FAQs for this season of Cash Family Life

How was the ship?
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 Africa Mercy 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!).

How has it been for y'all, returning home?
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)...

We are going out of town once more this weekend, and then we will be back - and then 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.

Where are you living?
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...

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 hoping hoping hoping 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!).

the view from our future front porch

Do you need anything?
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:

• for all 5 of us as we continue to transition and settle in.
• 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.
  
• for wisdom as we make a homeschooling plan and as Nick begins his job at Christ Community Church in September.  
• for the Africa Mercy as it makes it way to Cameroon to start a new field service.

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 online list (huge gianormous thanks to Matt, the generous, for coordinating this effort!).

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 - diannacash@yahoo.com.  But please don't feel any pressure...

You are also more than welcome to give one last donation to us through Mercy Ships.  Donations will continue to be processed on our behalf until August 31st.

What's been your favorite part of being back?
Caroline - spending time with people I have missed and jumping on trampolines

Emma - what she (caroline) said!

Eli - getting to be on vacation, being with friends, knowing our house will be ready soon

White/Cash kids (or Cash\White kids)

Nick - the familiarity of everything here; seeing long-time friends & loved ones; grass & trees & crickets chirping in the evening & birds singing in the morning

Dianna - 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

McMichael siblings and Meme

And a few of my not-so-favorite moments:

• 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).
• 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. 
• 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)

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 [dianna] 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.

For now, please join us in thanking God for the peacefulness of this transition and His great faithfulness every step of the way! 

Surely there will be more to come.

Home (one of them). Glimpses into the past week...

It's ridiculously hard to believe that we arrived in the States just over a week ago.  

After a long bus ride, a night and day in Tana and 2 long flights, we arrived in Atlanta safe and sound Monday evening. We were (are!) so blessed by our family waiting for us at the airport....such a delightful way to be welcomed home.

For some reason or another, our camera has stayed tucked away for alot our time.  Wish it was possible to have captured every moment...every hug...every person from this past week -- but then the camera might have become our focus rather than soaking up and enjoying the delight of the moment.
These are just tastes of the joy and a few glimpses into what we've been doing the past week:

Nick and Toni

Incredible siblings. 

Girl Cousins

Boy Cousins

We left the airport and all went to Chick-Fil-A for a most delicious meal.  Doing the same thing twice in a row makes it tradition, right? (Chick-Fil-A was our first stop during our last trip home in June 2013)

Tuesday morning one of the first things the girls wanted to do was take a bubble bath in Yaya's gianormous tub.  They stayed in there a loooong time.  

Another main priority of our first day home was connecting with our dear friends, the Whites.  We were able to spend the afternoon with them playing and catching up and laughing and eating cheeseballs.

Wednesday we headed to Athens to be with Amy (it just so happened that it was her birthday!!)...ate at the Varsity, got pedicures, ate at Cali n Tito's, went to a Lady Dawgs basketball game - great way to spend day #2. 

Thursday morning we left Athens and went to Warrenton for Thanksgiving at the Cabin.  Such a lovely day with family...beautiful weather...tremendously delicious food.

Friday we headed back to Columbus and have been here ever since...

• building epic train tracks
• plugging things in without adaptors
• having rich and meaningful conversations (one far into the night)
• sharing at Crosspointe 
• delightfully sweeping up leaves
  
• enjoying the Fall weather
• taking longer than 2 minute showers
• missing our ship friends
• catching up with GA friends
• getting school work done

• being blessed by so many who know us and love us
• in awe of the kindness and generosity of so many
• seeking to enjoy this sweet time and make the most of this time that God has blessed us with.

One other exciting part of our time home has been that Nick was ordained on Sunday evening. Once again we were so blessed by the friends and family who came (some great distances!) to share in this special event with us.

And just to answer a few of the questions that have been asked quite frequently lately...

Yes, we are enjoying being home...yes, it's a little strange and overwhelming (but not really)....yes, we miss the ship....yes, we can relate to this article about home...yes, it's good to be here....yes, this first week was full (but no worries - the others aren't nearly as full!)...yes, we'll be going back to the ship (January 5)...yes, we're seeking to enjoy this time and make the most of it - peaceful, restful, meaningful, rich...those are some of our prayers for this time.  Please pray with us and for us.

Surely there will be more to come.

5 posts in 1 - back home, Aunt Amy, Shipyard, Ebola & Benin

There seems to be lots to share -- returning home, Aunt Amy's visit, shipyard, thoughts on Ebola, heading to Benin.  Just for fun, we'll put 5 posts into 1. 

Returning home:  We flew back into Gran Canaria July 18 - originally we had planned to return directly back to the ship but because of some delays, we were housed back in the hotel for an extra week (we didn't hear any complaints about the amazing breakfast, icecream availability, fabulous pool facilities, etc. from the Cash Kids).  

We were allowed back on the Africa Mercy on the evening of July 24.  We were welcomed back with the traditional AFM Thursday night icecream (complete with icecream cones this time!!!).  We spent our first night in our new cabin 6318 (everyone was just a little excited and had quite the time falling asleep in their new beds!).  

Here are a flew glimpses into our new cabin: 

Front door of 6318 

We have a bed!! ( a bed that doesn't have to be folded up and used as a couch during the day!!!!)

Our "Wall of Love" (so many of you are on it!  If you're not sure if you are or not - send us a picture, we're happy to add you!) 

