I have been without internet connection since early November. I hope to fix the situation by the new year, so check back here again after the holidays. In the meantime, have a very merry Christmas celebrating the ultimate gift from God!
Friday, December 16, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
The End of an Era
Last week the three of us - Udo, Keith, me - met with Don, gave him our final proposals. Final copy, all polished up. He was leaving the next day to meet with the Board. Twenty-one men and women who would decide what to do with the Caribbean Mercy and the Anastasis. Today, we received an email on how to communicate the Board's decisions. It read:
1. On April 6, 2006 Mercy Ships will commission the flagship of our future, the Africa Mercy. Due to a significant increase in the hospital and community development capacity, the Africa Mercy will double the amount of people served by the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy combined.
2. It is our belief that the Africa Mercy will serve some of the region’s most needy for the next 30 years.
3. Both the Caribbean Mercy and Anastasis are over 50 years old. International maritime regulations indicate significant additional expense should the two ships remain in service. The Africa Mercy is the first ship of a new era of Mercy Ships hospital ships and part of the long range plan to bring hope and healing to the world’s poorest people.
4. The Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy are both to be retired after serving as effective tools in bringing hope and healing to countless of the world’s poor.
5. Many of the crew from the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy are considering service on the Africa Mercy.
--------------
I'm sad. I knew to expect this decision, but I guess I still hoped. Now there's a lump in my stomach. Even if I didn't go back on crew, I still liked the idea of it existing, thriving, serving, still being intact. A beautiful little ship with inlaid wood on the walls and inlaid carvings not found in ships ever again. Tiny cabins that still were able to reflect the personalities of their inhabitants. Noisy dining room that served as the social hub of the ship, usually buzzing with conversation and laughter. Unless it was early Sunday morning, and then there was a sleepy silence to be savored and enjoyed over several cups of coffee as friends trickled in and joined you for seconds on breakfast before church. A small Aft deck - our definition of a backyard - a place to catch a cool breeze, escape a crowd, watch the ship kids run around and play, look out over the town in which we were docked and dream. I'm going to miss being able to come out of my office, step through a door, and be on the water, lean over the side and listen to gentle waves lap at the hull while seagulls screech, then go back inside for my next class. I'm going to miss the brilliant reflection of sunshine bouncing off the water, sun rises (when I caught them), and sun sets (which I caught regularly), friends to eat meals with, and always new people to meet or to get to know better. I'm going to miss walking up the gangway to my home. And I'm going to miss the view out of my porthole changing.
It's late. So I'm stopping. sigh.
1. On April 6, 2006 Mercy Ships will commission the flagship of our future, the Africa Mercy. Due to a significant increase in the hospital and community development capacity, the Africa Mercy will double the amount of people served by the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy combined.
2. It is our belief that the Africa Mercy will serve some of the region’s most needy for the next 30 years.
3. Both the Caribbean Mercy and Anastasis are over 50 years old. International maritime regulations indicate significant additional expense should the two ships remain in service. The Africa Mercy is the first ship of a new era of Mercy Ships hospital ships and part of the long range plan to bring hope and healing to the world’s poorest people.
4. The Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy are both to be retired after serving as effective tools in bringing hope and healing to countless of the world’s poor.
5. Many of the crew from the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy are considering service on the Africa Mercy.
--------------
I'm sad. I knew to expect this decision, but I guess I still hoped. Now there's a lump in my stomach. Even if I didn't go back on crew, I still liked the idea of it existing, thriving, serving, still being intact. A beautiful little ship with inlaid wood on the walls and inlaid carvings not found in ships ever again. Tiny cabins that still were able to reflect the personalities of their inhabitants. Noisy dining room that served as the social hub of the ship, usually buzzing with conversation and laughter. Unless it was early Sunday morning, and then there was a sleepy silence to be savored and enjoyed over several cups of coffee as friends trickled in and joined you for seconds on breakfast before church. A small Aft deck - our definition of a backyard - a place to catch a cool breeze, escape a crowd, watch the ship kids run around and play, look out over the town in which we were docked and dream. I'm going to miss being able to come out of my office, step through a door, and be on the water, lean over the side and listen to gentle waves lap at the hull while seagulls screech, then go back inside for my next class. I'm going to miss the brilliant reflection of sunshine bouncing off the water, sun rises (when I caught them), and sun sets (which I caught regularly), friends to eat meals with, and always new people to meet or to get to know better. I'm going to miss walking up the gangway to my home. And I'm going to miss the view out of my porthole changing.
