Hospital Open House

The new outreach is on the way with lots of exciting things happening. Screenings have started, dental clinics are open, things are really starting to unfold nicely. 4 operating theatres will be in used this feild service since it is only a 6 month outreach. Targets have been set and On the 19th the hospital staff opened the hospital on deck three as an open house. Crew form all over the ship came down to see the different wards and theatres. Children dressed up as docters and Nurses and saw loads of different interesting machines. There was refreshments and cookies served which kept everyone in an even more jolly mood. Here are some pics from the annual event.

Coming to theaters near YOU!

The TRUTH PROJECT is a DVD-based study that looks at life from a biblical perspective. This project is run throughout the United States and has been previously run on board the ship.

It will be offered every Tuesday night at 19:00 starting on the 2nd of March.
It is split up into two parts: the hour long DVD session (from 19:00 to 20:00) and the discussion study group afterward (at 20:00). The DVD sessions are open to all crew while the small groups are limited to forty participants.

A brief breakdown of the sessions is shown below:

• Lesson 1 - Veritology: What is Truth?
• Lesson 2 - Philosophy and Ethics: Says Who?
• Lesson 3 - Anthropology: Who is Man?
• Lesson 4 - Theology: Who is God?
• Lesson 5 - Science: What is True?
• Lesson 6 - History: Whose Story?
• Lesson 7 - Sociology: The Divine Imprint
• Lesson 8 - Unio Mystica: Am I Alone?
• Lesson 9 - The State: Whose Law?
• Lesson 10 - The American Experiment: Stepping Stones
• Lesson 11 - Labor: Created to Create
• Lesson 12 - Community and Involvement: God Cares, do I?

Air France

Almost everyone with Mercy Ships fly from their home to the ship. If you want to have a comfortable, enjoyable flight, with good service, Air France is a good airline to choose. In January, I was flying from Canada to Togo. The flight was very comfortable with good meals and drinks and the service was great. When we arrived in Togo, all of our luggage was there and undamaged. Over all it was an excellent flight.


Air France flights arrive in Lome Togo on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The times for arrivals is 19:05 (7:05pm) GMT.

Air France flights leave Lome Togo on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
The Time for departures are 22:45 (10:45) GMT.

Swimming Pools in Togo

After a long sail and safe arrival in Togo, the Africa Mercy crew are seeking a bit of respite on the weekends. What could be more enjoyable then spending a day at one of the local Hotel Swimming Pools. Just imagine how much fun you or your kids could have. If you are looking for a day that you will not forget visit some of these local swimming pools. Here are your choices.

Hotel Sarakawa is 3km from the city center and 5 minutes from the port. It's Massive 50m Pool is a popular place for tourists and Travellers. 5000CFA entry fee.

Hotel Palm Beach is another. It's relatively small pool is good for just chillin out in. Don't forget the huge bowl of delicous spagetti carbenara I had there, yum. The rooftop setting is a bit dirty but you'll soon get over it. 2000CFA entry fee.

Hotel Novela Star has again a relatively small pool. It's lush green grass reminds you of home. If you like Allagators as well, they have a pet one poolside. 2000CFA entry fee.

Hotel Ibis Center is 15 minutes from the airport on the coast. It has a sports center and other exciting things. A bit run down but, remember we are in Africa. Price unknown.

Comic #8

AVATAR: the 'highest grossing film of our time.'

James Cameron has done it again with his all new fantasy blockbuster film, Avatar. Avatar has landed the ‘world’s highest grossing film ever’ surpassing Cameron’s epic romance Titanic.

Avatar, set in the year 2154, is about a paraplegic ex-Marine, Jake Sully, who’s offered the opportunity to continue his late brother’s legacy on a secret mission to infiltrate the Na’vi—the natives of the world Pandora, where precious minerals are found and will sell at ridiculous amounts. In order to survive the toxic air and dangerous inhabitants of Pandora, Jake must transform into one of the Na’vi and work undercover amongst them. Jake learns the ways of the Na’vi—how to hunt, fight, speak their language, and live as one of them. He is soon accepted as part of the Omaticaya tribe and by this time has grown especially close to Neytiri—the Omaticaya who found him and helped him train. However things start to go wrong with the mission to somehow move the Na’vi away from where the minerals are, as Jake realizes that the area where the minerals are is just too important to the Omaticaya and they will not budge. Jake faces a split between sides as he is pulled to the place he loves and feels at home—with the Omaticaya—and the mission he is doing. In the end, he chooses to help protect and fight for the Omaticaya as a war is started between the Americans and all the tribes of the Na’vi.

The over 9 foot tall Na’vi were interesting characters to watch. I enjoyed the way they moved, and especially the way they connected with things like their “horses” by using their tails. It was such a different and original idea that it really was unique to watch. I also really enjoyed the amazing colour used in the film’s scenery, characters, creatures, and everything else in the amazing world of Pandora. Pandora gave the feel of this perfect place where everyone would want to live and be. The close-knit community within it was similar to the community on the ship, however the only thing which was very different was:

1. they were blue people
2. they followed a very cosmic humanist type of religion which was strangely entrancing

The war near the end of the film is epic and really quite amazing. The different tribes of the Na’vi all come together to fight against the humans, and though many of the Na’vi die, in the end the natives win against the powers of the sadistic Colonel Miles Quaritch. However, will the peace last? Find out when the Avatar sequel is released.

