Port side

 Bow of the ship

 Starboard side

 Galley and my team of cooks and Malagasy dayworkers.

My and my roomate's room

The top three photos are panoramas I took of the views from the port (left), bow (front), and starboard (right) sides of the ship.  The port side faces a gorgeous beach that some of the crew plays frisbee on every friday evening, and further beyond the beach is the rest of Tamatave; the port city where we are located.  Next is a picture of us cooks finishing up a day in the Galley, where I spend most of my time on the ship.  If you look closely, you can see Carmen running to check the Malagasy stew that needs stirring.  She's my team leader, and she's the greatest.  Lastly, I took a panorama-of-sorts of my bedroom, which I share with my roomate Leon.  He's an awesome guy who lives in South Korea and loves his wife very much, and I'll be sure to put his picture up soon.  The room is smaller than it looks, but a great roomate and comfy bed sheets give me no choice but to sleep well and wake up happy.

These pictures represent a big part of my surroundings on the Africa Mercy.  I've grown to love them, and to love the people who come with them.  I wouldn't trade anything for my time here in Madagascar this year.  The growth and love that I've experienced have been absolutely substantial in the river of my life.

From right to left, pictures of "Mama Claire" before and after her surgery on the ship.  This faces the stairs, and is what the patients see as they go from deck 5 to their sought after surgeries on deck 3.

Today, September 8th, has finally come.  After a week of preparation in port of Madagascar, the first patients of the field service came aboard to have their surgeries done by surgeons from all around the world.  Personally, I have three friends (from Holland, the USA, and another from the UK) who either performed or aided in the General Surgeries done today, working in 2 different operating rooms with 5 patients between them (I believe there are 5 operating rooms onboard).  I have friends who are dentists, friends from Peru, India, and Scotland, who began their work a few days ago.  And I have many, many other friends from many other countries who work as Cooks, Dining Staff, Engineers, Receptionists, Housekeepers, and other jobs necessary to keep this ship of mercy afloat.  God has blessed me so much; giving me this opportunity to serve with people from so many diverse stories of the world.  And God has blessed those in need in Madagascar; in giving all of these different people a chance to work together, saving lives in His name.  Through this I know that God is, most definitely, good.

As you can see, we're all super happy to have finally arrived in Madagascar. 

Another day done in the Galley.  This is my team;  Brian, Gino, Carmen, Dahlia, Angie and Shiela.  I know it looks like we're having a lot more fun than you are (and that's because we probably are), but don't think for a minute that that doesn't include the work we do.  Every one of these characters has a servant's heart like I've never seen before.  It's going to change some in the next 9 1/2 months, with people coming and going.  But after spending two weeks witht these guys, I know that I'll be set for the work, friendships and serving to come in the months ahead for sure.

A friend took a photo of me on the stern of the ship enjoying a "goodbye South Africa" sunset.  Three things I do while I am on break from work; sleep, play cards with friends, and enjoy a sunset or two.

The ship has sailed!  After a bit of delay, the Africa Mercy has finally been able to set off to Madagascar.  This is where the medical work shall begin.  If all goes well on the Indian Ocean, we are to arrive in Tamatave (North Western coastline) this Sunday morning.  Surgeries are scheduled to start by the 9th of September!  This is where the hardest, worthiest, and best work is going to be done, by all of the crew alike.  I'm so excited to experience the service, through Christ, that is to be done in the months ahead!

My job on the Africa Mercy is to cook, along with 12 other cooks.  For the regular crew, we cook for about 400 people.  When we are in Madagascar, we will cook for around 700 people!  I very much love the Galley and the work I do, and especially the people that I work with.  It is my pleasure to serve my fellow crew and the people of Madagascar by cooking for them.  This truly gives me more joy than any other work before has given me.

Juan and Mathew showed me around downtown Durban on our day off from work.  The monkeys here are like squirrels, they're everywhere!  

5 hour hike into Kloof Canyon and back out of it.  Our Taxi Driver tagged along for the trip too, just because he wanted too!  The top photo is Patrick (far right in bottom picture) and I drying off after swimming in the creek at the bottom of the canyon.  We were able to get close to some Zebra, but they didn't like us enough to let us get too close.  Good time with my crew-mates over all, a grand second adventure.