tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81826133170566646012024-03-13T11:59:51.588+00:00Rothwell RecapJourney with us through West Africa, living and working on a hospital ship-the good, the bad and the ugly!Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-1671068449711828922018-05-22T21:06:00.002+00:002018-05-22T21:06:31.853+00:00Ruined for the Ordinary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is just a collection of random thoughts that I wrote a while back that I have now undated a bit, but resonates more so now, as we are about a month away from walking down the gangway for the last time, for this season.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tears
threaten to overflow at any given moment, over the silliest of things and
anxiety floods through my veins. I can’t do it. How can I leave this place?
That is how I feel one day. The next, anger and frustration bubble up inside me and
I secretly hate being here and cannot wait to be anywhere else. What is this
paradox?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t
think it really hit me, the beginning of the end, until we began to slowly sail
away from our berth in Las Palmas, back in August last year, and I thought to myself, “This is it, I will
never do this again”. As the soulful strains of Theodore, a long time friend of Mercy Ships, standing on the edge
of the breakwater, playing “Amazing Grace” on his trumpet, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reached my ears, I nearly lost it right there
and then. How does one do this anyway? Nobody told me that the transitioning
would begin almost a year before we even left. One by one, those “lasts” seem
to be stacking up like a pile of Jenga bricks, threatening to topple over at any given moment, just like my emotions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It hits me
at the most unpredictable of times. Standing in my “kitchen” in the place I have lived the
longest of anywhere in my whole life, watching a little ortho patients at the
Hope Centre with a “Tom Hopper”, a special frame made by our friend Tom who
went to be with Jesus last shipyard, sharing ice-cream with new friends in favourite city haunts, the
sales staff who know my coffee order off by heart, walking the familiar hallways and staring out at the twinkling port lights from the pool deck. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It hits me like a freight train at those time when you <i>would</i> expect, remembering to say goodbye
to alumni crew because next time they come back, it will be me who has left. Walking out of the library for the last time, a place I have poured my heart and soul into, watching the dockside tents come down and the wards empty out. Saying goodbye to Dolf Kevin, the patient through whose veins flow life giving blood from my daughter, when the Operations Managers plan a special dinner for Andrew and each say nice things about him, watching Jessica try on her graduation cap and gown, the tassel she picked swinging wildly about and knowing that very soon the haze of Africa will be in the rear view mirror. I can barely stand it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But part of
me yearns to live without having to remember to sign up for a laundry slot or
to book out a car for my four hour slot on a weekend. I can’t wait to not be
awoken by the shrieking sounds of a 6:00 am fire drill alarm, I long to be able to
get specialist medical attention, to be able to eat what I want, whenever I
want, to sleep in an adult size bed, to go to a shopping centre, to drive my
own car, have winter, to be there to celebrate with my family, to have
Christmas in Australia and to be understood when I speak-ALL the time, But then
I realise the great contradiction is, that if I no longer yearn for these
things, then I am no longer living on the ship. Wherever I am, my heart will
yearn for the other. It’s my reality. I am ruined for the ordinary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once we have
said our goodbyes, finished our travels, arrived back to Australia and reunited
with our family again, moved into our own place and the dust has settled. Then
what? When will I get used to my new normal that was my old normal but somehow
slipped away to be replaced with bent legs, globetrotting, miracles, dry
ladies, a four room house, greeting royalty, drums beats, AK47’s, dolphins and
whales, head size tumours, sidewalk shopping, spoken French, coke in glass bottles,
dinner with the Governor, coconuts, needlegunning, pirate drills, stowaways, living in
community, dental screenings, slow internet, landrovers, plantains,
thunderstorms and cyclones, containers, African fabric, lining up for food,
markets, 1000 goodbyes, blackouts, watching the blind see, giving blood to
patient and listing to their heartfelt thanks, Christmas cookie bakes, ward worship, chicken fingers, baby chimps, dockside tents, gridlocked traffic, things carried on heads, moto taxis, scrubs, $1.00 lattes, cleft lip babies, flotsam and jetsam outside my window, …..the
list goes on and on. This is our normal. And I
don’t know how to live like that…back in the “ordinary”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Watching our
Douala berth appear through the mist in what seems like both an eternity and five minutes ago, I struggled to remember each and every
little detail, fully aware this was our last arrival into a host nation. My
senses were heightened, as the beat of the drums cut through the fog, the
advance team cheered wildly on the dock in their matching, blood red African
fabric outfits. The excitement in the air was palpable, the humidity like a
cloak, as I stood on the deck, perilously close to tears running down my
cheeks. I swallowed the lump in my throat, as big as an apple and felt blessed,
as I have a thousand times before, that despite all the odds stacked against
us, when most people had given up on us, we never let go of our dream to serve
on the Africa Mercy and God made a way. He never gave up on us! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now we walk
the fine line between living with “two feet on deck” and planning for our
future. It is a difficult thing. My mind feels like it is being pulled in a
thousand different directions and sometimes I have trouble sleeping. My brain is constantly buzzing.I long to
feel at peace, as I know that the time is right for us to leave Mercy Ships for
this season and we are very tired. But my heart breaks when I think about that
moment when we walk down the gangway for the very last time. I know that part
of me will want to turn around and run right back up to complain about what is
for dinner that night. But another part of me wants to run into the arms of my
mum and dad, knowing I don’t have to say goodbye in a few weeks time, to smell
the sweet smells of eucalyptus and listen to the cackle of cockatoos, to have
our own space at last and to be in my own culture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This song
comes to my mind right now…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Higher than the mountains that I face<br />
Stronger than the power of the grave<br />
Constant through the trial and the change<br />
One thing remains,<br />
Yes, one thing remains.<br />
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Your love never fails,<br />
It never gives up<br />
It never runs out on me<br />
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Because on and on, and on, and on it goes<br />
Before it overwhelms and satisfies my soul<br />
And I never ever have to be afraid<br />
One thing remains<br />
So, this one thing remains.<br />
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Your love never fails,<br />
It never gives up<br />
It never runs out on me<br />
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In death, in life I'm confident and covered by the power of Your great love<br />
My debt is paid.<br />
There's nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(“One Thing Remains” by Jesus Culture)</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I</span> need to
drum these lyrics into my mind and soul. His love NEVER fails and it NEVER
gives up on me! His love is higher than the mountains we will face in the next
year, it will be constant through the trial and the change and I NEVER have to
be afraid! In the quite of the night, about two months ago, as I cried out to God when I lay awake, yet again, I felt a still small voice whisper, like a balm over my soul, "Trust Me". I cling to that truth when the anxiety take hold and fear clamps like a vice!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also a couple of quotes that have spoken to me....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Then I think that maybe courage is not at all about the absence of fear, but about obedience even when we are afraid. Maybe courage is trusting when we don't know what is next, leaning into the hard and knowing that it will be hard, but more, God will be near. He is the God Who Will Provide. He will provide His presence, His strength, or whatever He decides we most need. Maybe bravery is just looking fear in the face and telling it that it does not win because we have known the Lord here. We have known the Lord in the long dark night. " </span></div>
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(Katie Davis Majors in Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and Beautiful)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And lastly who can forget this gem.......</span><br />
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-51908428662533700502018-05-15T19:45:00.005+00:002018-05-15T19:46:08.961+00:00Cameroon at Last!<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Yes, I know, we are about to depart Cameroon, but in the interests of keeping my blog coffee table book to a certain standard, one simply cannot be all non-chronological! Our arrival must come before our departure! You must hear the beginning before you jump to the end of the story. :) </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Our
August arrival into Cameroon was much anticipated, after spending years
securing a protocol with the government. After a successful shipyard and a time
of rest for our family and other crew, we arrived in Douala. The skies were
overcast but our spirits were high. We heard the beat of the drums and the smell
of Africa in the air as the dockside morphed though the mist, the blood red of
the Advance Team’s matching outfits, clearly visible from a distance.
Jubilation was in the air and even the light rain that escalated into a
torrential downpour could not dampen the occasion!<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is
hard to describe the torrent of emotions that were rushing through us as we
pulled alongside: joy, sadness, expectation, nostalgia... This was the last
time we would pull into a host nation. Tear pricked my eyes and a lump
caught in my throat as I tried to savour every sight, sound, smell and
sensation, soaking them into her soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I always
say a picture is worth a thousand words, so please enjoy this pictorial of our
historic arrival into a new nation for Mercy Ships…..</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--7EA0I0gaak/WtOuxaenf1I/AAAAAAAAKF0/ylG_1G7CysIIL2lLOCzwN7v1UDSB3LhUACLcBGAs/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--7EA0I0gaak/WtOuxaenf1I/AAAAAAAAKF0/ylG_1G7CysIIL2lLOCzwN7v1UDSB3LhUACLcBGAs/s400/001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Africa Mercy, escorted by the Cameroonian Navy, arrives at last to the shores of Cameroon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hgPeymGji2g/WtOuzLKr_dI/AAAAAAAAKF4/04Z40H6VKsseo59To8ofR9qbuyPrz5vVACLcBGAs/s400/002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Just a really cool pic by one of our talented Communications photographers, taken from our Cameroon berth, as the AFM is approaching.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Port of Douala workers looking on with curiosity, as we get closer.<br />(PC: Kirsten Jack)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost in, all decked out in her flags!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9y9Nj-S3MgM/WtOvGcKdjpI/AAAAAAAAKGI/Png-rLRxilULOlGwSDzxd4Hf7D138BuaQCLcBGAs/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9y9Nj-S3MgM/WtOvGcKdjpI/AAAAAAAAKGI/Png-rLRxilULOlGwSDzxd4Hf7D138BuaQCLcBGAs/s400/005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Advance Team get a close up glimpse of their home sweet home!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Pilot boat pulling alongside our pilot door on deck three, ready to guide us in.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Cameroon flag flying proudly from deck seven.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jwACwcmWkh8/WtOvI1P5eKI/AAAAAAAAKGQ/f7JxutZWLzokqSJ0sGd_X3olO55vrz9rgCLcBGAs/s1600/009%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jwACwcmWkh8/WtOvI1P5eKI/AAAAAAAAKGQ/f7JxutZWLzokqSJ0sGd_X3olO55vrz9rgCLcBGAs/s400/009%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ8FD5JW0x8/WtOvObAI50I/AAAAAAAAKGY/57Qr1fXrc70BLqs7l5O98WRTnyJCHZnnwCLcBGAs/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ8FD5JW0x8/WtOvObAI50I/AAAAAAAAKGY/57Qr1fXrc70BLqs7l5O98WRTnyJCHZnnwCLcBGAs/s400/010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crew gathering to wave to those dockside, bearing the flags of our nations.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IHV6YiInQ2s/WtOvPjkyzSI/AAAAAAAAKGc/SVF3DDbmgb00KSnEuMsAZGep6-G0TMlSwCLcBGAs/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IHV6YiInQ2s/WtOvPjkyzSI/AAAAAAAAKGc/SVF3DDbmgb00KSnEuMsAZGep6-G0TMlSwCLcBGAs/s400/011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crew jamming up a storm to celebrate our arrival.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jessica and classmate Elliot. Their last arrival into a host nation, for this season!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMBqlZnTSUo/WtOviZITYVI/AAAAAAAAKG0/xtJIe1smrl4wRywL-RFKsl1NEy3RpAf8QCLcBGAs/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMBqlZnTSUo/WtOviZITYVI/AAAAAAAAKG0/xtJIe1smrl4wRywL-RFKsl1NEy3RpAf8QCLcBGAs/s400/013.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Academy kids (including Jess), teachers and Academy alumni gathering to watch our arrival.<br />(PC: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PhCKV2WPBo/WtOvZKVUEOI/AAAAAAAAKGk/8bK9o0gAZn8kl52hfZaeAWgwvTu5GeB2QCLcBGAs/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PhCKV2WPBo/WtOvZKVUEOI/AAAAAAAAKGk/8bK9o0gAZn8kl52hfZaeAWgwvTu5GeB2QCLcBGAs/s400/014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />The Advance Team!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SzkCNq4oF_A/WtOvhv6jVsI/AAAAAAAAKGw/1BHmkdqvoHIfm2qbfzmRSMdzW0zZ8b4YwCLcBGAs/s1600/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SzkCNq4oF_A/WtOvhv6jVsI/AAAAAAAAKGw/1BHmkdqvoHIfm2qbfzmRSMdzW0zZ8b4YwCLcBGAs/s400/015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">New day crew and crew celebrating with singing and dancing on our new dock.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2Bgea6fuQU/WtOvhVNmetI/AAAAAAAAKGs/rSE___Il40ogYYsKi_1HS_9Zf7tBV_MwgCLcBGAs/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2Bgea6fuQU/WtOvhVNmetI/AAAAAAAAKGs/rSE___Il40ogYYsKi_1HS_9Zf7tBV_MwgCLcBGAs/s400/016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our new day crew proudly displaying their nation's flag!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zljefuztCAU/WtOvkgX6ThI/AAAAAAAAKG4/l3YNS_ahRdEdnO8LcbNPHgKbPizouL5_wCLcBGAs/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zljefuztCAU/WtOvkgX6ThI/AAAAAAAAKG4/l3YNS_ahRdEdnO8LcbNPHgKbPizouL5_wCLcBGAs/s400/017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jubilation!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWNfSuYMDuU/WtOv3YAfaGI/AAAAAAAAKHE/v-vKmVthFsQGh04jieJmC1C-NlqU9ISjgCLcBGAs/s1600/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWNfSuYMDuU/WtOv3YAfaGI/AAAAAAAAKHE/v-vKmVthFsQGh04jieJmC1C-NlqU9ISjgCLcBGAs/s400/018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ra-qkLgev-8/WtOv5BopghI/AAAAAAAAKHQ/75ea1aa_TtM869ejSWjyo_YldF8Lrj5pwCLcBGAs/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ra-qkLgev-8/WtOv5BopghI/AAAAAAAAKHQ/75ea1aa_TtM869ejSWjyo_YldF8Lrj5pwCLcBGAs/s400/019.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gR_flvJO4dQ/WtOv4wkM1jI/AAAAAAAAKHM/LSkV9s_Aw8w-rirV71Nt9d94V16wR2-5ACLcBGAs/s1600/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gR_flvJO4dQ/WtOv4wkM1jI/AAAAAAAAKHM/LSkV9s_Aw8w-rirV71Nt9d94V16wR2-5ACLcBGAs/s400/020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local port workers securing the lines.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELGr7DkB7zc/WtOv6_M3EmI/AAAAAAAAKHU/8XLPt5y9j1Yu11Y4pe7sJVVc2mnlgHmlgCLcBGAs/s1600/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELGr7DkB7zc/WtOv6_M3EmI/AAAAAAAAKHU/8XLPt5y9j1Yu11Y4pe7sJVVc2mnlgHmlgCLcBGAs/s400/021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gangway coming down!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZxWaR3cC3k/WtOv_KBLo1I/AAAAAAAAKHg/uUi8m6ofDhwpt8pewRU1M7EU-SgdwlIqACLcBGAs/s1600/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZxWaR3cC3k/WtOv_KBLo1I/AAAAAAAAKHg/uUi8m6ofDhwpt8pewRU1M7EU-SgdwlIqACLcBGAs/s400/022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Touchdown!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_Ok3cBcpSQ/WtOv---IReI/AAAAAAAAKHY/-_ZulRNGw0sUY9tWqtpyO5k5fs8FDkT5QCLcBGAs/s1600/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_Ok3cBcpSQ/WtOv---IReI/AAAAAAAAKHY/-_ZulRNGw0sUY9tWqtpyO5k5fs8FDkT5QCLcBGAs/s400/023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Africa Mercy Managing Director, Warrie Blackburn and Captain John Borrow beginning the procession of senior leadership, down the gangway, bearing the Mercy Ships flag.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBNqT9y_50s/WtOv_JH6pGI/AAAAAAAAKHc/HzWgO7vD31APZYlH_vrqJWtTMmGaHpKXwCLcBGAs/s1600/024%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1227" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBNqT9y_50s/WtOv_JH6pGI/AAAAAAAAKHc/HzWgO7vD31APZYlH_vrqJWtTMmGaHpKXwCLcBGAs/s400/024%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Warrie giving her welcome speech.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9MHD36z8-M/WtOwFeoZy-I/AAAAAAAAKHo/nKypHcp7j6s4i_sH8e-3qSVCezmBGAbHACLcBGAs/s1600/025%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9MHD36z8-M/WtOwFeoZy-I/AAAAAAAAKHo/nKypHcp7j6s4i_sH8e-3qSVCezmBGAbHACLcBGAs/s400/025%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Africa Mercy Senior leadership (including Andrew) gathering under a marquee, to shelter from the rain and watch the arrival ceremony proceedings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--A50kTNs9hw/WtOwGYMtogI/AAAAAAAAKHs/n8z4krwAntYHGvNCMzfgdL8BBV58Dl8KACLcBGAs/s1600/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--A50kTNs9hw/WtOwGYMtogI/AAAAAAAAKHs/n8z4krwAntYHGvNCMzfgdL8BBV58Dl8KACLcBGAs/s400/026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The band playing on in the rain, right next to the sewage truck!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-hx9sK4S2E/WtOwGizrabI/AAAAAAAAKHw/KsVX5dOABYQ69oUq-bYVSySxQzbg3-y3wCLcBGAs/s1600/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-hx9sK4S2E/WtOwGizrabI/AAAAAAAAKHw/KsVX5dOABYQ69oUq-bYVSySxQzbg3-y3wCLcBGAs/s400/027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local VIP's and AFM Senior leaders gathering in midships.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4bTrHX3bc64/WtOwIq10gsI/AAAAAAAAKH0/vsHUB9YZGpU8di8nsA_efWtNvXflCm-iwCLcBGAs/s1600/028%2BSuzanne%2BVeltjens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4bTrHX3bc64/WtOwIq10gsI/AAAAAAAAKH0/vsHUB9YZGpU8di8nsA_efWtNvXflCm-iwCLcBGAs/s400/028%2BSuzanne%2BVeltjens.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These guys, they had it rough, looking back with almost ten months hindsight! They did a sterling job, under adverse conditions to bring the Africa Mercy to a new country.<br />(PC: Suzanne Veltjens)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Home at last......</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRBAATtlNck/WtOwY-e63rI/AAAAAAAAKH8/HTe5DSLa2jAvZDAJmpjf9hAiMHF2ODOPwCLcBGAs/s1600/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="1600" height="121" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRBAATtlNck/WtOwY-e63rI/AAAAAAAAKH8/HTe5DSLa2jAvZDAJmpjf9hAiMHF2ODOPwCLcBGAs/s400/030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our dock!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(PC: Anne McClary)<br /></span></td></tr>
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-75708383027073201292018-03-21T20:38:00.000+00:002018-03-22T22:36:42.480+00:00Shades of Shipyard....<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ok, so I have been super </b><b>slack</b><b> with our blog this field </b><b>service</b><b> and now it is time to add a few posts </b><b>before</b><b> we </b><b>depart</b><b> </b><b>Douala</b><b>! To be honest, over the </b><b>years</b><b> it has </b><b>become</b><b> more and more of a </b><b>challenge</b><b> to find fresh ways to say the same thing. Our life on the ship follows a certain pattern, that is </b><b>repeated</b><b> year after year, but I will give it a go. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Most of you </b><b>wouldn't</b><b> know that I print a hardcover </b><b>coffee</b><b> </b><b>table</b><b> book of our blog each field </b><b>service,</b><b> so I am quite pedantic about </b><b>posting</b><b> in </b><b>chronological</b><b> </b><b>order</b><b>. My last post had us </b><b>departing</b><b> Benin on our way to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria so I will </b><b>pick</b><b> up from there.....</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It had been
three years since we pulled alongside at the Astican shipyard in Las Palmas,
Canary Islands, Spain. Three years since we called out “Hola”, sipped sangrias
and strolled along the promenade, our eyes bugging out of our heads at the
audacious fashions and lack of clothing! Three years since we welcomed the guys
from the Astican shipyard on board, three years since we </b><b>marveled</b><b> at fabulous
vistas and trekked over black volcanic rock. Three years since tapas, Theodore playing
on his trumpet and La Terrazas Outlet Mall! It was great to be back!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is
shipyard. Shipyard beats to a different drum. The halls of the hospital no
longer echo with the laughter of children and joyful singing, but with the
sound of electrical tools and shipyard workers boots. Deck heads are down, lights
and air conditioning are off, hallways are cluttered with all manner of things,
the vacuum system is intermittent, blackouts are common and dinner could be
pizza ordered in or cold salad on paper plates. The ship has a new buzz. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love it or
hate it, this is shipyard. Without it, the Africa Mercy could not hope to
function effectively for the next ten months in a developing nation! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">As in
previous years, families were required to move to land based accommodation during the dry dock phase, for the safety of the children. We stayed in hotels
that very kindly donated rooms and facilities to Mercy Ships. Our family also
took a small side trip to Barcelona. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were
dozens of projects on the agenda for dry dock and shipyard this year but some
included:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Survey and incline testing<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Replacement of cabin
flooring (carpet to lino)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Hull cleaning<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Portside capstone motor<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Emergency switchboard
upgrades<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Cold room upgrades<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Window replacements<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Deck 3 fwd. office
modifications<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Funnel corrosion repair<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Omnicell (electronic
medical dispensing system) installed<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">…..and
the list goes on! </span><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBRdb4znXQM/WhsfPpljQbI/AAAAAAAAJ84/LEXKUwomoA8I2bahG-NKR4GpqGDT7qR8wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/001-709316.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817641506554290" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBRdb4znXQM/WhsfPpljQbI/AAAAAAAAJ84/LEXKUwomoA8I2bahG-NKR4GpqGDT7qR8wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/001-709316.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Tug boat pulling the Africa Mercy into the dry dock berth.<br />(P.C: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYigsbAUAPw/WhsfQZvrT-I/AAAAAAAAJ9A/rmnw3o_tZ3gZ5oeZEM5LGIGedE2D_6qEQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/002-711437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817654433927138" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYigsbAUAPw/WhsfQZvrT-I/AAAAAAAAJ9A/rmnw3o_tZ3gZ5oeZEM5LGIGedE2D_6qEQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/002-711437.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">AFM being pulled onto the dry dock tracks, out of the water.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OgbaN9XWtB4/WhsfQ22lOOI/AAAAAAAAJ9I/9hnl_TbTNAAjGwixi_xs2LxDbeThrpirgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/003-713733.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817662247516386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OgbaN9XWtB4/WhsfQ22lOOI/AAAAAAAAJ9I/9hnl_TbTNAAjGwixi_xs2LxDbeThrpirgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/003-713733.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dirty propellers!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ifHmlviLMw/WhsfRaVZiwI/AAAAAAAAJ9Q/knZ8O4TJWtgT9u1enMyzyIIhtAFxw-rIQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/004-715711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817671772015362" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ifHmlviLMw/WhsfRaVZiwI/AAAAAAAAJ9Q/knZ8O4TJWtgT9u1enMyzyIIhtAFxw-rIQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/004-715711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">All shiny and clean!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_JYiMixPZ1I/WhsfRjF3b1I/AAAAAAAAJ9Y/uSqsON3gOSo2RBh4zl0Y16uc2W_YvVZrgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/005-717656.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817674122784594" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_JYiMixPZ1I/WhsfRjF3b1I/AAAAAAAAJ9Y/uSqsON3gOSo2RBh4zl0Y16uc2W_YvVZrgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/005-717656.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">High pressure cleaning the hull<br />(P.C: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsUNA_mZzlc/WhsfSWj0u6I/AAAAAAAAJ9g/LlmF8Wzgeo4X3gsM5oq4KRBCK9OVh0_KACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/006-719834.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817687938644898" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsUNA_mZzlc/WhsfSWj0u6I/AAAAAAAAJ9g/LlmF8Wzgeo4X3gsM5oq4KRBCK9OVh0_KACK4BGAYYCw/s400/006-719834.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />When the ship sits in a dirty port for so long, it grows a lot of barnacles! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIT-Txy5ltw/WhsfSyjNQHI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/qUcTDmWEm5wVVkhm6TXwGNQDCrkMEBt-wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/007-721823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="281" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817695452250226" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIT-Txy5ltw/WhsfSyjNQHI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/qUcTDmWEm5wVVkhm6TXwGNQDCrkMEBt-wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/007-721823.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />The big picture! The Africa Mercy high and dry in dry dock!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei33mvKYCJY/WhsfTgtOLTI/AAAAAAAAJ9w/xNwMDmrIWsMQUrvWJtH56dtPchMZhDBEwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/008-724374.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817707842284850" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei33mvKYCJY/WhsfTgtOLTI/AAAAAAAAJ9w/xNwMDmrIWsMQUrvWJtH56dtPchMZhDBEwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/008-724374.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Spraying primer on the hull.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3c6MwJMSg8/WhsfUG6o76I/AAAAAAAAJ94/XE_hApFIm4EtcOuBvAwnrPzaIzNaed1hQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/009-726811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817718099111842" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3c6MwJMSg8/WhsfUG6o76I/AAAAAAAAJ94/XE_hApFIm4EtcOuBvAwnrPzaIzNaed1hQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/009-726811.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />No it's not a slide, it's the garbage chute!<br />(P.C: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5Oc4l9FDVQ/WhsfUlapewI/AAAAAAAAJ-A/PAJNDH65DEAy3YVEEWqOD8JXabmxPwRMACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/010-728936.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817726286428930" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5Oc4l9FDVQ/WhsfUlapewI/AAAAAAAAJ-A/PAJNDH65DEAy3YVEEWqOD8JXabmxPwRMACK4BGAYYCw/s400/010-728936.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Carpenter sanding floors in the cafe area.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cquV3w2mLLs/WhsfVBLc6EI/AAAAAAAAJ-I/lETdxsbUtzQAsspL5U8-l49ahrKA7kp6gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/011-731066.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817733738883138" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cquV3w2mLLs/WhsfVBLc6EI/AAAAAAAAJ-I/lETdxsbUtzQAsspL5U8-l49ahrKA7kp6gCK4BGAYYCw/s400/011-731066.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Jess helped out in the cafe for three weeks full time, during shipyard, cementing her as a Starbucks barista!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-61GlcPRaBCg/WhsfVzjOv1I/AAAAAAAAJ-Q/59zQFJE3bMMMpJgwTmbrYFNHOZ7q8TeKQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/012-733641.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817747260391250" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-61GlcPRaBCg/WhsfVzjOv1I/AAAAAAAAJ-Q/59zQFJE3bMMMpJgwTmbrYFNHOZ7q8TeKQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/012-733641.