Hi Friends and Family, Merry Christmas once again! We can hardly believe that Christmas is only a few days away and that in even a shorter amount of time we will be leaving Mercy Ships. This last week we sailed from Liberia to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It was a good trip, rough a few days, but good overall. (We are still adapting to our land feet.) The stars were AMAZING from the ocean! We had never seen such a display! In addition, there is this algae that glows in the dark when the water is stirred! Its crazy how precise and intricately God created everything from the stars to the algae in the waters! During the sail we also watched a movie called "The Star" that we just have to mention. It is a documentary type film on the Bethlehem star. Ever wondered why the star was so bright or why it seemed to stop over the place where the king was? The man that studied the star for over 10 years has interesting findings.. anyways google it if you have time because its impossible to even begin to describe the findings! Now that its time to go, its sad to say good bye to Mercy Ships. We have come to know so many people, but then again, it seems time to go--the hospital is closed and the ship is in Spain through Janruary for some R & R, restocking, and repair. We will finish our last day of work on the ship on Sunday and then be flying out to Madrid on Tuesday. We will celebrate with friends in Spain, make a hop to Holland on the way home, and arrive home on Dec 30th. Its already strange to be in a part of Spain, after being in Africa for four months. The people drive so orderly, there are sidewalks and all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables in the market! There are recycling bins, rather than trash all over and people wearing clothes with brand names, rather than a simple lapa wrap. The transition back to the states will be interesting... we are thankful for a transition time here in Spain and lookforward to coming home before the New Year.
This is now being sent out a little late.. sorry. Now we hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sailing to Tenerife, Canary Islands
This week we are working together in the dining room as we sail to Tenerife. The outreach in Liberia has ended for 2008 and now the ship is headed a little north for some R &R. The sail has been going well, but has been a bit rougher the last couple days and we have 1-2 more days to go.
Its been amazing to see the vast sea and all that lives in it--we have seen flying fish, some dolphins, glowing algae at night and then the starts--Wow, we have never seen the stars in the true dark like this before, its unreal! Then last night we watched a movie called "The Star" on the Bethlehem star. Its about a man that is a lawyer who became fascinated by the Bethlehem star and studied it for 10 years and came out with some amazing discoveries. Its mind boggling to learn what God did in the sky and had planned before the beginning of time!!
Read more at http://www.bethlehemstar.net/, you really should! Tis the season to sit in awe and wonder, and if you have the time to read it, I'm sure you'll be in awe and wonder!
In a day or two we will arrive in Tenerife and then we'll have a few more days of work on the ship. Then be headed to Madrid for Christmas with friends from college for a few days. We'll arrive back in WA December 30th. We just can't believe that its coming so fast! We're in anticipation of the Christmas season and for returning home to see family and friends, but sad to leave this place. Its been such a awsome experience to get to know people from around the world on this ship and serve to forgotten poor together. Here is a picture from the "Santa Lucia" evening with the Scandinavians on the ship. Its on December 10th and celebrates the Light --light of Jesus coming into the world. It was beautiful!
Again, Merry Christmas! We will miss being home for Christmas, but look forward to celebrating our second Christmas together and with friends in Spain.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hello once again friends and family,
Where has the time gone?!? We can't believe that it has nearly been four months since we first sent out our first emails to you. Our time in Kenya and Liberia has gone fast. It has been both fulfilling and challenging. Coming down to it though, we are more than ready to be coming home! Our journey home will begin tomorrow (Dec. 12) when we begin to sail from Liberia to the Canary Islands. We will be flying out from Tenerife on Dec. 23 and flying to Madrid, Spain for Christmas with a friend of our's from NNU. This week we look forward to sailing on the open ocean!! This place has been busy --many things to be done to prepare for the sail. Things like taking down tents that patients would wait in before coming onto the ship hospital, loading all the vehicles onto the top deck of the ship, tieing everything down EVERYTHING on the ship that might slide around when we sail, loading enough drinking water for journey to Tenerife, securing things in our cabin(s), and even checking for stow-aways. Swimmer's watch has been an interesting duty that we have both signed up for, which entales signing up for 2 hour blocks to watch the waters for those that might be approaching. We have seen swimmers and turtles as well. Jeremy has really enjoyed this extra job. We were told today that our offical depature would be tomorrow afternoon! This last week Kristin had her last night shift on the ward and now the hospital is closed and everyone is cleaning like crazy. Everything three times over! Things get pretty dirty around here! Jeremy has been working hard in the dining room, but was able to get away this evening to play ultimate frisbee one last time. :) Today I (Kristin) went to the market one last time and couldn't believe that it was my last time to walk the streets of Africa. Last time for now at least, who knows. A man came begging for money, he persistantly stood at my side while looking in a shop and waiting for me to turn to him. Then I realized he had no left arm, likely lost in the 14 year long civil war here that ended only 4 years ago. He then asked for water, I couldn't deny him that. So I told him to find someone selling water and I would buy it for him. I did so and never saw him again, and ran to meet up with the others I was with before I was lost in the mob. I never saw him again but was reminded of the Living Water that Jesus offers us, if only I had had time to share this kind of water on the busy market street.
