Mercy Ships in THREE West African nations!

I've blogged before about finding the Africa Mercy in Togo on Google Earth. And so, inspired by a friend's post on Facebook (who posted a Google Maps image of the ship in Conakry, Guinea), I did some research and found the Africa Mercy docked in THREE different West African nations! Here she is in Lome, Togo (pictured); Conakry, Guinea; and the present Field Service location of Pointe-Noire, Congo! :-)

A closer view of the AFM in Togo. 2012.

Conakry, Guinea. 2012 - 2013.

A closer view of the AFM in Guinea.

Pointe-Noire, Congo. 2013 - 2014.

A closer view of the AFM in the Congo.

January Newsletter...

Well, another month has come and gone. So what have we been up to this first month of 2014.

Murray was on the Africa Mercy docked in Pointe-Noire, Congo, for another short stint with Mercy Ships. We figured that since he didn't have any short-term plans in Cape Town it would make sense to go back to the ship for a bit - while we wait on our paperwork to come through. He had a wonderful time serving in the Reception department onboard, as well as exploring some of the culture of the Congo and reconnecting with old friends. It was a lovely time.

Candace continues her job as a float pool nurse at Daviess Community Hospital in Daviess County, Indiana. She is enjoying the challenge of nursing in a hospital setting, and has worked in the Med-Surg, Rehab, and Behavioural units. She has enjoyed being back in the USA for Thanksgiving and Christmas time, but we have both missed each other over these special times of the year. Candace will be coming to South Africa towards the end of February so that we can be together for our two-year anniversary. We're very excited to see each other again! :-)

Regarding our visa application process, we have heard that our paperwork has now reached the National Visa Center for visa processing. :-) They will determine which US Consulate Murray will have his interview at (most likely Johannesburg, since the Cape Town consulate doesn't deal with immigration visas). Once he has his interview he will be able to join Candace in the USA. It will probably still be a few months waiting though, as there is a lot more paperwork and application fees to be done, so please keep us in prayers as we continue to wait on the Lord.

Thank you for your continued prayers and may God bless you wherever you may be!

Much love from Cape Town and Indiana, Murray and Candace

30th Birthday...

I celebrated my 30th birthday last Wednesday, 5th February. (Cake here in Cape Town pictured.) Now having turned 30, I can look back on my 20s and see all that God did from 2004 till today. I was able to finish two university degrees in the first few years of the decade. But the thing that stands out strongly during this time is my association with Mercy Ships. God led me into Mercy Ships at the age of 23 and has been faithful as I have served with Mercy Ships for at least a part of every year from 2007 until 2014.

And while with Mercy Ships, He brought two lives together when I met my bride-to-be Candace in Sierra Leone in 2011. I am very thankful and extremely blessed. The 5th February 2014 not only marks my 30th birthday, but it also marks three months since I last saw Candace. But more importantly it is three weeks till I see Candace again! She's coming to visit me in Cape Town while we wait on our visa paperwork so that we can be permanently reunited in Indiana. The best birthday present ever is the thought of seeing my beautiful bride soon! :-)

The cake Candace made for me in Indiana. :-)

With my nephews as we celebrate my birthday together. Note the Mercy Ships patches on their t-shirts. :-)

Farewell Congo...

After a month that absolutely flew by, it was my time to leave the Africa Mercy docked in Pointe-Noire, Congo, last Monday. (27th January.) I had a wonderful time serving on the vessel again, and this made saying farewell quite difficult. But that being said I am excited for all that lies ahead for Candace and I this year. We know that God has great things in store for us!

And on saying goodbye to the Africa Mercy, I don't think that God is finished with our Mercy Ships story just yet. I'm sure that one day we'll be back. But for now, it's goodbye and thanks for everything Mercy Ship family! I'll definitely miss all of you! The posts will continue from Cape Town! :-) Photos here thanks to Ruben Plomp of the AFM Communications team.

Candace-on-a-Stick had to make an appearance! :-)

Pointe-Noire's Lighthouse...

Pointe-Noire's lighthouse is located a short distance from the Port and overlooks the harbour. It was built in 1927, and is certainly an interesting design. As far as I could tell, the lighthouse is currently inactive. Other lighthouses that Candace and I have visited on our travels include Cape Sierra Leone in Aberdeen, Sierra Leone, Jamestown (Accra) in Ghana, Lome's lighthouse in Togo, Pensacola Lighthouse in Florida, USA, as well as lighthouses in Tenerife, Guinea, and many in South Africa, including the Great Fish Point Lighthouse. We like our lighthouses! :-)

The lighthouse as seen (with 30x zoom) from the Africa Mercy.

A friend drove me to the lighthouse so I could get a closer view. :-)

The top of the lighthouse.

The early evening light certainly made the lighthouse look brighter! :-)

Pointe-Noire's Train Station...

Pointe-Noire has an impressive railway station located a short distance from the Port. It's an old colonial building that looks as if it belongs in the Swiss Alps or in another alpine location. Pointe-Noire also has a good rail infrastructure and working diesel engines can often be seen around the Port area.

Diesel train in the Port.

Well-maintained 1929 steam locomotive on static display in Pointe-Noire.

Pointe-Noire's train station as seen from the platform side.

 Another view of the station.

The front of the building. I'm a big fan of old historic buildings! :-)

The Hope Centre...

The Hope (Hospital Out-Patient Extension) Centre is a land-based operation, run by Mercy Ships, where patients can stay if they need long-term recuperation after surgery. In this way, beds are freed up in the hospital so that more surgeries can be performed on the ship. The dental team also operates from the Hope Centre.

I was able to join Mercy Ministries in visiting the Hope Centre this past week. (21st January.) Mercy Ministries organises visits to orphanages and prisons in the nation in which we are docked. At an orphanage (and at the Hope Centre) we share a Bible story, make a craft, and play games with the children and adults. It was lovely to see the physical transformation in each of these little lives!

 Pouring water for a little boy.

With some new friends. :-)