THROUGH THE EYES OF THE INNOCENT

THIS IS GRANNY - AGE 3 ENJOYING A DAY OF BALLOONS, BUBBLES AND JELLY BEANS

My friend Patti and I had the privilege this past week to meet such a basic need of William from the orphanage. He had complained his eyes hurt a lot and he couldn’t see to read anymore. We figured he needed glasses of some sort so we brought him into town where the real adventure began. For those of you that have ever been frustrated at ANY medical facility let me tell you I’ve never encounted anything quite like this….to start off with they charged us a late fee for coming into a clinic when it was open, had no patients and all the employees were sitting around with nothing to do. Late for what? Okay, so we paid the fee, filled out the paperwork took it back to the counter. Then you had to take the receipt 6 steps across the hall to the man in another room whose sole purpose was to take the money. He wrote out a receipt and sent us back to the first man who tells us to take a seat until the “escort” could come and get us. He escorted William 10 steps behind us in the same room when he was good and ready then gave him a paper that he now had to take to man #1 so he could write up how much the next step was going to cost, then to man #2 to pay – sit for the escort till he called William into a room in the same place we were – then back to man #1, man #2 to pay for drugs, to the pharmacy, to the escort, to the waiting room, to the escort to another test, back to man #1, man #2 to pay for that part of the test, escort to sit, escort back to man#2 to pay for the glasses ONLY TO FIND OUT they don’t keep the glasses in the Eye Clinic! That would be too logical. We had to walk ¼ mile down the road to the hospital for him to pick up his glasses. What touched our hearts so was when William said “Grandma Chocolate, thank you so much, no one has every done ANYTHING for me before”. It was a great opportunity for Patti and I to share with him about the work our supporters do back home, people who make it possible for us to be here and bless others - - that as God gives us the resources to pass on it was now his turn to pass on blessings to others because that’s God’s way. Pay it forward. Try it today and see how blessed you are.

There is nothing better than spending the day with two young men from the orphanage at our home this time. We invited Peter Jr. and Jeffrey to a day of tours, dinner and a movie last Friday. I thought it was the highlight of our week but the excitement in these two boys told us it was the excitement of a lifetime for them.

They arrived at the ship so handsome in their best clothes with smiles from ear to ear and chattering like two school girls. They greeted us with the traditional formal handshake and bow when they speak to someone of respect but they were still calling us Grandma and Grandpa Chocolate. We just grabbed them up and let them know they are our friends. As they approached the ship for the first time Jeffrey kept asking us how such a big ship can float when it is so heavy. He had never been so close to a ship before. Remember, these boys are from the country, they are not the sophisticated city folk. Jeffrey wants to be a civil engineer and needs to get back to school in the fall in the 10th grade and Peter is 22, was a child soldier at 11 and wants to finish high school (10th grade) then become a marine engineer. Remember the war interrupted most all education and education comes at a price here even for public school. We are looking for sponsors for their schooling but more on that a little later.

As we started up the gangway I saw some hesitation in the boys while they overcame their fear but their excitement and interest forced them forward. They stood in the lobby with HUGE eyes saying over and over “I can’t believe I’m here - - this is beautiful”. We took them directly to our cabin to get the boys a soda before we started the tour. Robert asked why type of soda they wanted and gave it to them. It was in cans and we didn’t know they had never opened a soda can before, so after a few tries at poking a hole in the can Robert decided it might be best to do it for them. The tour was no less than perfect, I know God was watching these boys because when I wanted to take them to the bridge which is closed without Captain’s permission the Captain happen to be all alone. I asked the Captain if I could introduce him to the boys and you should have seen the boys’ faces when they found out they were shaking hands with the CAPTAIN! It was so precious. They bowed LOW while they shook his hand and kept saying they never believed they would ever see a real Captain. Capt. Jonhard not only allowed us to the bridge but gave the boys a personal tour complete with a quick lesson on chart and compass reading. I’m not so sure the boys caught any of what he was saying because they were still so stunned and kept staring at him waiting for the moment he would lift off the ground and fly. They saw every inch of the ship we could provide to them and they have the same feeling we do - - “She’s beautiful”…these boys got the full $1.00 tour as we got permission to take them down into the engine room and also see the shaft. Unfortunately, I was along taking pictures and the heat down there got to me in just over 5 minutes and I had to get out but they saw and heard a lot from Robert in that time. Just as we were coming out of the engine room Ebenezer Yeboah appeared at the top of the stairs and we introduced the boys to him. Ebenezer is a Ghanaian who serves as a 3rd Engineer and has been on the ship a long time. Ebenezer donated his time to talk to the boys about engineering as a career and the rewards and the sacrifices. He also restated to them the need to finish high school with good grades before going on. The boys are more excited than ever to get back into school.