We are settling into Cabin 6318 and enjoying the space immensely!  We've always felt that we've had plenty of room in each of our cabins....this one is just especially roomy and full of windows.  We think we might keep this one for a while :)  We'll share some more pictures soon. 

A random sidenote: one fun-incredible-amazing-helpful aspect of this community:  when we arrived to this ship from the hotel, all of our luggage was scooped up by others and carried up the gangway for us. Even this past Friday, when returning to the ship with a few IKEA purchases, a kind crewmate grabbed the boxes and bag and insisted on carrying them all the way to our cabin.  Reminder for the day: taking the opportunity to be thoughtful and generous in everyday moments = beautiful gifts from God

Aunt Amy's Visit

My (dianna) lovely sister came to visit us!  She arrived the same day that we did and spent the week at the hotel with us and then had nearly a week with us on the ship.  We had so much fun and shared so many wonderful moments!!  Here are pictures of a few: 

Rendezvous at the airport

Playing at the Park

Teaching her nieces a thing or 2 

Holiday World

It was so good to have Amy with us!  It's one thing to share pictures and stories - we hope we do a good job of that - BUT it's another thing entirely to experience the ship for yourself.  We know it was just a taste for Amy (she's going to have to come back during a field service to get the full experience!) - we're so thankful she made the effort and came to see our home.  It means more than words in a blog can express.  (sidenote:  we'd love to host any of you who would like to come visit....the invitation is always open!  You can come visit...or you can apply and come serve for a while with us!)(planting seeds, can't hurt, right?!)

Shipyard

This shipyard time has been extremely important (an understatement, at best).  The projects completed and improvements that have been made these past 6 weeks will allow the Africa Mercy to operate more effectively and efficiently in the months and years to come (just realized that 2 different meanings of the word "operate" fully apply here).  It may not seem like maintenance work has much to do with offering hope and healing -- but this vessel couldn't do what it does without being taken care of and worked on during the time between field services.  

Floors have been redone.  Pipes have been replaced.  Major work was done on the ship's tailshaft. The alarm and sound systems have been improved. Wish we had a complete list of all the work that has been accomplished by the crew that's been onboard - maybe we can find that and share it.  It's amazing what all has been done!    

These 2 pictures give a very vivid look at a significant "before and after"  (this is just one major project....there were dozens and dozens of others - we just don't have  the "before and after" pictures of them):

Ebola 
For those of you who may not know, West Africa is dealing with a horrific outbreak of the Ebola Virus.  

There are plenty of articles, opinions and ideas out there about the Ebola outbreak.  We'd like to encourage you to research it and read as much as you can/want to about it (preferably from reliable sources...).  Here's one place you could start: article about Ebola

Here are just a few of the questions we've been asked:

Has the Ebola outbreak has affected you? Simple answer: YES, it has affected us.  One of the main reasons we are going to the country of Benin is because of the Ebola that is present in Guinea - so, in essence it has affected the entire course of our lives.  More importantly, it affects many of our crewmates who are from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.  It also affects many of our crew who have served in these countries.  Hearts are certainly breaking and hurting.  This outbreak is devastating. We need to pray for it to END.

Are you in any danger? Another simple answer: NO.  The leadership of Mercy Ships has a close eye on the outbreak and is very aware of where we're going/what we're doing and the best practices for keeping us safe from Ebola.  Is it possible that a case of Ebola will show up on the ship?  We suppose it's possible - but consider it very unlikely.  We're not afraid or fearful - but understand how and why others may be (or how/why others may be concerned for us).

What do you think of the missionaries being transported to Emory?  Isn't that endangering the US?  One phrase comes to mind: put yourself in their shoes (or put Nick in Dr. Brantly's shoes if you need to).  If one of us was battling with any type of disease/medical condition, Emory would be THE PLACE we would want to be.  And no, we don't think it's endangering the US.  The standards and practices at Emory are excellent. We probably don't have a clue about all the infectious diseases and viruses and such that are dealt with on a daily basis in our country (in safe and controlled ways).  It makes us sad for the hundreds who don't have the support and resources to get the same kind of care and treatment....but so so so glad for these 2 and their families that they are getting the absolute best care possible.  We're praying God's best for the Brantlys and Writebols - and for ALL the families affected by Ebola.

Heading to Benin
Soon and very soon we'll sail to Benin!

The Advance Team has been hard at work in country preparing for the arrival and work of the Africa Mercy.  Please pray for a fresh burst of energy and strength for them as they finish strong.  Pray that God will bind them together in perfect peace and unity as they prepare for our arrival and for all the incredible work that is going to be done in Benin in the next 10 months (and beyond!).

One major prayer request that has been answered (in the way we were hoping it would!) has to do with the dock space that we've been assigned.  At one point it was questionable if we would be able to set up the tents that we use on the dock -- the last time the ship was in Benin the dock space was pretty much non-existent.  The Advance Team let us know that we've been assigned a berth that will allow for our tents.  As our Managing Director shared with us, this makes a life-changing difference for HUNDREDS of people.  It's amazing how one decision/assignment/determination can make such a profound impact...

So lots to report on...lots to pray for....lots to think about...lots of thank God for. Please keep on praying for us...please keep on praying for God's work in, on, through and around the Africa Mercy.

Surely there will be more to come.