Artists' Rendition of the AFM

Africa Mercy large drawing
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

This picture was painted by a local artist for the A&P Shipyard. They regularly have this done for their 'big' customers, and once the ship is completed, they hand the picture over to the ship, keeping a copy on display in their Main Office. The artist was instructed to 'imagine' the ship in operation, which is why you see a developing nation background. It will be a great day when the actual painting is posted onboard the ship and we sail away.

COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN....

January 2006 097
Originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

It's exciting and freightening all at the same time...it seems like it's been a long time coming. For us we have been striving almost 2 years to get to the Africa Mercy and now we are actually getting close to the sailing date. The freightening part is that with 65 days left till sail this board shows there are 0 of 455 spaces completed. WILL WE MAKE IT? God knows! That wasn't a question, but a statement. He DOES know, and all the running around, worrying and fretting won't bring it about 1 second earlier or later than God's chosen time. We are called to do our very best and Robert and I are committed to that end. To do the very best we have in us to prepare this ship for the people of Africa. This is our small part, one cog in a wheel that might never really miss us if we weren't here - - BUT WE ARE GLAD WE ARE HERE! Come along for the countdown to "S" day (SAIL)...65, 64, 63.....

Hot & Cold

We haven't posted in about two weeks partially because there's not much going on very exciting unless you consider budget proposals, night watch on the ship, welding, approving crew members, writing proposal after proposal after proposal fun. If you do, boy do I have a job for you! Actually, Robert has been very sick with an upper respiratory infection. How do you know when a man is really really sick? When he calls for an appointment himself! I don't think he's gotten more than a hour sleep a night for 10 days. He coughs so loud that after I walked across the street today to catch the buss I heard him coughing upstairs in our house....now that's LOUD! The dampness and cold is pretty much unending in the northern part of England and it lends itself to a lot of this sort of problems. In fact, we have probably 10 crew members down with it now and about that many that just got over it. I have been feeling like I'm on the verge of getting it - - just in time for the weekend of course and also one of our roommates is not feeling well.

I thought I'd eat some humble pie and show you a picture Robert took one night it was so cold in our room. We found the front door had been left open that night. About 2am I got up and put on a scarf and cap and pulled the cap down over my eyes to keep out the light so I thought I could sleep longer. You did notice at least it was a Mercy Ship cap - - free publicity.

A friend of ours was working with Robert one day and took some very interesting pictures of him welding on board the ship. She was Robert's fire watch. As such her job is suppose to be to watch the area for potential fire hazards from the sparks but in she is a teacher and as such has more of an inquizzative mind and finds the fires fascinating and stands there watching them burn. Robert has to tell her "it's time to put that one out now". At least she wasn't like the last fire watch who was very deligent about her responsibility and when she saw the cutting torch burn through the bulkhead emptied an entire fire extinquisher on the flame and the welder. Diligent but not well trained I would guess.

Tonight we have a Swedish friend over to make us dinner. We are having Swedish meatballs - duh! He says it's to pay us back for the months of "just happened to be in the neighborhood" during dinner time that we took pity on him and fed him. You see, he lives in a house of men who don't care if dinner just came out of a can or out of the back of a truck. Stefan is actually a very good cook so I think I'll end this blog and go have a very nice dinner.

Everyone be blessed and may God light your path, give you wisdom and courage to be a light onto the piece of real estate He has placed you, wherever that may be.

Love - Robert & Susan

A Scriptural Reminder of Why We are Here

1John 3:16-17 We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help—how can God’s love be in that person?

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HAPPY 2006

Susan ended 2005 in a dream-world, her being a princess surrounded by her subjects. We spent the night at a "proper American house" owned by American missionaries with our friends. We got the kids' room, Robert's bed was ninja turtles and Susan's side of the room was done up for her Majesty - - so appropriate.

May your year be one filled with God's Grace as in the most appropriate story below:

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly Gates.

St. Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me what you have done with your life and I will give you the points depending on the merits. If your points add up to 100, you get in.”

“O.K.,” the man says, I was married to the same woman for 50 years and was faithful to her in every sense of the word.”

“That is wonderful,” says St. Peter, “you get 3 points!”

“3 points?!” he says, slightly concerned. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry my tithe and service until I went into full time missions with Mercy Ships for the past 10 years.”

“Fantastic!” says St. Peter. “That’s certainly worth one point.”

“One point!!??” he moans, now really getting worried. “Well while out there on the mission field, after my usual responsibilities, I went on regular crew out-reaches to children’s’ homes, orphanages and conducted bible studies and more. I used all the time I had responsibly for the Kingdom.”

“GREAT, that’s good for 2 more points,” says St. Peter.

“Two more point!!!???” the man cries. “At this rate the only way I will get into heaven is by the grace of God!”

St. Peter nods and says, “Bingo! 100 points! Come on in my son!”


MAY THE GRACE OF GOD BE YOURS IN 2006!