a little walk down (prayer card) memory lane

Spring 2012

Lakebottom Park, Columbus, Georgia, USA

Photographer: Ritchie White

Spring 2013
Africa Mercy, Conakry, Guinea
Photographer: Suzanne Scheumann

Fall 2014
On the Dock, Tamatave, Madagascar
Photographer: Catrice Wulf

Spring 2016
SPAT Port, Tamatave, Madagascar
Photographer: Suzanne Veltjens (artist formerly known as Suzanne Scheumann)

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. 

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.  Please keep praying for us...and let us know how we can be praying for you. 

Surely there will be more to come.

First Day of Surgery - stand with us in prayer

It’s a special day on the Africa Mercy! It’s our first day of surgeries for this field service! 

This morning, as a community, we stood and prayed throughout the ship - committing this Mada 2 Field Service to God and His glory.  We thought you - our family and friends around the world - would like to stand with us and pray, too…

Heavenly Father, we stand together on this first day of surgery.  We are grateful for all the ways you have shown your love and faithfulness, and how these have brought us to this moment.  We thank you for your hand of protection over us and for your continued presence by our side.  We thank you for the part you have called EACH of us to play.  Because each one of us has been uniquely gifted by you, we ask for your enabling grace in our lives, that we may be good stewards of these gifts and use them together as a community unified around you and your kingdom.  May you be evident in everything we say and do, as we work together to provide hope and healing for the people of Madagascar.  We thank you for the Hospital and the many programs through which we desire to serve the people of Madagascar.  We commit each of these programs to you now.  We ask for your protection, provision, and healing for each person who will be cared for in our Hospital this Field Service.  We pray that the seeds of Christ’s love which, by your wonderful grace, we will sow into each other’s lives, as well as our patients lives, and the lives of all those taking part in our training programs, will grow and blossom far beyond our wildest expectations.  May they bring new life and eternal transformation, not just to individuals, but to families, communities, generations and nations around the world forever more.  Now to Him who,  by his power working within us, is able to carry out His purposes and do super abundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires,  thoughts, hopes, or dreams—to Him be the glory in the  church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

And a quote from the facebook wall of our OR Assistant Supervisor, Missy Brown:

The day has arrived.....our first patients will walk into the OR this morning....for most a hope for help/surgery not thought to be possible....now a reality...hope being restored....our prayer for our precious patients....transformation of the whole person... body and heart!!! Thanks for your prayers!!!

Surely there will be more to come. 

life right now: 6 word phrases.

No more dry dock (for now).

The ship is in the water.

We are back in our cabin.

It truly is home sweet home.

Immigration is onboard to check passports.

Sea trials tomorrow, praying for success.

Ready for Madagascar, let's go now.

We trust God and His timing. 

Surely there'll be more to come. 

Meanwhile in Madagascar

As we’ve been in Durban experiencing shipyard, plenty is still going on in Madagascar! 

Our Advance Team has been working to make sure things are ready for our return in early August.  Among other things, they are overseeing projects, continuing to meet with government officials and are keeping an eye on our dock space and the warehouse where plenty of equipment is being stored.

Jeremy, Scott, Harmen, Andrea and Franck...what a dynamic and special team!  

The Mada 2 Advance Team

The Screening Team is currently assembling in the capital city of Tana and will make massive efforts in screening before the ship ever sets sail from Durban.  This team is incredible – flying and riding all over the country full of so much compassion, kindness and excellence as they find the patients that will come to the ship over the course of these next 10 months.  

pc: mirjam

Below are pictures of a poster that has been distributed throughout Madagascar announcing all of the selection sights and dates (feel free to print off the middle picture and pray throughout the year for the screenings taking place!)(and many thanks to the lovely Andrea Diallo for taking and sending pictures of the poster).

The members of the screening team work tirelessly and relentlessly.  Their hearts are huge and dedicated as they meet with patient after patient – wanting with everything in them to be able to offer every individual a yellow appointment card but bravely facing the fact that this ship cannot help every individual. 

pc: mercy ships

Because of all of the work of the Advance Team, and now the screening team, the Africa Mercy will really be able “to hit the ground running”  when we arrive back in Madagascar.