We went back into our cabin and watched Fantastic Four. They sat on the edge of their chairs in wonder how someone could be on fire and live and they pulled on their faces when Mr. Fantastic stretched his face to shave. I think they started to understand these things were not real and then the scene with the trick motorcycle riding came up and that was not real also - - when we told them people can actually do that they started laughing and hitting each other in the shoulder. Of course no movie is complete without candy so we gave them each gummy lifesavers and wondered why they wouldn’t eat them…we found out later. On the way off the ship Jeffery told us to look down at the water line against the ship and said the ship was boiling. It was just the water discharge that gives off a lot of bubbles! It was a beautiful day of seeing everything through the eyes of innocence. Why didn’t they eat their candy? When we drove them back home that night we knew. The first thing they did was give the candy to the other 42 orphans in the home and it would not have been right for them to have kept it for themselves but they needed to share with the family. Boy, do I feel stupid at times and this was one of those times.

We also have a tip for those who wondered how you can get just 1 more gallon in a gas tank that is already full. Here’s how you do it - - fill up the tank, remove the nozzle, BLOW INTO THE TANK, replace the nozzle and repeat process until you squeeze in at least another gallon. That’s a trick we learned here this week from the gas station attendant.

I’ve been on vacation all week. Even if it meant the first day of my vacation was spent at work it is just knowing you are officially on vacation that makes it all feel so different. My department is very busy packing and preparing for closure of the Anastasis. There are crew members on the Africa Mercy working long hours 7 days a week to be ready to sail her this way as of May 4. Please pray for them as they are writing they are very tired and need physical, emotional and spiritual help from God to finish the jobs at hand.

PICTURES FROM THIS WEEK: http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=92780&cdate=20070426

ADDITIONAL PICTURES FROM LAST WEEK YOU HAVEN’T SEEN:
http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=92780&cdate=20070408

OTHER PRAYER POINTS
* Healing for Susan’s back
* Transition of the Anastasis to the Africa Mercy during rainy season
* Emotional, physical and spiritual refreshment for all crew members

* Sponsors to allow the children of Christian Orphanage to continue high school.
* That God accomplishes in this season what God wants accomplished in the orphanage and not what we think is best

1John 3:16-18

Love and Grace,
Susan & Robert Blanchard

HAPPY EASTER 2007

Every day is a surprise here, almost like a new beginning. Just when you think what you know what you are doing for the day, BAM! it's all changed. Pretty much like most of your lives I believe. BAM--a freezer container arrives and all hands on deck BAM--pipes break and off rushes Robert instead of going out with me as expected BAM--you don't expect to lose your heart to a bunch of kids at an orphanage and then it happens.

I wish you could have been there this week when I introduced marshmellows and roasting marshmellows to the kids! Most Africans do not fully appreciate sugar as us Americans do. They are more a spicy culture. As expected some really didn't like them and just let the marshmellow sit in their mouths not knowing what to do. Then others really like it. Then I realized I may have just changed the face of Liberia with an innocent marshmellow! Some of the older girls last time asked me if I had any "girlie things" like smelly lotions I could bring them. So today I brought out all the lotions I had. They think it's the lotion that makes our skin so different. The kids are always rubbing white folks arms because they say we are so soft. The babies scream when they see us because we are scarey to them and they also love to rub your hair because the texture is so different than their own.

Pam received an inquiry into adopting Granny (age 3), now Pam is going to the UK so I am going to help where I can to help work through the adoption process from this side for a woman who lives in upstate New York. We'll keep you apprised of the progress.

On the way to the orphanage we had to make a side trip to Cheesemanburg, a village she works at during the day. We know it was a God thing when we arrived and many people were upset because their brother/son/uncle had just run away that morning. They said he is mentally unstable. We gathered the family together and asked them if he was involved in the witchcraft rituals and practices known to be prevelent in the area. They told us no but we discerned differently. Pam and the water team are only a hand-full of Christians that have brought the truth into the village and it appears that the confusion/anger is bringing this young man to make a decision. It was spoken to them they cannot serve two masters just like they can not look up with the left eye and down with the right at the same time - - they need to make a decision and follow it with their whole hearts. Christianity is not a foreign concept in Africa, just a very compromised one. When times get tough they run back to the traditional witchdoctor for the cure, potion or spell to fix the problem.

Easter day on the ship started with a sunrise service on the bow. By the time our scheduled 8am service on the aft deck came around the sunami had struck and all the decorations were washed away so we held church inside. It was followed by a beautifully done brunch including table clothes, candles and china....almost felt human again. The food was tremendous and well prepared and we were wondering where these cooks came from. We are having a "See you later" party for Pam and Scott Borgert as they leave tomorrow to join Glen on the AFM to ready the ship for sail at the end of April.

Here is a brief clip of the Africa Mercy actually sailing out of the ship yard on her way to sea trials. She passed the test and is now in Blythe UK loading and preparing for her trip to Africa. She is expected to arrive the third week in May.

http://www.southtynesidetoday.co.uk/video.aspx?VideoPath=SGJJ/africa%20mission256k_stream.wmv&VideoID=1390&ArticleID=2189306

For more pictures click here: http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=92780&cdate=20070408

PRAYER POINTS

• Best possible home for Granny, God's will in all things first



• Crew members aboard the AFM - - the work load is tremendous and they are taking shifts and working 24/7.