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These are the stairs that go all the way to the ship entrance during dry dock, all six stories! This is pizza going up for the crew, which happens from time to time during dry dock when the galley is fumigated or there are long blackouts.<br />(P.C: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wfyi9ALOGuo/WhsfWX5KEXI/AAAAAAAAJ-Y/Wk8E0lP7z9ASctAZTsabfyTJFyZihRtogCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/013-736405.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817757016035698" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wfyi9ALOGuo/WhsfWX5KEXI/AAAAAAAAJ-Y/Wk8E0lP7z9ASctAZTsabfyTJFyZihRtogCK4BGAYYCw/s400/013-736405.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Storage space is at a premium for the sail! The pool is not open during the sail/shipyards so makes for an excellent and secure storage area Above are the bench seats used for the patients on the dock, as they wait to be seen either in outpatients/admissions, rehab or screening.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmkm9TzBF_g/WhsfXJuVVfI/AAAAAAAAJ-g/yQcnsblrK9MZ9C08JKdq6Rqkb4wVd-eKwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/014-738852.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817770392409586" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmkm9TzBF_g/WhsfXJuVVfI/AAAAAAAAJ-g/yQcnsblrK9MZ9C08JKdq6Rqkb4wVd-eKwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/014-738852.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some nurses checking out the new Omnicell system. These automated dispensing cabinets m</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">ore easily optimize inventory, minimize stocktakes, and reduce missing doses.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owy6CmWbWwU/WhsfXm-u1oI/AAAAAAAAJ-o/7L1iFRqrtx4pcVbAcawfJnr3xGkSX_2iQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/015-740895.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817778245817986" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owy6CmWbWwU/WhsfXm-u1oI/AAAAAAAAJ-o/7L1iFRqrtx4pcVbAcawfJnr3xGkSX_2iQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/015-740895.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A project assistant hard at work installing new shelves for a hospital office renovation.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68WwP4U5nUg/WhsfYc0REyI/AAAAAAAAJ-0/v4Bxcpq2ckQOW0-PKTL7LwvP6_y9M2KIQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/016-743853.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817792697439010" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68WwP4U5nUg/WhsfYc0REyI/AAAAAAAAJ-0/v4Bxcpq2ckQOW0-PKTL7LwvP6_y9M2KIQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/016-743853.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess was asked by the Communications Department to tour a vision trip through the Academy. She did a wonderful job! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--oFWZkkrxG8/WhsfY8E2qOI/AAAAAAAAJ-8/zO3t5BYIxvQ0yyNNcxsYQmZgSkir48MjgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/017-745630.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817801088510178" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--oFWZkkrxG8/WhsfY8E2qOI/AAAAAAAAJ-8/zO3t5BYIxvQ0yyNNcxsYQmZgSkir48MjgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/017-745630.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfVY8YwsohE/WhsfZX7dhmI/AAAAAAAAJ_E/N7A_1RB55dAsufuMBaEKPSmbqh-HmQCPwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/018-748372.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817808565306978" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfVY8YwsohE/WhsfZX7dhmI/AAAAAAAAJ_E/N7A_1RB55dAsufuMBaEKPSmbqh-HmQCPwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/018-748372.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A time honoured shipyard tradition in the soccer game between the Astican shipyard workers and our crew. This year we went along to cheer our guys on and Astican arranged an amazing BBQ for us, after the game. Our guys are the ones in blue. Astican beat us this time, but there's always next year!<br />(P.C: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PbTQx8Zq3I/WhsfaCgpXhI/AAAAAAAAJ_M/OhK0pUFpbxoA_Rx20QSvurX7TVQ5pkwfgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/019-750566.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="257" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817819995561490" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PbTQx8Zq3I/WhsfaCgpXhI/AAAAAAAAJ_M/OhK0pUFpbxoA_Rx20QSvurX7TVQ5pkwfgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/019-750566.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lovely lit up at night.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMhXHvGZGJc/WhsfajS9MCI/AAAAAAAAJ_U/N8gtHSpy-IY8RsmjvMwKPRPTzm4vFMDZwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/020-752859.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817828796510242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMhXHvGZGJc/WhsfajS9MCI/AAAAAAAAJ_U/N8gtHSpy-IY8RsmjvMwKPRPTzm4vFMDZwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/020-752859.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Even though the ship is not in a host nation, the goodbyes continue, unabated. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess said goodbye three of her close girlfriends during the first two days after we arrived in Las Palmas.<br />(P.C: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lH3C3AnNOyI/WhsfbdQwueI/AAAAAAAAJ_c/jC_NlNzzQ2U5aq9WoeSdeW09TiOlgRctwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/021-755718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817844356561378" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lH3C3AnNOyI/WhsfbdQwueI/AAAAAAAAJ_c/jC_NlNzzQ2U5aq9WoeSdeW09TiOlgRctwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/021-755718.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shipyard deck. engineering and projects crew, alongside our Astican</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> colleagues.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wWbYa0L9b4E/Whsfb_qT8PI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/1vPwEm28MNQGEjq31kmVwzglwTfbBlq7wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/022-757637.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817853590532338" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wWbYa0L9b4E/Whsfb_qT8PI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/1vPwEm28MNQGEjq31kmVwzglwTfbBlq7wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/022-757637.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Many people may think a port is an ugly place, but to me it will always hold it's own special beauty.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hcdVC01r_M/WhsfcROTUWI/AAAAAAAAJ_s/pcFqa46HZ2c2wGvzwvSI_Epj6hZuBxqfQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/023-759567.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="322" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817858304889186" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hcdVC01r_M/WhsfcROTUWI/AAAAAAAAJ_s/pcFqa46HZ2c2wGvzwvSI_Epj6hZuBxqfQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/023-759567.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We had heard good things about Barcelona, so we took a ten day trip and loved it so much!!! What an incredible city. We were able to take a day trip through the Pyrenees M</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">ountains, that included a visit to the teeny, tiny nation of Andorra, because we are all about collecting stamps in our passports! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(P.C: Some random tourist)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bL1d9BMSpw/WhsfcwoS6HI/AAAAAAAAJ_0/IRUGB7vYfXoF1WWXWhJMSaWk9ox3Oeb8gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/024-762113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817866735413362" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bL1d9BMSpw/WhsfcwoS6HI/AAAAAAAAJ_0/IRUGB7vYfXoF1WWXWhJMSaWk9ox3Oeb8gCK4BGAYYCw/s400/024-762113.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Back to Gran Canaria, a hidden jewel where the pace is unhurried and the sunsets are divine.<br />(P.C: Jessica Rothwell)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VCSjwnW3b4/WhsfdQbWeZI/AAAAAAAAJ_8/q0WXIauyid8kxlV5oVhwwPTPBFlW2FODACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/025-764559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817875271055762" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VCSjwnW3b4/WhsfdQbWeZI/AAAAAAAAJ_8/q0WXIauyid8kxlV5oVhwwPTPBFlW2FODACK4BGAYYCw/s400/025-764559.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gran Canaria has so many quaint little towns to explore, where you can get lost between the rows of colourful houses, see beautiful vistas and stunning cathedrals. Above the town of Arucas, as viewed from the Marquesa Botanical Gardens, featuring an iconic Canary Islands dragon tree. Arucas is also home to the famous Canarian Arehucan rum.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4mwHTPIZVA/Whsfd32eedI/AAAAAAAAKAE/4oCJVAGuSWwscV4BHn87kpd9iHErutgsgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/026-766342.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817885853809106" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4mwHTPIZVA/Whsfd32eedI/AAAAAAAAKAE/4oCJVAGuSWwscV4BHn87kpd9iHErutgsgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/026-766342.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking down at Arucas, from a vista, at the stunning town centrepiece of The Church of San Juan Bautista.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aF3yDDZH7c4/WhsfemzAW4I/AAAAAAAAKAM/2eFdAMPMFb4KJq75CpiiUNjCmo_CQK2agCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/027-768605.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817898455718786" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aF3yDDZH7c4/WhsfemzAW4I/AAAAAAAAKAM/2eFdAMPMFb4KJq75CpiiUNjCmo_CQK2agCK4BGAYYCw/s400/027-768605.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hands down my favourite town in Gran Canaria, the town of Mogan, filled with cute canals, a beautiful marina and colourful bougainvillea entwined over arches and balconies.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Or_vpXdMa8/WhsfeyYYsRI/AAAAAAAAKAU/yMLktploVQ8C6NbWCytHrwu82SUR5E2oQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/028-770765.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817901565292818" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Or_vpXdMa8/WhsfeyYYsRI/AAAAAAAAKAU/yMLktploVQ8C6NbWCytHrwu82SUR5E2oQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/028-770765.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Magical Mogan.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykl1dpa1r7k/WhsffiT9DBI/AAAAAAAAKAc/5oS1jlpqwPMoyHemdO7PvoPtD7tu_exswCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/029-773198.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817914431605778" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykl1dpa1r7k/WhsffiT9DBI/AAAAAAAAKAc/5oS1jlpqwPMoyHemdO7PvoPtD7tu_exswCK4BGAYYCw/s400/029-773198.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gran Canaris is full of surprises around every bend and we were delighted to discover the town of Firgas, also know as the "Balcony of the Atlantic", with it's artificial waterfall that flows down the steps right in the c</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">entre of its old town, tumbling 30 metres down Paseo de Gran Canaria street.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d12ZYiGHiNQ/WhsfgJRaD1I/AAAAAAAAKAk/r7NopphKx-454IxVRTZVYG9FGY69XUWkACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/030-775598.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817924889907026" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d12ZYiGHiNQ/WhsfgJRaD1I/AAAAAAAAKAk/r7NopphKx-454IxVRTZVYG9FGY69XUWkACK4BGAYYCw/s400/030-775598.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alongside the waterfall are these beautiful tiled benches with frames above them, listing all the major towns and cities on the island of Gran Canaria.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nciZhPr_VlM/Whsfg6VZ1wI/AAAAAAAAKAs/Us3WWigkiDwmaoYMkWZA_QhshiuKL7R0QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/031-777662.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817938060007170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nciZhPr_VlM/Whsfg6VZ1wI/AAAAAAAAKAs/Us3WWigkiDwmaoYMkWZA_QhshiuKL7R0QCK4BGAYYCw/s400/031-777662.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The church bells of the church in San Roque Square can be heard over the whole town.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJS6R7A2s0k/WhsfhQKkjDI/AAAAAAAAKA0/bVTNEBNMxFY4aM4I47jmjwCHu67QH7SkwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/032-780352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817943920151602" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJS6R7A2s0k/WhsfhQKkjDI/AAAAAAAAKA0/bVTNEBNMxFY4aM4I47jmjwCHu67QH7SkwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/032-780352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The boardwalk at the Playa del Puerto in the beachside town of La Aldea de San Nicolàs. Here we just chilled, admired the typical Canarain architecture and consumed a stellar <a href="https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/eggs-recipes/spanish-tortilla/">Spanish omelette</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6BcTGsC0Ho/Whsfh6jinHI/AAAAAAAAKA8/d-VcaQLLPWsUnzqU-ADD_PQSjS8eXQe8QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/033-782427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817955299171442" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6BcTGsC0Ho/Whsfh6jinHI/AAAAAAAAKA8/d-VcaQLLPWsUnzqU-ADD_PQSjS8eXQe8QCK4BGAYYCw/s400/033-782427.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This shipyard we decided to tackle one of Europe's great drives, <a href="http://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/spain/4684-gc-200.html">GC-200</a>, before it is no longer. A major highway is being built that will bypass some of the spectacular cliff top sections of the road. Just a little snap from the Mirador El Paso (lookout point) Marinero, from the hair raising drive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LI2qTXdBV3E/Whsfiu0MXpI/AAAAAAAAKBE/AELkxrS_184qitrYkMOT5W0ftTbVTh8BACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/034-784495.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817969327660690" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LI2qTXdBV3E/Whsfiu0MXpI/AAAAAAAAKBE/AELkxrS_184qitrYkMOT5W0ftTbVTh8BACK4BGAYYCw/s400/034-784495.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">fter so many visits to the Canary Islands, we have began to get a little more creative in order find things to do that we have not seen/done before. The </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bufadero de la Garita's is a naturally occurring blow hole that sucks water in and then blows it high into the air.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOxK07QemS4/WhsfjNqiqgI/AAAAAAAAKBM/EWL_N8EwTHo5sp77kBy0G24NAGj0Y8qMwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/035-786957.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6492817977608677890" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOxK07QemS4/WhsfjNqiqgI/AAAAAAAAKBM/EWL_N8EwTHo5sp77kBy0G24NAGj0Y8qMwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/035-786957.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As we wrapped up another year of shipyard, "at sea" drills began again in ernest. Lucky Andrew has been a muster leader (name caller) for around three years now.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Re-loading all the vehicles on the ship again, ready to sail to Douala. Time now to make a very special mention of our friend and previous Transportation Manager, Tom Waechter. Loading the vehicles this year was truly a labour of love. Dear Tom, a beloved crew member and most servant hearted man I know, passed away during this shipyard whilst hiking with his wife and family back in the States, on holiday. We heard the news on the last day of our trip to Barcelona and we were shook to the core. Many of the crew, including Andrew rallied around to take care of Tom's duties and to honour his memory in a deeply moving memorial service on board, just before our sail to Douala, of which Tom's wife Ann-Marie and his two sons were able to attend. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shipyard over for another year, our every last shipyard. The hospitality team always bring cookies and drinks to the bridge as we prepare to sail out of a port.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Captain John Borrow looking out of the bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Up comes the gangway, the last time we will see this familiar piece of metal go past us, after shipyard.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Adios beautiful Canary Islands. What an amazing privilege and pleasure it has been for us to berth in the Canary Islands time after time, over the past seven years! <br /><br />We look forward to sailing in one last time and spending our last days with Mercy Ships, docked in the Astican shipyard. We already have a date set for dinner at </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ristorante Pizzeria Al Maccaroni, our favourite restaurant</span>,<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> on the promenade, for our very last night</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> with Mercy Ships! Bon apetit!</span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-8985379458709397572017-09-16T19:01:00.000+00:002017-09-16T19:01:48.001+00:00Au revoir Benin<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>After a triumphant return
to West Africa in August 2016, we sailed out stoically on Saturday 3<sup>rd</sup>
June, 2017. Our arrival was loud and celebratory, our hearts filled with joy.
Our departure was quiet and tinged with sadness but still our hearts were
overflowing at the goodness of God and all he had made happen, though us, in
the nation of Benin. We hoped and prayed that we had made a difference,
restored lives; physically mentally and spiritually, for this is our calling
card We come with a job to do and we do the very best we can, often under
trying circumstances, to the glory of God and pray that the nations we serve
are blessed by our presence.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle";"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong> </strong></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmtqBwCHjP8/Wa2pAfEXVXI/AAAAAAAAJ40/fUM4xt9ONWAU_m9n6Zq-OMbgalGaDXUXQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/001%2B%25282%2529-715187.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462006866151429490" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmtqBwCHjP8/Wa2pAfEXVXI/AAAAAAAAJ40/fUM4xt9ONWAU_m9n6Zq-OMbgalGaDXUXQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/001%2B%25282%2529-715187.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>The Benin flag flaps
proudly in the breeze, for the last time.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>The last piece of the
gangway going up.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>The tugs pulling us out.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt;">Pulling out from our berth.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Deckies working the lines.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt;">Port workers waving us off.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>Fisherman farewell us.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>Getting a roll on, past the
breakwater.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For
those of you who enjoy numbers, the fruit of our labour of love. The numbers also include....</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Total number of potential
surgical patients screened: 11,536. The screening team at work, above.</span></b> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unique dental patients:
6,942. </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 4,000th dental patient with Mercy Ships
founder, Don Stephens (middle back).</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>Twenty Ponseti club foot
corrections. Above and below, </strong></span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ponseti baby, Ismaila in
his brace.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68zNP2SVpVg/Wa2pJzEYaOI/AAAAAAAAJ6c/zqCGo8YQtH8q_vjmLiAf168FALk_coxugCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/006-752620.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462007026139031778" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68zNP2SVpVg/Wa2pJzEYaOI/AAAAAAAAJ6c/zqCGo8YQtH8q_vjmLiAf168FALk_coxugCK4BGAYYCw/s400/006-752620.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Palliative care provisions
for 26 patients. Above, the p</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">alliative care team on a
home visit with a terminally ill patient. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-no-proof: yes;">An exciting development within Mercy Ships, in the past
few years, has been the dramatic increase in Medical Capacity Building. </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is Medical Capacity Building
(MCB)?</span></b><br />
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Mercy Ships healthcare training
program aims to enhance the standards of care within the surgical ecosystem in
partner hospitals or other healthcare institutions. </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With this objective in mind, the organization has developed practical
and relevant healthcare training projects that demonstrate and impart
knowledge, skills, and a compassionate, professional attitude to each
participant. These training opportunities include structured observation, courses,
and mentoring.” </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(MCB Home page Africa Mercy Navigator)</span></b><br />
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Mercy
Ships has offered a number of MCB courses and educational opportunities
throughout our field service in Benin. Some of the courses run include….</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0glQJDmeZPM/Wa2pKjlqEfI/AAAAAAAAJ6k/7mCb8AMfATAx7JBaZj3tdPApbf4eV0AhgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/007-755538.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462007039163503090" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0glQJDmeZPM/Wa2pKjlqEfI/AAAAAAAAJ6k/7mCb8AMfATAx7JBaZj3tdPApbf4eV0AhgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/007-755538.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Neonatal
Resuscitation......</span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt;">Helping
Babies Breathe (HBB) is a neonatal resuscitation curriculum created for
resource-limited circumstances. It was developed on the premise that assessment
at birth and simple newborn care can improve chances for survival. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(MCB
Home page Africa Mercy Navigator)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The course utilizes the brilliantly designed NeoNatalie kits which
include crucial learning tools such as breathing masks, stethoscopes and mock
syringes. The life-like doll is an invaluable teaching aide. A pump can be
attached to make NeoNatalie “breathe” and to give her a “pulse” that can be checked
through the umbilical cord or by stethoscope. The chest visibly rises and
enables students to practice giving chest compressions, which click when done
correctly.” </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Grace Antonini, AFM Writer)</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3Ku8Y5NmOA/Wa2pLByHC3I/AAAAAAAAJ6s/vyAjk9VeSIoblXgi7K5xLLUCMGBAeMjrQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/008-758460.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462007047268797298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V3Ku8Y5NmOA/Wa2pLByHC3I/AAAAAAAAJ6s/vyAjk9VeSIoblXgi7K5xLLUCMGBAeMjrQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/008-758460.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Primary Trauma Care.......</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Primary Trauma Care (PTC) course was created to offer training to
trauma response physicians and nurses in low resource environments, and is
intended to provide basic knowledge and skills necessary to identify and treat
those traumatized patients who require rapid assessment, resuscitation, and
stabilization of their injuries. This course will particularly highlight the
need for early recognition and timely intervention in </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">specific life-threatening conditions.”</span><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(MCB
Home page Africa Mercy Navigator)</span></b><span style="background: black; border: none black 1.0pt; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0cm;"></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RidTfjzvSvA/Wa2pL4JF5CI/AAAAAAAAJ60/ZtLpU_AO4q4Vv-a2Q5dGNbXilWIc7X_uACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/009-761249.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462007061860705314" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RidTfjzvSvA/Wa2pL4JF5CI/AAAAAAAAJ60/ZtLpU_AO4q4Vv-a2Q5dGNbXilWIc7X_uACK4BGAYYCw/s400/009-761249.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Essential Surgical Skills.......</span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Essential Surgical
Skills Course (ESSC) is a two-day course designed to introduce surgical
trainees to use safe surgical techniques that are common to all forms of
surgery.</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Students learn a wide range of surgical skills – everything
from sterile gowning and gloving, knot tying, and instrument handling; to
excision, debridement, and bowel, tendon, and vascular repair, using pig
tissues for practice!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">"</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“When asked about
what changes they will make as a result of the training, one participant noted,” </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "berylium"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have to be careful about being surgically
sterile which is very important in the emergency services, different kind of
sutures with tissues, also the surgical knots."</span></i></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(MCB Home
page Africa Mercy Navigator, Krissy Close MCB Blog Navigator)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DDEWTRNrMNI/Wa2pMjHk1FI/AAAAAAAAJ68/xT4M2fDrb8UZWitkXaoCTm7aEwXrumhXACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/010-764248.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462007073397068882" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DDEWTRNrMNI/Wa2pMjHk1FI/AAAAAAAAJ68/xT4M2fDrb8UZWitkXaoCTm7aEwXrumhXACK4BGAYYCw/s400/010-764248.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sterile
Processing........</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The
goal of the sterile processing program is to impart knowledge, skills, and a
compassionate, professional attitude in sterile processing to the technicians
and nurses in a way that will lead to transformational development in local
hospitals in the Mercy Ships target region.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(MCB
Home page Africa Mercy Navigator)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDU95ho-GM/Wa2pNcFG1LI/AAAAAAAAJ7E/4jwwgwTd7LIlw_3ws0SMY3a2eBElnWRsACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/011-767282.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="255" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6462007088687535282" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BtDU95ho-GM/Wa2pNcFG1LI/AAAAAAAAJ7E/4jwwgwTd7LIlw_3ws0SMY3a2eBElnWRsACK4BGAYYCw/s400/011-767282.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A few other
stats….<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Participants in MCB
Mentoring: 88<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;">MCB Renovations: Facility
at Centre de Sante de Zogbo for Dental Clinic and</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> facility at Centre de Sante
de Missessin for HOPE Centre<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mercy Ministries partner
visits: 269 (crew participant opportunities: 1,987)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whilst
the statistics are impressive, it is important to remember that behind every
number there is a life, a life that has been restored and where hope has been
made tangible. We may not all work in the hospital but we are one body and we
have all contributed towards the radical change of nations whom much of the
rest of the world has forgotten about. We strive to give our all, to the glory
of God. We are not perfect, we are humans, broken and weak, but God has chosen
us for such a time as this, to help provide holistic care, body, mind and
spirit for the poorest of the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-62735257487113117462017-08-27T19:55:00.000+00:002017-08-27T19:55:16.702+00:00Ganvie<div class="mobile-photo">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For
Mother’s Day I received a gorgeous turquoise stone necklace. I have long
admired this type of stone that is readily available all over Africa. It was
only twelve bucks but the best part of the story is where I found it! I found
this lovely creation at a “souvenir shop” on water in Africa’s largest stilt
village, Ganvie, in Benin, West Africa! Now you cannot say I do not go to the
ends of the earth to source my eclectic collection of souvenirs. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had been desperate to go to Ganvie for ages but
time ticked away and before I knew it the end of the field service was looming
and I still had not visited the mysterious Ganvie. But I was determined not to
leave Benin without visiting this unique water village,</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Africa’s largest slit water village, lying in Lake Nokoue,
with a population of over 20,000. The village was established in the 1700’s by
the Kings of Dahomey (Benin). <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the moment we began cruising
down the river towards the village, a three hour rerun trip, I was captivated.
The sights, sounds and smells overwhelming my senses. Everywhere I turned there
was something to see, sometimes captivating, sometimes sad and sometimes just
downright curious. We saw the extent of the poverty seeping into the river
where people bathe, wash their clothes and defecate, without regard.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We passed dozens of fish farms,
one of the main sources of livelihood in Cotonou and a staple in the West African
diet. Withered old men and young boys alike were diving into the water and
casting out nets under the shimmering sun.
Taxi canoes strained under the weight of their heavy load carrying
people swathed in vibrant colours, to and fro up and down the vein of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The market hummed, almost alive
selling everything from phones to fabric, pineapples to plasticware. Everything
you never knew you really needed. Garbage littered the banks of the river and
the smell wafted towards our boat melding with the humidity. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The village itself loomed out of
nowhere as the water became shallower and colourful wooden buildings rose on
slits from the murky depths. Children laughed and played inside canoes while
their mammas did a trade, one canoe to another. Churches, a mosque, schools,
health clinics, shops and even a hotel somehow balanced on water. The locals
went about their business mostly ignoring the tourists gawking at this
impossibility of over 20,000 people conducting their entire lives on water.
Some glared our way as we raised our camera lenses while other gave a friendly
wave and posed. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Surprisingly our boat tour passed
by several souvenir shops, a coincidence I am sure of. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Beautiful, colourful jewellery, beaded maracas, drums, carvings of all
manner of things, wooden pipes, cars made out of coke cans, stunning paintings
and woven baskets called for our attention. That’s when I spotted it……my
turquoise stone necklace. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Please enjoy this photographic journey of our trip to Ganvie………</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9BIPLPNEKY/WaMV0dvfV9I/AAAAAAAAJ0M/QWnp7aWGIfcOsUFThfWo8efrARu0NGt_wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/001-775014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030281660618706" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9BIPLPNEKY/WaMV0dvfV9I/AAAAAAAAJ0M/QWnp7aWGIfcOsUFThfWo8efrARu0NGt_wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/001-775014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me in our boat on the Lake Nokoue.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="198" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030292166143746" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoVNkhm54B4/WaMV1E4M7wI/AAAAAAAAJ0U/mcR_y1EEMZIzHkasd82s8KmKWFPRZVXFgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/003%2B%25282%2529-777973.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lake taxis outside Marche Dantokpa.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw_doevaA7E/WaMV1tYYmUI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/VVJkqAf0COYc0Hij7csgOB2K0ETDysb_wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/004-780461.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030303038544194" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw_doevaA7E/WaMV1tYYmUI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/VVJkqAf0COYc0Hij7csgOB2K0ETDysb_wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/004-780461.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e2JiUC1HJyU/WaMV2YGzh-I/AAAAAAAAJ0k/P57EwcDlv_Y2D6HJFlAFlBmgbzfTLEnTQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/005-783087.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="206" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030314507536354" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e2JiUC1HJyU/WaMV2YGzh-I/AAAAAAAAJ0k/P57EwcDlv_Y2D6HJFlAFlBmgbzfTLEnTQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/005-783087.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Baskets of fish.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kATzj6fPgS8/WaMV3HkO6HI/AAAAAAAAJ0s/Z6JfN_SwyuQgjojudH0UzE2z50obPAC3ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/006-785962.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030327247431794" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kATzj6fPgS8/WaMV3HkO6HI/AAAAAAAAJ0s/Z6JfN_SwyuQgjojudH0UzE2z50obPAC3ACK4BGAYYCw/s400/006-785962.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lovely colourful ladies going about their business!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0fZLPqOAh5Q/WaMV3kc49dI/AAAAAAAAJ00/EjFhEBlmHjQh_o4W8BA7gHcAa-jDifCRwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/007%2B%25282%2529-788748.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030335001261522" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0fZLPqOAh5Q/WaMV3kc49dI/AAAAAAAAJ00/EjFhEBlmHjQh_o4W8BA7gHcAa-jDifCRwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/007%2B%25282%2529-788748.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Launching fishing nets from a canoe. <br />(P.C Christoph Nerz)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBpgcYLB_ts/WaMV4XimJSI/AAAAAAAAJ08/gOrZHM8yv-kKdvpC3qrjnVnRRewQYcyuwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/007-791324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030348715402530" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBpgcYLB_ts/WaMV4XimJSI/AAAAAAAAJ08/gOrZHM8yv-kKdvpC3qrjnVnRRewQYcyuwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/007-791324.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Solitude.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt4jmaU8LTA/WaMV5Mrz12I/AAAAAAAAJ1E/3mapGUq8tYMrAPH3lup4Rt9IDXwcyAL7gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/008-794192.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="273" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030362981128034" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt4jmaU8LTA/WaMV5Mrz12I/AAAAAAAAJ1E/3mapGUq8tYMrAPH3lup4Rt9IDXwcyAL7gCK4BGAYYCw/s400/008-794192.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fishing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zh0lmbkpqJs/WaMV5xPxUaI/AAAAAAAAJ1M/A4VNrGxIKiktG2xB0rIMeEFNze0RUSagQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/009-797276.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="263" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030372795634082" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zh0lmbkpqJs/WaMV5xPxUaI/AAAAAAAAJ1M/A4VNrGxIKiktG2xB0rIMeEFNze0RUSagQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/009-797276.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gathering plant life to help with trapping the fish.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZB-qeW9Okg/WaMV6s9F3kI/AAAAAAAAJ1U/UAV_KX5FHDU6OPmTak1dmC9MG91BpDB2QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/010-700115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="268" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030388823416386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZB-qeW9Okg/WaMV6s9F3kI/AAAAAAAAJ1U/UAV_KX5FHDU6OPmTak1dmC9MG91BpDB2QCK4BGAYYCw/s400/010-700115.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Taxi canoe with a cover!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fWHKN1qQV0w/WaMV7Sux0aI/AAAAAAAAJ1c/CIIChOel7XAP8Ojz1zPhv12vmirrum7CQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/012-702941.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030398963929506" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fWHKN1qQV0w/WaMV7Sux0aI/AAAAAAAAJ1c/CIIChOel7XAP8Ojz1zPhv12vmirrum7CQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/012-702941.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lots of fishing going on here. Patiently waiting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpL900QpuNM/WaMV8P27oGI/AAAAAAAAJ1k/f8FxPFXWx4MqUbv8zFSWXsUaFCNVXljYACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/013-705818.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="311" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030415372689506" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpL900QpuNM/WaMV8P27oGI/AAAAAAAAJ1k/f8FxPFXWx4MqUbv8zFSWXsUaFCNVXljYACK4BGAYYCw/s400/013-705818.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Behold Ganvie and it's beautiful reflections.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDdOsrLWFE8/WaMV8jhWEQI/AAAAAAAAJ1s/bcqTiI-f2Xw9B_NygWJj4Z70nYIVgxAsgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/014%2BJustine-708643.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030420650856706" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDdOsrLWFE8/WaMV8jhWEQI/AAAAAAAAJ1s/bcqTiI-f2Xw9B_NygWJj4Z70nYIVgxAsgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/014%2BJustine-708643.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(P.C Justine Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7PdptQ6-Ec/WaMV9YQ0zRI/AAAAAAAAJ10/4h6Qu_u-EAwW-pX6Gj9kvemTyj61ApHTQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/015-711324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030434808646930" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7PdptQ6-Ec/WaMV9YQ0zRI/AAAAAAAAJ10/4h6Qu_u-EAwW-pX6Gj9kvemTyj61ApHTQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/015-711324.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzLBCUKTbXM/WaMV-MNg4FI/AAAAAAAAJ18/QFoD6Bf6upAgK7FHWO-I1KLkBs8lk4OegCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/016-714389.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030448753401938" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzLBCUKTbXM/WaMV-MNg4FI/AAAAAAAAJ18/QFoD6Bf6upAgK7FHWO-I1KLkBs8lk4OegCK4BGAYYCw/s400/016-714389.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Great balance!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aERGGuLAABg/WaMV-7XVLKI/AAAAAAAAJ2E/d0cmIgJhHe0zshJHQKJk23ObOAYPNyveACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/017%2BChristoph%2BNerz%2B%25282%2529-717222.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030461411044514" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aERGGuLAABg/WaMV-7XVLKI/AAAAAAAAJ2E/d0cmIgJhHe0zshJHQKJk23ObOAYPNyveACK4BGAYYCw/s400/017%2BChristoph%2BNerz%2B%25282%2529-717222.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kids having fun the way you do when you live on water! <br />(P.C Above and below, Christoph Nerz )</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9As9WB19TvE/WaMV_omEa7I/AAAAAAAAJ2M/6Pvx38FRF5keEZU-1KgPar01ZRape47kACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/018%2BChristoph%2BNerz%2B%25284%2529-720079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030473552456626" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9As9WB19TvE/WaMV_omEa7I/AAAAAAAAJ2M/6Pvx38FRF5keEZU-1KgPar01ZRape47kACK4BGAYYCw/s400/018%2BChristoph%2BNerz%2B%25284%2529-720079.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdpyacNcAAk/WaMWAR3eiBI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/6tXqH0Hn7DImAnQDpSvRRTdADls7FnKmACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/019%2BJustine-723080.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030484631324690" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdpyacNcAAk/WaMWAR3eiBI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/6tXqH0Hn7DImAnQDpSvRRTdADls7FnKmACK4BGAYYCw/s400/019%2BJustine-723080.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fruit and veg shopping the slit village way!<br />(P.C Justine Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RoK0EhAn6sk/WaMWBNwChuI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/-7ejD7PtkVMI2YzSpNdQdTuYl1Clk39ugCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/020-726225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030500706256610" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RoK0EhAn6sk/WaMWBNwChuI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/-7ejD7PtkVMI2YzSpNdQdTuYl1Clk39ugCK4BGAYYCw/s400/020-726225.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little girl, big muscles!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-43u35Ag_JnU/WaMWB9LFMYI/AAAAAAAAJ2k/mi5LyjKyNzIkYmXBr2Ekgr7EmuBmp0OcQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/021-729345.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030513436144002" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-43u35Ag_JnU/WaMWB9LFMYI/AAAAAAAAJ2k/mi5LyjKyNzIkYmXBr2Ekgr7EmuBmp0OcQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/021-729345.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The washing still needs to be done.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCoABIGu__k/WaMWCoj5VAI/AAAAAAAAJ2s/kBbYtWauCUMieSAHiSn1nFdnqXczWn7EwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/022%2BChristoph%2BNerz%2B%25283%2529-732202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030525082948610" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCoABIGu__k/WaMWCoj5VAI/AAAAAAAAJ2s/kBbYtWauCUMieSAHiSn1nFdnqXczWn7EwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/022%2BChristoph%2BNerz%2B%25283%2529-732202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vibrant colours.<br />(P.C Christoph Nerz)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R5CYCCU_P-M/WaMWDXRQ6pI/AAAAAAAAJ20/0QcmzerCP9oyNG91H_3__Zis6Trg8u6uwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/023-734855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030537621269138" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R5CYCCU_P-M/WaMWDXRQ6pI/AAAAAAAAJ20/0QcmzerCP9oyNG91H_3__Zis6Trg8u6uwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/023-734855.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shoe shopping.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Icr1z3KzwV0/WaMWD2ok3wI/AAAAAAAAJ28/IweXTDS93Wknu_nRwUhWAARg2CF7VkengCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/024%2BJustine%2BBEE170225_GANVIE_JF0002_MID-737564.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030546040545026" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Icr1z3KzwV0/WaMWD2ok3wI/AAAAAAAAJ28/IweXTDS93Wknu_nRwUhWAARg2CF7VkengCK4BGAYYCw/s400/024%2BJustine%2BBEE170225_GANVIE_JF0002_MID-737564.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Neighborhood gossip.<br />(P.C. Justine Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PuuL2mmMa-I/WaMWErwAnOI/AAAAAAAAJ3E/BKLj1L51Uqc5dOQDLaGagR4kq-hj3noIACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/025-740203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="313" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030560298802402" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PuuL2mmMa-I/WaMWErwAnOI/AAAAAAAAJ3E/BKLj1L51Uqc5dOQDLaGagR4kq-hj3noIACK4BGAYYCw/s400/025-740203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More washing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbHIXXBipdA/WaMWFYPedsI/AAAAAAAAJ3M/1O2uHe7LAyomAFGjdthPRmcbRLu7wJddwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/026-742668.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030572241942210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbHIXXBipdA/WaMWFYPedsI/AAAAAAAAJ3M/1O2uHe7LAyomAFGjdthPRmcbRLu7wJddwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/026-742668.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Friendly greetings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UrgyGJ7TIcc/WaMWGAueOcI/AAAAAAAAJ3U/XgQQb47LDRMN8D-LCJf6JZJGbihMLl5YgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/027-745821.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="332" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030583109368258" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UrgyGJ7TIcc/WaMWGAueOcI/AAAAAAAAJ3U/XgQQb47LDRMN8D-LCJf6JZJGbihMLl5YgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/027-745821.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beautiful African fabric such a contrast to the drab surroundings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1dSoWCH92A/WaMWG5KEqoI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/DC8T2Rg-4KY8iW_LMFdHJc-lvBOkh8vKwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/028-748939.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030598257519234" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1dSoWCH92A/WaMWG5KEqoI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/DC8T2Rg-4KY8iW_LMFdHJc-lvBOkh8vKwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/028-748939.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of my favourite pics!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SdwmiBUfNqM/WaMWHhivndI/AAAAAAAAJ3k/Zu8f_qNcNO4kyQuwrDkNnE208E68ME72gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/029-751866.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="282" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030609098415570" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SdwmiBUfNqM/WaMWHhivndI/AAAAAAAAJ3k/Zu8f_qNcNO4kyQuwrDkNnE208E68ME72gCK4BGAYYCw/s400/029-751866.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A little more reflection.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cjQwNFzHjgI/WaMWIZhenKI/AAAAAAAAJ3s/m2sknj8-P4UekK2lzEP-f1nvDhpg9kI6ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/030-754614.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="301" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030624125492386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cjQwNFzHjgI/WaMWIZhenKI/AAAAAAAAJ3s/m2sknj8-P4UekK2lzEP-f1nvDhpg9kI6ACK4BGAYYCw/s400/030-754614.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Young men making their way around.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUjBpGg-S8s/WaMWJKXp6gI/AAAAAAAAJ30/_srU5QQF6Vc2Slw6UJ-9UNc3XKAF8oXZwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/031-757824.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030637237627394" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUjBpGg-S8s/WaMWJKXp6gI/AAAAAAAAJ30/_srU5QQF6Vc2Slw6UJ-9UNc3XKAF8oXZwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/031-757824.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stocked up with wares to sell.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7hlKvcr4EQ/WaMWJ457ibI/AAAAAAAAJ38/L1IUo9SvffUa67M_r3gGTGfE-VedNE5dwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/032-760924.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030649729419698" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7hlKvcr4EQ/WaMWJ457ibI/AAAAAAAAJ38/L1IUo9SvffUa67M_r3gGTGfE-VedNE5dwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/032-760924.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can't go anywhere without encountering a gift shop these days, right? A stilt village in Cotonou, Benin was no exception! As our guide tried to take us to our third "souvenir shop" we told him no more! :) Above you can spot my lovely tourquoise beads, in the back of the photo.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_NXtJ1dnbI/WaMWKjlAY7I/AAAAAAAAJ4E/L9JLj68uHQ4MywloW69jA5fdKtLvXXEKACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/033-764193.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030661184381874" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_NXtJ1dnbI/WaMWKjlAY7I/AAAAAAAAJ4E/L9JLj68uHQ4MywloW69jA5fdKtLvXXEKACK4BGAYYCw/s400/033-764193.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A classic African percussion instrument, the shaker!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SynvMS6HKA4/WaMWLdKaRnI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/O_YNXmMOtiMAmIB3OsMAkgpHls43P12XACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/034-766894.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030676642088562" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SynvMS6HKA4/WaMWLdKaRnI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/O_YNXmMOtiMAmIB3OsMAkgpHls43P12XACK4BGAYYCw/s400/034-766894.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />When I go bored of the souvenirs I went and had a chat to this friendly local, Raphael who spoke a little English.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOJZfjonVSM/WaMWME9JBMI/AAAAAAAAJ4U/ZqJ6FIhCGzMLQGwJNt448eUNDqyoH-RdgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/035-770039.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030687323849922" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOJZfjonVSM/WaMWME9JBMI/AAAAAAAAJ4U/ZqJ6FIhCGzMLQGwJNt448eUNDqyoH-RdgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/035-770039.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our humble, but motorized, transportation for three hours.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0qrD3vVgwU/WaMWMz_1n4I/AAAAAAAAJ4c/WDq160enl2k9YuT8yOnhj0frIiS4NqTcwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/036-772584.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="310" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6459030699951628162" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0qrD3vVgwU/WaMWMz_1n4I/AAAAAAAAJ4c/WDq160enl2k9YuT8yOnhj0frIiS4NqTcwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/036-772584.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our group.<br /><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: top;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“….Ganvie seems to be
nothing short of an organic creation – a town where nature went a little off
the rails and the reeds and weeds just grew up into houses, shops and a
marketplace……the locals eat on water, sleep on water and work and play on
water.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Benin Bradt Guide)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-54352479043170406592017-03-30T19:56:00.000+00:002017-04-01T22:20:39.061+00:00My God Shall Supply All my Needs<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sat and stared at my sister's t-shirt in awe. The word "Mercy" written brazenly across the front. It was as if God had reached down from heaven and written it himself.<br /><br />We had recently learned about the organisation Mercy Ships (this was way back in 2005) and had been wrestling with the idea of packing everything up, throwing caution to the wind and joining a big white hospital ship in the nations of Africa to serve the poorest of the poor. <br /><br />Fast forward eleven years and we are soon to embark on our eighth and final (for this season) field service with Mercy Ships on the M/V Africa Mercy. <br /><br />Things didn't quite work out the way we had planned and we had some timing issues with God. But turns out, as usual, that God knew best and five long years after our initial training, in 2006, we finally walked up the gangway of the Africa Mercy in 2011. Hard to fathom we will be walking down it for the last time in a bit over a year, in 2018! And that year will fly by. We have already started the lasts, can you believe it? A few weeks ago, I had my last Mercy Ships physical, one last I am not sorry about! :). I have put in our last order with the pharmacy for medications for the next field service and teachers are in the throes of organising Jessica's last year in the Academy. My baby arrived as a girl and will be leaving a grown women! <br /><br />The thing that has stuck me quite a lot lately has been God's amazing financial provision. Never once have we lacked for any of our needs and many of our wants have been met also. Sure, our wants and needs are substantially simpler that they were when we were lived in Australia but its that such a bad thing? Hey, I am just looking forward to buying some clothes that are not threadbare. The more we receive, the more we have been able to give and what a privilege that is. Andrew sometimes "tells me off " for giving too much away but I think if we have been blessed so abundantly, then surely God wants us to bless others too. It give me such great joy! :)<br /><br />When we were preparing to attend our Gateway training in Texas, USA at the Mercy Ships International Operations Centre we did the rounds, speaking at lots of different churches in South East Queensland, where we were living at the time. We were doing the dreaded "F' word! Fundraising!!! The word strikes a certain fear into heart of most people. It means putting yourself out there and becoming vulnerable for and passionate about a cause that is close to your heart. From my quite extensive (now) experience with fundraising I have found that doing exactly that and being real draws people in. We are flawed, just like everyone else and we were just chasing the dream that God planted in our hearts and the mission he called us to. <br /><br />Somehow, in some way God has always come through for us. When we had five weeks notice to come to the ship, our house sold in record time in a depressed market and somehow, in some way we scraped up the funds to come to the ship. When the bottom fell out of the Aussie dollar, He brought us extra supporters from the USA and somehow we made it though. When I needed to fly back to Australia to have plastic surgery on a skin cancer on my nose, He provided. When we made the call for help with Jessica's online class expenses, He made a way. All along the journey, God has confirmed our calling, even though it has been one of the hardest things we have ever done, by continuing to provide for us!<br /><br />As I gasped at the pain that ripped though my stomach in the wee hours of a humid Cotonou night I wondered what could possibly be wrong. After hours of not vomiting or going to the toilet I began to get worried. What could these terrible pains be? There didn't seem to be any explanation. Then, as suddenly as they came over me, they disappeared and I fell back into a fitful sleep. <br /><br />The next day I saw the crew doctor and she told me that it was my gallbladder. She asked me about my insurance and I think I shocked her when I bust into tears. Somehow I knew it was coming but had been in denial. Memories came flooding back of my last trip away for medical treatment. The long days of travel, being apart from Andrew and Jess for six weeks, the pain and the infections that lasted months after I came back to the ship. I didn't know if I had it in me to do it all over again.<br /><br />But things were only going to get worse, as I remembered that our yearly travel insurance policy was due to expire in just two weeks. After many, many weeks of negotiations, my claim was denied as, under a new policy, my condition was considered pre-existing and therefore would not be covered. It was a very stressful time and between the flurry of emails and phone calls with our insurance company I learned that my beautiful Nan has passed away and I could not be there to say my final goodbyes. I was in the depths of despair and didn't know what to do. I was in pain, I was grieving and I was lonely and afraid. We talked about going home. It just didn't seem fair to go out like this!<br /><br />I met with a friend for coffee and she suggested that I email our friends and family and just put our situation out there. Back to the big "F" word again. Back to being real and honest and sharing our challenges in an open way.I had no idea what would happen. Well God chose that moment to open the floodgates! For the past six years we have been grateful for God's provision but this time we were absolutely blown away. God was not done with us on this big white hospital ship just yet!<br /><br />As the week flew by and dozens of emails and messages poured in with promises of donations, prayer, love and support I was brought to my knees, thanking the One who always has and always will provide for us. One morning, later in the week, I opened an email from the Australian Mercy Ships office to say that our fundraising goal for my surgery had well and truly been met and tears began to stream down my face. I was unsure why I even doubted.<br /><br />That was a few months ago now and I can say that my surgery and all my expenses are fully covered, we have purchased a year of "proper" health insurance with an ex-pat missionary insurance company and we have enough to insure ourselves with them until our return to Australia in 2018!<br /><br />As I prepare to depart the ship, next week, I find myself thinking back to those early fundraising days. We never had any clue what the future was going to hold and the amazing, joyful, painful, exhilarating, gut wrenching, humbling, exciting, life changing journey we were about to travel! We spoke in a little church in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, funnily enough in the home town of the Mercy Ships Australia National Office. Trying to be frugal, (and perhaps preparing for life ahead :) ) we stayed in a backpackers and when we went to settle our bill we got to taking to the owner. People are always fascinated to hear about Mercy Ships and he was no exception. <br /><br />With no hesitation, he pushed some money into our hands and prophetically declared the bible verse, ".....my God will supply all your needs, according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. <br /><br />Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-52689202182699362332016-12-16T19:35:00.000+00:002016-12-16T20:11:40.942+00:00Confessions of an Escort<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wrote this blog post the evening of the day I went to screening, back in early September but somehow kept not getting around to posting it. Since our screening has recently wrapped up for Benin and plans are full steam ahead for screening in Cameroon, our next port of call, I thought it was timely to post it now. It also helps me to feel gratitude which I will confess I often find hard at this time of the year, on the ship. This is our fifth Christmas on the ship (in a row) and I am feeling weary. I want to embrace all the traditions of Christmas on board, knowing that one day I will pine for them, but I find myself wishing I was home (my other home) within a familiar culture and with my family. But as I re-read my post I am brought to my knees and not because I cannot walk because my limbs are too twisted, but by how lucky I really have it!! I am blessed beyond measure. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Get ready to be broken.....</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was the
