Green Grass and Cool Air

We have been learning over the past few years how to be especially flexible and resourceful. Trusting that God has us well in His care. Since learning that we needed to find somewhere to go, and then discovering the idea of pet/house sitting, it has taken us on a lovely journey of meeting new people, seeing new places, and having new or renewed experiences of pet care and home care that we don’t have on the ship.

After a bit of a hectic pack-up over Christmas and a departure from the ship on Dec 26th, we headed to London, England. Our side adventure began with a stay at a riding school just on the outskirts of London, where we stayed in a little cottage and experienced taking the tube (subway) and bus system to visit some local sites. The cooler weather and beautiful days were a welcome change as our Canadian selves missed feeling the cool air in our lungs! The Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and New Year’s Eve fireworks on the Thames were some highlights! Going for dinner with Dan’s cousin and her hubby was also wonderful and a nice treat.

From London, we hired a car and drove to Bath, where we met a lovely couple and their black lab Benji. While they were off on holiday for a month in a warmer place, we walked Benji and explored the historic, beautiful area of Bath. Unfortunately, our stay here also began with the flu and a leaking pipe! The flu was particularly unpleasant and kept the kids in bed for quite a few days, but we managed and are thankful we had the time and ability to rest at this location. Once we were all back up and able, we visited a friend from the ship, Ali Herbert and her husband, Paul, on their lovely sheep farm about an hour from where we were staying. Nothing like sheep snuggles and ship friends to warm a heart! In Bath, we visited the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre, Bath Abbey, a canal with narrowboats, Brown Folly, the library, and climbed lots of hills! It was also a nice time of rest and reconnection as a family unit. Having Benji to keep us company was especially fun, and another welcome change from the ship’s no-pets policy. Having to shop for groceries and make our own meals again had also been a nice change.

Next up, we drove about 2 hours to the country of Wales. No passport or border stops needed! Wales also has many beautiful hills and much history, but it has a different feel and look from Bath. Our stay in Wales was in a 400-year-old home in the countryside on a lovely farm. We were thankful for some brief horse-care reminders in London from the riding school, because here in Wales, we had a sweet horse to care for, as well as 24 chickens and 9 peacocks! Unfortunately, our host couple became sick and had to cancel their trip, but they asked us to stay and help out in the meantime. So, we spent 12 days with strangers who were very generous and kind to our family. We cared for the animals while they rested. We spent time watching the Olympics together, playing Snooker, kids drove the quad and Polaris around the farm, got a lesson in shooting, played Forza video games, and more.

It was on February 10th, during our stay in Wales, that we learned that Tropical Cyclone Gezani had directly hit the port city of Toamasina. The port we had been at for the past year. With winds at 180km/h and gusts up to 230km/h, the destruction was massive, and as time went on, we would find out that at least 75% of the city was destroyed. This was devastating news, and so difficult to be far away, not knowing how to help. Our day crew were contacted, and we could see some local organizations, like Equip Madagascar, HELP Madagascar, YWAM, and others, stepping up to help where they could with food, roofing materials, and support. Mercy Ships provided additional funds to the day crew affected and donated food and roofing materials to help. Our own Mercy Ships equipment and buildings were also affected. As the port was directly in the path, we had many blown-out vehicle windows, the warehouse roof blown off, and our dental hospitainer was flipped on its side. Imagine a wind that blew huge shipping containers over!

Our hearts are with our friends who went through this traumatic experience and are now having to put the pieces of their lives back together. Toamasina has a long road ahead to rebuild. Businesses, homes, hospitals and even the trees will take some time to rebuild. We thank God for those who are giving and helping our friends in Mada. As we prepare to head back there in May, we pray and work towards having what we will need to continue our work there. Water, electricity, buildings and a supply chain are some of the things you can pray for as we prepare. We especially pray for each person affected. That relief and help would come to those who need it. *Photos taken from various Facebook posts of Toamasina after the cyclone Gezani went through*
Some organizations we know are helping the local people to access food
https://equipmadagascar.org/ – Equip Madagascar (Our good friends and Mercy Ships Partners)
https://www.facebook.com/helpmg/about – HELP Madagascar
Equip Madagascar has a donation link, and we know they are doing all they can to help the community.

Our family travel time concluded in the UK with a short stay caring for 2 little snuggly dogs and 2 sweet cats in a small town in Cambridgeshire before we flew to Durban to reconnect with our ship families. Back to the heat and sun! We are thankful for this beautiful place we can stay in for a little longer, without having to move around so often. The kids have started back at school and are taking a shuttle bus back and forth to our Academy, which is currently in 2 rented homes nearby. One for elementary and one for Jr High/High School. The ship has now finished its dry dock portion, which was extremely hot and difficult work for those working there. Dan is commuting to the ship for work each day, which is about an hour’s drive from where we are living. The port and Durban are not safe places to be, so we are living in a safer area just at the edge of Durban until we can move back on board. We are so grateful for a safe and beautiful place to live. Our view is spectacular, and I am taking every moment of the green gardens and fresh air I can before going back to steel and concrete and windows that don’t open. It’s the little things in life that really do make a big difference!

Praises
– Thankful for safe travels and for places to stay and provisions for our needs
– Safe sail of the Africa Mercy to Durban, and despite a little delay, is on track for the dry dock and maintenance period
– For Dan, receiving some side writing in perfect timing in January to help cover the extra costs of sightseeing
– Thankful for pets and animals to care for, good outdoor exercise and fresh air
– For the Academy starting back up and the amazing team that is caring for our kids
– Praising God for a lovely church to attend here in Durban

Prayers
– For those working on the Africa Mercy and preparing for what’s ahead
– Completion of maintenance period on time
– Leadership decisions over the many working parts of Mercy Ships
– Crew adjustment to so many transitions
– Water supply in Sierra Leone and on the Global Mercy ship
– Our patient selection team, who is currently travelling in Madagascar to get patients booked to come to the ship
– Madagascar people’s health and safety, and for a strong rebuilding of homes, businesses, infrastructure, hospitals and a healing from the traumatic cyclone.

Isaiah 58:6-12
⁶ “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people.
⁷ Share your food with the hungry,
    and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

⁸ “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
⁹ Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
    Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
¹⁰ Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.
¹² Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
    Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
    and a restorer of homes.