Another New Home

In my last newsletter, I introduced you to my roommates…and now I have moved to yet another cabin, with two new cabinmates. I am not planning to move again any time soon, so it is probably safe to introduce Lorna and Melanie.

My friendship with Lorna began last fall while I was on board for my Discipleship Training School (DTS). She grew up the youngest of 10 children on an Old Order Mennonite farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. While I was home last spring, I visited her a few times, met several family members, and helped pluck pinfeathers from recently butchered chickensJ 

Melanie is exactly 12 years younger than I am and also hails from New Hampshire, but has made numerous trips to her dad’s home country, England. A few weeks ago, she assumed Lorna’s job as head hostess when Lorna joined the DTS staff. Melanie is a petite bundle of fun and energy with a terrific sense of humor. She also plays a mean guitar! Our goal is to make our cabin a home, a place of rest and refuge in the midst of the frequent chaos on board. Please pray for our relationships with one another, that we would provide mutual encouragement. top

Yippee! A Yamaha!

My motorcycle was shipped from the US and arrived October 28^th. It will be insured soon and I should be able to tool around Tenerife and Benin. I’m accepting name suggestions, since Hezekiah Honda won’t work! top

Anchors Aweigh!

Our time in Europe is quickly drawing to a close. If all goes according to plan, we will leave Rotterdam on the afternoon of November 14. In many ways, that is not soon enough. November is cold in Holland and the Anastasis does not have an efficient heating system! The temperature most days hovers between 32-40°F.

Most of the crew is anxious to leave behind the shipyard and public relations phase and begin the outreach, myself included. I have been on board for just over 6 months and am looking forward to seeing patients at last and participating in their medical care. While I will officially be working in the recovery room, I am also expected to learn how to scrub and circulate in the operating rooms as well as gain experience with the sterilization and cleaning procedures. This variety will be a fun challenge.

During the sail, we will begin sterilizing instrument sets and cleaning the OR in preparation for the outreach. Timing becomes important, as the first surgery is scheduled a week after our arrival. Just two days after our arrival in Benin, everyone will be involved in airport runs, picking up 30 short-term crewmembers. 

Screening days are controlled chaos. A thousand people may show up, hoping that their condition will be something we can treat. Doctors and nurses assess them, lab tests are run, and the surgery schedule for the next 4 months is filled. Please pray for God’s wisdom for the doctors as they make these decisions. top

Stowing Cargo: Proof of God’s Provision

When we set sail for Benin, we must have on board all the supplies necessary for the upcoming several months. That includes food to feed the 300+ crew, building supplies for the relief and development project, replacement parts for the ship’s vehicles, cleaning supplies, and all the medical supplies for the operating rooms, dental and medical clinics, and surgical ward.

During the past several months in Europe, we have obtained donations to meet many of our needs. Some supplies, however, must be sent from the USA and others must be purchased. The final week in October saw the arrival of the 40’ medical container from Garden Valley, TX, filled with assorted equipment. We prayed for and received a brisk but clear day for the unloading of the container. Pallets were removed, unpacked and sorted according to destination, then repacked on new pallets for loading into the holds. The holds are now so full that we wonder how we’ll ever get to the things we need! J Fortunately, when we arrive in Benin, many of the pallets will be removed for donation to local hospitals and clinics.

The medical department has not been the only one busy loading supplies. Relief and development loaded furniture for the training school it will be building, and the galley transferred 5 truckloads of frozen food to the freezers. top

Please pray for:

Bible Study, Anyone?

Actually, it’s a Bible study for women only. A few months ago Lorna and I began an inductive Bible study with 5 other women, and our numbers are slowly increasing. We meet weekly to study Romans and to pray with one another. Please pray for insight, wisdom & sensitivity as I prepare and lead it each Tuesday.