wrapping up 2016

The past few weeks have been full!  There was Christmas...and New Years...And in the midst of all this, AUNT AMY's visit!  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.

Highlights of Christmas Day!
Gifts & time together!

Nick opening his "Christmas Shoe" 

Bracelets from MaMa 

Cashino Royale

Unicorn Emma in her science lab

Brunch!  A highlight not only of Christmas but of LIFE. 

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!

Joy to the World all over the place!

Aunt Amy!

We don't have nearly enough pictures from Christmas Day with her in them...but she was here and that was a highlight!

And Highlights of New Years!

4 shots of espresso in my favorite new mug that kept me up to ring in the new year!

Games! In light of Nick's recent thoughts on triangles and circles, it was interesting to see the many circles that were happening all over mid-ships...

Bananagrams - en Espanol

Ninja...or something like that

Uno with a whole lot of extra rules

 Friends!

 The confetti!  It was rather epic (and cleaning it up wasn't so bad either).

 And, of course, AUNT AMY! (and cute pirates named Ben)

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.

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.