We held a lovely graduation ceremony for Kim Anna Wednesday evening, June 9.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Graduation dinner for Kim Anna Kronester
Tuesday evening, June 8, the Academy held a graduation dinner for Kim Anna. All the students from 6th grade and up attended, along with the Kronsester family and the teachers.
The Kronester family has served with Mercy Ships for many years, from Central America to West Africa. They originate from Germany. Kim Anna is an excellent student and was a joy to teach. She will do an internship with the nurses on the ship's hospital ward, and then work for a while in Switzerland. After a gap year she plans to continue her studies to become a nurse.
Story of my cabinmate
Jenn Childs - Crew Story
Jenn Childs served as Hospital Care Provider on the Africa Mercy for a total of three months. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York with a degree in Allied Health Science. She worked as a physician's assistant for five and a half years in an outpatient family practice and is currently on a leave of absence from the Guthrie Clinic in Gang Mills, New York.
Jenn was raised in New York in a Christian family. She serves in her church, the Central Assembly of God, as the mission director, which gives her the opportunity to communicate with missionaries and coordinate their visits to her church.
This interest in missions drew Jenn to Mercy Ships. She participated in two Mercy Teams - one in Honduras and one in Benin. Mercy Teams are short-term trips offering various kinds of experiences. Medical Mercy Teams often host an outpatient clinic, treating patients for general ailments and dispensing vitamins and medications.
While in Benin, Jenn had an opportunity to visit the Africa Mercy . She describes the impact of that visit: "As soon as I stepped foot on the ship, I knew I had to come back. There was something so special about it, and I could feel the spirit moving and telling me that I had to come back here."
And Jenn did come back. She worked in the admissions tent onboard the Africa Mercy . Every surgical patient has to be screened for problems that could affect surgery, such as high blood pressure. Jenn also got the opportunity to hear every patient's story as she guided them through the admission process. She described her days as emotional, yet uplifting. She saw deformed and heartbroken patients, but she also saw them transformed by the medical care provided on the hospital ship.
Jenn says, "My experience has been wonderful. I've loved it here. To see the transformation in people's lives is amazing. To see their physical problem healed is touching and wonderful. But to see the transformation that is taking place in their hearts and their spirit s is what is more beautiful to me because these people have a story beyond the obvious defect."
Jenn credits her experience with Mercy Teams as the reason for joining the Africa Mercy crew. She feels the teams were not only a great missions experience but also preparation for life on the Africa Mercy .
Written By Joy Clary
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos By Liz Cantu:
Jenn Childs, Hospital Care Provider, checks a patients vitals in the Africa Mercy admissions tent.
Jenn Childs, Hospital Care Provider, poses with Africa Mercy patient, Lawson.
Jenn Childs examines an Africa Mercy child patient, Souleman Konde, during the admissions process
Jenn Childs served as Hospital Care Provider on the Africa Mercy for a total of three months. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York with a degree in Allied Health Science. She worked as a physician's assistant for five and a half years in an outpatient family practice and is currently on a leave of absence from the Guthrie Clinic in Gang Mills, New York.
Jenn was raised in New York in a Christian family. She serves in her church, the Central Assembly of God, as the mission director, which gives her the opportunity to communicate with missionaries and coordinate their visits to her church.
This interest in missions drew Jenn to Mercy Ships. She participated in two Mercy Teams - one in Honduras and one in Benin. Mercy Teams are short-term trips offering various kinds of experiences. Medical Mercy Teams often host an outpatient clinic, treating patients for general ailments and dispensing vitamins and medications.
While in Benin, Jenn had an opportunity to visit the Africa Mercy . She describes the impact of that visit: "As soon as I stepped foot on the ship, I knew I had to come back. There was something so special about it, and I could feel the spirit moving and telling me that I had to come back here."
And Jenn did come back. She worked in the admissions tent onboard the Africa Mercy . Every surgical patient has to be screened for problems that could affect surgery, such as high blood pressure. Jenn also got the opportunity to hear every patient's story as she guided them through the admission process. She described her days as emotional, yet uplifting. She saw deformed and heartbroken patients, but she also saw them transformed by the medical care provided on the hospital ship.
Jenn says, "My experience has been wonderful. I've loved it here. To see the transformation in people's lives is amazing. To see their physical problem healed is touching and wonderful. But to see the transformation that is taking place in their hearts and their spirit s is what is more beautiful to me because these people have a story beyond the obvious defect."
Jenn credits her experience with Mercy Teams as the reason for joining the Africa Mercy crew. She feels the teams were not only a great missions experience but also preparation for life on the Africa Mercy .
Written By Joy Clary
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos By Liz Cantu:
Jenn Childs, Hospital Care Provider, checks a patients vitals in the Africa Mercy admissions tent.
Jenn Childs, Hospital Care Provider, poses with Africa Mercy patient, Lawson.
Jenn Childs examines an Africa Mercy child patient, Souleman Konde, during the admissions process
Friday, May 21, 2010
So... what's there to do?
So... What do you do on a Saturday night in rainy season in Lome, Togo? Well... if you were on the M/V Africa Mercy, you could dress up in your best and come to an all crew film festival! Our international Lounge was packed with well-dressed folk, and we laughed ourselves silly at all the marvelous films our fellow crewmembers had created! Then we went to the town square to watch the award ceremony!
Yum! Salad bar!
Some days we have a very busy air conditioner, and we all wear jackets. Some days are rainy and cool, and we all wear jackets, even indoors. Some days (like today) are so hot by 9 a.m. outside that we wonder if we accidentally fell in some giant's oven. That's when the summer tops and fans all come into active service on board. Yet the brave African dock workers continue to haul and lift their loads as if it were nothing.
Today I paused to appreciate anew God's sweet provision. I have the most delightful students in the world. They are so much fun to teach! Even in the heat! And then, at lunch time--we had a salad bar! I want you to know that all those people in the kitchen who gave up their careers and income to come feed people like me, put out a full salad bar with even feta cheese (Yum!) and artichoke hearts. Can you believe it? Here I am in Togo, and I am eating my favorite treat, artichoke hearts. Go figure. I feel astonished and blessed, and so grateful to whoever thought to send such a treat to our galley, and whoever thought to put it out for our salad today.
Do you know what? I'm not surprised that the first thing Jesus is going to do with us is have a big party with a huge banquet! Yum!
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