lady crawling on her hand and knees that was my undoing. I felt the tears prick
behind my eyes and an uncomfortable lump forming in my throat. “I cannot lose
it here, I cannot lose it here, I cannot lose it right in front of her”! I
watched her crawl up to the screening nurse, a grown women reduced to the
position of a toddler. She stared up expectantly into the compassionate eyes of
the nurse as she communicated, through the translator, that we could not help
her. With a stoic look on her face, the woman, stood as tall as she could on
her swollen and calloused knees and hobbled off before falling back down to her
hands, back to her crawling position and began the slow, painful crawl, in the
dirt to the exit. I have seen a lot in my time in Africa but I found out on
that day, that I still have not seen everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is
screening. Finding out who we can treat and how many we can fit in the surgical
schedule, shuffling through 11,000 people over three weeks. I spent one day at
the screening site, a large local school, working as a patient escort, guiding patients to the exit or onto further screening. Our screening and security team were
there for three weeks! Can you imagine being the one who takes away a person’s
very last hope for a “normal” life or perhaps even life at all? Close your eyes
and imagine your feet aching to the bone, fatigue both physical and emotional
like you have never felt before and crushing someone’s spirit with a few words,
over and over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Watching the
hope slip away from a person eyes and body is visibly perceivable. Their body
slumps over, their eyes are downcast, some with tears forming, some begging for
one last chance, their feet shuffle. It is the look of hope shattered. I hear
her voice and see the pain in her eyes as she looks directly into mine, “Please
can’t somebody help me” as she clutches her deformed and twisted hand, the hand
that has to carry her children, the hand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>that needs to help her to earn a living to feed her family. I listen as
her quite tears turn to sobs as I direct her to the exit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I stood
at my first post, with no medical background, just my years of attending medical
screenings, my mind begins to pre-screen. I already know who is going to be
sent to the right for yes and to the left for no. I know the ortho schedule is
full and my heart breaks for the literally dozens of kids I see with their
crooked legs making their way slowly through the snaking line, I see the mamas
untying their babies off their backs, their babies legs twisted, adults who
have lived a lifetime with contorted limbs and I know that very soon, their hope
will be destroyed and I can hardly stand it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
sometimes, between dozens of “No’s” there is a “Yes, we may be able to help
you”! Escorting a patient who has been told they can move on in the screening
is a very different experience than being on the exit. A shy glint of joy, mixed
with subtle disbelief, reflects from their features, as if they cannot believe
that they could possibly be free from their physical burden. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is why
we are here. We cannot be all things to all people and for that we have to
trust in God. We have to hold fast to the belief that God has ordained the
moment that each and every person, who receives surgery, stands in line on the
right day, at the right time and in the right city. Without this belief, our
souls could be destroyed, crushed under a mountain of guilt and “what if’s”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I left
the screening site and returned to the ship, my body exhausted, I reflected on
the day, still feeling raw, my emotions simmering under the surface, my thoughts
screaming, “Why? What is wrong with our world? Why is a grown woman crawling in
the dirt when I was born into a country of fabulous wealth, world class health
care and education, clean drinking water and not a crawling woman in sight?” I
don’t know the answers to these burning questions and I don’t profess to be any
great theologian. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe one
day, when I am standing at the feet of Jesus, I can ask him.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">We were blessed that an amazing photographer was on board with us during the original screening weeks. You may have seen his work in the link on my post about shipyard. His ability to capture raw emotion and everyday events, in a beautiful way is uncanny. That is why I have so many photos. It was so hard to chose.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Some images below you may find disturbing.)</span> </span></span></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBGQEXEP4oM/WFQIa7ozi5I/AAAAAAAAJko/ePkMv4J1ZZY_GgeDCLCVUX3I_QlgcQM1ACK4B/s1600/001-785832.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721432159816594" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBGQEXEP4oM/WFQIa7ozi5I/AAAAAAAAJko/ePkMv4J1ZZY_GgeDCLCVUX3I_QlgcQM1ACK4B/s400/001-785832.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dawn screening lines.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pneka-KBsa4/WFQIbaNiqJI/AAAAAAAAJkw/yNySbpDxp0QZLOqeSatFpJzbHZO6sJICACK4B/s1600/002-787955.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721440366962834" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pneka-KBsa4/WFQIbaNiqJI/AAAAAAAAJkw/yNySbpDxp0QZLOqeSatFpJzbHZO6sJICACK4B/s400/002-787955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The barely controlled chaos that is our screening trademark.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-01t827MzRh8/WFQIb8PpdEI/AAAAAAAAJk4/cHPsAnywNU8T7Ch7IfUM73XIrwBXCOiNgCK4B/s1600/003-789718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721449502602306" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-01t827MzRh8/WFQIb8PpdEI/AAAAAAAAJk4/cHPsAnywNU8T7Ch7IfUM73XIrwBXCOiNgCK4B/s400/003-789718.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oh06UZ6QdIY/WFQIcZto3rI/AAAAAAAAJlA/a6rznFY-a1kyz12VGEzK7AKoZVxjMCuRQCK4B/s1600/004-791687.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721457413021362" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oh06UZ6QdIY/WFQIcZto3rI/AAAAAAAAJlA/a6rznFY-a1kyz12VGEzK7AKoZVxjMCuRQCK4B/s400/004-791687.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCyqYdwMpcE/WFQIcva1LoI/AAAAAAAAJlI/O_xvyHjKphYCM3Rlegbcb_JmVoVpzgMzQCK4B/s1600/005-793460.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721463239716482" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCyqYdwMpcE/WFQIcva1LoI/AAAAAAAAJlI/O_xvyHjKphYCM3Rlegbcb_JmVoVpzgMzQCK4B/s400/005-793460.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Elephantitis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk1LN_wGTRs/WFQIdPX-cnI/AAAAAAAAJlQ/5yNgqvgj3P4Qyuwp1fkTrOjWgD8o0_VYgCK4B/s1600/006-795247.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721471817675378" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk1LN_wGTRs/WFQIdPX-cnI/AAAAAAAAJlQ/5yNgqvgj3P4Qyuwp1fkTrOjWgD8o0_VYgCK4B/s400/006-795247.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So many bow legs.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7-ZGL96qrs/WFQIdltAU4I/AAAAAAAAJlY/2gtTt6_l6YQ9fVhoQ2JcGZdlpq_Fpy3KwCK4B/s1600/007-797271.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721477811458946" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7-ZGL96qrs/WFQIdltAU4I/AAAAAAAAJlY/2gtTt6_l6YQ9fVhoQ2JcGZdlpq_Fpy3KwCK4B/s400/007-797271.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzBbokxep4Y/WFQIeL8WdyI/AAAAAAAAJlg/CDWuJAwflFkqSYSnpxmGvGq4prfsps-GwCK4B/s1600/008-799141.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721488076371746" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzBbokxep4Y/WFQIeL8WdyI/AAAAAAAAJlg/CDWuJAwflFkqSYSnpxmGvGq4prfsps-GwCK4B/s400/008-799141.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZBdUPnqHIM/WFQIei6eSTI/AAAAAAAAJlo/gZ6XuRcNFWQaUXa2jKfhLI833F9VaRVyACK4B/s1600/009-701000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721494242511154" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZBdUPnqHIM/WFQIei6eSTI/AAAAAAAAJlo/gZ6XuRcNFWQaUXa2jKfhLI833F9VaRVyACK4B/s400/009-701000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4k7hroI6qiA/WFQIfL3KujI/AAAAAAAAJlw/Mato-KCIAeAvIAlZhqjK1PZlKIOHXNS6gCK4B/s1600/010-703254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721505234500146" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4k7hroI6qiA/WFQIfL3KujI/AAAAAAAAJlw/Mato-KCIAeAvIAlZhqjK1PZlKIOHXNS6gCK4B/s400/010-703254.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some cannot stand in line for so many hours.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBgw8tL71EU/WFQIfj25lLI/AAAAAAAAJl4/kTyAuhnnnNM98KUHBzWp2B7w48yBsyyoQCK4B/s1600/011-705259.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721511675827378" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UBgw8tL71EU/WFQIfj25lLI/AAAAAAAAJl4/kTyAuhnnnNM98KUHBzWp2B7w48yBsyyoQCK4B/s400/011-705259.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uElQL69mO6s/WFQIgBCcqzI/AAAAAAAAJmA/2ViKiizI0zUW0mP2WFV04wh6QFzR_I_ygCK4B/s1600/012-707143.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721519508892466" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uElQL69mO6s/WFQIgBCcqzI/AAAAAAAAJmA/2ViKiizI0zUW0mP2WFV04wh6QFzR_I_ygCK4B/s400/012-707143.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kH2CFqp4RyE/WFQIgt-XdHI/AAAAAAAAJmI/9jqrC53OHCAlkro_ajvvAMkF_m9ZUEC6ACK4B/s1600/013-709213.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721531571369074" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kH2CFqp4RyE/WFQIgt-XdHI/AAAAAAAAJmI/9jqrC53OHCAlkro_ajvvAMkF_m9ZUEC6ACK4B/s400/013-709213.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyzL2_Svwp0/WFQIhL8XYWI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/JnAH2L4ELjw9kuiBUzn1VTTSLkTyBLtggCK4B/s1600/014-711239.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721539616039266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyzL2_Svwp0/WFQIhL8XYWI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/JnAH2L4ELjw9kuiBUzn1VTTSLkTyBLtggCK4B/s400/014-711239.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nDZLcCJiK8c/WFQIhsa12kI/AAAAAAAAJmY/FN9LLg05_q0TzWcU1i1Dpd0z_3QC7icRwCK4B/s1600/015-713254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721548333800002" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nDZLcCJiK8c/WFQIhsa12kI/AAAAAAAAJmY/FN9LLg05_q0TzWcU1i1Dpd0z_3QC7icRwCK4B/s400/015-713254.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Mama's laughter.....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9esOk6S-O0U/WFQIiPu_XtI/AAAAAAAAJmg/uqf1t152xNkxHlvwRLajpa0tMz1l9gUfACK4B/s1600/016-715368.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721557813550802" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9esOk6S-O0U/WFQIiPu_XtI/AAAAAAAAJmg/uqf1t152xNkxHlvwRLajpa0tMz1l9gUfACK4B/s400/016-715368.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdn_NuzPrNM/WFQIirGniVI/AAAAAAAAJmo/KGC3J8Dv96gmezQPDym1zGcjGRDLVurRACK4B/s1600/017-717281.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721565160409426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdn_NuzPrNM/WFQIirGniVI/AAAAAAAAJmo/KGC3J8Dv96gmezQPDym1zGcjGRDLVurRACK4B/s400/017-717281.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuwQSsjN0jw/WFQIjL_1eAI/AAAAAAAAJmw/Dhv5BM4cUV0pcDP3vBg-SMH4Emxa7GV3wCK4B/s1600/018-718937.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721573990332418" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuwQSsjN0jw/WFQIjL_1eAI/AAAAAAAAJmw/Dhv5BM4cUV0pcDP3vBg-SMH4Emxa7GV3wCK4B/s400/018-718937.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdcLAh5TWc0/WFQIjkVyfuI/AAAAAAAAJm4/ou_MALWtYR0AnGreUowavxO1Z1hCVH3BwCK4B/s1600/019-720792.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721580524863202" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdcLAh5TWc0/WFQIjkVyfuI/AAAAAAAAJm4/ou_MALWtYR0AnGreUowavxO1Z1hCVH3BwCK4B/s400/019-720792.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H61C5ia7xGw/WFQIkEUBCcI/AAAAAAAAJnA/ofO003Z0q1ogDWmej9U92jiDs_Xw5oRCQCK4B/s1600/020-723128.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721589107362242" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H61C5ia7xGw/WFQIkEUBCcI/AAAAAAAAJnA/ofO003Z0q1ogDWmej9U92jiDs_Xw5oRCQCK4B/s400/020-723128.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03UhUajB7fU/WFQIkoPq-tI/AAAAAAAAJnI/mfHIkFHyr24Ms8Jc5koYdLI0CskfGwlpQCK4B/s1600/021-725260.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721598752815826" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03UhUajB7fU/WFQIkoPq-tI/AAAAAAAAJnI/mfHIkFHyr24Ms8Jc5koYdLI0CskfGwlpQCK4B/s400/021-725260.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mother and daughter both afflicted.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAWo5uCZqOs/WFQIlAnE1LI/AAAAAAAAJnQ/OOMy_QIWGegqOsiSwkeLXKwXrGBePgoOwCK4B/s1600/022-727020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721605293429938" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAWo5uCZqOs/WFQIlAnE1LI/AAAAAAAAJnQ/OOMy_QIWGegqOsiSwkeLXKwXrGBePgoOwCK4B/s400/022-727020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbJ96XlLEEs/WFQIlnYBIkI/AAAAAAAAJnY/VUV0cG6uid8l1GrlkmZpTPoebdcjyJBnACK4B/s1600/023-729079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6364721615699255874" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbJ96XlLEEs/WFQIlnYBIkI/AAAAAAAAJnY/VUV0cG6uid8l1GrlkmZpTPoebdcjyJBnACK4B/s400/023-729079.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Academy Junior High and High School also went to screening for a day. This was Jessica's (braids, grey t-shirt) fourth screening and she was a real trooper. I think of how difficult I find it to see such horrific conditions, but our kids handle it so well and with a maturity beyond their peers in their home countries.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Getting the heads up from screening nurse, Kayla and security officer Penny.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ortho kids</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The very first appointment card handed out, a symbol of hope and the reason we get up every day, even if our jobs on board do not directly involve the patients. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">People often asked why we do what we do? Looking at these photos and with the image of the crawling women burned into my mind forever, I ask the question why <em>wouldn't </em>we do what we do?</span><br />
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-66562256375042002402016-09-27T20:37:00.000+00:002016-09-28T14:36:45.100+00:00First Love<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Returning to West Africa has always been in our hearts. It is where we began our Mercy Ships field services and where we fell in love. Fell in love with the people, the culture and the land. We were gutted as we watched a vicious disease called Ebola decimate the nations we had invested our lives into, constantly worrying about our friends and despairing at the virulence of the outbreak. Our hearts broke as news trickled in of former day crew and Mercy Ships contacts, dying a hideous death, including one who was senselessly murdered for trying to promote health precautions against the spread of Ebola.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine our joy as the disease began to wane and finally, finally each of the nations afflicted by this terrible disease were declared Ebola free. One. By. One. Our heats began to dream of a return to West Africa. We longed to hear the beat of the djembe, experience the joy and laughter of the local people and to see the rainbow of African fabrics again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the 18th of August, 2016 the Africa Mercy arrived back in West Africa, a hugely anticipated event. Cotonou, Benin to be exact. Benin's neighbour, Nigeria's Ebola outbreak caused us to cancel our upcoming field service to Benin, in 2014, sending us to Madagascar for two years as we waited for Ebola to subside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now here we are! Check out our triumphant arrival, featuring a little something special that made this particular arrival even more poignant for us! :)</span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9N1Fy8ugDA/V-QeNVd2JKI/AAAAAAAAJfc/alKDYaVCOKILpVdSgZb76HE4f-JIdOENACK4B/s1600/001-732372.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6333220190439220386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9N1Fy8ugDA/V-QeNVd2JKI/AAAAAAAAJfc/alKDYaVCOKILpVdSgZb76HE4f-JIdOENACK4B/s400/001-732372.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Africa Mercy coming into the Port of Cotonou.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred above and below: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_A0iCUhv8sc/V-QeOrVBntI/AAAAAAAAJfs/aWByKUz_Af8yFmi_PkN6vGL7VSU2744sQCK4B/s1600/003%2BJen%2BP.%2B%25284%2529-737463.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6333220213487673042" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_A0iCUhv8sc/V-QeOrVBntI/AAAAAAAAJfs/aWByKUz_Af8yFmi_PkN6vGL7VSU2744sQCK4B/s400/003%2BJen%2BP.%2B%25284%2529-737463.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A well known scene from where the Africa Mercy was berthed during it's last visit to Cotonou in 2009. This image of a fishing village and boats, with the AFM in the background, has been captured in many portraits and photos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Jen Peterschmidt)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3a_U0HBLf0/V-QePBhhsgI/AAAAAAAAJf0/gOlkluy6XHA4gNzvT2XCqwPNVu6XbY7EwCK4B/s1600/004-739728.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6333220219445686786" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3a_U0HBLf0/V-QePBhhsgI/AAAAAAAAJf0/gOlkluy6XHA4gNzvT2XCqwPNVu6XbY7EwCK4B/s400/004-739728.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our advance team!! They certainly had even reason to be celebrating! Two years ago, many of the team above, had their matching outfits made and were ready for the imminent arrival of the AFM to Benin, when, at the last minute, plans went awry and our field service to Benin was postponed. So this gusty team pulled themselves together and flew to Madagascar for the shortest advance ever! What a joy to see some of the original Benin advance standing on the dock, finally seeing all their hard work coming to fruition, finally seeing the Africa Mercy sail in!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng_CWILapJI/V-QePjAwdrI/AAAAAAAAJf8/t8_hgjkLgns_iGaf_GrcXB6E_i1M2pQDACK4B/s1600/005-741751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6333220228435048114" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng_CWILapJI/V-QePjAwdrI/AAAAAAAAJf8/t8_hgjkLgns_iGaf_GrcXB6E_i1M2pQDACK4B/s400/005-741751.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The elementary kids waving their paper Beninese flags, surrounding Emmanuel, our Beninese flag bearer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Tim Baskerville)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The crew on deck waving to those on the dock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred above and below: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some of the advance team waving right back!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Deckie throwing out a line from the bow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Miguel Ottaviano)</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The gangway going down!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost there.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A National Geographic team, headed up by the producer of the Aussie documentary, The Surgery Ship was waiting for us on our arrival and will be filming for three months to make a series of eight, one hour documentaries. They will also be heading back to Guinea to follow up on patients from The Surgery Ship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Dayle McCulloch)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PEhLBXe7Wk/V-QeTuBWimI/AAAAAAAAJg0/VigRCISgww0RX67_c4ObNkorn-owCRNlQCK4B/s1600/011-757405.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6333220300109810274" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PEhLBXe7Wk/V-QeTuBWimI/AAAAAAAAJg0/VigRCISgww0RX67_c4ObNkorn-owCRNlQCK4B/s400/011-757405.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Nat Geo drone capturing our arrival!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We knew we were back in West Africa when we heard the drums and singing on the dock, accompanied by some African dancing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpTZDb4hiSU/V-QeU-JPZOI/AAAAAAAAJhE/8GVXwW9AV3UWSvzdAkm-5hrWpUDgnV8rwCK4B/s1600/013-761805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6333220321617732834" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpTZDb4hiSU/V-QeU-JPZOI/AAAAAAAAJhE/8GVXwW9AV3UWSvzdAkm-5hrWpUDgnV8rwCK4B/s400/013-761805.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andrew dusted off his African shirt for the occasion!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The dockside set up for the arrival ceremony later that afternoon. Fake turf and all! Fancy schmancy!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">During the sail Jessica was asked if she would like to carry the flowers down the gangway to present to the First Lady of Benin! This is an honour reserved for only a few! What a very special privilege for her, on our return to West Africa! We will never forget this arrival! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Above Jessica carries the flowers down the gangway behind Emmanuel Essah, one of our Beninese crew members, bearing the Beninese flag, also a great honour! Behind Jessica is Captain Jon Fadely, Robin MacAlpine, our Managing Director and his wife Laurette and further behind, Andrew, in the white shirt, giving instructions to everyone on when and where to go! #familyaffair </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Emmanuel presenting the Beninese flag to the First Lady of Benin, Madame Claudine Gbenagnon Talon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Tim Baskerville)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jessica handing over the flowers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jessica, Emmanuel and Laurette listening to the afternoons proceedings under the big marquee on the dock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: US Embassy, Cotonou)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Africa Mercy Managing Director Robin MacAlpine addressing the dignitaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The First Lady of Benin addressing the crowd......."“Behind all statistics, there is a story, a life, a person who needs a new hope, a treatment or a cure. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wish that this enriching collaboration of Benin with Mercy Ships will continue to grow year after year for the well-being of the population.”......”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: US Embassy, Cotonou)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We even had some local dancers perform! Love the way the West Africans get down!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Katie Callow)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">West African have to rank among some of the best drummers in the world, hands down! They pour their soul into it, until sweat streams down their faces. I am sure that they burn calories!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo cred: US Embassy, Cotonou)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The crowd of dignitaries and AFM representatives make their way back on board the ship after the arrival ceremony. Jess is tucked between Robin and the First Lady.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our first night off the ship in 12 days and our first time back in West Africa for three years!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to return to West Africa, during our Mercy Ships service! We praise God for his deliverance of the nations from the scourge of Ebola and we continue to pray for the recovery of these countries, for their infrastructure, the ongoing health issues of those who have survived Ebola, the thousand of new orphans and we pray against any resurgence of the virus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">God heard the cry of our heart and now we are back in the land we love, endeavouring to be the hands and feet of Jesus!</span><br />
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-90474893703238735092016-09-19T21:50:00.001+00:002016-09-20T07:20:53.706+00:00Shipyard Rhythms<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the hum of the hospital silent, the Africa Mercy became a hive of a different kind. To keep her running for the next ten months, the AFM needs some time out for maintenance, repairs, upgrades and new work. She is an aging beauty, twenty six years young, but she is doing so gracefully, carefully and lovingly taken care of by our Engineering and Deck Departments and dozens of volunteers who come to form Project Teams, who undertake all manner of jobs. Professionals in many areas also come to assist where technical expertise is especially needed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rhythms of the ship change. She is a ship first and foremost. Deck heads are down, cables hang, lights are dim, the air-conditioning is off, blackouts occur regularly, the laundry is restricted, workman scurry around in hard hats, their overalls black with hard work. The hospital deck and operating theatres are unused, no longer sterile. The crew numbers remain small and a sense of camaraderie develops. Many crew leave for personal time off to see friends, family and supporters or just for some much need rest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We call this time shipyard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the second year running shipyard has happened at the Dormac Shipyard in Durban, South Africa. This year we did not have to go into dry dock (ship out of water) but there were still many jobs to be done. The propulsion system gearbox was repaired, new cabin flooring was laid, office renovations, public bathroom upgrades, ventilation cleaning and repairs to the hospital laundry extraction, improved air-conditioning and extraction in the OR Sterilizing and lab, replacement of the generator controls and other smaller jobs and routine Lloyd's inspections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We took the opportunity to see some of the beautiful country of South Africa! Please enjoy some photos of our trip and some pictorials memoirs of the rhythms of shipyard, 2016!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">South Africa has the novelty of having two countries within a country and we took the chance to see both those countries, Lesotho and Swaziland, adding two more stamps to our packed passports! Above, us freezing to death at the Kingdom of Lesotho border post!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">You have seen it here! Snow in Africa, right up in the high peaks of Lesotho!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Us at a traditional village in Lesotho, in a traditional rondavel, with some locals</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the highlights of our trip was being able to pat and play with baby lion cubs! Such a unique experience and so much, slightly scary fun!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We toured a part of South Africa called the "Panorama Route" and it was easy to see why! It reminded us very much of the picturesque Blue Mountains in Australia where we spent some of our honeymoon! Above is a panorama of the Three Rondavels (like the hree Sisters!) and the Blyde River Canyon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So many gorgeous waterfalls along the way! Above, the 70 metre Lone Creek Falls.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 80 metre Berlin Falls</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"The <b>Blyde River Canyon</b> is a significant natural feature of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">South Africa</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">, located in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mpumalanga" title="Mpumalanga"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mpumalanga</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">, and forming the northern part of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakensberg" title="Drakensberg"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Drakensberg</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escarpment" title="Escarpment"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">escarpment</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">. It is 25 kilometres (16 mi) in length and is, on average, around 750 metres (2,461 ft) deep. The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyderivierpoort_Dam" title="Blyderivierpoort Dam"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blyderivierpoort Dam</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">, when full, is at an altitude of 665 metres (2,182 ft). The canyon consists mostly of red </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone" title="Sandstone"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">sandstone</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Source: Wikipedia)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of my favourite shots of Jess, looking towards the Blyde River Canyon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The amazing natural phenomena of Bourke's Luck Potholes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Water’s power to shape a landscape is spectacularly displayed at Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Mpumalanga, where centuries of river activity have carved out a dramatic and intricate series of natural rock formations and pools. Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Mpumalanga province are a series of natural geological formations that seem nearer to art than nature. Formed by centuries of water flowing through the landscape, this natural attraction is made up of inter-connected pools, interlaced with sandstone outcrops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> The potholes occur where the Treur River joins the Blyde River at the start of the Blyde River Canyon. In a continuing and centuries-old spectacle, the force of the water in these two rivers, combined with the particles of sand and rock that the rivers' transport, wears cylindrical potholes into the sandstone bedrock. Over time, some of these potholes merge and new ones form, creating an intricate landscape of deep depressions and outcrops of resistant rock."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source: </span><a href="http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-bourkes-luck-potholes"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-bourkes-luck-potholes</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">God's Window! Yes-that's the name of this stunning view point, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">with astonishing views over South Africa’s Lowveld. At God’s Window, majestic cliffs plunge down 700m and, on a clear day, you'll be able to see over the famous Kruger National Park towards the Lebombo Mountains on South Africa’s border Mozambique. The Panorama Route is ringed by beautiful aloe vera flowers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another one of our favs! A beautiful South African orange breasted sunbird, suckling on an aloe vera plant.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another cool thing we got to experience was getting up close to some beautiful and spirited cheetahs and African wild dogs. We drove through their enclosures in an open side jeep and watched them feed. We also witnessed the cheetah's run! Wow!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yum, yum. These cheetahs ate their lunch in record time with us watching in fascination just a few metres away! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One simply cannot travel to the north of South Africa without visiting the world renowned Kruger National Park. It's been on my bucket list for a very long time and a few years ago I would never have dreamed it would become a reality. It was very bit as wonderful as I expected. The animals sightings were prolific, the scenery</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> stunning and the photo opportunities, even for amateurs like us, was outstanding.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Above, a very cute baby elephant! Just don't get between said baby and mumma!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We had barely driven into Kruger and we already encountered a bull elephant crossing the road right in front of us! Jessica was so excited she started screaming! We were fortunate to experience dozens of elephant sightings. They are just such majestic creatures and we could have sat and watched them for hours!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We saw a very large herd one day!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We also saw lots of hippos, mostly lazing about in the sun on the banks of the watering holes and rivers.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I really wanted to see lions and cheetahs. The cheetahs proved too elusive for us but we did get to see three male lions on the side of the road and also a female in the bushes eating an antelope! </span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Giraffe's are so much fun to watch!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We loved the Cape Buffalo with their funny horns that looked like a judge's wig. They were pretty sleepy when we saw them, but our guide said that if they if they went for you, they could kill you!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">While we were distracted with a herd of elephants we failed to notice this male baboon jump up onto our bonnet. Suddenly we became the focus of everyone's photo opportunities and Andrew made quick work of rolling up the window! The baboon was very interested in a packet of tissues we had on the dashboard. It kept trying to get at one through the window. It eventually got bored</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">and jumped off.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is Jess on our sunrise tour which left at 5:30am. Jess just said to me, as I am typing, that this was literally the most cold she has ever been in her whole life! We had several blankets wrapped around us and our fingers froze as we tried take photos. Winter in South Africa is quite the chilly place to be!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sun rising over a large watering hole where the footprints of the night's activities were still evident.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another frozen moment. Jess and I on a boat, well a pontoon, on a tour of a dam. We had a down day as Andrew had done seven hours driving the day before! I decided that I would wear my flip flops that day as I was so sick of wearing closed in shoes. Big mistake!! I thought I would never get warm ever again!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We also spent four days in the lovely country of Swaziland where the scenery is breathtaking and the locals extremely friendly and down to earth, with a wicked sense of humour! We stayed very close to a cultural village and went to a show that had lots of traditional Swazi dancing. It was a lot of fun with a rowdy crowd from an all girls school, who really appreciated the young male dancers! :)</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The higher the kicks, the bigger the cheers and tips!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lovely, bold costumes.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The guys dancing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We had a tour of the village after the dancing. Above is a traditional Swazi "beehive hut". A small percentage of the Swazi population still live in the traditional way. the Kingdom of Swaziland is also a polygamous country and the current King has 17 wives, but the previous King had 75 wives and 250 children! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each year there is a "Reed Dance" Ceremony, where young women are paraded in front of the King and, if he wishes, he can choose a new wife from amongst them. The eight day ceremony is a very popular tourist attraction and the girls are anxious to be picked, as it ensures a good life for them and it is considered to be a very high honour! This year over 98,000 virgins maidens danced for the King!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Swaziland is also well known for it's very talented artisans. There are all kinds of high quality crafts available at reasonable prices. We visited lots of craft centres. Above, the Candle Factory and below some batiks drying in the wind.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was the faithful Toyota Corolla that took us over 4,000km in 23 days and sometimes off road! It was a fantastic rental car, one of the best we have ever had! Above Andrew poses proudly with the Corolla in Mlilwane Wildlife Park in Swaziland.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mlilwane Wildlife Park did not have any predators so we were able to get out of the car and freely walk, as much as we dared, as the park still had buffalo, crocodile and hippo! Above, Jess and I getting close to some zebra or as Andrew liked to refer to it as, the Zebra Crossing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These funny little creatures, the African Warthog!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back at the Dormac Shipyard in Durban. A spectacular sunrise, viewed from our ship!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Above and below, Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jessica doesn't get much of a chance to be a "rebellious teenager" so we caved, after weeks of nagging, and let her get a piercing in her ear cartilage. #thingswedoinshipyard</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A cool pic by Jess down at the Durban waterfront where the living is easy, the weather is temperate and Jess loves to ride her longboard and drink slushies. South Africa has a violent history but the locals are proud of how they have overcome the chains of apartheid and this was evident everywhere we went as "whites" and "blacks" live side by side in relative harmony.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok, so our little stopover in Cape Town wasn't technically a part of shipyard but it was a beautiful part of our South African experience and has give us some fabulous memories and once in a lifetime experiences, in the three times we have been able to visit! The stunning view of Table Mountains that we witness as we pull into our berth in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront precinct.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Eating lunch with the Royston family at the waterfront.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Saul Loubassa)</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had decided long before we went to Cape Town that I wanted to go to one of the three Hillsong Campuses in Cape Town. There were so many of us interested in going that we had to charter a bus. Above, the worship at Century City Hillsong! It was great to feel a little like we were back in Oz, as we listened to Pastor Phil Dooley, who previously ministered at Hillsong, Sydney. Loved the Aussie accent! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me and Andrew at the V&A Waterfront where we were berthed, with Table Mountain in the background.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It isn't every day that you begin your senior years of schooling somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of South Africa!! Above Jess and her friend Elliot, who have been in class together since grade five, on the first day of the 20016/2017 Academy school year, on the ten day sail between Cape Town and Benin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The shipyard rhythms are now behind us and we are back into field service. <br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Without the gritty, nuts and bolts hard work undertaken during shipyard, the Africa Mercy would not be able to do what we do. </span>The ship is back to being a hospital ship and the project guys are long gone, but the Africa Mercy is now equipped for a busy ten months ahead, bringing hope and healing to some of the poorest people on earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We had the privilege of having a very talented Aussie photographer on board recently. He is actually working as a mechanic/fitter but he captured the heart of shipyard so beautifully and in a way, I believe, that has never quite been been captured before.. Please take a moment to go to this blog of a fellow crew mate, Michelle Pullen, who has arranged Tim's photo so well. Really, they are a treat!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"> <a href="https://michsmissions.wordpress.com/2016/08/14/the-colours-of-shipyard/">Colours of Shipyard</a></span><br />
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-38421201759919509182016-08-17T20:47:00.002+00:002016-08-17T20:47:50.220+00:00The Legacy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Madagascar
may have been memorable for us but for the thousands of lives touched by our
crew, through the love of Jesus, the impact was far greater!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Women
are dry, disfigured faces have been restored, burn contractures have been
released, that tooth abscess that had become life threatening has been healed,
bowed legs are straight again. Orphans have been blessed, the imprisoned have
been ministered too, the blind can see, the elderly danced with joy and truth
was spoken.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thousands of
people all across this vast nation, the 4<sup>th</sup> largest island in the
world, have had their lives altered forever. Many have not just had their
bodies healed but their hearts as well, acknowledging and receiving their
creator for the first time. Many, many times we were thanked by strangers on
the street and our new friends alike, for all that Mercy Ships has done in
their nation and for their people.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>The medical capacity of Madagascar
has increased exponentially as thousands of health care providers</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">have been</span></b><span> <strong>trained in various
techniques, </strong><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>many of them lifesaving,
such as the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, Essential Surgical Skills, Primary
Trauma Care, Safe Obstetric Anesthesia and Newborn Resuscitation, to name a
few. Over 2,000 participants have benefited from this training during our time
in Madagascar.</strong></span></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dozens of
young children have been released from the burden of club feet and hundreds
more will be, through the newly established Ponseti program and clinic, Women
will no longer be shamed, as a result of the training and mentoring of local nurses
and surgeons in obstetric fistula care and surgery. We leave behind a legacy of
a new Obstetric Fistula Clinic and operating theatre, recently handed over to
the NGO “Freedom from Fistula Foundation”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></div>
</span></span></o:p></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yKoJrgiaMrU/V7Ng42e7ZqI/AAAAAAAAJRg/P2jcxZ9yGEcPhyPloNDADH9qNiS3BSNSACK4B/s1600/photo%2B1-738399.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501231945115298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yKoJrgiaMrU/V7Ng42e7ZqI/AAAAAAAAJRg/P2jcxZ9yGEcPhyPloNDADH9qNiS3BSNSACK4B/s400/photo%2B1-738399.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2mZ3BwJfNCE/V7Ng5kYILWI/AAAAAAAAJRo/SIOA8_U6RcEM3QKfSJtqbiAkVm2eT6JRQCK4B/s1600/Photo%2B2-740805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501244264623458" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2mZ3BwJfNCE/V7Ng5kYILWI/AAAAAAAAJRo/SIOA8_U6RcEM3QKfSJtqbiAkVm2eT6JRQCK4B/s400/Photo%2B2-740805.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h2nGcLXp-Pc/V7Ng6Cr81GI/AAAAAAAAJRw/QU8mNgM04ME5ZNcjwFFAYUZPa0y4FxXtACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B3-743025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501252400829538" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h2nGcLXp-Pc/V7Ng6Cr81GI/AAAAAAAAJRw/QU8mNgM04ME5ZNcjwFFAYUZPa0y4FxXtACK4B/s400/Photo%2B3-743025.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QqI9Q_Lekyk/V7Ng64TxLnI/AAAAAAAAJR4/G-hwjq8UdboOi7chyTiCt57SCtOv3AOOACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B4-745408.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501266794917490" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QqI9Q_Lekyk/V7Ng64TxLnI/AAAAAAAAJR4/G-hwjq8UdboOi7chyTiCt57SCtOv3AOOACK4B/s400/Photo%2B4-745408.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xKOZS7pNrxQ/V7Ng7f3EtSI/AAAAAAAAJSA/yqYcnoyCvy47T3MJekB2O75sbLwZLhTVACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B5-747783.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501277411980578" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xKOZS7pNrxQ/V7Ng7f3EtSI/AAAAAAAAJSA/yqYcnoyCvy47T3MJekB2O75sbLwZLhTVACK4B/s400/Photo%2B5-747783.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #92cddc; font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Ponseti Clinic celebration! A time to rejoice over
the more than 70 children healed of their club feet through the minimally
invasive, but life changing Ponseti Method. Look at all those mammas and their
beautiful babies, who now have a much brighter future! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #92cddc; font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Suzanne
Veltjens)</span></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1crQi4a2l4/V7Ng7-MiSUI/AAAAAAAAJSI/HdXCjyIMFsQlDFcpdt_82j8lGskVmlVCACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B6-750172.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501285555063106" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1crQi4a2l4/V7Ng7-MiSUI/AAAAAAAAJSI/HdXCjyIMFsQlDFcpdt_82j8lGskVmlVCACK4B/s400/Photo%2B6-750172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>Thousands will benefit from safe, sterile
surgery without the usual high risk of infection, through a comprehensive
transformation of the operating room block at the local CHUT hospital, leaving
behind state of the art equipment and world class facilities. Additional renovations
at the CHUT campus have included medical classrooms and a biomedical repair
service. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span>Above, one of the newly renovated OR's in use. Below, before and after!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span>(Photo cred above and below: Ruben Plomp)</span></span><br />
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UpNjtlGjfYI/V7Ng8eOz9oI/AAAAAAAAJSQ/aIPPu0t_Q94wE9YB7365WBTZ7TGfw9xBACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B7-752374.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501294154544770" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UpNjtlGjfYI/V7Ng8eOz9oI/AAAAAAAAJSQ/aIPPu0t_Q94wE9YB7365WBTZ7TGfw9xBACK4B/s400/Photo%2B7-752374.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhB6cJt2OUE/V7Ng9DsUbPI/AAAAAAAAJSY/14mjUnjCqTw1tP16QmowAMzvkpIW-vNgACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B8-754576.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501304210418930" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhB6cJt2OUE/V7Ng9DsUbPI/AAAAAAAAJSY/14mjUnjCqTw1tP16QmowAMzvkpIW-vNgACK4B/s400/Photo%2B8-754576.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Locals will
have better access to fresh fruit and vegetables for years and years to come,
as first hand knowledge of sustainable, organic farming was taught through Mercy
Ships “Food for Life” program. This knowledge will be passed on from generation
to generation casting a wide net of knowledge and improve food security in
Madagascar for the long term. Above, some of the "Food for Life" graduates, Mada 2.</span></span></span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KU_N4v_1Z6A/V7Ng9j3PISI/AAAAAAAAJSg/HX9flhdwqiA9GIhiCblPxnlMbMkP5pZwgCK4B/s1600/Photo%2B9-756974.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="297" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501312846143778" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KU_N4v_1Z6A/V7Ng9j3PISI/AAAAAAAAJSg/HX9flhdwqiA9GIhiCblPxnlMbMkP5pZwgCK4B/s400/Photo%2B9-756974.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For
those of you who like visuals, here are a few fun pie charts! Let the numbers
speak….<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhZZ9PE2g28/V7Ng-cOTP9I/AAAAAAAAJSo/uO5omGiPfMoU6sBFtELaVD1mU0-PIHaBQCK4B/s1600/Photo%2B10-759354.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501327975268306" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhZZ9PE2g28/V7Ng-cOTP9I/AAAAAAAAJSo/uO5omGiPfMoU6sBFtELaVD1mU0-PIHaBQCK4B/s400/Photo%2B10-759354.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mOu2ROa5M4I/V7Ng-66hB3I/AAAAAAAAJSw/A7_454Zkq4g4j5iR6fLB2IaxvP1ui2DUACK4B/s1600/Photo%2B11-761753.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="298" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6319501336213784434" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mOu2ROa5M4I/V7Ng-66hB3I/AAAAAAAAJSw/A7_454Zkq4g4j5iR6fLB2IaxvP1ui2DUACK4B/s400/Photo%2B11-761753.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Also........</strong></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span><strong></strong></span></span> </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* 1017 Ponseti club foot procedures on 107 paediatric patients treated </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* 48 palliative care patients supported<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Basic oral and dental health instruction was given to 12,192
patients, caregivers and </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> students <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Community health instruction to 4,146<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Chaplain’s counselling sessions to 6,772<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Nearly 8000 people</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">were seen by pre-screeners in 11 different cities
throughout</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the country as well as near the ship</span></span><span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span><o:p><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span><span style="color: #999999;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combined Surgery Stats Mada 1 & 2. 2014-2016…..</span></span></strong></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span><span style="color: #999999;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></span> </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maxillofacial: 917<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plastics: 238<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">General: 817<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">Women’s Health: 473<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">Orthopaedics: 162<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eyes: 303 (No eye program in Mada 2.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ambulatory: 41 </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-size: large;">Total surgeries: 2951!</span></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><strong><span style="background-color: lime; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span></strong></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Minya Nouvelle"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">While you are soaking up these numbers,
remember each one is a life, someone with a family, someone who has been
healed, relieved of their suffering, taught a new lifesaving skill, been
accepted back into their community, been mentored and experienced the love of Jesus
from a big white hospital ship!</span></span></div>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-28408394333569417372016-08-17T15:29:00.000+00:002016-08-17T15:29:06.609+00:00Memories of Madagascar........<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
been over two months since we said goodbye to Madagascar, but I wanted to share
some of our journey of saying goodbye…..As we pulled out of the berth space we
had occupied in Tamatave, Madagascar, for around 18 months, an eclectic crowd
of day crew, ex-pats and Mercy Ships crew, who were staying behind, gathered on
the dock, screaming their goodbyes and writing chalk messages on the asphalt.
The wind was chilly and dark clouds threatened rain, overhead. Our hearts were
filled to overflowing, as we left this place we called home. As we listened to
our Chief Officer pray for our journey and for the nation of Madagascar over
the PA, a damn threated to burst as we tried to hold our emotions in check. The
ships horn sounded three times and we were underway with just our memories to
cling to.</span></b><span style="background: black; border: 1pt black; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0cm;"> </span><span style="background: black; border: 1pt black; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Madagascar,
a country we never hoped or dreamed we would ever visit, now holds a big piece
of our heart. Once just a fluffy children’s movie, now a collection of
thousands of lives changed, deep and abiding friendships forged and the beauty
of a nation seared deep within our soul. It seems surreal right now. We don’t
know how long until reality takes hold of us that our time in Madagascar is
really over. That season is done. We are not returning. It is too hard to fathom. We have
said goodbye to so many in the past few months. You would think we would be
hardened, but every goodbye it is like re-opening a wound, as we recall all the
goodbyes we have endured.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh we
have packed a lifetime of memories into our time in Madagascar! What we called “our last”. The last time we talked to that person who impacted us so
greatly, the last time we ate at Ocean 501 and watched the waves crash onto the
beach with such majesty and power, the last time we rode in a pousse pousse,
the last time we brought peanuts from the trays on the heads of the giggling girls,
the last time I went out with the Mum’s to Club Nautique on a Friday night.