It's late. So I'm stopping. sigh.
Fusion Convention in Dallas
A couple of us represented Mercy Ships at a Mission Convention this weekend. We ended up talking to lots of people. Who knows, maybe some will be future crew....it still amazes me how I ended up in Mercy Ships.
Jan Kronester in action
The Kronester family are my neighbors downstairs, so I went to Jan's soccer game last Saturday. There's not much more exciting than watching eight 5-year olds try to kick a ball two different directions!
Friday, October 28, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Hurricane Wilma was able to find the tiny town of Puerto Castilla, Honduras where the Caribbean Mercy spent 6 months last year. Thanks Jeremy for finding these photos on the web! See here for the rest of the pictures.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Gateway Class Banquet
Yesterday ended the lecture segment of the Gateway Course. I had the opportunity to teach the last two days and give a charge to the participants at the banquet last night. Tonight they depart at 2:00 AM for a month-long field assignment in the Dominican Republic. I'm off to bed so that I can get up in three hours to wave them off.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Learning to make pupusas
What a treat! Lilian and Ciaran had a few of us over for an El Salvadorian specialty Saturday night. I felt I was back in the little village of Conchagua, El Salvador eating my fill of pupusas with cabbage slaw and hot sause. Mmmmm Mmmmm!
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
an early taste of winter
This beautiful winter wonderland caused us to miss our flight connection in Dallas leading to renting a car and getting to Lindale at 1:00 AM. Mom and Dad then had to drive to Texarkana the next day to retrieve cars and luggage and drive again to Lindale to deliver mine before finally heading to home in Magnolia. And they say that vacations are supposed to make one rested!...
Enroute to Denver
We were enjoying seeing the signs of snow on our drive to Denver where we were to fly back to Texas....until we drove into a blizzard! Wow! not the weather I'm accustomed to in October!
Friday, October 07, 2005
'till the cows come home
This herd of cows eventually grew so large that our car was stopped in the middle of the road on our way up to Taylor and Marie Perez's house in Cimeran, Colorado. I had flashbacks of driving in Central America, except the horses there are skinnier.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Quotes for the day
"Think of something only when it is time to think of it...you will exhaust your mind by trying to figure out God's will before the right time comes." - from 100 Days in the Secret Place by Gene Edwards.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Autumn in Colorado
I LOVE fall, and it was especially nice to soak up the colors driving from Denver to Grand Junction. There's something about having four seasons, I think, that fits the rhythms of life better than staying always in one.
ship friends Jerry and Jill Wedlake
God is the lover of my soul! He dropped a vacation in my lap through some friends inviting me to use their house in Colorado while they were gone. Notice the Colorado Monument right in their side yard! (next to the golf course!)I was able to visit with them one day before they flew to Korea.
Friday, September 30, 2005
birthday cake at CiCi's Pizza
Last year on my birthday the ship had just arrived in Trujillo, Honduras. This year the Gateway staff and participants surprised me with a cake at a pizza outing in Tyler the Friday before.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Driving home
This was my view while driving from Texas to Arkansas last weekend to visit my parents. It was nice to see that "land sunsets" could be just as stunning as "ocean sunsets". I had to pull over to Ohh and Ahh.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Dad and me at the Barn Sale
I went home this weekend to attend the annual Barn Sale in Camden, Arkansas. Hurricane Rita added some rain, but it was still fun to poke around the craft exhibits with Mom and Dad.
Caribbean Mercy friends in Texas
House-sitting gave us the opportunity to grill outdoors with friends. Marcel is from Germany (on his way to the Africa Mercy); Dabney from Jacksonville, Florida; Eric from New Orleans (on his way to the Anastasis); and Tony from Ghana.
My First Blog Attempt
After much encouragement and arm-twisting, I am sitting down and attempting to conquer the art of BLOGGING. This will be a work in progress, so stay tuned.....
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