• New direction in 2007 for the Blanchards

Thank you once again for your love, support and friendship over these past three years. We love and miss you.

Robert & Susan Blachard

Liberia - West Africa

FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A SATURDAY

There is nothing better than heading out to spend the day at an orphanage with friends. Robert and I and about 6 other friends have left our heart at the Christian Orphanage and Agricultural Center. We leave out every Saturday around 10am with little more than ideas, anticipation and excitement to spend that day with children and young boys and girls.

On the way out last Saturday we pulled the LandRover over at the river to purchase fish for the home. We were bombarded by young men trying to sell us their catch for the day - - boy did the car stink of fish. We finally made our selection of 2 Large fish that were about 24” long and maybe 10 lbs each. When we arrived at the home the kids started squealing about the fish and took it directly to the kitchen. We were told they will eat on those for 2 days. Robert and I are now called Grandma and Grandpa Chocolate Fish…..I had told them my dad was Grandpa Chocolate to my boys and I am Grandma Chocolate to my granddaughter, Tori because we love chocolate and make sure they get it as often as they need it (or don’t need it). The older boys have been calling me Grandma Chocolate for sometime now but when I brought the fish they just attached it to the end. That’s how we got the name. I LIKE IT - - I bet no one else has that distinction.

I took a lot of yarn and 4 sets of knitting needles out one afternoon and taught knitting. One girl was a lefty which makes it very difficult to teach as they don’t only switch hands but turn it inside out. My pea-brain could not get my head around the difference. When I looked back she was crocheting with a knitting needle! She was having fun. In our discussions I found out she is in the third grade and struggles to read. They have labeled her stupid. The difference is that she is about my height and must be around 12-14 years old. Girls are not invested in as heavily as boys are. But you know how good God is? We had with us a Reading expert that has taken on as a personal project teaching literacy to about 6 of the older children that are far behind in reading. My friend, Pam, loves doing bible studies and has found her niche there. Robert and I have been drawn to the plight of getting schooling for the older boys and girls. We will be visiting the school that is nearby to check out the cost, payment schedules and seeing how we can monitor their progress in school. We have also very interested in their agricultural program. They grow cassava (tubar potato-like vegetable), watermelon, hot peppers, cabbage, garlic eggs (looks like an egg, tastes like garlic), and carrots. They are going to start a snail farm shortly. Snail is a great source of protein here. The snails get quite large. They have a lot of chickens as they are building up their stock so they can start an egg production farm. They really try to help themselves and have a clear vision of how they need to get there. The finances are ALWAYS the problem here. Money doesn’t solve every problem, but it’s easier to invest money where the people themselves are trying to make a difference and think into the future.

We did take off one Saturday to go on a really amazing trip. Thirty-eight crew members, two LandRovers, a tent and lots of food headed out for the rail yard next to the ship. There we drove the Landrovers onto a flatbed railcar, strapped them down and then hung on for the 2.5 hour trip into the north country. We will NEVER get to ride a train in manner in the States. People sitting on coolers, camping chairs and on top of the LandRovers on the flatbed, no railings at 45mph! At first I was a little uncomfortable because I was sitting on the edge, sharing the cooler with Robert, hanging onto the cooler handle to keep from falling off. Hey - - I just got it! Why wasn’t Robert on the outside???? Just kidding, he offered but I was too afraid to move while the train was moving so I just hung on for dear life. Our destination was Bong Mines, an old iron ore quarry that was now filled with water. It was a beautiful restful 4 hours, cliff diving, swimming, skin burning, eating then another 2.5 hours back on the train. I really enjoyed sitting in a camping chair on the way back waving for 2.5 straight hours to the little naked kids that came running out of the bush to see the train. Someone said he was reminded of Queen Elizabeth waving to her subjects with such class and style. Yeah, THAT’S ME ALRIGHT!

The Engineering Department goes out weekly to the Monrovian Water Treatment plant to assist them where they can. Water has not been fully restored but they are on the right path. The Treatment plant is in very bad shape. Robert went out to weld on one of the water tanks and said the metal was so thin it was hard to weld. The tower had a lot of patches from where they had to plug up bullet and mortar holes. Our Engineers have gotten personally involved in this project because this is the source of the ship’s water and it is critical to have a good source.

I pray that this Easter season will be a joyous one for each of you as you remember our Lord and his glorious sacrifice for you and me. This is the time of the year I most remember how much God loves me - - I hope you know how much He loves you too.

FOR MORE PICTURES CLICK HERE: http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=92780&cdate=20070328

AND HERE:

http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=92780&cdate=20070402

Blessings, Grace and Mercy,
Robert & Susan Blanchard
Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa