"Jesus is leaving Conakry"

The horns cut through he air for the thousandth time during our Guinea field service. The sound of the tugs taking another ship out of the Port of Conakry, past the breakwater to the ocean beyond. After ten months in Guinea it was our turn. Each time we leave a port it is with such conflicting emotions that it is difficult to reconcile. The pain of goodbye mixed with the excitement of heading for a developed nation and a time of rest and rejuvenation for most of the crew.



The gangway goes up. 

We start to pull out.

The tugs come alongside, their horns blaring, to push us safely out of the port area.

Farewell Guinea. Thank you for the amazing memories.

Every time we leave a port there is a point when I have a huge lump in my throat and I have to stop the tears from falling. Our departure from Guinea was stealth, for want of a better word, due to the high risk of stowaways. We left several days earlier than we were meant too, after word leaked out to locals of our departure. Even though not many people were there to see us off it was poignant moment when many tugs followed us far further than they needed to out into open ocean, frequently honking their horns as a mark of respect.

Jess (above) and Andrew (below) on deck watching the goings on. Most of the crew come out when we depart a host nation, lining the decks, interrupted by the clutter of land rovers, garbage bins, yokohama bumpers and wooden pallets.

 

Our berth that bustled with activity for ten months, now still and empty, the stains left from the tents, the land rover parking spaces and the steel fencing all that remain of our presence in the Port of Conakry.

The port workers watch in fascination and wave us goodbye.

 

The pilot boat pulls alongside to guide us safely past the breakwater.

The pilots depart our ship after navigating the Africa Mercy into open waters.

Au revoir Guinea, until we meet again. The crew gather on deck 8 amoungst the land rovers to farewell the nation of Guinea and to reflect on their personal memories. Merci beacoup Guinea.

A Muslim man stood on the dock when the pack up was in full flight and was heard to remark, "Jesus is leaving Conakry". But we, as a crew and followers of Jesus, know that Jesus has always been and always will be present in Conakry waiting patiently for his people to come. For ten months we have tried to be the hands and feet of Jesus to help to bring hope and healing to the nation of Guinea and now we pray that we have left a lasting legacy of the model of Jesus for the people of Guinea.