That was my first thought as I read the urgent email from Kristin, my Mercy Ships correspondent.
The Africa Mercy has been in the shipyards of Durban, South Africa for the last 5 months undergoing huge repair work of replacing all of the ships generators with new ones. This process as included cutting away the side of the ship to take out the old generators and replace them with new ones. This is also why the Togo 2010 outreach was only 6 months long versus the usual 9 months for an outreach. Major updating and repair work were needed to get done over a 6 months time span.
A photo of the first group of nurses volunteering during the 2010 Togo outreach (I'm on the top of the land rover). :)
So... as repairs continued, delays occurred (as they often do) with the much needed testing of the new generators. Currently, the Africa Mercy is one week behind schedule, leaving those of us who were going to arrive the 25th, to re-book our tickets to arrive a few days later, on the 27th or 28th. This is ALSO subject to change- so I'll keep you all updated as time moves closer to their departure date! :)
I can't tell you how excited I am to return to the Africa Mercy. This year, since my first experience on the ship and the leap of faith I have felt God calling me to since, has been both a difficult one and one filled with joy and experiences I never would have imagine. I think God is just like that, though. When we are willing to give up something we see as good, he blesses us with some other good thing we never would have seen if we would have continued upon our own "grand" little path (or so we often think). Giving up a steady job in my hometown close to all my family and friends to move to Harriman Lodge in NY for the summer, back home to MN-unemployed for 3 months, then back out to NY for a traveling position has been anything but my own plans and ideas. I am SO thankful, however, for God's promise to always go with us and call us unto more of Himself.
As of now, my plans for Destination Sierra Leone have only been slightly altered. Because of my great experience at Harriman Lodge where I met all kinds of great staff from the US and Europe, I'm planning a week long layover in the U.K. to go visiting my British/Scottish friends on my way to Sierra Leone. The delay of the ship by a few days has only extended my layover in England (a REAL bummer, I KNOW) ;). I'm excited for that time go visit old/new friends and transition over to Sierra Leonean time prior to arrival on the ship! :) Yay! I can't wait!
We'll I'm off to work now (into my 4th week already with my travel assignment!), and work has been busier than ever.
May we all take a moment to enjoy God today and praise Him for His faithfulness!
