My apologies for taking so long to post! I have been busy, and although busyness is good, I have far too much to catch up on. I have been working in the galley, took an overnight trip to Kindia (in the country of Guinea), volunteered at a Mercy Ships eye screening, and have continued to get to know people from all over the world here. I am constantly being reminded of how impressive Mercy Ship is. It is incredible how quickly one can adjust to about anything. I have been here a little over three weeks, and my cabin mates and I were discussing how much longer it feels. But I already feel at home here and in a good, comfortable pace.

On Sunday and Thursday nights there are community meetings on the ship. The meetings are worship services and also a time for announcements and updates of the ship. After returning from Kindia, I dragged myself to the 7:30 meeting on Sunday night. Halfway through the service, the wife of Dr. Parker, whose family's been here for twenty years, spoke of a patient she had gotten to know. The patient's name was Blessing, an eleven-year old girl from one of the hospitals in Togo. She had fallen into a ditch and noma, a flesh-eating disease, had taken her over. Mrs. Parker showed devastating pictures of Blessing's face and knee where she had fallen. There was absolutely no more room in the Mercy Ships ward, but by God's grace, Dr. Parker was able to fit her in for surgery on her knee and mouth. After Mrs. Parker told this incredible story, she introduced Blessing's mother, which surprised everyone.

A larger lady came up to the podium, and in a thick West African accent sang this song:

You are my strength when I am weak

You are the treasure that I seek 

You are my all in all. 

When I fall down you pick me up 

When I am dry you fill my cup 

You are my all in all. 

After every line she would pause and catch her tears. Tears of overwhelming joy and mercy and thankfulness. I began to weep because of the power of that familiar song. She didn't know what to say or how express her gratitude to her faithful Savior and the team of Mercy Ships. So she decided to sing. It was a reminder of how vast and unfathomable the Lord's compassion is.

I experienced just a small taste of this joy that comes from recieving such world-class, personal care from Mercy Ships today. This morning, after an hour of working in the galley, I somehow managed to re-chip a tooth I chipped back in 2010. I burst into tears in front of my co-workers, but my manager took me down to the dentist and a spot was available just one hour later. Feeling relieved, I went back to the galley to find everyone comforting me and being extremely supportive. (Such comfort sounds kind of ridiculous considering how minor the accident was.) At half past ten, I headed down to the dentist, where a Lithuanian lady sat me in the chair, looked me in the face, and said, "What happened, dear?" Within half an hour, my tooth was filled and I was looking completely normal. Although my case was far less severe than the rest of the patients onboard, I was able to see the kind of work that happens in the hospital ward. Some of the patients here are looked in the eyes or told they are beautiful for the first time, despite their massive face tumor or leaking bladder. Most of the patients have been excluded or alienated because of their inability to perform basic tasks or live a typical lifestyle. Today I got a taste, just a small taste, of the indescribable joy Blessing's mom felt as she got up to sing. God is at work here in such evident ways and it is inspiring and motivating to live with Jesus as the center of everything. What a great God we serve.