As we pack up and get the Africa Mercy ready to set sail, we look back and see how God worked over this past year. He has faithfully provided for our needs and for the patient’s needs. This field service we provided over 700 surgeries despite having the hospital closed for a short time! People who have been hoping for someone to help them for a long time and people who were desperate for a solution to their challenging physical limitations have received that care.
Dara, Ivan and I had the chance to participate in a couple Celebration of Sight ceremonies recently. What a special time as previous eye surgery patients came back to the ship to take part in celebrating their renewed health and also to ensure they they have a final checkup. It was so special to hear of many of their stories of how much this has helped them. Many went from having to be taken care of to being able to care for themselves and others now as well. From the elderly to little children, each has a unique story behind how they ended up on the Africa Mercy. We sang, we danced and we listened to them. I know they would wish to tell all those that support Mercy Ships, Misaotra Betsaka (thank you very much)!
Dan has been working extra hard over this past while as we prepare for sail. His team has been working to secure all tech throughout the ship. Everything has to be strapped and secured as we will rock and roll while out at sea! We are so grateful for all the hard work our tech team does. Dan and his team are also filling the AV role in this busy Christmas season and running the tech for events that run pretty much daily!
Most recently we watched the elementary Academy perform a Nativity play. Dara did get to participate in that as well by using some bell chimes for a song. It was all the beautiful Christmas cuteness of the little ones sharing the story of Jesus coming to the earth for us. So beautiful!
I am currently writing this (Friday Dec 6) and watching a celebration of our over 200 day crew as we send them off for the next two months and wish them well until we see them again in Feb 2025! I am watching from my cabin as the International lounge is packed full with day crew and managers. They are being given certificates and having fun singing and dancing in their Malagasy way. What a joy it has been to work alongside this hardworking and joyful crew. We will miss them, but I’m sure they will appreciate the break and time with their families over Christmas and Jan.
Many of the Malagasy crew have multiple ways of serving. One in particular I know of has 3 young children herself and then also helps to run a Children’s ministry in Tana that takes care of around 80 children. She works 12 hour days on ship and then cares for her children at night and raises money and organizes for the ministry. I am constantly in awe of how she does all this with such a deep joy and seemingly endless energy.
Another beautiful soul has been tirelessly working to translate for us. She has been at almost every event, church service, and basically any event that requires translation. Her amazing singing voice captivates me and she has a way of pointing to Jesus when she praises him. She also has two little ones at home and on the weekends hosts a program for her neighbourhood community kids to come and learn English, and also hear about Jesus. She has had over 30 people come each Saturday. I pray that that she is refreshed over this break.
The kids have been working hard on their schooling as usual, but also have been able to participate in events and other happenings around the ship. One event at the HOPE Center was a worship night where the youth were asked to come help set up and take down after. What a great and fun time for them to get off ship and be able to help out. Callahan loved that while he was drilling plywood onto pallets to make the stage he was able to show a patient how to use the drill. It was hard work moving all the chairs and supplies, but they came back rejuvenated and with big smiles. The event may have also involved ice cream and riding in the back of the pickup truck ;).
Big thank you to our Dutch office and crew who greatly blessed the kids by sharing their traditions with us. We put our shoes in the hall with poems and in the morning there was a yummy treat in them, which we only found once our shoe was found. Sinterklaas showed up later that evening to promise the kids on board some gifts that are on their way! The container with the gifts is stuck in customs in the port. Or lost at sea somewhere? We are never quite sure! In fact, the container that has some of our personal stuff we sent from Texas when we were there in July has not yet arrived!
As I add to this blog on Thursday Dec 12th, we are now disconnected from our land internet and working with satellite so hoping this blog uploads! We have just completed the stowaway search on board and are about to go to the sail briefing together. Yesterday was the last day anyone could leave the ship or board the ship so we are all in the final preparations for sail! Tomorrow morning we will wave goodbye to Madagascar, but plan to be back in early February after our annual maintenance period in Durban, South Africa. Maritime regulations require some certifications and we will also do some needed work while in Durban. Since it will be a construction zone on board, the families will be staying at a local hotel. We are required to be within about 14km of the ship at all times (unless we fly out of country) so we must stay within Durban. Pray for safety for us as it is not the safest city to be in.
Thank you all for your prayers and support of us at Mercy Ships! We are so thankful to be a part of this mission! Please consider supporting Mercy Ships and us by donating using the link below.
https://mercyshipscanada.akaraisin.com/ui/mercygiftsfundraising/p/croutchfamily2024
If you donate, please send us an email to let us know as we cannot see who has donated.
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