Working while we wait

The Windmills admire a beautiful Granadilla sunset.

I'll admit that the past few months have been difficult to put into words. But hopefully in this update I can bring you up to speed on the highlights.

Besides being on a completely new ship, and everything that brings with it (more on that at the end of this post), one of the other major differences between 2020 and today is getting to enjoy much more freedom on our little island home! Far from being in lockdown, during our free time, the ship's crew can now come and go from the port, swim, hike, eat in restaurants, visit businesses, and explore the beautiful place that God provided for us more than two years ago, at a time when we had literally no where else to turn.

The natural beauty of Los Christianos, one of the beautiful
coastal towns on Tenerife.

In June, the Global Mercy sailed from Tenerife down to Dakar to moor alongside her little big sister, the Africa Mercy, for one month. While there, we were able to welcome a number of Medical Capacity Building trainees into the hospital. This was a very significant milestone in the life of the Global Mercy--her first time in West Africa, supporting the local healthcare system by providing training to its professionals. Many of the crew had never been to Africa, and we could not have been more excited.

While the two ships were together, Mercy Ships hosted several African Presidents and Ministers of Health for a visit of the Global Mercy. It was an incredible honor to welcome these guests on board. 

Following that visit, Mercy Ships had organized a very meaningful ceremony to symbolize the Global Mercy joining the Africa Mercy in service, and the crew of both ships were able to participate in the celebration. With a prayer and a vase of flowers smashed against the bow, the Global Mercy was christened. 

After the christening, the senior leadership of each ship took turns carrying two torches, which themselves were beautifully and very thoughtfully crafted from pieces of previous ships in the Mercy Ships fleet. The first torch was lit and carried down the gangway of the Africa Mercy, across the dock, to light the second torch beside the gangway of the Global Mercy. In the background, the Academy students and members of the ship choir (called the Key of Sea!) led the crew in singing "This Little Light of Mine". You can watch a wonderful video of the torch lighting here!

Lead maxillo-facial surgeon Dr. Gary and AFM Managing
Director Bernard participated in a torch-lighting ceremony
to symbolize the GLM joining the AFM in service.

Looking back at the Africa Mercy as we sailed away from Dakar.

On the first of July, we waved goodbye to the Africa Mercy and set sail. A few days after arriving back in Tenerife, the third and final phase of Global Mercy equipping began. There are some major projects that need to be completed before the ship will be ready to receive patients for surgical care.

To give you a snapshot of what equipping looks like, I have a story to share. One week I noticed that the temperature of the water coming out of my faucet ranged from hot to steaming hot. I mentioned this to another crew member, who confirmed that this was definitely not normal, so I submitted a maintenance ticket. The next time I came down to deck 6, every plumbing cabinet in my hallway was open. Apparently I had unearthed an issue that spanned my entire neighborhood!

This is all just part of the territory when you're working on a newly-delivered ship! I am encouraged by the thought that every single problem that we solve now is a problem that we don't have to solve while also caring for patients in the hospital.

Most of the equipping work is concentrated in the hospital on decks 3 and 4. Up on deck 8, where I work, it could look like not much is changing. But there is an equally important mission that is harder to see. The ship community is establishing the culture on board. As we are figuring out "how we do things around here", we pray that God will give us wisdom to use this time well, and to establish momentum in the direction we want to walk. It's slow work, but deepening this community's roots can and will have generations of impact.

"If the root is holy, so are the branches."
Romans 11:16

So while the crew are understandably eager to be back in West Africa, doing what the ship was designed to do, there is plenty of work to do between now and then.

To those that have prayed for good health for the crew, thank you--God has heard! We have had a number of COVID cases on board, which would be very hard to avoid in a ship environment, but none of the cases have been severe, for which we are very grateful.

To those that have prayed for safety, thank you--God has heard! In both our work and our play, the crew have stayed safe.

To those that have prayed for this new community on the Global Mercy, thank you--God has heard!

To those that have prayed for wisdom for how to do this work well, thank you--those prayers are always needed!