Seeing Avatar at the cinema in 3-D, I have to say it was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve been through when watching a film. When I first heard about Avatar, I assumed it was just another guy fantasy film, and I wasn’t really bothered about going to see it. However, I went along with my family to watch it, and I’m so glad I did. Trust me girls—this is a great movie to watch for you too (and it even has romance!) I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if you get the chance, definitely watch it. It comes out on DVD in July 2010.

Rated PG-13 for intense battle scenes, language, sensuality, and warfare, Avatar’s running time is 162 minutes long which translates to 2 hours and 42 minutes. And although this seems like a very long film, there is never a dull or boring moment in this film. The film has a perfect mix of action, sci-fi, comedy, romance, and is definitely branded as a must see.

Our New Managing Director

At the end of January when the Africa Mercy left Tenerife, Spain we left behind our managing director Ken Barry and his wife Ann, who are going back to the IOC (International Operations Centre) to help with the generator project and will meet us in South Africa in about six months. Then we were left without a permanent managing director.

In the last week of December to the beginning of January Donovan Palmer with his wife Mae and their children Lara (ninth grade), Hannah (eighth grade), and Jordan (fifth grade) came for a visit.

After finishing high school Donovan Palmer got degrees in Business Management and Computer Science. In 1991 Donovan moved to Amsterdam where he and Mae were married. In April of 1999 Donovan became the managing director of the Africa Mercy for five years when the ship was in Newcastle. In 2005 Donovan moved to be the national director YWAM England and YWAM International.

In late December of 2009 Donovan and his family came to the Africa Mercy while it was docked in Tenerife, Spain to work on getting his family settled on the ship while he and Ken Barry worked on the handover. Then at the beginning of January his family left to go home to England to start packing up their house while Donovan would continue the handover for a few days longer.

Now Donovan and his family will be joining us in Togo late on the 16th of February to relieve Mark Thomson who is our acting managing director, and they will begin their new life on the ship. We are all excited to have you coming Donovan and Family!

Christmas, Sailing, and Snow

Over the Christmas holidays things had been laying low as the school was closed and several people were away. Since I remained on the ship over the holidays, I saw people come and go, as some crew members departed while new crew arrived. Now that the Africa Mercy is on its way to Togo and Mercy-Shippers around the world are preparing for the field service, I thought it would be nice to hear how some people's holiday was. I've asked about ten random people to answer some questions about their Christmas break.

Some people were able to go home during the holidays. Melissa Strimbolis, the ship's Ward Clinical Educator, for example, enjoyed spending the first Christmas with her family in Pennsylvania since 2006.
Esther Both, a ward nurse from the Netherlands, took great pleasure in her nephews and niece jumping on her bed the morning after she arrived at home. "...the best alarm clock I ever had!" Both explained. When asked what she did not particularly enjoy, Esther said it was having to say goodbye to her friends and family after a wonderful three weeks with them. "I caused some local rain at the airport," Esther joked.
Academy Student Alanah Palmer enjoyed spending Christmas at home in Canada with her friends, cousins, grandma & papa, aunts & uncles, etc. Coming from the snowy Ontario, Alanah adjusted well to the heat of Togo when she and her family arrived in Togo ahead of the Africa Mercy three weeks ago.

Some crewmembers, like our Dining Room Manager Mary Lou Malsby, did quite some traveling over the Christmas break. Malsby visited Florida, Kentucky, and Georgia, where she visited friends and family. In particular, Mary Lou enjoyed seeing her grandchildren.
Tim Benson, from Australia, visited Turkey, Bulgaria, and England. When asked for a highlight of his break, Benson replyed: "On Christmas day my brother and I met up with an Australian family in Bulgaria and we went and played a game of cricket in the park behind the world's second largest statue of Mary holding baby Jesus."
The Yangas family traveled to England to visit parents and grandparents. They spent most of their holidays with Rachel Yangas's brother and his family in Zambia. When asking chaplain Rachel about her time, she said she thoroughly enjoyed visiting her brother's family in their current home. Her sons also learnt some useful life skills, as five-year-old Daniel caught his first fish.
Susan Parker and her family of four spent a week in Switzerland making more than enough snowmen and learning how to ski.

Sarah Adams, the Speaker Co-ordinator from the Mercy Ships UK office, enjoyed taking some time off to spend with her friends.
IOC Graphic Design Co-ordinator Jennifer Willis spent her Christmas at home in Texas with her family. Though she had pneumonia a week before Christmas, a special experience with her son compensated for the illness. When Jennifer told her son that "things were a little 'tight' this year and...I would not be able to get him as many gifts", the twelve-year-old eighth grader selflessly replied, "Mom it's ok, I know Christmas isn't about the gifts, it's about celebrating Jesus' birth, and being with family."

Leah Fiechter, dental sterilizer and former receptionist, remained on the ship in Tenerife for the holidays. She thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas Day brunch, as did many others who were aboard, like former Chief Engineer Pete Johnson. A number of crew, including Lindsay Howitt, enjoyed exploring Tenerife, hiking the Teide and strolling along the beaches. Shelly Davies' children Luke and Megan made several visits to the big local park. Naomi Myers from South Africa enjoyed celebrating Spain's Three Kings' Day, "seeing the 3 Kings on their camels, Roman soldiers on horseback and some soldiers walking with their flamed torches" was really a highlight for her and her family.

As the holidays have come to an end, we remember the fun relaxing times we had with friends and family in various nations around the world. And as the Togo outreach has come to a start, we look forward to six months full of new exciting experiences that God has in store for us.
Out of the fourteen people interviewed, ten saw snow over the holidays (from blizzards to flakes)