Global Day of Prayer...

It was the Global Day of Prayer - 12th June 2011 - yesterday. And because of this we held a special International service onboard last night. The Global Day of Prayer originated in Cape Town, South Africa, and therefore the South African crew had the honour of opening the service. We went up front with our flags and vuvuzelas and showed our nation's spirit by singing a couple of worship songs in isiXhosa, Zulu and English, and praying in Afrikaans! South Africa is indeed a diverse country with eleven official languages! The photo here is of the SA crew up front - I'm in the back row in the green SA Cricket shirt.

Each continent then had the opportunity to go and do a song item and prayer in their native language. It was so special to see and hear crew from each of the different continents praising God and praying in their own tongues. And yet again, it underlined to me how awesome it is to serve God in such a multicultural, international environment!

Some of the SA crew in Town Square.

Yeah for patriotic SA crew members serving with Mercy Ships!

Freetown scenes...

It was a ship's holiday on Friday - which means we're having a lovely long weekend. And so we went for a walk through the market and into downtown Freetown yesterday. It was lovely to get out and about and see some more of Freetown's culture, buildings and scenery. Here are some photos from our walk - starting with the one at left of me with a group of happy, friendly children!

This is the Clock Tower - pretty-much in the centre of the market.

An impressive cannon near Government Wharf.

A beautiful church also near Government Wharf.

I couldn't believe it when we came across a really well-preserved English Post Box!

Lovely old architecture.

And on one of the walls outside Freetown's port a new mural is slowly appearing - the Africa Mercy!

Sierra Leone Driver's Licence...

Here in Sierra Leone ship drivers have two options if they want to be able to drive a Mercy Ships vehicle (or any vehicle) legally.

• Option 1: They can either apply for an International Driver's Licence and carry that with their own driver's licence from their home nation.

• Option 2: Apply for a local Sierra Leonean driver's licence!

Since I already have an International Driver's Licence that I got through the AA (Automobile Association) of South Africa when we were in Durban, I can drive legally without having to get the local one. But come on, how often do you have the opportunity to own a driver's licence issued by another country? So a group of us went to the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority and had our new licences issued earlier today.

It's pretty handy because with this licence (valid for five years) I am able to drive in any of the 15 ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries! Just another interesting day serving on the Mercy Ship!

Here I am with my new Sierra Leone Licence.

Sugar Loaf Mountain...

Yesterday a group of us hiked up one of the highest mountains in the vicinity of Freetown, Sugar Loaf Mountain. It was a rather challenging hike, especially since the rain that fell overnight made the rocks quite slippery. Many of us ended up sliding on our backsides for a while! But despite that, it was really BEAUTIFUL! And it was such a blessing to get off the ship and do some solid exercise and make some new friends too!

Looking down towards Freetown and Aberdeen - as we drive to the mountain.

Big houses in the centre of the peninsula.

Heading up the slopes of the mountain.

Spot the stick insect!

Scenic view in the direction of Freetown.

Looking out towards Bureh and Kent Beach...

... And Banana Island in the distance.

Relaxing on the rocks.

Heading back down the mountain.

Lush tropical vegetation.

Car wreck...

We were driving along the busy Freetown streets last weekend and came across what looked like a fatal accident. I mean, a car is speeding along a bridge, is clipped by another vehicle, goes into a spin and careers through the safety barriers, over the edge of the bridge. (That's what we were told had happened.)

Look at the car. Look at the devastation wrought to the building. It must be fatal. And yet praise God we were told that the driver and his two passengers escaped with only minor injuries, and there was no one in the building. Now for me, that is definitely a miracle!

At first glance, I struggled to see the car amongst the wreckage!

Ah, there it is!

Nursery Rhyme dress-up...

Whenever we play games on the ship, we often decide to have a dress-up theme - just for the fun of it. This last Friday a group of us played some card games and the theme was Nursery Rhyme characters! I was dressed up as Humpty Dumpty - and I even shaved my head for the occasion. Note the cracks and egg yolk! There was also the Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Little Jack Horner, the Farmer's Wife, Little Boy Blue, and the Three Blind Mice in attendance! It was another fun evening that highlighted the awesome community spirit of the Africa Mercy.

Itsy-Bitsy Spider...

The Queen of Hearts...

The Three Blind Mice...

Little Bo-Peep and her sheep.

Ship Birthdays...

Whenever a Mercy Ships crew member has a birthday on the ship, there are always some traditions that are adhered to:

1. At lunch or dinner, the ship's bell in the Dining Room is rung in honour of the crew member whose birthday it is, and the whole crew sing "Happy Birthday" to the birthday boy or girl.
2. Their cabin door is usually decorated with balloons and streamers.

This past Wednesday a couple of my good friends shared a birthday, and so we had a joint-surprise party for them. We shared cake, stories and played some fun games. It's another one of those things that really highlights to me that my friends here are family too.