The last time we good naturedly hassled Parfait, our favourite waiter, when he
counted our money, that last time we laughed with the lady at Bazzar Be when she
sees us eyeing of her canvas, two of which we already have hanging in our
cabin. The last time the ladies with the hypnotized chickens amazed us, the last
time we got a cold coconut from the palm fringed beach, the last Ultimate
Frisbee in Mada and the last patient to walk down the gangway, their lives
changed forever. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So many
poignant memories! It would be difficult to capture them all into one post and
to be so eloquent as to explain the myriad of emotions behind these moments in
time, from pure elation to frustration to anger at injustice and sadness when
we cannot help.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "minya nouvelle"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank
you Madagascar for your beauty, your people and how you have blessed us beyond
compare! Please enjoy a pictorial journey of our last few weeks in Madagascar!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SycZaO34X6A/V5fPsGLsW3I/AAAAAAAAJFM/eAAO4BoyuEQ7SfSqd5aT5n30Gody13EOACK4B/s1600/001%2BDavid%2BForrest%2B%25283%2529-794597.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6311741759263890290" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SycZaO34X6A/V5fPsGLsW3I/AAAAAAAAJFM/eAAO4BoyuEQ7SfSqd5aT5n30Gody13EOACK4B/s400/001%2BDavid%2BForrest%2B%25283%2529-794597.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beachside coconuts will forever remind us of Madagascar!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo cred above and below: David Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and Charlotte drinking coconut milk!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The youth of the AFM in Madagascar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Katie Keegan)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">St Paddy's Day Dash through the port. Jess is in the middle in the white t-shirt, on the bike. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Shelly Davies)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance, Mada 2. Jess and Andrew with their big, cheesy "American smiles".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Justine Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just a nice, casual family pic on the dock.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Malagasy seem to like their rides and this appeared in the last few months we were in Tamatave. For small change, you could climb inside a giant bubble and roll around in a large inflatable swimming pool in intense heat! Sounds like fun right? They also had a man powered ferris wheel and fairy floss on the beach! Jess is on the right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Lisa Schwind)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the end of each field service we host a reception for all our partners, those who have come alongside the mission to support us and provide for us in so many ways. Andrew flew to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, to provide the main speech for our Tana Partner's Reception.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Andrea Valk)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mada 2. also saw our family clock over five years of service with Mercy Ships on the AFM. Jodie and Andrew are above receiving their awards, an anchor tie pin for Andrew and an anchor necklace for Jodie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Tammy Dunne)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Numberplates in Tamatave are made on road side stands and for a small price you can get a customised plate! Jess and I at the Banyan Tree park with our new numberplates! Jodie-Africa Mercy Primary Care Giver (Mum) and Jess- Africa Mercy Third Culture Kid!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Casual family pic at the Banyan Tree Park.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess looking "cool" at the Banyan Tree Park.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We went to a cultural show at a local restaurant, hosted by local churches and many of our day crew. We were treated to dancing and singing from many regions of Madagascar! Andrew was asked to make an impromptu speech</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">and he borrowed a few bits from his Tana speech a few days earlier! :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is Parfait and his beautiful family! Parfait (Perfect in English) was the perfect waiter at what Mercy Shippers fondly named the "Train Station" restaurant. He put up with all our funny requests, our various accents and our, sometimes, large groups, always with a smile and excellent service. We had the pleasure of inviting his family on board for a tour and dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Us having dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and her friend Charlotte (also from Oz) at the Graduation Dinner.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Second last day of school for the year! The teachers took the kids on a "favourites of Tamatave" tour! Here they all are at the Banyan Tree Park.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Brian Blackburn)</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the last day of school the kids get into teams and do a scavenger hunt. Above Jess and Charlotte looking fierce!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Last day of school! End of Year Assembly. Each school year has a theme. Last school year it was the Nelson Mandela quote "It always seems impossible until it is done". Above the older kids (and one Mum) hold up signs that say "Mercy Ships Academy 2015-2016 school year, it's DONE!"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Mercy Ships Academy graduation (year 12) is one of the highlights of the field service and a huge community event. Last school year we had three graduates, Annabelle, the first Aussie graduate, Wesley from the USA, who has been on board his whole life and Bendik from Norway who served with his family on the AFM several years ago and returned to do grade 12 on-board, alone!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In Mada 2. we employed over 300 local day crew to work in the galley, dining room, executive, the hospital, dental clinic, screening team, transport, communications, engineering, deck, Hope Centre, OBF Clinic, Ponseti Clinic and chaplaincy. It was the largest number that Mercy Ships has ever employed in one field service.<br /><br /> The day crew celebration had to be held in the dockside warehouse instead of the dining room and international lounge as they were not large enough. What an amazing celebration it was. Six hours of food and festivities culminating in tearful goodbyes. There is no way we could operate without the help of our day crew and they are a huge blessing to us and become our friends.<br /><br />Above Mercy Ship tuk tuk and balloon banner set up for the celebration. <br />(Photo cred: Ryan Sweeney)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our day crew party hard!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our faithful tuk tuk drivers, Romi and Minot, who drove us from the ship to the port gate, rain, hail or shine for both field services! Above with mechanic Doug Blackburn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Joe Data)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A very special desert "Taste of Madagascar", made from what makes Madagascar famous (besides their vanilla), their award winning chocolate!!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Us at the beautiful palm plantation where palm oil is produced from hundreds of palm trees. It was quite a rainy day so we just jumped out of the car for a quick photo. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo cred: Chuck Gavaletz)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bamboo rafts for transporting goods up and down the man made Pangalese Canal, where hundreds of crew member explored!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous Zebu, basically a cow with a hump that features as a steak or brochettes (meat on a stick) on menus everywhere!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous lemur variety, the Aye Aye feeding at a night tour at the Lemur Zoo, another place, heavily populated with Mercy Shippers!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It seems like all we ever did for the last month in Madagascar was say goodbye! :( This is what goodbye to crew looks like, large huddles of sombre people, gathering on the dock, lots of hugs and promises and finally a line on either side of the dock as we wave to the parting vehicles. Above, waving goodbye to our Captain, Jan and his lovely family!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred; Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The walk to the port gate from our berth was made by thousands of Mercy Ships crew and day crew ,over eighteen months. It was the cleanest port we have ever been in and we will miss this familiar walk.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We will also miss this market, the fabulous, pretty clean and undercover Bazzar Be where the shopping is full of beautiful, handmade Malagasy bargains and the pressure is pretty low key!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hand woven baskets.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fuzzy red litchis, a staple for the locals, adored by the crew and a famous Malagasy import</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When there are no tuk tuks in sight, you can always find a pousse pousse driver following you along to see if you need a ride. A little bit dangerous and a really slow mode of transport, but lots of fun!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A special touch on a final dessert at a favourite place, by wait staff who listened to us say, "See ya" for eighteen months! It was there turn to say goodbye to us! :(</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The day came for us to leave and what a sad day that was! Above, chalk messages from crew staying behind, day crew and ex-pats. Veloma-goodbye in Malagasy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gangway going up!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Final piece of the gangway makes it's way to deck eight, while the tug boat waits to push us out.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Malagasy flag flies proud for the last time!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of our new Malagasy crew, Robert, looks down and reflects on leaving his people, his home and all that is familiar, for new shores and a new life!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crew wave a heartfelt goodbye!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Aussie flag flying high, representing the ever growing Aussie contingent on board the AFM.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The tug boats put on a special show for us, a sign of respect in the maritime world.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leaving our friends behind.......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo cred above and below: Natalie Bullock)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The AFM leaves the shores of Madagascar for the last time. Veloma Madagascar! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As we sail ever closer to Benin, my heart still yearns for Madagascar. Part of me wishes that we could be pulling into our old, familiar berth in Tamatave, while part of me is brimming with excitement of all that is new and familiar at the same time with our return to West Africa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Somehow we can never quite be fully content, because our hearts lie scattered in so many places, that when we are in one, we are constantly yearning for the other.....</span><br />
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-12972663271303060142016-06-04T18:42:00.001+00:002016-06-04T18:44:11.230+00:00On Tour!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A trip in Africa in the places we serve usually involves some or all of these......sand, mud, heat, humidity, rain, bartering, getting lost, someone being sick, conversations or parts of them lost in translation, rain, lush beauty, being laughed at, traffic, rain, mosquitos and other bugs, beautiful beaches and lots and lots of fun! Memories are made that will be cherished forever, looked back upon, retold and expanded like the size of the fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So when some friends offered us a trip to Antananarivo (or Tana), the nation's capital, over Easter, promising an adventure, we jumped at the chance! We began our journey at 4:00am as we were taking our friend's family, who had been guests on board, to the airport in Tana. A large percentage of our crew fly into Tana and take a bus to the ship in Tamatave. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we travelled out of Tamatave I was amazed at the number of people beginning their day so early in the morning, walking along the side of the road carrying large loads, when normally I would be snug in my bed. The sun rose behind us in brilliant oranges and reds, the weather sticky and warm, even at that hour of the day. We watched the signposts of Malagasy town names flash by as we continued our windy, mountainous journey. Lush greenery surrounded us on every side and we began to see a different side of the island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">After a few hours on the road we made a pit stop at a roadside Pizzeria, of all things. We got the owners out of bed! It was definitely time for coffee!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess was none to happy about the early morning start and after I drugged her with Dramamine for motion sickness, it was a little hard to rouse her to get out of the car.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A photo cannot capture the beautiful countryside. Whereas Tamatave is pretty much completely flat, Tana is at a much higher elevation and is full of steep streets.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">After ten hours on the road averaging around 60km per hour, we barely made it to the airport in time after mistaking a "shortcut" for a much longer route, right throughout the heart of downtown Tana into the most maddening traffic you can imagine in a large four wheel drive through teeny, tiny streets. As we hurriedly tried to get all the bags off the roof rack of the car, we were surrounded by children begging for money, "Madame, <span lang="fr">Monsieur, <span lang="fr">S'il vous plaît</span></span>". We raced inside and lined up, only to hear the announcement that the</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">check in for our friend's family's flight had closed. Some urgent negotiations followed and they just made their flight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was a breath of fresh air to finally arrive at our bungalow at a guest house on the outskirts of Tana, after a late and rather nondescript lunch at the airport. Above Jess stands outside our bungalow. Below, the dining room and guest sunroom.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The guest house had some fun residents and Jess was very excited to finally be able to pat a dog without the fear of rabies! There was also a rather sociable turtle getting around as well. What would any respectable guest house be without a pet turtle?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful, fragrant frangipani outside our room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andrew looking rather relaxed! We then headed out to dinner at a Creperie. How very French of us! As we began to eat, the heavens opened up into a most spectacular fashion, with a thunder and lightening show and torrents of rain rushing down the narrow streets. We were drenched running from the restaurant to the car, even with the friendly "umbrella man" to escort us. On the way back to the guest house, the traffic was just as hideous and we got caught in a gridlock. Our find Joe performed an amazing manoeuvre to get us out, admits the <span data-dobid="hdw">cacophony</span> of horns from irritated motorists and lashing rain.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">After falling asleep to the sound of rain on the roof, a sound we rarely get to hear anymore, we arose nice and early for a scrumptious breakfast in the guest house dining room. Let the day's adventures begin! We were all pretty excited about our plan to visit an actual shopping centre, a never before done activity, for us, in a host nation!! Three indoor stories of glass and shopfront, even an Apple Store!!!! Culture shock much! I remember thinking how odd it was walking into a Claires/Kleins like store and buying Jess some earrings but not paying in Euros, US dollars, the Pound or the Australian dollar, but the Malagasy Ariary. How very strange.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We were stunned by the sight of Food Court! I was enraptured by my Magnum Black Espresso ice cream that had not been re-frozen! We had a nice lunch in a café overlooking the busy streets of Tana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Above......after our trip to the mall, we took a little drive through the city and found a cute little place that promised cookies! So we had to stop and I was a very excited to have a milkshake topped with whipped cream! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tana traffic through what I coined as Asian West Africa. I think we spent more hours in traffic than we did out of the car! Luckily there was so much to look at everywhere we went from bustling street vendors to rice paddies to colourful little shops and men hand making asphalt.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These cute little Renault 4/Citroën 2CV taxis were everywhere in Tana as, unlike, Tamatave, tuk tuks and pousse pousses are not present. We managed to score a miniature tin model after some sidewalk shopping and bargaining, also picking up a pot trivet made of bottle caps of all the drinks available in Madagascar. I love to collect bottle caps from all the different counties we go to, so it was a lovely addition to my collection. I think we got a good deal!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Street sights....Soupe Chinoise or Chinese Soup anyone? A regular staple on the Malagasy menu where the Asian influence is very evident! #bestspringrollseva</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A colourful shop advertising said drinks, my all time favourite in Madagascar being Grenadine, reminiscent of Australian Creamy Soda!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A pictorial reminder of why we are here. Tana was an eclectic mix of slums and grand colonial mansions dispersed with the traditional red earth brick homes. Poverty is rife in Madagascar and in some ways, the huge gap between rich and poor was even more apparent in Tana than in Tamatave.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">How so many Malagasy feed their families and make a difficult and backbreaking living, working the rice paddies right in the middle of town.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">After battling the traffic we made it to the highest point in Tana, the Queen's Palace, last occupied by a Queen in the 18th century. The palace was destroyed almost completely by fire in 1995, leaving only the stone walls of the building. The palace belongs to a complex of a further seven monuments, which originally occupied the Royal Palace complex, also called Rova which is translated into the word fort. Above is the chapel, which is still intact and used today for special events for the Presidential family.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A statue at the palace.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The view was pretty amazing from the palace. We could see right over Tana in all directions!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking down over a slum area.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another view over the city centre including the "heart shaped" lake, Lac Anosy. For those Amazing Race fans, season 10 of the Amazing Race include a leg in Antananarivo, Madagascar!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Us at the palace with our friends from Chicago, nurse Jessica and Transportation Manager, Joe.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We had a fantastic Malagasy guide at the palace, who took great pleasure is giving us all kinds of history, facts and titbits, some a little dubious but fun nevertheless, such as the web from this spider is used to make Kevlar vests! Jess was game enough to hold the big, scary Malagasy spider!!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is our guide! Apparently the word about Mercy Ships has spread far and wide and he was profusely thankful for all Mercy Ships had done in his nation. It was so touching to know that we have really made a difference in this massive country! Just before we left, Andrew gave our guide his Mercy Ships cap. The guide was so happy and excited. We watched him as we left and he was showing all the other guides.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Next we headed into town for a closer look at the sights. Taking a leaf out of Hollywood, the giant Antananarivo sign with the Queen's Palace to the right, stands tall and proud. </span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We took a little stroll to the middle of Lac Anosy as there was a pathway. Amazing Race fact.....upon arriving in Antananarivo, teams traveled to Lac Anosy and had to find the Black Angel statue in the middle of the lake, to encounter the very first Intersection of the Race. Another fact.......the Back Angel statue was painted white because locals thought it looked "dirty".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On our walk we attracted a lot of attention from the locals. Being a rather seedy area, we were the only "vaza's" (Malagasy for white man) in sight and we certainly drew some curious stares. Luckily we were not mugged after disregarding Lonely Planet's advice to avoid the lake after lunch, but we did have some cute little girls follow us around, giggling and chattering away in their mother tounge.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Black Angel statue in the centre of Lac Anosy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">After a very busy day of sightseeing, we stopped in at the Sakamanga (Black Cat) for dinner, supposedly Tana's number one restaurant. It was still pretty cheap and the place was packed. We had a nice meal as the skys opened up yet again and we were treated to another massive downpour and awesome thunder and lightening show. Once again we were drenched getting to the car. For us it was a bit of fun but for the local people of Tana it is a complete disruption to their lives, flooding their streets, their homes and their businesses. Flooding has even taken lives and displaced over 20,000 peole in Tana, just while we have been here in Madagascar!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The next day we had to head back to the ship. This time we could take it at a more leisurely pace which was good fortune as we got stuck in the now familiar Tana traffic. We were struck again by the beauty and stunning shades of greenery along the way. Soaring mountains, rushing rivers and waterfalls crashing down ravines surrounded us at every turn, a visual feast. We saw men selling bananas on the side of the road and tiny villages dotted the edges of the highway every few kilometres. Colourful, chaotic and beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">There is a darker side to this beauty, We were disturbed by the many accidents on the notorious, windy road. One of our day crew lost their father on this highway and we saw several over turned trucks and smashed cars along the journey. At one point we stopped as we saw a wailing women carrying a limp bodied child along the road side, fearing that a car had gone over the cliff, but there were so many vehicles and people already perched precariously on the verge that we felt helpless and decided to move on. The language barrier and our lack of equipment would have served no purpose. We craned our necks as we rounded the corner but didn't see a car in the ravine. We were quite for a while after that. No ambulances, not hearses, no medical treatment for the poor...... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did have time to make a stop at the Mercy Ships Agricultural site. It was the first time I had a chance to go see where the "Food for Life" program, that takes place in every field service location, was held, as they are usually located so far from the ship. It was so encouraging to see the work that had been done to <span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">provide successful agricultural training to over 50 in country NGO
staff who serve as consultants to local farmers. The goal of the Food for Life
program is to improve food security in Madagascar by increasing farming
capacity and I think that goal was achieved!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">The photo above this script is of Elipahz, who is a crew member of the Africa Mercy but has been the Ag Site Team Leader for as long as we have been on board. He does an amazing job and being a native French speaker from Benin, he is able to relate to those he is training on a more holistic level. </span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">All kind of crops had been planted, from bananas to guava to corn to pumpkins! There is a green house, an aquaponics set up, chicken for eggs and meat, and a very successful rabbit breeding program. :) Above is a gorgeous sunflower. Took this photo just because.......</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In keeping with the petting zoo theme of the trip, we were all pretty exited to hold the baby rabbits, except our friend Jessica who got peed on! :) Our Jess loved holding this soft, cuddly bunny. Kind of fitting since we were there at Easter, I think!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Once more photo from the ten hour trip back to the ship. (not including stops!). We stopped at the largest town on the highway between Tana and Tamatave. Moramanga for lunch in what could best be described as a Malagasy road side diner. Moramanga is the only town large enough to support pousse pousses, on the whole highway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">We finally made it back to Tamatave at around 7:00pm and finished a great adventure with a simple meal at our favourite hotel in Tamatave, The Calypso.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Sand- check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Mud- big check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Heat and humidity- check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Rain- big check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Bartering- check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Getting lost- big check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Someone being sick- check </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Conversations or parts of them lost in translation- check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Lush beauty- big check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Being laughed at- check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Traffic- big check</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Mosquitos and other bugs- big check </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">* Beautiful beaches- not quite, we were inland after all! :)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">* Lots and lots of fun- BIG CHECK!</span><br />
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-501679916094092172016-05-17T19:48:00.000+00:002016-05-17T19:48:51.063+00:00The Vampire Diaries<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't "Twilight" but there was plenty of blood involved! A definite highlight of the Academy school year is Work Experience Week and this year, Jess was finally old enough to work down in the hospital. She spent a week shadowing her youth leader and Senior Lab Technician, Jenny. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny didn't go easy on Jess and she worked long and hard, on her feet all day and even returning to work one evening to assist with blood donation for an emergency surgery. Turn outs Jess is a natural vampire and Jenny decided that Jess could even have go at drawing blood herself. She was so proud of herself as she "got it on my first try".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mum even dropped down to have her blood typed (by Jenny, not quite brave enough to have her child stick her)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jess kept a diary during her week of work exercise. These are some of her thoughts....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1: "On the first day I went around the lab and did QC (quality control). That includes checking temperatures of all the incubators and fridges. Next we made sure all things were in date and all machines worked, using synthetic blood. After I learnt what each machine did briefly and did blood bank, which is checking blood types and cross matching blood donors. There were a few donors so I learnt how to stick a needle into someone. I learnt about antigens and antibodies, so like which blood types could go with who. I was also called back after dinner which was really interesting..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and Jenny</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 2: "Today I basically did a little micro-learning about gram positive and gram negative cells. Also did blood smears. Mainly what we did was run in and out of the OR giving blood that we took from donors. I saw my first bit of surgery which was cool...."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I remember Jess saying to me, "Mum, today I went into the OR and saw a guy with half his face peeled off!"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 3: "Today was an exciting day. I started with QC and then haematology, working with CELL-DYN, seeing the amount of white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin, platelets....other. Then I worked with a little micro-biology and learnt how to streak plates and made up micro scan ID plates-they identify the bacteria based on chemical reactions and give antibiotic sensitivity. I also learned how to use a small needle and drew some of Jenny and Scott's blood. It was very good and I got it on my first try!...."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 4: "On day four we did QC the just jumped around from blood bank, haematology, looking at stained streaks. Typing in more patient information, Safety Committee meeting, community meeting, departmental devotions, coags...."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ready to run into the OR to deliver life saving blood donated by crew members.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Taking blood all by herself!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 5: "I did more blood bank and drew blood! I did a bit more micro and haematology......"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What Jenny had to say!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work experience on board the ship is an amazing opportunity to see how the ship operates outside the walls of the Academy. The kids get the chance to see where Mum and Dad work and to become a little more involved in the day to day running and mission of the ship!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Colossians 3:23</span> </div>
Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-2429261030426208372016-04-13T18:04:00.001+00:002016-04-13T18:04:38.480+00:00Little Bean<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo credit: David Forrest)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Our hearts are broken over the loss of a young
patient.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beautiful 5-year-old girl from Northern Madagascar
passed away on board the Africa Mercy on Thursday 10 March, at 5.45pm. She died
two days after a very unusual, rare and severe reaction to the surgical
procedure in combination with general anaesthetic, during treatment to remove a
complex tumour of her lower face and neck. Her mother had been at her bedside
since their arrival to the Mercy Ship on 20 January and her senior uncle joined
them Thursday evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Official formalities with the local authorities were
completed and the family and the body were flown back to their
village to prepare for her funeral.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Our prayers and our love leave with them."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Mercy Ships Media Statement March 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little Bean, I did not know you, but as news of your passing filtered through the decks my heart broke for you and you family. I am a mother too, you see and while I cannot fathom what you mamma was feeling that day when she said goodbye, I can imagine her pain. I can hear her wails of despair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As we waited for your condition to improve, all of us as a united crew stopped what we were doing, wherever we were on board, to pray. The galley stopped preparing lunch, the housekeepers stopped mopping, the teachers paused with their classes, meetings came to a standstill, the hospital staff dropped to their knees, to storm heaven for your healing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But God chose to take you and whilst our frail human minds cannot comprehend, we have chosen to trust in Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As Andrew co-ordinated clearing of the freezer to store your broken body, now just a shell, your soul was flying free in heaven. As one of our carpenters skilfully crafted a coffin to carry you back to your village and some ladies on board lovingly created padding to soften your journey, you were dancing beside Jesus. As your body was dressed in a beautiful outfit, by hospital crew, you were free of the tumour that had taken your life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little bean.......your last days on earth were dignified. You were loved, prayed for and treated like the Princess you were! A daughter of the king. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little Bean.......we did our best for you but it was not enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Be uncomfortable with us as we have mourned and we continue to mourn and pray for all the other beans......all 5,165 people whom our screening team saw and for whatever reason we could not treat! Yes your eyes did not deceive you, five thousand, one hundred and sixty five. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then there are the thousands that we could not physically reach due to poor roads and sheer isolation in this vast nation. There are those we pass on the street from day to day that we cannot help as our surgery schedule is full to overflowing. There are five operating theatres running, an extra ward as been opened and the Hope Centre is overcapacity, as we race to the finish line, desperate to help as many beans as we can.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Do you feel uncomfortable? We do. We rest comfortably in the knowledge that we can access world class medical care, medication, clean water, electricity, education and freedom of religion while others are dying just trying to access these basic human rights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It is so hard to consolidate. I don't think we can really. We can only place our faith in a loving God who sees each little bean. Every. Single. One.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can I ask that you pray for the 5,165 people who we had to turn away, for the family of the little girl who passed away, for the patients recovering in the wards right now and for those who are yet to receive surgery in the next few weeks before the hospital closes it's doors in Madagascar for this season?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">#5165</span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-18066111783290565022016-02-15T17:14:00.000+00:002016-02-17T15:53:14.758+00:00Mercy Meets Hope<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus really loves the people of Madagascar. What are the odds of two ships with entirely different missions, serving one God, crossing paths in a tiny town off the east coast of Madagascar. A town that is friendly and safe by day but whose demons come out at night, to play. A town seeped in prostitution, kidnapping and robbery. A town where the locals are warm and friendly, where coconuts hang from palm trees swaying in the sultry air and the brilliant blue of the Indian Ocean beckons seductively. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This town, this beautiful nation, that we have come to love has had an influx of hope, healing, help and knowledge in hundreds of different ways, depicting the love of Christ, channelled through the crew of the Africa Mercy and the Logos Hope, representing over 60 nationalities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I cannot tell you how excited we were to have a sister alongside. We began as strangers and parted as friends, immediately bonded by our passion for the people of Madagascar, our faith and our unique lifestyle and ministries!</span> </span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeqWmHxCoog/VrzFrM7UPwI/AAAAAAAAIwM/YXvaAX-2l7E/s1600/001-745546.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6250087728878468866" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeqWmHxCoog/VrzFrM7UPwI/AAAAAAAAIwM/YXvaAX-2l7E/s400/001-745546.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here she comes!! The crew of the Africa Mercy lined the decks to catch a long awaited glimpse of the much anticipated arrival of the Logos Hope.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view from our bridge. Captain Jan in the green shirt.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Getting closer. The Logos Hope have a wonderful tradition of gathering on their decks, on arrival into a new country, proudly waving their countries flags. It is an awesome spectacle!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Panning out.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Carol Tanzola)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">From the bow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> (Photo credit: Robbie Lerma)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and her two Aussie friends, sisters Charlotte and Annabelle represent!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Aussie to Aussie (look real hard to the top right).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Side by side.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Kristin Jack)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nice panorama!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On Christmas Eve we were privileged to be amongst the first in Madagascar to visit the Logos Hope for the opening of the book fair. We listened to quite a few speeches, watched the "Parade of Nations" and heard a number from the Logos Hope choir. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We then moved down to the book fair, where a local dignitary cut the ribbon for the book fair, officially opening it in Tamatave. Oh yeah.....there were snacks :) Above, just a small section of the huge book fair that expands over almost an entire deck.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and Andy at the book fair</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Having our snacks in the Logos Hope café.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We also celebrated Christmas side by side, each of us empathizing with the other, the feeling of being far from home, our own cultures and traditions and the family and friends we had left behind, never far from our thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Not long after we had finished our Christmas brunch we heard a lot of commotion coming from outside. Andrew and I ran up to the deck and were greeted by the amazing sight of the Logos Hope crew clustered on their bow, proudly waving their countries flags. In unison they called out "Merry Christmas Africa Mercy!" It was a whole lot of fun!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">An aerial viewpoint.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first joint gathering was on our dock side and was basically a huge getting to know you eve</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nt, reminiscent of a speed dating night! :) We call them Connect Groups though!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Kristin Jack)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A crew member, Mathieus, who runs their Transportation department hosted us for dinner one evening on the Logos Hope. It was eerily similar to our dining room. Spaghetti Bolognese and white chocolate brownies were the order of the day and we enjoyed a great evening of getting to know several of the crew. There was plenty of...."Do you have this, do you do that?. We also had a guided tour and I was finally able to peek inside the Logos Hope library. We also toured the bridge where I took my turn at the helm. Captain Jodie!! Fortunately this was a drill.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Logos Hope leadership came to have a special dinner on board with our leadership. Worse luck I was down with gastro for this event but you can see Andrew in the back row on the right and we couldn't go to their leadership dinner as it was on Jessica's 16th birthday.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each time the Logos Hope is in a port they take on many short term projects. Their advance or "line up" team find needs within the community, prior to the ship's arrival, similar to how Mercy Ships operates, expect we mostly search for patients and long term ministries we can partner with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the large projects the Logos Hope crew undertook during their visit to Tamatave was the complete overhaul of the local libaray or Biblioteque, in French. On behalf of the Africa Mercy I was able to donate about seven boxes of books to the Logos to take to the Biblioteque. I also visited one day to see what was happening and stayed to help catalogue books for a while. No mean feat as the titles were in French!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Above, a Logos Hope crew member and I working on cataloguing books.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Locals helping out with cleaning the books which were very dirty and dusty. Some were covered in mould.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Logos Hope crew sanding shelves.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Inside the Biblioteque.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Outside-right next to the local tip!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We couldn't miss the opportunity to get together with the Logos Hope mum's! There are a few less families on board the Logos than on the Africa Mercy, mainly due to the fact that the Logos Hope school finishes at the end of grade six. So lots of little ones! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Logos mums came to visit us first and the next week we went over to visit them (above photo). There was lots of mutual "checking out" of family cabins! We were surprised to find that some of the family cabins on the Logos had he same carpet as the cabins on the AFM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">We found a unique bond with the Logos Hope mum's and it was great to be able to compare notes. I mean how often can you find a group of women in the same boat as you? Since then we have formed a Facebook page for the Logos and AFM mum's called Ship Sisters.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Having some fun on the Logos Hope!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We heard the rumours long before the ship graced the sunny shores of Tamatave. Was it true? Did the Logos Hope really have a soft serve machine in their café???? Much to our delight the rumour was completely founded and I am sure our crew doubled the Logos Hope's usual port intake of soft serve ice cream!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Above, Andrew enjoys a vanilla soft serve. Below, Jess and friends with a soft serve selfie! (Photo credit: Kristin Jack)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Logos Hope is largely evangelical as well as programmatic. During the course of their visit they had several concerts/shows for the local people where the gospel was presented in an appropriate manner and translated into Malagasy by local translators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We had the pleasure of attending the International Cultural Festival where we watched many of the crew perform. It was an upbeat concert with a serious message.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Above, me, Jess and friend Charlotte with some AFM crew photo bombing behind, at the concert!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some Logos Hope crew who were amazing on the drums/djembes!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A large proportion of the Logos crew are very young, with many kids doing a gap year (or two) fresh out of high school. This proved too good to be true for our youth on board, who took the opportunity (as much as possible) to hang out with the Logos gang.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Above, some of our youth on board the Logos Hope.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Logos Hope engine room tour-Jess and friends.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Logos Hope + AFM youth=fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Zach McKillop)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">To bid our neighbours fond farewell we hosted a combined BBQ, our dockside. Around 700 of us gathered, relishing new found friendships and lamenting our impending goodbyes, over dinner. The fun continued as the heavens opened up and a torrential downpour took us by surprise. Many of the crew danced in the rain while about 200 Logos crew invaded the AFM leaving our poor security guards a bit frazzled.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In West Africa, a downpour of rain after a significant event is often called a "shower of blessing" signalling Gods approval on the event. Oh how the angels must have be rejoicing over the gathering of so many Christians together, sharing a common goal to bless and serve the people of Tamatave and beyond! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I love this photo. The Logos "line up" (advance) team beside our Logos liaison team with swapped t-shirts!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Kristin Jack)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">All good things must come to an end and it was a sad day as we bid the Logos Hope farewell. Jess and some new friends (on each end) pose for a final photo!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Africa Mercy crew, locals and other ex-pats gathered dock side (or quayside as the Logos crew prefer :) ) to wave off the Logos Hope after their short but impactful visit to Tamatave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: A Logos Hope crew member)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and friends say their final goodbyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: A Logos Hope crew member)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Au revoir, Veloma, goodbye....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fair winds and following seas, Logos Hope. God bless you on your future ministries and we hope to meet again! #madameetsmercyandhope</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-13087858049956178072015-11-12T18:20:00.003+00:002015-11-13T08:42:28.963+00:00355<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">355. That is how many people have received life changing surgeries
since our arrival into Tamatave at the end of August. 355 lives touched with
the love of Jesus though the dedicated crew of the Africa Mercy. 355 lives who could
go on to impact the lives of all those around them. The ripple effect <strike>could be</strike> will be exponential……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I found out we were returning to Madagascar for a back
to back field service, I must admit I had mixed feelings. We really enjoyed our
first field service in Tamatave but since that time, many of our close friends
had left and things have been different. Would we be bored? Could we find
enough patients? Would be become complacent? Could we sustain enough enthusiasm
and energy for a two year period in the same place? You have to remember that
the crew are a giant bunch of globetrotting adventurers. We live, work and play
hard! Our attention span is small.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will admit, I slept through our early morning arrival,
thinking “I have seen this before” but now, as I think about leaving next year,
my eyes well with tears. Oh yes, we can do back to back countries. Our roots are
firmly established and we are deeply invested in this country. We have reached
further, gone deeper and loved harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think back to when we arrived and when I finally got up
and opened my curtains to see the now familiar sight from our cabin windows, I
felt relief and a sense of being home. I was so excited to get off the ship.
