Easter Fun Onboard the Africa Mercy

This is what teachers do on their “work day”? Love it!

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Passover Celebration

This evening we had a Passover meal for a number of crew members who signed up to participate. It was in the café. Allison Green organized it, and Susan Parker told the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah. It was very meaningful. Again, I am blessed to be here at the time.

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Testing Week and Party Time!

This week was set aside for the whole school to take standardized tests. Here you see two of my girls at a table in classroom studying during a break in testing. Then the high school volunteered to make treats for the school parties, and you see a few of them in our crew galley preparing their goodies. I have such wonderful students! I love them!

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Open House on the Dock

We have two tents on the dock. One provides outpatient services, while the other houses admission and physical therapy. So this past week the workers in the tents had an open house with all sorts of hands-on activities. This included getting casts put on and taken off! The kids had so much fun, and so did we adults!

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Spirit Day at the Academy

Today we celebrated Spirit Day. This means everyone got dressed up and had lots of fun at the school. Our theme today was our “dream job”. So here are some of the results:

            
           

First, our high school social studies teacher let the cat out of the bag—she really wants to be a ninja star! And our principal—a fireman!! Not to be outdone, our kindergarten teacher decided she wanted to be a mom, while her 3 boys opted for race car driver, hunter, and engineer. Then our French teacher came in and presented her dream job—zumba instructor! Her sixth graders wanted to be a photographer, a life guard, and a reptile specialist. Then the 11^th and 12^th graders announced they wanted to be an archaeologist, an analyst, a classical missionary (including socks and sandals), a radiologist, and, oops, there’s that fireman again!

What a creative and diverse bunch!

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Reflections on Sailing...

Our class read Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “1996” and wrote poems in response. I thought you might enjoy reading this one, especially if you have sailed on the M/V Anastasis or M/V Africa Mercy…

 

2113

by Hannah Palmer

 

How can I convey to you how I feel?

When the world seems at peace

Out on the blue.

The never-ending ocean all around,

Breathing in the salty mist,

With the wind sweeping through your hair

 

How can I explain the serenity?

The subtle rocking sway

Out on the blue

Enough to drift you off into deep sleep

In complete solitude

Nothing but your thoughts and their wings

 

How can I show you the world that I see?

The vast expanse spread out

Out on the blue

Wildlife dancing to the beat of the waves

Joined by the song of the wind-

The music of the universe

 

How can I give you eyes to see the awe?

God’s glory broadcasted

Out on the blue

The crystal blue days follow starry nights

The sky painted with beauty

One hundred years prior to you.

 

 

 

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Down in Ward B

We have around 20 women currently down in Ward B. They have been there over Christmas, hoping for successful results from their reconstructive surgery for VVF conditions...

My students had a great time making Christmas bags for them. They colored the outside of brown lunch bags and stuffed them with toys, coloring books, crayons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other things. The ladies were delighted to receive the gifts, and quite surprised. Gift exchange is not common in West Africa, and certainly not in a Muslim country at Christmas… However, Christmas fun onboard draws everyone in, and I heard Christmas carols coming up the stairs from the wards!

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