Prayer Requests: If you remember us in your prayers, please pray specifically for safety during the sail and for a smooth journey--wisdom to those in command, good weather, and no encounters with "other ships". Pray that we don't get sea sick and are able to enjoy the sail. We'll be working together in the dining room during the sail as well, so pray that this is a good experience for us both. For a safe journey to Madrid, then to Amsterdam and then home through Seattle. Also if you could pray for us as we begin to process all we have seen and done, and ponder all the things the Lord has done and taught us.
and ...
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!!
We feel blessed to be here and have been surrounded by such a wonderful atmosphere and assortment of people. We had difficulty transitioning here, but as we leave, we have realized how this had become a temporary home. They have had many Christmas events already, even Santa Lucia (Scandanavian celebration of lights), and the ship has been turned into a winter wonderland (though we are confused when we walk outside and immediatly begin to sweat in the heat). We are just so excited these days -- as we look to Christmas and the miraculous gift of Christ coming to humanity -- as we look forward to celebrating in Madrid with friends -- as we prepare to sail -- as we look back on our trip and see how God orchestrated it in His timing -- and as we look forward to returning home.
Blessings to All!
Where has the time gone?!? We can't believe that it has nearly been four months since we first sent out our first emails to you. Our time in Kenya and Liberia has gone fast. It has been both fulfilling and challenging. Coming down to it though, we are more than ready to be coming home! Our journey home will begin tomorrow (Dec. 12) when we begin to sail from Liberia to the Canary Islands. We will be flying out from Tenerife on Dec. 23 and flying to Madrid, Spain for Christmas with a friend of our's from NNU. This week we look forward to sailing on the open ocean!! This place has been busy --many things to be done to prepare for the sail. Things like taking down tents that patients would wait in before coming onto the ship hospital, loading all the vehicles onto the top deck of the ship, tieing everything down EVERYTHING on the ship that might slide around when we sail, loading enough drinking water for journey to Tenerife, securing things in our cabin(s), and even checking for stow-aways. Swimmer's watch has been an interesting duty that we have both signed up for, which entales signing up for 2 hour blocks to watch the waters for those that might be approaching. We have seen swimmers and turtles as well. Jeremy has really enjoyed this extra job. We were told today that our offical depature would be tomorrow afternoon! This last week Kristin had her last night shift on the ward and now the hospital is closed and everyone is cleaning like crazy. Everything three times over! Things get pretty dirty around here! Jeremy has been working hard in the dining room, but was able to get away this evening to play ultimate frisbee one last time. :) Today I (Kristin) went to the market one last time and couldn't believe that it was my last time to walk the streets of Africa. Last time for now at least, who knows. A man came begging for money, he persistantly stood at my side while looking in a shop and waiting for me to turn to him. Then I realized he had no left arm, likely lost in the 14 year long civil war here that ended only 4 years ago. He then asked for water, I couldn't deny him that. So I told him to find someone selling water and I would buy it for him. I did so and never saw him again, and ran to meet up with the others I was with before I was lost in the mob. I never saw him again but was reminded of the Living Water that Jesus offers us, if only I had had time to share this kind of water on the busy market street.
Prayer Requests: If you remember us in your prayers, please pray specifically for safety during the sail and for a smooth journey--wisdom to those in command, good weather, and no encounters with "other ships". Pray that we don't get sea sick and are able to enjoy the sail. We'll be working together in the dining room during the sail as well, so pray that this is a good experience for us both. For a safe journey to Madrid, then to Amsterdam and then home through Seattle. Also if you could pray for us as we begin to process all we have seen and done, and ponder all the things the Lord has done and taught us.
and ...
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!!
We feel blessed to be here and have been surrounded by such a wonderful atmosphere and assortment of people. We had difficulty transitioning here, but as we leave, we have realized how this had become a temporary home. They have had many Christmas events already, even Santa Lucia (Scandanavian celebration of lights), and the ship has been turned into a winter wonderland (though we are confused when we walk outside and immediatly begin to sweat in the heat). We are just so excited these days -- as we look to Christmas and the miraculous gift of Christ coming to humanity -- as we look forward to celebrating in Madrid with friends -- as we prepare to sail -- as we look back on our trip and see how God orchestrated it in His timing -- and as we look forward to returning home.
Blessings to All!
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