Our first night in Tamatave we were able to have shore leave and we hoofed it
to one of our favourite eateries and Ivan, the Food and Beverage Manager hugged
us, his smile a mile wide! It made my heart overflow with joy to be able to have the opportunity to build on the relationships
that we had begun in Madagascar 1. It was a new feeling, that sense of familiarity within a country, as sense of knowing.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day the day crew arrived on board is another special
memory that sticks in my mind. Most of our wonderful day crew were able to join
us again for another year. I went to do my laundry and I was carrying our hot
pink laundry bag, overflowing with washing, both of my hands busy with the weight
of the bag. One of the crew services day crew rushed towards me with a huge smile
on her face and threw her arms around me in delight, nearly bowling me over
with her petite frame. Can’t get that unless you do back to back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not to mention all the patients who are able to benefit from
extra follow up and further surgeries! What about the OBF clinic and the hundreds
of women who will receive surgeries for their obstetric fistulas and all the babies
whose crooked little legs will be made straight from the “new to this field
service” Ponseti program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes, now I
am utterly convinced that back to back field services are a gift! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A gift to the crew and a gift to the nation we
are serving!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the East to the West, the North to the South we have travelled
searching for patients in the dusty inland towns and seaside villages. Training for locals
in so many facets of medical care including WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and Lifebox
training. Glaucoma training, Ponseti and Dental training, Primary Trauma Care, Essential
Surgical Skills, Biomedical training and Safe Obstetrics Anaesthesia training
is ongoing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God is good and has shown his faithfulness this field service.
He has blessed us by making a way for the Africa Mercy to spend a span of almost two years
in this beautiful and peaceful nation, allowing us to build upon relationships
and services to ensure that we leave behind a long lasting legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes, the crew will cry a river on the day
we sail from these shores…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfZyPsayQIc/VkS78Yq4_rI/AAAAAAAAIsE/TznWdMRTbwU/s1600/001-735633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6216300031767019186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfZyPsayQIc/VkS78Yq4_rI/AAAAAAAAIsE/TznWdMRTbwU/s400/001-735633.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our arrival into Tamatave.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Danny, one of our new Malagasy crew proudly holding her nation's flag as we draw near to our familiar berth.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The pilot boat packed with crew, so excited to see their floating home after our lengthy delay in South Africa.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dozens of crew line the Toamasina dock eagerly anticipating being able to walks up the gangway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Suzanne Veltjens)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some of the deckies gather to pray on the bow.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Malagasy flag is raised where it will fly for the duration of our field service.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo Credit: David Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our first patients waiting for surgery! Flavien (centre) and Henry.</span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Philippians 1:6 NIV</span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfZyPsayQIc/VkS78Yq4_rI/AAAAAAAAIsE/TznWdMRTbwU/s1600/001-735633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-57784664802580951292015-09-19T17:49:00.001+00:002015-09-20T13:38:18.360+00:00Wet, Dry, Wet...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After 16 hours of flights, seeing a friendly face, holding up this sign was a sight for sore eyes! We were very excited to get back to our cabin in our home on the big, white bubble, The Africa Mercy, after almost six weeks of living out of suitcases in three states of Australia. Ten flights, two houses, four hotels and two rental cars later we made it back to the Durban dry dock, where the Africa Mercy had since relocated from the Dormac Shipyard, while we were away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">It was an interesting experience for Jess and I, having never lived on board during the dry dock phase, before. The last two times the Africa Mercy has been in dry dock during our service, we have been relocated to accommodation on land. This time a decision was made to allow those with children over the age of 13, to live back on board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">No air-conditioning, restricted laundry room use, intermittent hot water, hard hats, a strict curfew, cold lunches, closed toe shoes. and so much more......all the fun of dry dock. But it is all for a good cause as the Africa Mercy received vital repairs to areas usually underwater!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">It was unusual for us to go into dry dock again, after last year as dry dock is usually a biannual affair. But pressing work on the portside propeller and fourteen metres of shaft meant that we needed to "GO DRY" once again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Over 100 engineering projects were completed and 52 other projects!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Highlights included...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Hospital Chaplaincy space modification (to give you some idea of the importance of the hospital chaplains, last field service there were 800 counselling sessions, 568 bibles were distributed and 164 one on one HIV counselling session took place)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* New Library Conference Room constructed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Café remodel including painting and stripping/varnishing of café parquetry floors</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Remodel of Academy pre-school room</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* New refrigerators in the dining room and galley (Andrew was instrumental in getting these! :) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* The prop and shaft work</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Refrigeration piping</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Hull plating and anchor locker repairs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Refurbishment of other rooms, including new flooring and replacing of windows</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* Replacement of old domestic metal piping with new plastic piping on deck five, six and seven and replacement of drains</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* New radar equipment on the bridge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">* New washing machines and dryers installed in the crew and hospital laundries</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Africa Mercy in dry dock in Durban, South Africa; the giant bath tub. The ship sailed in and the water was drained out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Andrea Diallo)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A few cool vantage points of the impressive hull of the Africa Mercy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: Walter Pretorius)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: Walter Pretorius)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the 50 ton propellers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: Walter Pretorius)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another issue that came up late in the Madagascar One field service was a water leak discovered in the anchor chain locker. The locker was temporarily repaired so we could sail to Durban where proper repairs were carried out.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An aerial view of the AFM in dry dock.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of our very big anchors!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each shipyard period, a group of dedicated crew come on board and are officially known as the Projects Team. They are there to work hard and to get the job done and all with a smile on their faces! Above, construction taking place on the library conference room which involved separating a part of the front room of the library and making it into a new room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ta da!! A new conference room that is being used daily for everything from departmental devotions, training sessions, exam taking, crew movie nights and more!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The new, super cold dining room refrigerators!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There is still time for some fun in shipyard, as we are in a developed nation and for many of the crew, it provides some "down time". Andrew scored an invite to a corporate box at a rugby match! There was a lottery on board for the other seats so several lucky crew were able to go along as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But the fun had to end sometime and our school principal was determined to begin school on time, despite the delays in dry dock. Unfortunately, another issue was discovered on the portside shaft, causing unscheduled maintenance, which saw us remain in dry dock for an extra two weeks! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So the beginning of school was an interesting affair. Those with children over 13 were living on board the ship in dry dock and those with children under 13 were housed off ship in two guest houses, nearby. Junior High and High School began, as normal, on board with kids under 13 but still in Junior High and High School bussed in every day. The elementary teachers were bussed out to one of the guest houses where school took place in different rooms of the guest house!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Above the Junior High and High School make their grand entrance after almost three months off school! Jess began grade ten, the only girl in her class of three! (Two in grade ten and one in grade nine).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Never let it be said that Mercy Shippers are not flexible!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: David Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the worst things about dry dock was having to wear a hard hat until we were out of the dry dock area, even to take the garbage out at the bottom of the gangway! Me and Jess on the way back to the ship after a day out.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We visted the Ushaka Marine World precinct again, after visiting several times in the shipyard in Durban, 2011. It is a great place to wile away a day with a Sea World and Wet 'n Wild, lots of shops, restaurants and fast food outlets, a reptile park, huge kids playground, gondolas, Zulu dancing shows, pier and beach, bike hire and massive zipline/ropes course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess just wanted to get a second piercing in her ears and a henna tattoo.....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The huge pier at Ushaka.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess getting up close to a couple of stingrays at the aquarium.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Eventually the day came when it was time to "GO WET" again!! Time for the Africa Mercy's giant bath tub to be re-filled and for us to be towed back to the Dormac shipyard ready for our departure back to Madagascar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The Captain requested that all, but essential crew, go off ship for the day. Jess went off with the Junior High/High School for an excursion but we took the chance to do a self-drive trip through two game reserves, with some friends. What an amazing day it was. Breathtaking scenery, tranquil surroundings and so many sightings of majestic animals! What a great day this was for us after the craziness off the past few months.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Entering the lion enclosure.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wilderbeest</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lots of zebra!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hippos were a bit elusive and a long way away but got a few shots with the camera zoom.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rhino</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tons of ostrich too!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andrew and I at the game lodge where we had a lovely lunch overlooking beautiful, rolling green hills with the air crisp and cool and exotic birds singing all around us. Bliss!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Meanwhile Jess was a slightly more energetic school excursion to the Durban waterfront where the school hired bikes for a scavenger hunt. They also took a dip in the Indian Ocean, but had to make a hasty retreat after sharks were sighted. Above some of the kids enjoy a breather.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: David Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Unfortunately, due to the late hour of the day when we were ready to move back to Dormac, the pilot could not move us so it was back to dry dock for another night!! The kids return and cross the gangway over the giant bathtub. Well we did get a little water in the bath tub and we were floating once again!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh happy day!!! Water filling up the bathtub/dry dock!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Andrea Diallo)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: Walter Pretorius)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A triumphant day! The AFM being towed back by the tugs to the Dormac Shipyard, after well over a month in the dry dock!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On our way back to Madagascar, After two months in shipyard/dry dock going wet, then dry then wet again, we were finally underway! The pilot was lowered down to deck eight to help guide us out through Durban Harbour. I was out on deck seven watching and Jess was up on deck eight. The helicopter came so close and the pilot waved to us all. Pretty cool moment before we were shoed inside-lol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit, above and below: Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Like a smile sent down from heaven, we were treated to a spectacular whale show on our way out of the harbour!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">After a couple more unexpected delays we made it back to Tamatave, Madagascar on the 30th of August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We were so glad to be back to this beautiful country and it's shy and unassuming people. A land of contrasts from rice paddies balancing precariously on the sided of lush green mountains to the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and it's palm fringed beaches. A nation that, despite it's stunning beauty and amazing ecosystem is crying out in desperation; for medical care, food and infrastructure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">For the next nine months we will endeavour to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a little town called Tamatave.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-3368936101763638682015-09-13T18:19:00.000+00:002015-09-13T18:19:28.190+00:00Veloma Tamatave, Sawabona Durban!<div class="mobile-photo">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our hearts were full as we wrapped up a successful, albeit shortened field service, in Madagascar in June. It was time to exchange one flag for another as we sailed across the Indian Ocean to Durban, South Africa for the Africa Mercy's annual period of maintenance, or as we affectionately term it on board, shipyard! But more on this is our next blog post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In this post we say veloma (goodbye) to the wonderful nation of Madagascar. But really it was not goodbye but just a "see you later" as we rested in the knowledge that soon we would return to this land we had come to love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo: Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The gangway goes up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit above and below: Jen Peterschmidt)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The berth may look empty in this photo but now it is bustling again with patients, land rovers, containers and crew. Just how we like it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The guys on the tug gave us a little assistance with out stubborn anchor which had been dutifully securing us in place against the big surges battering the ship for a large part of last field service.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back at sea where the sunsets and sunrises are God's masterpiece!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo:Unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit above and below: Jen Peterschmidt)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sailing is a great time for fun!!! With nowhere much to be, at no particular time, the crew bond together is some great activities such as the Captain's Dinner and Mocktail party! After a seafood feast we gathered in the café for some sweet and zesty delights!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Captain Tim grabs a Dolphin Colada.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Durban on the horizon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Durban Harbour is one of the biggest in the world so the pilot does not come by boat but by helicopter. It is pretty cool!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Sue Clynes)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Continuing with the theme from my last post....Dormac Shipyard, our home for the next few months!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From the Madagascar flag to the South African flag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Arriving in shipyard also brought about some inevitable goodbyes that we had been dreading for months. There was no more time left and the day we left for Australia, less than 48 hours after the ship arrived in South Africa, we said goodbye to over a dozen close friends, including our best friends on board. It was so hard for us to be the first to leave and to not be able to be there when each of our friends left to honour them and their journey with Mercy Ships.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the hardest goodbye was to Captain Tim Tretheway, his wife Sharon and their son Nathaniel whose combined service with Mercy Ships totalled over 50 years!!! They left the day after us to applause, as they descended the gangway for the very last time, and several extended honks of the ship's horn. Above Tim hands over his Captain's epaulettes of eight stripes to our temporary Captain, Jurryan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: David Forrest)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Mercy Ships traditional farewell lining of the dock. One last salute for the Tretheway family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our hardest goodbye to date, our ship family, the Szarek family. Jess with Charlotte Forrest and Deborah Szarek. Jess and I cried in the van taking us to the airport, all the way to immigration. It was a sombre ride to the airport as we quietly reflected on all those we had just said goodbye to and how life on board was going to be very different upon our return from Australia!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Szarek's left a few weeks after we left for Oz. That last walk down the gangway is very, very tough and I cannot imagine doing it ourselves, one day. Just as the first walk up the gangway is filled with euphoria and emotion (I cried), so the last walk is also filled with emotion and the weight of a thousand memories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We left shipyard just 48 hours after our arrival into Durban and what a tumultuous time it was from when we left the shores of Tamatave to the moment we stepped into the van to go to King Shaka International Airport. Things would never be quite the same again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo credit: Patricia Royston)</span></td></tr>
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-22966237478358071982015-09-06T17:48:00.001+00:002015-09-06T20:06:38.451+00:00Where is Home?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where is home? I have been asked this question so many times over the last five years. For me, home is where I have left a piece of my heart. Home is somewhere that generates feelings of wellbeing and familiarity. I guess that means I have lots of homes all over the world. My life is richer and more abundant because I have so many homes but my heart is in a million little pieces scattered all over the globe. I can travel to dozens of countries and can always be met with a friendly face and have somewhere to lay my head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home is the United States where we completed our Mercy Ships training in 2006 and visited again in 2009. It is where we have literally dozens of friends. Home is in the tiny village of Villa Ascension in the Dominican Republic. Home is on Bad Boy Lane in Sierra Leone and the white sands and azure waters of River No. 2 Beach. Home is fresh strawberries at Cote Jardin on the beach road in Togo and the funny little Chinese $ store. Home is in Guinea in the embrace of my beautiful friend Grace and lazy Saturday afternoons at the Riviera Hotel. Home is in the United Kingdom at the foot of Stonehenge just down the road from ship friends and just across from Wales where more mates live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home is the black volcanic backdrop and colourful gelato bars of the Canary Islands. Home is at the foot of the jungles at the Diosso Gorge in the Congo. Home is in the savannahs of South Africa and the Mugg and Bean at the V&A in Cape Town. Home is the Dormac (Durban) and Astican (Las Palmas) shipyards. Home is airports. Lots. Of. Airports. Taking us to all our homes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home is in the cry of the lemur and chatting with Ivan at the Calypso in Madagascar. Home is a big white hospital ship with friends from 40 nations, where we live in a three room cabin. Home is my Mum and Dad's house in Tasmania. Home is where our family lives as well as all our "stuff" and our car, our birth country, Australia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In June and July we spent some time in Australia, out longest home! Just a few random pics to celebrate our trip!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our first stop was Launceston, Tasmania, where Andrew and I met and married and our parent's live. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We see all the photos on Facebook but this time it was out turn to have a Mercy Ships reunion with our newlywed friends, Leah and Idrissa Koroma, who left the ship in December, 2014. It was fantastic to catch up with them and to spend some time filling them in on ship life.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beautiful Cataract Gorge in the heart of Launceston City, where many peacocks strut and have become an iconic feature of the Gorge.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A panoramic view of the Gorge from the suspension bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A quick trip down to Tasmania's historic capital city, Hobart, where Jodie was born! Historic and very cold!! You see, while the vast majority of the ship's crew were going back home to enjoy summer, we headed back to the coldest winter Australia has had for the past 60 years!! Not long after we left Australia, Hobart received a dumping of snow to sea level!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Unfortunately we missed most of the snow but Jess was pretty excited to find this little patch on the side of Mt. Wellington, which overlooks Hobart.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another panoramic view. This time from the top of Mt. Wellington at sunset.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was about 0 degrees Celsius on Mt. Wellington but the wind chill factor was several degrees below zero and positively took your breath away! Us trying to keep warm!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mt. Wellington from below.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Salamanca Market at the foot of Mt. Wellington, home of hippies, piping hot cinnamon donuts, great second hand books, fantastic fudge, cool doggy treats and amazing Tasmanian hand crafts.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The main reason for our road trip to Hobart was to catch up with this awesome woman!! My grandmother, 99 years ago and not looking a day over 80! So good to see her again!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is an odd picture I hear you thinking! We ventured into the controversial MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). This is Jess and my Dad in a special room where you wore sound blocking headphones and lay back in a beach chair and appreciated the view outside. For some reason we found it extremely amusing, fuelled by the fact that we couldn't hear ourselves laughing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back to Launnie......we held an informal coffee and dessert evening for our regular, local financial supporters. We wanted to make it a little bit fun with a Madagascar theme. Even Melman and Gloria popped in for a visit!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just a pic of the Tamar River in Launceston sporting some beautiful autumn colours.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I've been around the world<br /> A couple of times or maybe more<br /> I've seen the sights, I've had delights<br /> On every foreign shore<br /> But when my mates all ask me<br /> The place that I adore<br /> I tell them right away</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Give me a home among the gum trees<br /> With lots of plum trees<br /> A sheep or two, a k-kangaroo<br /> A clothesline out the back<br /> Verandah out the front<br /> And an old rocking chair...."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">......the lyrics to a famous Aussie song.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We thought it was high time we re-acquainted Jess with some Aussie wildlife so we took her, Leah and Idrissa (who was also meeting some of our native animals for the first time) to a local wildlife park. Ok, so Shetland ponies are not indigenous to Australia but it is a cute photo of Jess!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photos of kangaroos and Tasmanian Devils for all our non-Aussie readers to enjoy! :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The very cheek cockatoo who will talk back to you! "Hello cocky" being it's favourite catchcry!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess really enjoyed going out with my Dad on electric scooters!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We had the opportunity to speak at our home church in Launceston, Door of Hope Christian Church. Andrew spoke in the morning service and Jessica spoke at Undone, the youth service. She made quite an impact and made her mamma proud!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our next stop was the stunning Cradle Mountain where we stayed for a few nights. No snow in close sight but handfeeding the pademelons and walking the end of the Dove Lake Circuit at sunset made up for it!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All rugged up ready to do some bushwalking!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jess and her friend Nikola enjoying a traditional Aussie meat pie! Can't do much better on a cold winter's day, unless you add an iced coffee on the side!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We caught up with many friends while we were back in Australia but one friend that I will always have time for is my dear friend of twenty five years, Ruth.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A few more flights saw us a bit further up the Aussie coastline in Brisbane, Queensland the birthplace of Jessica!. Above, Jess cuddles up with all the young nieces and nephews, including two she had never met before!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Whilst we had a great time in Australia we were keen to get back to another of our homes, the Africa Mercy. It is hard to describe the way we feel at home in so many places. As we cruised into the Port of Tamatave, Madagascar last Sunday and saw the familiar palm lined beach of the Indian Ocean, crew and day crew waving us in, I felt a strong sense of home once again. I found this quote below which I think sums it up pretty well!</span><br />
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-66319806154605394872015-06-01T18:42:00.000+00:002015-06-01T20:00:39.555+00:00Dear One<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mercy Ships patients are not the only ones who experience transformed lives. Crew members create treasured memories of heart-lifting and heart-breaking moments. Ward Nurse Heather Morehouse shares a special story:</span></div>
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<em><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">“To The Terror Of A 5-Year-Old In Bed D9 … You Have Changed My Life"</span></strong></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you first arrived on the ward, I saw your face … how your lip was pulled up and made your face look like you had a permanent scowl … how your left eye was missing, and your face was distorted … how you played, but were very aggressive, as if you’d spent your whole life fighting …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found out that, when you were a week old, your mother left you at home with your older siblings so she could go to work to support you. When she came home, she found that you had been attacked by some animal! It left a hole in your face that got infected, probably with a flesh-destroying bacteria called noma. It ate away your nose and ruined your eye. A local doctor sewed your eye shut and advised your mom to pour hot water on your eye every day for the next five years. Your mom didn’t know what else to do.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You came to us needing a new nose … but you are leaving with a new heart.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After your first surgery, I was your nurse. I think you hated me or feared me so much that you hated me. You left fingernail marks in my arm as you screamed while I did your breathing treatments – you were so afraid that you didn’t realize the treatments were actually painless. I will never forget how strong you were as you fought. We had to restrain you while you screamed, “Marare, marare!” (“Pain, pain!”) over and over again throughout every treatment ... every four hours ... for countless shifts over five weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember how your mom wept when Dr. Gary’s wife, Susan, looked into her eyes, saying, “You are a good mom ... you are brave.” Your mom looked as if she’d never heard those words in her entire life. She’d spent five years caring for you, keeping you home so both of you wouldn’t have to endure disgusted looks and comments. She wanted to protect you but had no support. Her eyes were so tired and defeated. She is the most patient, loving mother I have ever met.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember my somewhat futile attempts to make you smile. Your whole head was bandaged, and you could barely see out of your one good eye. I read to you, placing your hands on the pictures. You’d stare at the book, unimpressed, and pull your hands away. My heart hurt for you. I brought you crayons. You grabbed the box and dumped them all into your lap as if you were afraid that someone would steal them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was feeling defeated as the weeks were going by, and you were still as angry as ever. We nurses would pray over you frequently – for peace over your little mind … that you would come to trust us … that, through our love, the little girl inside would re-emerge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your mind was so tormented. You wouldn’t venture more than an arm’s length away from your mom. After treatments, you would throw yourself under your bed, sometimes for hours. You would swing your fist at me whenever I tried to say hello. You refused all medicine. You would spit it in my face, so I hid it in your food … which worked for about two days until you found out and refused to eat. For your first dressing change, the doctor ordered an oral sedative. We brainstormed about how on earth we were going to get you to take the medicine. I asked you what your favourite food was, but you wouldn’t say. I asked if you liked chocolate and you nodded. So I mixed the sedatives into Nutella and served it with a spoon and a smile. You took a small bite, and I rejoiced! But then you spat it out. You couldn’t be tricked. The only way was to give you an injection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I prayed that the peace I saw while you slept would become the peace you’d have while you were awake … that whatever was tormenting you would be gone. But then you’d wake up and return to your angry self.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then this week, something about you changed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You still hate your treatments, and we don’t give you any medications by mouth because you refuse them, but you’re smiling now. A few days ago someone caught you singing, and another nurse taught you how to wink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, more than five weeks from when you first walked through our door, I couldn’t keep the tears from my eyes as I watched you ride around the ward on your little scooter. As I felt you sneak up behind me, poke my side and then dart around the corner while you waited me for me to come chase you. As I winked at you in your bed, and you winked back. Today I saw your heart heal a little. A heart that has spent its whole life fighting and not allowing anyone in … because no one had ever wanted in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cried because you are healing. Because this journey has been so difficult, remembering frustration when you’d thrashed around as I held you, quietly saying, “It’s okay,” but you never heard me through your screams. Because, as often as I wanted to request to not be your nurse, I didn’t – because I knew the Lord would be faithful in healing your body and mind and that He had the power to return your joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are becoming a little girl again. Ever so slowly you are letting us love you. The torment that you’ve endured for the past five years is lifting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mioty came to us needing a new nose. She is leaving with a new heart.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At first, Mioty rarely left her mother’s side.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">… Affectionate tickles and giggles from nurse Heather Morehouse</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ward Nurse Heather Morehouse (USA) described Mioty’s mother as “the most patient, loving mother I have ever met.