BBQ in Africa

A few weeks ago we had the first of several day worker/crew BBQ and community meetings. It was a roaring success. Each Thursday evening the crew gather in the International Lounge for community meeting which runs similar to a western church service. Not this time! This was the time for the African crew to shine. Above is Andrew in the looonnnggg food line.

Hot dogs on the barbie.

No meal is complete on the Africa Mercy without first sanitising ones hands. Luckily the sanitisers have recently gone portable.

Leah, our fellow Tassie crew member tucking in.

Jessica has began a phase of smiling for the camera but just as I press the shutter she makes a face. She will live to regret it on her 21st birthday-lol! Mum an Dad will have the last laugh!

Not quite Aussie BBQ fare (miss!) but the US version!

Crew Services day worker, Titus who also worked on the Africa Mercy in Sierra Leone. It is fun when the day workers follow the ship from country to country. We don't have to say goodbye and we can get to know them even better! I was so excited last week to "run into" Idrissa, a day worker from the dental team in Sierra Leone, last weekend at a local pool. He married a crew member last Thursday and will be living on board as short term crew for two months before he and his new wife move on land.

The party really kicked off when the djembes began!

Me!

The mosh pit got going and after a while I was brave enough to jump into the throng of hot and sweaty crew and day workers dancing, clapping and jumping to the throbbing beat of the djembe and the rousing lyrics of West African worship songs.

Time to quite down for the meeting as we celebrated the nations represented and how no matter our cultural differences we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen!