A Life Abundant

My daughter has been to thirteen countries, one less than the number of years she has been on planet earth. (Soon it will be 14.) She has held a malnourished baby, eaten plantains and groundnut stew and a crepe on the Champs-Élysées, she has ridden a donkey in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and she has played in snow on Mt Hut in New Zealand. She has helped dress the wounds of the poorest of poor and made s'mores with local West Africans. She has patted a crocodile (and then eaten it), stood in awe of the mighty Stonehenge and on the precipice of the Grand Canyon. She can speak French. She has thrown up on a Qantas plane and in the toilets of a Denny's Restaurant in Anaheim under the shadow of the rollercoasters of Disneyland. She has seen dolphins leaping in there natural habitat and has spent months at sea. She can put on a lifejacket faster than you can say the word. She has been on an African safari and seen most of the "big five" in the wild as well as black bears frolicking in the fields of Yosemite National Park. She has said goodbye to hundreds of people in her short life and welcomed just as many. She has had more vaccinations than I can count and is on her third passport. She is resilient and strong, my daughter. She is compassionate and brave.

Sometimes a thought creeps into my mind. What am I taking her away from? She is missing out on grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, Maccas, school socials, fetes, elective subjects, sports carnivals and the magical beauty of our home state. She has never met two of her cousins. She doesn't know what it's like to be cold anymore and she doesn't celebrate ANZAC day. She can't remember what Cheezles are and she thinks taking malaria meds is normal for a "white kid"! Most of the year she can't got to the park and feel soft grass underfoot, inhale the scent flowers, toss autumn leaves and just run! She can't get a part time job, participate in weekend sports or begin to think about learning to drive like other kids her age. Her accent is no longer recognisable as Australian. She doesn't even know who the Prime Minister of Australia is....

But then I think, "who are you kidding"? She is unbelievably happy and content and is growing into a generous and kind women who was given the character trait of "Encourager" at the Academy End of Year Celebration. She is beautiful on the inside and the out. She goes to an amazing school where the teachers care intimately abut the wellbeing of each and every student and their Christian walk and she is being raised in a diverse community that represents over 40 nations. She has amazing friends and mentors and her faith in God is growing daily as she witnesses miracles first hand.

We don't have a lot of money and we don't have much stuff. She doesn't get a lot of takeaway of wear the latest fashions but she is living a life of great abundance. She is richer in so many ways that other kids her age can only ever hope to be!

 One of the biggest blessing of life on board for Jessica is the AFM Youth. Throughout the years many dedicated young people have given up their evenings and weekends to mentor and lead our youth in the most creative ways imaginable. They are a huge example of Christ and go above and beyond what is expected of a youth leader. This year has been no exception and thanks to one of the youth leaders who also has some amazing photography skills, please enjoy a year in youth in the Congo has been captured brilliantly. I think you can tell by the smile on Jessica's face that she is blessed!

A day at the beach on the coast of the Republic of the Congo.



Jess and her Liberian/American bestie, Deborah.

Fun and quite, reflective times.

 

Looking beautiful and certainly NOT dressed for the beach, Jess at the white elephant gift giving and formal dinner.



White elephant gifts.



Water wars on deck 8 in the Port of Congo.

The youth have been encouraged to lead worship and this is where Jess has taken flight. We are so proud of her lovely singing voice and her willingness to worship God in song, leading the rest of crew during regular community meetings.

Ask the youth what the highlight of the year in youth would be and you would hear a chorus of  "The Campout weekend"!! Jess captured by fellow youth, Hannah.

Jess and her favourite youth leader, Elizabeth who we bid fond farewell a few weeks ago.

Jess and youth leader, Nicole.

Nicole checking out Jessica's sunburn!

Putting up the tents, a great life skill for a Third Culture Kid!

Jess and the poor croc the kids ate after the leaders cooked it on the open fire. Apparently it tasted like chicken!

The Second Annual AFM Food Fight! Year two of this food fight was twice as epic and waaayyyy more gross. Raw fish were purchased from the local fisherman who berthed near us and used as weapons. I believe galley left overs were also utilized and well as the prolific use of peanut better!

On the dock-mess too great for the ship!

A new face mask?

Peanut butter + rice bubbles.

Those youth leaders are such good sports!

Included in the youth schedule are "acts of service" which usually include a visit to the wards or the Hope Centre which Jess always looks forward too. Above, making faces with Deborah in the Hope Centre grounds.

Playing games with the kids staying at the Hope Centre. some who are patients and some who are children or siblings of patients.

One of the highlight of visits to the Hope Centre is the big bonfire. Our kids then introduce the patients and caregivers at the Hope Centre to the delights of the American tradition of s'mores. That is a marshmallow cooked over the fire, jammed between two graham crackers and topped with a piece of chocolate. The chocolate and marshmallow melt to make a yummy, gooey sandwich. There is always plenty of singing and dancing to the beat of the djembe (African drum) to work off the s'mores.

The kids, leaders and the locals gather together around the fire, a bond that transcends language, where a smile says a thousand words and a hug can make a world of difference.

Yeah, I reckon Jessica is doing ok......

John 10:10

The Message (MSG)

^6-10 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.