And the Anchor Holds....: 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 decoratio

ns 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

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