We’d love for you to join us in praying for the Advance Team and the Screening Team – for endurance and strength, for health and safety, for wisdom in their decision making, for courage and hope.  Most of all pray that they will experience the love and presence of God in real and tangible ways – and that His love will overflow from their smiles and words and touches into the lives of every person they encounter (will you please pray that for the Cash Family as well?).

Surely there will be more to come. 

strawberries & prayer requests

We arrived safe and sound in Gran Canaria Friday evening after another week (almost) of sailing.  The second week proved to be a bit less rocky than the first (thankfully).  

Many of the crew were antsy to get off the ship as soon as possible (apparently more than 50 calmly  made their way down the gangway within minutes of the Captain announcing that we had permission to go ashore!) 

The Cash Crew headed off the ship Saturday morning.  We walked to our favorite park...picked up some groceries along the way and enjoyed a delightful few hours of playing and picnic-ing.  We intended to wander a few more blocks to the beach/boardwalk...but managed to enjoy ourselves so much at the park that we saved the beach for Sunday evening.  

It never ceases to amaze us how delicious strawberries are (and how much we've missed them the past 10 months!).  What an incredible fruit God created!!

Part of our picnic included cheeseballs that Emma was especially fond of (she really enjoyed being a chipmunk with her snack).

This morning we ventured out to IKEA and McDonald's.  Caroline requested a picture with "the most delicious cheeseburger she's had in a long, long, long, long time."

Favorite parts of these past few days:

• strawberries (many packages have been bought)
• plums
• nectarines
• walking into town
• running to the beach
• cafe con leche leche with a lovely friend
• playing on the beach in the evening
• smelling roses
• watching the World Cup
• the temperature outside
• longer daylight hours
• more relaxed atmosphere onboard
• unlimited water useage (ie - looooong showers!)(the ship is trying to get rid of as much weight as possible before being dry docked - this includes extra water!)

Least favorite part of these past few days:

• having to say good-bye to a few more treasured friends

Tonite we're packing up and getting ready to head to the hotel on the other end of Gran Canaria where we'll be staying for the next week. The Africa Mercy will go into Dry Dock on Wednesday morning (that's the reason for families being moved off of the ship and into hotels: no children allowed in/on a dry docked ship).  Nick will continue to work this week - he'll commute back and forth (with the other dads) from the hotel to the ship (and vice versa).  The rest of us are planning to have a restful, peaceful week enjoying a part of Gran Canaria that we're not as familiar with.  Next Wednesday (June 25), we'll leave for our family vacation.

We're looking forward to what God has in store for us in the coming weeks....a few of our "word prayers" for this vacation are rest, laughter, exercise, time outdoors, refreshment, connection, excellent family time, memory making moments. We'd love for you join us in praying for these gifts for our family.

Please also pray for this technical period of the Africa Mercy.  There's quite a bit of maintenance, repair work and construction projects that need to be completed in a short amount of time.  Pray for the Astican (shipyard company) workers as they come alongside our crew to help make this vessel the best she can be - the best she can be so that as many as possible are able to encounter the love, hope and healing of Jesus in the coming months and years.  

One other prayer request: please pray for so many of our crew who are spending time at home this summer - there are many who need to experience rest and refreshment during this time before we head to Benin in August.  And there are many who are going home to difficult circumstances and situations and need to know the power, provision and presence of God in real and tangible ways. 

Thank you for being more than friends and family - thank you for being ones who come along side of us and hold us (and our Africa Mercy Community) up in prayer.  Thank you for talking to God on our behalf...for making these requests known to Him and inviting Him and His power to invade our lives.  There's no telling what is being accomplished by and through your prayers.  

Surely there will be more to come.

Drill #40 Getting Ready for Sailing

Engine testing...bunkering operations...at sea drills....

We're getting ready to sail!  We're still a few weeks away from departure but the preparations for leaving are well under way. 

We had our first "at sea drill" of the season today.  The Captain said we did well.  Thought the world (or at least our world of friends and family!) might like a glimpse into it...   

The alarm sounds...announcements are made....instructions are given...and we head out to our muster station ("B" this go round) on deck 7 - picking up a lifejacket on the way.....

Lined up to get a life jacket

The Cash Kids loooooove wearing life jackets (they'll be thankful if we ever actually need them)

Trying to make it all a little better with gummi bears...worked for one, not so much for the other one.

 Whole lot of orange...the Dutchies must love that.

some Palmers and Cairncrosses seeing if they can touch their toes

Elsa and Caroline....our lifeboat can't help but have a good time with these 2 around.  

A walk to/tutorial of the Lifeboats (they actually swung them out...but we didn't get to get in them....)

Drill is over, life jackets off, smiles back on (thanks to Nick for making funny faces beside the camera)

 Put 'em back, ready for next time

 Add another mark to the chart

Please pray for us - "us" being the Cash family and "us" being the crew of the Africa Mercy and "us" being Mercy Ships worldwide - as we prepare to leave Congo and head to the Canaries for about 8 weeks of shipyard maintenance (including a time where the ship is dry docked).  This is a very busy time for all of "us" -- there's much to be done.

Please pray specifically for:

• containers to be released from the port authorities
• patients who still need significant healing
• our Captain - for wisdom in leading and managing a very complex ship
• the loading of fresh water and fuel for the 2 weeks of sailing
• the safety of our deck crew as they operate machinery and load vehicles, containers, etc.
• the good-byes that will be said in the coming days and weeks (to day crew, to local friends, to crew mates who are heading home)
• the Advance Team who is already hard at work preparing for our arrival in Benin

After the sail, the Cash Crew will be in Grand Canaria for about a week - we'll move off the ship into a hotel (this is required during the dry dock period - no children can be on the ship).  Nick will continue to work (commuting back and forth to the ship) and the other 4 of us will play (or something like that)!  On June 25th our family will leave to go on holiday - we're doing a bit of traveling in Europe. We'll return to the ship in mid-July - and hopefully get to move into our new cabin.  So there's all kinds of exciting things coming up for us.  (including Nick's transfer into Chaplaincy NEXT WEEK!  Please feel free to pray for that transition).

What an adventure....one that we're glad to be a part of - and glad that we've got YOU as a part of it, too.

Surely there will be more to come.

Pray With Us

"How can I/we be praying for you?"  That's one of our favorite questions to be asked....and one of our favorite questions to ask.  In preparation for this past week's community meeting, we asked a few of our managers/leaders that question.  Here are their responses....we'd like to invite you to join us in talking and listening to God about these situations.....

Off Ships/Hope Center

• For those in the Off Ship team who are serving outside of the Pointe Noire area -- especially Franck and the Agriculture Team.
• Unity and peace as we work in our department off ship, that the daily pressures will not take away our purpose and passion.
• For perseverance and strength to finish the field service well.... not just finish it but really finish it fantastically!!

HR

• Transitions of Crew and leadership over the summer
• Urgent recruiting needs:
• Head Housekeeper in Crew Services
• Managerial Trainer in Staff Development

 Transportation

• Vehicle breakdowns due to driving conditions - rain, mud, rivers, sand.
• Vehicle damage and crew safety while driving.  
• Prayer for the safe arrival & speedy clearance of our new airport commuter bus - due March 11.
• Health of crew and day crew.
• Stability and perseverance of crew and day crew as we finish out the field service.
• Smart and appropriate decisions to be made by our crew and day crew drivers.
• Thank God for the blessing it is to have such a capable fleet of vehicles and team to maintain them.

 Academy

• Pray for Hannah who graduates High School in May. That God will make a way for her future and what he has planned for her!
• Pray for the families who are leaving the ship, for a smooth transition to new schools, friends and lives in their new homes
• Pray for the New Principal and his family
• Pray for the students and families who will be staying next year, that God will build them up and encourage them during this season of change.
• Pray for new families who are coming, that God will make a way and provide as well and welcome them into our community.
• Praise Point:  Full teaching team for next year already approved. Pray that God will continue to provide for them in radical ways.

 Hospital Day Crew

• good understanding of the patients need / nurses need so they can translate correct
• strength for the coming months to continue their job - some make long hours -it's not easy
• good relationships with the patients/crew and other day crew so we can live and work as one united community

Thank you for joining with us in prayer....what a gift to know that God hears us - and responds! - when we pray.  And it's not just when we intentionally "close our eyes and bow our heads" or when we "get down on our knees" (or whatever other posture one may choose) - it's when we whisper His name...or cry out "help, God."...it's when we don't even know the right words to say (cause it's certainly not about having the right words to say).  It's any time we invite Him to be involved and present in any thing. Prayer is a gift...a privilege of speaking and listening to the One who cares most and is the source of all power and authority.  

