An Open Door (& not "should-ing" all over yourself)

Family dinners on the front porch was our summertime ritual before before the pandemic

As of November, 2020, I've been home in Minnesota for around 5 months, and it's been wonderful to have an extended break. I've written a few reflections below, but in case your time is short, I want to start with four important updates:

1.

The current plan is for the Africa Mercy to return to Senegal to wrap up our field service there. The return date will be no earlier than April, 2021, global health conditions permitting.

2.

The Africa Mercy is currently in the Canary Islands, undergoing an extended routine maintenance period. Below is a video update from Mercy Ships, featuring my friend Kees (from the Netherlands).

3.

Despite the delayed field service, a door has opened for me to return to my role as the Executive Assistant on the Africa Mercy in early December, to assist the newly appointed Managing Director. I've decided to take the opportunity, so I am preparing for an upcoming departure. However, the global travel situation is still pretty shaky, so I'm holding plans lightly!

4.

Before I go, you're invited to attend a virtual information session where I would love to share with you a bit about the past field service and what lies ahead. You can choose which time would suit you:

• Tuesday, November 17th @ 7:00-8:00pm CST
• Saturday, November 21st @ 10:00-11:00am CST

Click HERE to register for a virtual information session!

~ ~ ~

I first drafted this blog post in early March, and it's been haunting me ever since. At the time, Mercy Ships was already gearing up for a routine transition, from one field service to the next. But I don't think any of us yet anticipated the massive season transition that we actually got!

Back in March, my plan for the next 5 months looked very different, and looking back it's a bit hilarious to compare them with reality! I've returned to this blog post a couple of times since then, and each time, it's hard to not think in terms of how I thought 2020 should have gone.

Dinner out on deck 7 with friends in the port of Granadilla.

In April, I "should" have been visiting my alma mater in Michigan, but instead that visit was cancelled and Hope College's campus sat empty of students.

In June, I couldn't help but remember that I "should" have been headed to Liberia, but instead I was packing up to return to Minnesota for an undetermined amount of time.

But in the words of one of the ship's chaplains came to mind: "Stop 'should-ing' all over yourself!" In other words, dwelling on the "shoulds" is not helpful. They are worth nothing now. The only meaningful currency in this unpredictable season are adaptability and trust in the only One who doesn't change (James 1:17) and who can bend all things for our good if we stay close to Him (Romans 8:28).

Five years from now, we may see 2020 with 20-20 vision. Much of the uncertainty will make a lot more sense, and many of our current questions will have clear answers--but don't worry, I'm sure by then we'll have plenty of new questions to wonder about on this side of eternity. ^_~

Thank you for reading, and don't forget to register for a virtual information session!

Below are a few more highlights from my time home.

It was great to see friends in person at Hope Church's outdoor vespers in July!
They've opened up socially distant indoor services since then, and we've alternated
between attending online and in-person.

Hope Shores Bible Camp went remote this summer, but some former
staffers still got to take on the high school campers for some kickball!

Meeting up with Mercy Ships friends Kayla (left) and Christelle.

A later summer hiking trip on the North Shore with the family.

I love being able to attend a Bible study with friends while I am home!