Arrival into Freetown, Sierra Leone

Began seeing land about 6:30 this morning.  It was beautiful watching the sun come up behind one of the Sierra Leone mountains.  The Minister of Health was on the dock for the arrival ceremony and she graciously welcomed the Africa Mercy and its crew to Sierra Leone.  May God to miraculous works throughout this field service.

This country is about 60% Muslim, 30% African traditional religions, and 10% Christian.  Please pray that Woody and I will love all the Sierra Leoneans as He loves, and see opportunities God provides to share Christ with them all.  It is good to be back in West Africa.  West Africa and its people grow on you after a while.

Woody & Robin Arriving into Sierra Leone

 

Freetown, Sierra Leone

 

Many Onhand to Welcome the Africa Mercy

 

Are We There Yet?

No, we are not there yet, but we are getting closer. The hope is to get to Freetown this weekend. The week will begin some serious unpacking and putting in place for all the various projects and the hospital. There will be many Mercy Shippers running around getting it all done with God’s help!
You can feel the excitement in the air as we draw nearer to the shores of Sierra Leone. We have been enjoying country briefings in the mornings and learning lots about the culture and history and how we can interact with the people. Anticipate seeing great things from the Lord this year and seeing His name glorified among us all.

Departing Capetown, South Africa

Really enjoyed our 24 hours in Capetown.  We didn’t do too much but realized we would like to visit again in the future.  One day is not enough to see and learn all that Capetown has to share.   God blessed us with amazing weather and clear skies to see the great view from Table Mountain and enjoy walking through the craft markets and beautiful gardens in the middle of the city.

The crew is now back onboard the Africa Mercy and heading for Freetown, Sierra Leone.  We are all ready to get into the new field service and begin working with the Sierra Leonean people.  There is so much to do in such a short period of time that we covet your prayers that the pressure to complete the tasks doesn’t take our focus off of why we are here.  This is God’s work, not ours, and we need continuous reminders to seek His direction.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Suggested Reading

Woody and I just finished reading a book that we would like to recommend to family and friends.  The book is called, ‘The Hole in Our Gospel’, by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S.  We found this book to be very challenging to our way of thinking.   

God has blessed Woody and I to have wonderful supporters that provide the financial means to be on the mission field and doing what God has asked of us for this time.  Mercy Ships has made it possible to live onboard a well equipped ship that houses and feeds us well.  But, I have to admit, there are times when it just doesn’t seem to be enough.  I think of all the things I would like to have, instead of being grateful for all that has been provided.  Materialism is alive and well at times in my heart.

This book points out that the American church is the wealthiest church in history yet our giving to the world is pathetically meager.  Did you know that if your income is $25,000 per year, you are wealthier than approximately 90 percent of the world’s population.  If you make $50,000 per year, you are wealthier than 99 percent of the world!*  As we compare our resources to those around us there are times when we don’t feel like we have enough.  But, when we compare ourselves to the 6.7 billion people on earth that live on less than $2.00 per day it is obvious that we are wealthy.  

The total income of American churchgoers is $5.2 trillion yet only 24% of ‘evangelical Christians’ tithe.  The average giving of American church members in 2005 was just 2.58 percent of their income and once the church receives these funds only 2% go to overseas missions of any kind.  Are we focusing only on America and forgetting the world at large?  

God’s gospel is meant to be revolutionary and to change the world.  What would the world think about the gospel if Christians were to truly love the way Christ loved.  It would change the world for evermore. 

*Information taken from ‘The Hole in Our Gospel’ by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision.

3rd Week in South Africa

Life is moving along here at Appelsbosch.  We have had days of beautiful sunshine and days of amazing thunder and lightning.  Such a beautiful location and SO GREEN!  I love the color green; I guess when you come from the brown desert green looks extraordinary.  The crew is hoping to move back onto the ship this coming weekend.  Woody is back from working with the projects team and getting started on the eye team.  He has quite a lot to organize before we arrive in Sierra Leone.  It will be a busy year but there will be many learning opportunities.  Many crew members are starting to return and it is starting to feel like home again.  It is funny how attached you get to people when you live and work with them.  They truly feel like family.  May God bless you all as you serve Him!