How can we be praying for you?  Feel free to email us with your response cashcrewship@gmail.com

Surely there will be more to come.  

Let us introduce you to....

It's nice to have friends who are nurses and who are willing to share the stories that God has allowed them to become a part of.  Our friend Amy shared some suh-weet pictures & stories of patients that she has had the privilege of caring for on her blog  She's a kind and generous soul and doesn't mind if we share them with you.  Some of the information has been updated...but, for the most part, this is all straight from the heart and hands of Amy Humphrey.  Without further adieu...let us introduce you to....

Merveille.

"Merveille means 'wonderful' in French, and he is quite wonderful. He had a palatoplasty done to fix his cleft palate. Can you imagine going 12 years of your life with a hole in the top of your mouth? He wasn't a huge fan of the NG tube (who would be?), but he still weathered the recovery like a champ. He also wasn't a fan of the soft diet (no rice!!).  He had to adhere to post-op.  He loved to laugh as I tried to count in French and Kituba while he did his palate exercises. 

Merveille's dad was the best coach one could ask for, by his side every minute and encouraging him in his recovery, in his speech exercises, and in the game of UNO. Oh my goodness, I have never seen a kid have so much trouble learning a card game. Every time he tried to put a green 7 down on top of a red 3, I just couldn't help but laugh! To be fair, I was attempting to explain the rules of the game in VERY broken French and Kituba, with a lot of reliance on hand gestures. :) 

Please pray that he continues to develop his speech, as he is having to learn a whole new way to form sounds with his now anatomically-correct mouth!"

Alistera.

"This sweet one has captured my heart. And not just because she is from my home-away-from-home, Uganda. :) She was brought here by a local doctor who is doing some pretty incredible things for disabled Ugandan children through his non-profit EDYAC.  She was admitted for severe burns she experienced as a young girl, her first surgery (of several planned) was a few weeks ago. She is very self-conscious of her scarring and shyly keeps the burned side of her face turned away-- BUT she is gradually beginning to come out of her shell, slowly starting to lift up her gaze, and us nurses couldn't be more thrilled. 

We sing through her dressing changes, and I tell her how beautiful she is, praying that she would know that she is SO loved. She teaches me to count in her local language while she compliantly takes her daily cocktail of less-than-tasty nutrition supplements to aid with wound healing. We turned one wall of her room into an art gallery displaying her superb coloring skills, and you will often find her bandages covered in "flair", like stickers and pipe-cleaner flowers." 

Alphonse.

"Alphonse was with us for over two weeks. He served as our ward's DJ, keeping us entertained with Congolese, Nigerian, and American tunes played from his phone. It was not uncommon to hear his voice singing out on the other side of the ward or when we were giving shift report. 

He had a surgery that required a giant skin graft to be taken from his leg and placed on his face. He carefully watches each dressing change with a mirror, surveying our technique and never once complaining, though I am certain it is quite painful for him."

Vernel.

This is Amy, by the way! :)

"Oh Vernel. I dare you not to fall in love with this 6-year-old's smile. He is just as full of life as these photos depict! And he gives the best hugs. One of my favorite moments of him was after his surgery when he was having trouble keeping down any food. I finally sweetened up some yogurt and gave it to him, and he just devoured it. As in, almost ate the spoon itself. The whole ward was laughing and he responded with a tiny yogurt-covered smile (difficult post-cleft lip repair, as you can imagine)."

Pressley.

"Baby Pressley was one of the first of many precious babies with cleft lips to come through our ward. I didn't get to be his care nurse, but I did get some good snuggles. Just look at him!! What a blessing that he will spend the rest of his life without a lip deformity!"

Many, many thanks for Amy for letting us share some of her stories.

Please pray for these precious ones and for all of the others who have had, and will have, surgery.  As of October 12, 282 surgeries had been accomplished onboard the Africa Mercy since the Hospital opened in September.  Each one, a miracle!

Surely there will be more to come.  Hallelujah, there will be more to come!