Is This Real Life?

I apologize beforehand for just now getting this post out. Life is crazy here. Exactly, two weeks from today I will be flying from Sierra Leone to Brussels (spending time actually in Brussels during my very extensive layover) to Chicago and then finally ending the trip in Jacksonville, FL. Trying to comprehend my emotions the moment I'm reunited with my family at last is just mind boggling.

So anyways, on Sunday June 12th during our Sunday evening church service here on the ship, we celebrated the Global Day of Prayer. In July 2000 God captured the heart of South African Christian Businessman, with a vision based on 2 Chronicles 7:14,"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land."

I wish you would've seen how great of a job the chaplaincy department did with organizing this special service. My own friends and crew members from around the world represented each area globally and began with a song in their language and then prayed in their own language as well. It started off with South Africa because that's where it all originated, then moving to the rest of Africa (so awesome!), Europe (each country sang in their own language), China and Korea, North and South America, and lastly, New Zealand and Australia. It was a unique service and probably one of my favorites. Pretty sure I'll never see that back home ;)

Up Next: My visit to the Agriculture Site! Farmer Judith...Haha.

Sunsets & Produce...Shall I Say More?

Oh how I will miss both of these beautiful things. The sunsets are unreal. I've decided that after living on the ocean for 6 months and soon to be attending Flagler, which is next to the beach, that I will always live near the water. There's just something about it.

The photo above is just a portion of the twice a week produce orders we receive. It's insane how quickly we go through it but, I love all the fresh pineapple, apples, mangoes, green peppers, cucumbers, onions, bananas, avocados, watermelon etc. I would say I've been quite spoiled :)                                                             

Way Too Much To Capture

Yesterday as my room mate Lauren would say was "a-hoot-and-a-half"! I worked in the hospitality department for the day...by the time I leave I will have worked in every department possible ;) Anything to keep me on my toes!

Lauren works in that department and really enjoys it so I helped her make beds for the day. Clearly, we got a lot of work done.

After dinner myself and five other friends (Kailey, Emily, Lauren, Olivia, and Jason) decided to take a walk into town. It's so amazing how comfortable I feel here. So, I decided to be adventurous and to finally take my nice camera out into the town so that I can actually get some decent  pictures. Despite the dirty looks at the beginning, I discovered by the end that asking them if I can "snap them" was much more acceptable. As soon as I asked one child if I could then the rest of the children from the town just swarmed around me. At least that's what it felt like! Ha They are so precious though. It's funny because they just stand there posing and wait in anticipation for me to show them the picture on the screen. Here are a few!

 Africa has truly captured my heart. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be returning to this amazing place. God has changed me through this ministry, the African culture alone and lastly, the heart and spirit of these beautiful children. Whether its me returning to Sierra Leone or just Africa as a whole, or returning to serve with Mercy Ships for a summer in the near future, I can rest assured knowing why the Lord closed doors last year for such an experience as this.

And to top off this fabulous walk into town on just an ordinary day, I got to witness my first legit chicken fight. Probably the funniest thing of my life. Oh yes, I captured it :) Enjoy!

"You who have done great things, O God who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again."

Psalms 71:19-21

I ONLY HAVE 27 MORE DAYS LEFT HERE IN SIERRA LEONE!!!