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">My heart has been broken for you. I often ask the Lord to break my heart for His people … and you are evidence that He has. I am honoured to bear the burden of this broken heart, because it is worth it to love you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">You, Dear One, are why I am here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Story by Heather Morehouse, AFM Ward Nurse, </span><a class="external-link" href="https://heathermorehouse.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://heathermorehouse.wordpress.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edited by Eunice Hiew and Nancy Predaina</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos by Katie Keegan, Catrice Wulf and Deb Louden</span> </div>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-33760116486304500262015-04-21T16:13:00.000+00:002015-04-27T15:39:46.096+00:00Daddy's Girl<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the best sounds in the world, to me, is the sound of Jess and Andrew laughing together, which they do often. It is music to my ears. Jess has always been a Daddy's girl so I was delighted to hear that the very unique relationship between a daddy and daughter was going to be honoured and celebrated though a Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance on board the Africa Mercy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It turned out to be quite the evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some very creative minds worked together to make everything special, from the invitations to the preparations to the dance itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andrew surprised Jess in the hallway outside our cabin with her invite, wrapped with twine around a small bouquet of flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the back are the details of the dance but on the front Andrew had written, " Dear Jessie, I hope you can come to the dance with me, Love Daddy".</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Obviously an occasion of such magnitude requires a lot of preparation. The Queens Lounge was converted into a pamper studio where all the girls on board, from the little tiny ones right up to the oldest teenage daughters on board, had their hair, makeup and nails attended to by some of the young women on board. Mum's could come for this bit!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me helping Jess with her nails. What a proud mum I was too!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Having the gorgeous mane blow-dried!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mummy and daughter selfie!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost ready!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Daddy and daughter ready for the dance!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of our talented young photographers on board took some beautiful photos to capture the bond between father and daughter. Andy sure is a proud Dad!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">(Photo above and all photos below by Ryan Cardoza)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sitting down for dinner. Chicken fingers and fries followed by an ice cream bar. Of course!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Toppings for the ice cream.....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Many of our young men on board, who are yet to be Dad's, offered up their time and talents to help out for the evening. Above, our ship's plumber Laurin played the piano and guitar.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Deckie Luke waits tables.....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some of the guys who gave up their evening to help serve our families. You guys rock!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Going back in time...Jess dancing on her Daddy's feet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Dancing with Daddy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">"Dance with me Daddy!</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">I take him by the hand,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Like a prima ballerina, atop his shoes I stand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With my first and favourite partner, we glide across the floor,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">By the sparkle in his eyes, I know I'm loved and adored.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">He is charming and funny, he is big and strong,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">We laugh, I twirl and giggle, as I follow him along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We dance into each other's hearts, sweet memories of these days,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Daddy and I will dance again, the day he gives my hand away."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Daddyncompany.com)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Aftermath...Jess and her two besties, Charlotte and Deborah.</span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-14779455144787793562015-03-20T18:00:00.000+00:002015-03-20T18:00:16.178+00:00Finding the Right Ones<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Africa Mercy our prayer for our potential patients, before we even arrive in country, is always that same, "Lord send us those who you have in mind for transformation, spiritually, mentally and physically. Help them to find their way to a screening site or to the ship. Give them a divine appointment. Help us to find the right ones, whatever it takes."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So just how do people find out about the ship? Long before the ship's arrival in port, the Advance team does a stellar job of advertising the ship's arrival and the surgical specialties we offer on board. Advertising is done for screening day/s and surgeries by way of poster, billboards, text messaging, radio advertising and probably a whole heap of other creative ways. The advance team also spends a lot of time forming strategic relationship with local hospitals, churches and government officials. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So by the time we arrive into a port our prayers have been lifted high and God is whispering in the right ears and planting seeds in the right hearts, prompting them to find a way to the ship or to help another find their way, often against great adversity that continues to stun us. So many of our patients walk for days to reach the ship with debilitating conditions, facing torment and ridicule along the way. Many are already on death's door and somehow God makes a way. We are often their very last hope. It is a miracle, plain and simple!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things have been a little different in Madagascar. Ordinarily we conduct one huge mass screening day in a large facility such as a sports stadium. However this field service the screening in Tamatave was held over a period of two weeks at a local hospital, Hopital Be (pronounced Bay). After that several surgical screenings were held in large cities all over the island of Madagascar, including the capital Antananarivo. In conjunction with the surgical screenings, eye screenings also took place in many other regions of Madagascar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Screenings have now finished for this field service and miracles are taking place everyday on deck three!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Miracles like eight year old Sandrins (below, right)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, her right leg was negatively affected by a quinine injection. The medicine that cured her of malaria unfortunately damaged the nerves in her right leg, causing her foot to bend inwardly at the ankle. Now she is free to go to school again with her twin sister, Sandra!</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Zafaline....This courageous young woman travelled from the southernmost tip of Madagascar in search of the Africa Mercy. Travelling with her mother, the journey took four days. Zafiline shared with us that she never doubted that Mercy Ships would be able to heal her.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Look closely.......fraternal nine month old twins, Ichaya and Aycha, were born with polydactyly (extra digits) of their hands and feet.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Five beautiful fingers and five beautiful toes.....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Meet eleven year old Windy, the electricity went out in his home, so a candle was lit instead. Unfortunately, the candle was too close to the mosquito net that enclosed Windy and caught on fire, leaving him horribly disfigured. Just look at him now, with his arms so free....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All her life Vanya, aged eleven, has been disabled by an unusual condition called 'windswept legs'. Look at her straight legs now! With her legs so crooked Vanya wasn’t able to wear a dress. Now that her casts have come off, she can wear a dress, showing off her wonderfully straight legs.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little Sorelle was born with a cleft lip. After Sorelle's surgery, mum, Antoine said, “I am happy because now Sorelle can grow up without people laughing at her or pushing her away. God will provide for my daughter like He has done with this surgery.”</span> </td></tr>
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<span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Zakael was ashamed of the cyst on his neck and would be teased by the neighborhood kids. Now that Zakael is healed, he want to follow his dream to become a soldier just like his grandfather!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Two years ago, cataracts robbed William of his sight making it impossible for him to see his wife and son.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A simple operation changed his life!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Minette has been carrying around a 4.3 kilogram neurofibroma, that began growing on her back when she was just five years old. This young women has shed her large, oversized t-shirts and her sad demeanour. Now her face shines with joy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jocelin had a golf ball sized tumour that had grown out of the tear duct and pushed his right eye almost completely out of its socket, immobilizing his eye and disabling his vision in that eye. S<span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl"></span>surgeon's had to disconnect and reconnect some of the muscles attached to his eye in the removal of the tumour.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jocelin was told before his surgery that he may lose his eye but his eye was able to be saved. He says, “I am so thankful to God and Mercy Ships. Surgeries are expensive. I could never afford to do this. Not only is the tumour gone, but I still have my eye. I’m going to be able to look people in the eye again!”</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Eighteen year old Mamisy came to us with no nose or upper lip, his face eaten away by a destructive condition called Noma. Mercy Ships surgeons recreated his new nose from a part of his scalp and then fashioned a new upper lip from his bottom lip! Mamisy is looking forward to getting married and having lots of children!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For thirty two years a growth ate away at Vololonirina's cheek. After all her hope had left her, she began to pray. For fourteen long years Vololonirina and her church prayed for a miracle! Vololonirina, who became known for her beautiful shawl, proclaimed, after her surgery, “Hallelujah! Thank you, God! It’s gone! I feel <em>free</em>!”</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet four year old cutie, Priscilla who suffered from bowed legs, a physical deformity that gave her legs an “O”- shaped appearance. This condition created many limitations. She was unable to walk long distances or jump and walking up and down stairs was painful for her. Other children teased her. Priscilla’s mother, Llanariana prayed for a miracle and it came in the form of a hospital ship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now this little bundle of mischief is achieving all kinds of new things! She can squat, stand on one leg, and has even returned to school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In our time with Mercy Ships, the story of Sambany has perhaps been the greatest miracle! After walking for two days with dangerously low haemoglobin levels, fifty five year old Sambany made it to the ship, carrying the largest tumour even seen on a Mercy ship, weighing in at a hefty 7.46kg. After a marathon 12 hour surgery, that included the aid of seventeen crew blood donors, Sambany was free of his burden!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Today Sambany is looking great and healing nicely at the Hope Centre. He says, “My heart is very, very happy. I’m very happy. I’m just happy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for,</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being forgotten by everyone,</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I think that is a much greater hunger,</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a much greater poverty</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Than the person who has nothing to eat..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mother Theresa</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just to finish up, I couldn't resit a few pics of our othopedic cuties! How could you resist these gorgeous faces?</span> </td></tr>
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<br />Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-1003670209800522822015-02-12T18:43:00.001+00:002015-02-12T18:43:15.396+00:00Before and After!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of you will remember the trouble we have had in our cabin, over the years, with mould. After the shipyard period in 2013 the mould in our cabin exploded. We had mould everywhere-the carpet, shoes, hats, belts, our mattresses, pillows, wooden souvenirs, handbags, laptop bag, any kind of bags, everywhere we looked. We smelt the mildew smell as soon as we came in the door. Our cabin felt "damp" and humid all the time. The Captain measured the humidity in our cabin at around 73%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a ceiling leak just outside our cabin door for over 18 months so the carpet in our entry way was always wet. It just wasn't any fun and Andrew started to develop some allergies and congestion issues as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we took the issue to those in charge and our cabin received the once over in dry dock/shipyard last year in The Canary Islands. I spent the whole sail from the Congo to the Canaries packing up our cabin which was no mean feat, while the ship was rolling from side to side. We stored all our stuff in a classroom in the Academy while we stayed on land in a hotel with the rest of the families not on leave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our cabin was cleaned from top to bottom, new lino flooring was installed and the stink, rank carpet was ripped up. New suction vents were installed in both the bedrooms and sound proofing was installed in the large suction vent we already had, in the lounge room. The air-conditioning vents were cleaned out with a huge vacuum sucker thing and the leak was final fixed outside our cabin door. No more water to slip on when we came out of our cabin!</span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4KsGx2euHs/VNOuMc6ap4I/AAAAAAAAHrM/PuMgvEmyjz8/s1600/001-732718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4KsGx2euHs/VNOuMc6ap4I/AAAAAAAAHrM/PuMgvEmyjz8/s320/001-732718.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420648214767490" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our cabin sans carpet!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One square of carpet left from under our bed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Repairing the leaking pipes outside our cabin door with our fridge and other furniture sitting in the hallway</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first strips of lino are laid.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lounge room/kitchen completed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shipyard workers cleaning out the large suction vent in our lounge area. Andrew happened to be there when they first started sucking out the vent and he said it sounded like cornflakes being sucked into the hose!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A big hose sucking out our small bathroom vent.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After six weeks in a hotel during dry dock we came home and had to move our stuff immediately out of the Academy as the staff needed to get ready for the next school year. Needless to say our cabin looked like a cyclone had hit, for quite a few weeks. There was just no room to put anything while we were trying to unpack. No garage or spare room to put the unpacked boxes in!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just a small area to walk from one end of the cabin to another and out the front door.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Found a place to store some of the boxes while we unpacked. We moved Jess from the bottom to the top bunk and stored the boxes under her bed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally done! Some before and after shots. New linen gave our bedroom a bit of a lift, including a new mattress! We also took the opportunity to get rid of the horrible wooden side on my side of the bed and one for the talented carpenters on board fixed it up for us! Needless to say we have been sleeping much better these days!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVdDmtblrPw/VNOuVAXUdzI/AAAAAAAAHtc/d73fdwIfpGY/s1600/013-767383.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVdDmtblrPw/VNOuVAXUdzI/AAAAAAAAHtc/d73fdwIfpGY/s320/013-767383.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420795170191154" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgO2kJoF78U/VNOuV56GbuI/AAAAAAAAHto/Ql7kJAQ0K60/s1600/014-770743.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgO2kJoF78U/VNOuV56GbuI/AAAAAAAAHto/Ql7kJAQ0K60/s320/014-770743.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420810616893154" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our bedroom before, looking to the portside and after to the portside.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtAcskA9azI/VNOuWlpvMcI/AAAAAAAAHt0/1KSh-0BwsfU/s1600/015-773881.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtAcskA9azI/VNOuWlpvMcI/AAAAAAAAHt0/1KSh-0BwsfU/s320/015-773881.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420822359421378" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rY2TULD-sAs/VNOuXdt9yuI/AAAAAAAAHuA/tlxPKXStN3o/s1600/016-776432.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rY2TULD-sAs/VNOuXdt9yuI/AAAAAAAAHuA/tlxPKXStN3o/s320/016-776432.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420837409540834" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Before-starboard side and after starboard side.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm0F2NklrmU/VNOuX0v3_oI/AAAAAAAAHuM/dTw_hYK1MR0/s1600/017-779167.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm0F2NklrmU/VNOuX0v3_oI/AAAAAAAAHuM/dTw_hYK1MR0/s320/017-779167.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420843591564930" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DuzpH2thKQ/VNOuYu0mP7I/AAAAAAAAHuY/d95lzDbhgQk/s1600/018-781795.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DuzpH2thKQ/VNOuYu0mP7I/AAAAAAAAHuY/d95lzDbhgQk/s320/018-781795.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420859180629938" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lounge/kitchen looking towards the front door before and after, below. Check out our lovely new couch!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYotEKSedI4/VNOuZqFIyII/AAAAAAAAHuk/jKk-Q37vcGU/s1600/019-785301.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYotEKSedI4/VNOuZqFIyII/AAAAAAAAHuk/jKk-Q37vcGU/s320/019-785301.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420875087693954" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tbz593sYSnA/VNOuafDRkfI/AAAAAAAAHuw/DWiqky9nNpU/s1600/020-788348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tbz593sYSnA/VNOuafDRkfI/AAAAAAAAHuw/DWiqky9nNpU/s320/020-788348.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420889306960370" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another angle of lounge/kitchen before and after, below.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KfpAEUAz-Zc/VNOubFSdywI/AAAAAAAAHu8/PUivPwnlb04/s1600/021-791347.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KfpAEUAz-Zc/VNOubFSdywI/AAAAAAAAHu8/PUivPwnlb04/s320/021-791347.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420899571223298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxeAMqjsXFk/VNOub0FgWjI/AAAAAAAAHvI/ZTYjg9Hiy18/s1600/022-794268.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxeAMqjsXFk/VNOub0FgWjI/AAAAAAAAHvI/ZTYjg9Hiy18/s320/022-794268.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420912133331506" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lounge/kitchen before looking towards our bedroom and after looking towards our bedroom.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4LGuUMWIPj8/VNOucr0u_bI/AAAAAAAAHvU/wYAoVccRLAQ/s1600/023-797227.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4LGuUMWIPj8/VNOucr0u_bI/AAAAAAAAHvU/wYAoVccRLAQ/s320/023-797227.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420927095373234" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UxPBOgM-6UQ/VNOudVQ2f7I/AAAAAAAAHvg/lRzYPbRbSr0/s1600/024-700210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UxPBOgM-6UQ/VNOudVQ2f7I/AAAAAAAAHvg/lRzYPbRbSr0/s320/024-700210.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420938219159474" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another view before of the main living area, above and after, below.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLcrwfw4-ys/VNOueFzPAwI/AAAAAAAAHvs/y3-pHrBWDcc/s1600/025-703073.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLcrwfw4-ys/VNOueFzPAwI/AAAAAAAAHvs/y3-pHrBWDcc/s320/025-703073.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420951248274178" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPw0Qcok5Pw/VNOuer24p5I/AAAAAAAAHv4/Dv3r2AMPUpg/s1600/026-705748.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPw0Qcok5Pw/VNOuer24p5I/AAAAAAAAHv4/Dv3r2AMPUpg/s320/026-705748.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420961464133522" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The "hallway" before and after, below.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPWePEYtq6Q/VNOufWO2a8I/AAAAAAAAHwE/fSdvZQU11Sc/s1600/027-708677.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPWePEYtq6Q/VNOufWO2a8I/AAAAAAAAHwE/fSdvZQU11Sc/s320/027-708677.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420972838939586" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkpcwWHF774/VNOugeLwPBI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/39X9H6Z4dZE/s1600/028-712108.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkpcwWHF774/VNOugeLwPBI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/39X9H6Z4dZE/s320/028-712108.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112420992153304082" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The front door, before and below, after.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTjiqWFuoxA/VNOuhIoxmmI/AAAAAAAAHwc/2wZzDHDU78c/s1600/029-715030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTjiqWFuoxA/VNOuhIoxmmI/AAAAAAAAHwc/2wZzDHDU78c/s320/029-715030.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112421003549317730" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sRfvk7RvGCE/VNOuhpEooQI/AAAAAAAAHwo/ZuXo_tO7KF0/s1600/030-717954.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sRfvk7RvGCE/VNOuhpEooQI/AAAAAAAAHwo/ZuXo_tO7KF0/s320/030-717954.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112421012256104706" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jessica's room before, above and after, below. looking less little girl and more teenager!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3qufQWvqC8/VNOuiZ6Q3FI/AAAAAAAAHxA/bfoon5FgKfY/s1600/031-720846.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3qufQWvqC8/VNOuiZ6Q3FI/AAAAAAAAHxA/bfoon5FgKfY/s320/031-720846.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112421025365941330" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMo81JzjeIg/VNOujy6mH4I/AAAAAAAAHxY/oCjXV3lYX9I/s1600/032-726272.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMo81JzjeIg/VNOujy6mH4I/AAAAAAAAHxY/oCjXV3lYX9I/s320/032-726272.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112421049258090370" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Before, above and after, below.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqR3SodfBwM/VNOulBu5G1I/AAAAAAAAHxw/sE7YeFgGZUY/s1600/033-731369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqR3SodfBwM/VNOulBu5G1I/AAAAAAAAHxw/sE7YeFgGZUY/s320/033-731369.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6112421070415403858" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am very happy to say the we haven't found any more mould, our cabin is sweet smelling and Andrews congestion has resolved. Let's not talk about the bed bugs, leaking ceiling and window inside our cabin and blocked toilet that have happened since shipyard, shall we! Let's just say that when deck and engineering crew see cabin 6417 on a work request they put in for a transfer-lol!</span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-90249135440934316462015-02-04T18:21:00.001+00:002015-02-04T18:22:44.997+00:00Wouldn't it be funny if we got Mercy Ships tuk tuks?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sitting around the dinner table on the ship soon after our arrival, after noticing the tuk tuks transporting locals around, we started to joke about getting some Mercy Ships tuk tuks. We could paint them white and put the logo on them. Wouldn't that be fun!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“All good ideas arrive by chance.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Max Ernst</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1RA8uUhYAU/VLPM8lwzLBI/AAAAAAAAHo8/wrygVpcFpoI/s1600/001-753485.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1RA8uUhYAU/VLPM8lwzLBI/AAAAAAAAHo8/wrygVpcFpoI/s320/001-753485.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6103447261318163474" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andrew pitched the idea to our Managing Director who was looking to establish a crew shuttle between the ship and the port gate, a distance of around one kilometre each way in the searing sun, sweltering humidity or pouring rain and sweltering humidity. He loved the idea! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So after a few trips to a car dealership with the help of another French speaking crew member, negotiations were made to purchase two shiny new tuk tuks from a motorcycle dealer in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The tuk tuks arrived a week later in a comedy of errors. They arrived by truck on a weekend outside the main port gate. Unfortunately the truck divers thought we would be able to unload the tuk tuks and we thought they would be able to unload them. They were told to come back later that day with the tuk tuks unloaded. However the message was not quite received and Andrew ended up paying some locals to hand lift the 300kg tuk tuks from the large truck to a smaller truck and then to the ground! Whatever gets the job done!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">There were no shortage of volunteers willing to drive the tuk tuks from the port gate to the ship! Above the tuk tuks on their maiden trip to the ship. Andrew decided that he was not so skilled at driving a tuk tuk!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The tuk tuks run on a regular weekday and weekend schedule and only operate from the ship to port gate and return so as not to take any business away from the local tuk tuk and pousse pousse (bicycle taxi). They are not allowed within the port limits and we had to get special permission to operate our tuk tuks within the port.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We had a horrible <strike>great</strike> transportation field trip to take the tuk tuks to get insured. Naturally the drive out coincided with lunch so we had to eat out. The things we have to do in Transportation!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTA5ssrFy70/VLPM-MsmPyI/AAAAAAAAHpU/w80KWMCrAh4/s1600/003-759450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTA5ssrFy70/VLPM-MsmPyI/AAAAAAAAHpU/w80KWMCrAh4/s320/003-759450.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6103447288949391138" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost home!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etD4PecBxjQ/VLPM-xhhqYI/AAAAAAAAHpg/jS2bQNyaALM/s1600/004-762242.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etD4PecBxjQ/VLPM-xhhqYI/AAAAAAAAHpg/jS2bQNyaALM/s320/004-762242.jpg" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6103447298835065218" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Many people have likened the tuk tuks to the Angry Birds.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Logo on! Loud and proud!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andrew and Joe (then ship's mechanic, now Transportation Manager) pose with their new toys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The tuk tuks have transported hundreds of crew in the past two months, provided jobs for two locals and turned a dinner table conversation into a reality!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If I have a thousand good ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alfred Nobel</span> </td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182613317056664601.post-24178271302306289352015-02-02T18:19:00.000+00:002015-02-04T17:14:39.194+00:00Giving Berth!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was the plan for our Madagascar berth. Looks simple enough right? But did you know that months of planning goes into our berth and dockside area in every country we go to, even the visiting nations like The Canary Islands. Every little measurement, every tide and current matters. Will there be enough space for out tents and our vehicles? Will the mooring lines hold? Which way in should the ship go? Aft or forward? What about an area for the kids to do P.E? Where will the transportation tent and container fit? What about dockside power? Can our containers be delivered safely. Will the ship be able to use its cranes without obstruction? What about security? How far to the port gate from our berth? How will the patients get to and from the ship? What about garbage collection?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The list of questions goes on and on and many of them, especially the maritime ones, are above and beyond my understanding. A few years ago it was decided by someone wise that the questions above needed an individual to make it their sole focus to organise, answer and deliver in each port. So originated the role of Vessel Transition Coordinator. This role also oversees the pack up as well as the set up. The individual would be required to come for approximately six weeks at the beginning and six weeks at the end of each field service and be accompanied by Mercy Teams (groups of people who come to Mercy Ships for short bursts of time to fill a special need we have on board, despite their occupation at home). We have had a couple of great people in the job over the years but due to the unusual circumstances of our prolonged shipyard and change(s) of field service the ship found itself without a Vessel Transition Coordinator for the beginning of the Madagascar field service.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Enter Andrew! Andrew was approached by the Africa Mercy Operations Director to stand in the gap for the Madagascar set up. What a mighty challenge this was for him. Usually our advance team is in our host nation up to four months before hand setting things up and getting things started. However, this time they had just six weeks so there just wasn't the time to do the usual preparations. On top of that, Andrew continued to work as the Transportation Manager along side the Vessel Transition Coordinator role which is usually a singular role.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> With the help of a great team he did an outstanding job!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The warehouse in our berth space where we have full use of the bottom story, before any renovations.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Port getting busy resurfacing our berth space that resulted in the smoothest dock space we have ever had.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking towards the warehouse after renovations and the lines painted in for our vehicles. In the outside berth space there is also a marked out basketball court and designated play and P.E area for the kids.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The back of the warehouse before.......</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.........and after with the Transport container and marquee erected.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Before resurfacing and renovations......</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Aerial view of after.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Advance Team leader, Andrea Valk inside the warehouse before renovations.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The same view after renovations and set up. Different areas of the warehouse were screened off for rehab, screening and a communications photo booth, using large plastic sheeting and metal frames.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some before pics. The warehouse was a sad, wet place screaming for a paint job and some quality electrical work.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A before view......</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Same space after! Table tennis, bike parking spaces, pickle ball and badminton courts. This area also doubles as a movie viewing area and party space for crew events.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just turning the camera a little to the right you can see the transportation repair area. At last our mechanic gets to work inside, out of the stifling heat and humidity and the torrential rain that are part and parcel of our host nations!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Alaska tents set up, inside the other end of the warehouse, for Admissions and Outpatients all kitted out with their own A/C. Andrew had the great idea to build a particle board partition between the recreation areas and the hospital areas of the warehouse for patient privacy and security of expensive hospital equipment. The wall is about 2.4 metres high and around 25 metres long!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This used to be a dumpy underutilized room next to the warehouse. It was cleaned and painted and is now used by the eye team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Twenty one days of dockside set up equals two years of hope and healing for the people of Madagascar!</span></td></tr>
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Andrew, Jodie and Jessica Rothwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854543599558188982noreply@blogger.com0