2nd Week in South Africa

We enjoyed 2 or 3 days of beautiful weather here at Appelsbosch, South Africa.  I’ve been trying to think of how to describe the beautiful location we live in until the move back onto the Africa Mercy.  Since we are from the Central Coast of California, this place reminds me of Nipomo (when the hills are all green), Montano De Oro with the Eucalyptus trees, the southern part of the United States with the large magnolia trees and mimosa trees, and then throw in a tropical island with the sugar cane fields, palm trees, banana trees, and flowering trees (which I don’t know the name of).  It is absolutely gorgeous!  We are about 1.5 hours away from Durban (a large metropolis) and for the country girl in me, it is heaven.  Don’t get me wrong I still miss my cabin onboard but this is a nice place until then.  

Mercy Shippers here are longing for their cabins back onboard, at least the couples, maybe not the singles because they must go back and share a room.  Overall, people are excited to hear when we all will get to move back onboard and sail to Sierra Leone.  Excitement is in the air as we all work together to prepare the ship for its upcoming field service.  Continue to pray for the shipyard workers and our technical teams as they work hard to finish up all the projects before we can sail.  It is going to be an exciting year!

1st Week in South Africa

We arrived in Durban on December 31st and were able to spend the first week onboard the AFM.  The many project teams are working diligently.  Woody volunteered to be a helper on one of the project teams and I worked with the IS department some and helped prepare for the up country Sierra Leone pre-screening trip.  It was a busy week getting back into the swing of things and trying to catch up on email.  Email is a wonderful tool but sometimes the volume can be overwhelming!

We are now at Appelsbosch (where the non-technical crew are living until the ship is ready).  It is in a beautiful location and it is very good to see people again.  Woody will work for at least one more week with the project team so he leaves on Monday morning at 5:30 and will leave on the ship till Friday at 3:30 when he comes back to Appelsbosch.  It will be a lonely and quiet week in the evenings for me; should get lots of reading done.

Safe Return to South Africa

We returned safely to South Africa and the Africa Mercy on December 31st.  Enjoyed dinner out with two very good friends and then got to unload my suitcase completely for the first time in six months.  That felt amazing.  Woody and I will be staying onboard for the first week in January as Woody is lending a hand on projects and I am training on the hospital database.  The air conditioner is not working so it can be somewhat oppressive with the heat but the crew has a great attitude.  Today is overcast and the temperature should be overall lower.  Thank the Lord!

Getting back into the groove of work feels really good but ready to get into Sierra Leone and get the hospital up and running.  It will be an exciting and challenging year.  Please continue to pray for us as we strive to glorify God in all that we say and do.

In the Christmas Spirit

Living out of a suitcase for the past six months while obtaining Woody’s continuing education hours, working in South Africa with the Mercy Vision Eye Team, and visiting family and friends back home has been wonderful but tiring at times.  The weeks and months seemed to run together; then December came along and I realized that Christmas was here and I was struggling to get in the Christmas spirit.

God, of course, knew what was needed to get my head and heart in the right place to celebrate Christ’s birth.  While visiting family and friends we have seen about four Christmas services (musicals and plays).  Each musical or drama helped me to prepare for this glorious time of the year.  Now, I can say that my head and heart are ready to celebrate the amazing gift of Jesus Christ.  My prayer is that we will meditate on Christ during our celebrations with family and friends and will be thankful for the sacrifical gift given to us so that God will be glorified! 

Thank God for this gift, His gift.  No language can praise it enough!  2 Corinthians 9:15 The Message

Reflections on 2010

As the end of 2010 quickly approaches, we are reflecting on God’s provision and the multitude of blessings over this past year.

*We thank the Lord for the health of our families.

*We thank the Lord for people in the body of Christ who have been led to support us through prayer.  Your prayers carried us through this year.

*We thank the Lord for people in the body of Christ who have been led to support us financially.  You, following God’s guidance, has provided for all our needs.

*We thank the Lord for our daughter-in-law, who we will forever call daughter-in-love.  Sounds nicer huh?  Thanks Wendy!

*We thank the Lord for Mercy Ships which provided a ministry opportunity where we could show the love of Christ to the forgotten poor in West Africa and South Africa.

*We thank the Lord for good friendships.

*We thank the Lord for a strong marriage where we continue to grow together.

As we close the door on 2010, we open ourselves to what God has planned for us in 2011.  There will be many challenges which will provide opportunities to trust him more.  Please join us this year as we pray for Mercy Ships, the government, and the people of Sierra Leone.  May God bless you all as you bless His heart. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!