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On 27th Feburary 2011 the Africa Mercy arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The plan is to have a 10 month field service.
One of the greatest advantages working with Mercy Ships is that you get to meet so many people from different countries with different backgrounds, experiences and witnesses. In this way, Mercy Ships are truly representing the 2000 year old model of Jesus Christ where all this experiences and talents are used to Glorify God in West Africa.
This is the story Rebecca Noland(26) known as Becca, born in California and grew up in Arizona. Her calling to Mercy Ships began in a “lady’s room.” while she attended university.
While being in university she heard about Mercy Ships but wasn’t ready to attend because it seemed so far away. A few years later her friend from church told her that she signed up for Mercy Ships, and Rebecca felt like God was calling her through that friend. On a day after church in the lady’s room there were three girls she didn’t know turned out they all have been in Africa and one of them already spent a year on Mercy Ships then she knew that was her final confirmation from God that she needed to go to Mercy Ships.
Her initial commitment was to join short term for 6 months, so she thought. That commitment turned out to be 18 months already.
Becca is planning on going home at the end of this outreach and she is prayerfully considering coming back in the Togo field service 2012.
She loves living on the ship because of the close community but it is very different from her life at home. The biggest difference she says, that she’s more independent at home and has more freedom in her schedule.
Having friends on the ship from different countries she says: "that is a great thing because you get to know their cultures learning new languages and get to try their special foods such as Belgian chocolate and South African milk tart." But there are also hard parts. Not always understanding each other when certain phrases have different meanings in your country and different cultures have different ways of doing things.
One of her greatest miracles while being on the ship she says: “It would be the miracle with God’s timing and protection over little Josephine, I was working as a charge nurse the night that her breathing tube got blocked and God brought me and another nurse who was specialized with those types of patients into the ICU at just the right time. All the things that took place with Josephine while she was here that night and also how we a specialist fly out from Kenya all that showed me how present God was in all of it and He still does miracles everyday.”
During our interview these words of her moved me: “When I was little I always wanted to become a vet, but the more I thought about it I realized I would rather work with people because they have souls. After I became a registered nurse (RN) I told people that it must have been my destiny because it is also my initials Rebecca Noland (RN).”
Interviewed by Michelle Marx
Early Bird Registration
Enormous Madonna stickers.
Several Teams
Cutest Picture Award
Cool Certificate
Journey to the Center of the Earth Elementary Girls
Awesome Certificate
Original Poetic Vignettes – Tom
“Wild Card” – Most Imaginative. (First Prize)
Abstract Sierra Leone art pieces.
A Lizard’s Tale - Cairnecross Clan
Best Musical (First Prize)
Special selection of local Sierra Leone music. (5 CDs)
Bunny Chow Love – Allison, Selvanus, Carmen
Best Comedy (First Prize)
Collection of Local Sierra Leone Films.(5 DVDs)
Mastermind – Alex and Stuart
Best Drama (First Prize)
Loud Sierra Leone Drama Movie Posters (5)
Sal & Amor – Juan, Ville, Lycia, Marco, Federica
Best Visual Effects - Costumes, Special FX, etc. (First Prize)
'Oakley' and 'Nike' sunglasses. (5 pair)
The Man in the Apron – Josh
Celebrity Judge’s Choice (First Prize)
Signed photo of Dr Gary Parker. (5)
Under the Ship—Anna
AMIFF 2011 Best Film (Grand Prize)
Mamba restaurant meal! (5)
Trophy!!!
So You Think you Can Dance Africa Mercy—Murray, Jeff L, Jeff H, Rob, Christoph
Razzie Award (Last Prize)
A giant bag of rice.
Chicken Fight -
Beau and Jay
After a year of absence from this blog, we have decided to revive it. Much has changed in the past year. Many may remember Alanah John, Emma Chris, Kim Anna, Linde, Carys, Lara, and myself. Some of us have stayed others have left the ship to do other things.
Alanah left with her family in December of last year. She is now the wife to a professional body builder.
John has let his hair grow and became the first person to have an orange Afro. He is also working on creating a world famous band using a cat, a tractor, and a ball of string.
Emma became an astronaut and is currently traveling through space, she is millions of miles away from Earth. Sadly, we might live to see the return of the great explorer...
Chris has grown to be 6 foot 9.35612 inches. He is the youngest person to try out for the NBA and make it. I don't know when his first game will be, but I'll keep you posted.
Kim Anna is now studying to be a professional gymnast on ice skates. So far she has become very flexible, and has broken at least one bone in each limb. Somehow she can still skate and do gymnastics at the same time.
Linde has also left. She is now studying to be a major film director, editor, and singer. She will probably excel in this new career choice and make millions if not billions; while ridding the world of bad tasting sprinkles
Carys, Lara, and myself are still on the ship and we are having the time of our lives. We have managed to take over the ship, and now we are all supreme rulers of the Africa Mercy. The adults surprisingly agreed to this, on one condition... we must go to school.
We also have a new person to add to this paper staff. Her name is Michelle. She is a bright 16 year old girl who has a random love for skydiving and paintings about food.
We hope you will enjoy reading this blog again.
