Mercy Ships works with local schools, orphanages, and many other organizations that are positive for the community.  The Semato Deaf School is a place where love and grace live together.  The teachers there express a huge drive for the students' learning and well-being; fueling respect where it is lacking, and giving hope for a future that may seem hopeless.  The students are wonderful.  A Bible lesson, some extensive and surprisingly in-depth crafts, and outside games all centered around one important thing: that those children are loved.  All that our job consists of is showing this love, in Christ's name, in Mercy Ships' name, and in the name of humanity.

So then, is it not your job to do the same?

       You don't have to go to Africa.  You don't have to leave your city.  And with social media, you don't even have to leave your computer.  In your daily life, you can show love.  As a human being, alive, it is your choice to show love.  As a man, a woman, a teenager, an employee, a student, one who votes, one who is oppressed, one who has friends, one who is hated, one who has opinions on everything or nothing, no matter who you are, it is your choice to show love.  I really can't tell you the incredible amount of times that I fail to this simple task that my God has commanded me to do.  So please, do what I countlessly fail to do, and love.

      P.S. - Third picture, a boy named Harena shows off his craft that he made.  He's hardly able to walk due to a medical condition in his foot.  At the top of the paper cross we wrote "Jesosy" for Jesus, and on the hands and feet we wrote "Fiainana," "Lalana," and "Fahamarinana" meaning Life, Way, and Truth.  Don't tell anyone, but that kid's my favorite of them all.