Ship Life and Mercy Ministries

Mercy Ministries - photo obtained from Mercy Ships Facebook

First week on the ship

Besides working my regular shifts in the hospital, I have found that there are several ways to occupy my time here in Benin.  For my first two weeks of work, including orientation, I have only 9 shifts scheduled, so there has been plenty of free time.  I think things may get quite busy and full over the next few weeks, so I am enjoying this while I can!  A typical day for me is not really typical, because I tend to do something different every day.

If I am working, I will try to get up earlier (if I work a day shift) so I can spend some time doing Bible study and eat breakfast before work.  Breakfast is scheduled from 06h30 to 07h30, so if I head up early to the dining room (say by 06h00), I will have plenty of time to read the Word, eat, and run downstairs to drop off my things in my room before my shift starts.  It really is handy that my workplace is only one deck above where I live!

On days when I don't work, or if I am scheduled for evening shifts, I try to sleep in (the latest I've slept in so far is 08h30! haha).  The only problem with that is potentially missing breakfast!  Then I try to spend some time reading my Bible, go work out (there is a tiny gym on deck 2, or I have the option of going onto the dock and running.  It isn't the largest space, but if I make several laps it makes for a decent run), and if someone else I know is free, we will go out for a bit and either go to a market (marché) or just walk around the city.

There is room on the dock to run or play sports.

The beaches nearby in Cotonou are not safe, as they tend to be fairly empty.  This allows for petty thefts and such because there are not many people around.  So I have not attempted to go to the beach, but there are a couple of hotels nearby which are safe.  One has a pool, so there has been opportunity to swim there or relax on the chairs.  Many people have also been making good use of the pool on the Africa Mercy, but I have not as of yet.  However, those are all different ways I have done things for me.  But there are many ways to get involved and give to others.  There is an area to serve on the ship called "Mercy Ministries".  It includes going off the ship and visiting people at various locations, whether prisons, orphanages, etc. and ministering to them.

September 29 - Mercy Ministries

Last week on Thursday, September 29, I had the privilege to go to an orphanage here in Cotonou. There were around 10-12 children, babies to toddlers. Because they are so young, we really only played with them and held them, but it was still wonderful to do so!  Many of the children did not speak.  I do not know what their upbringing has been thus far, but I know that hearing a nurturing human voice and receiving love and affection early on in life is vital for children to develop.  Three of the children did not smile or interact much the entire time we were there.  I am hoping that when we go back, they may become a little more comfortable with us and start to smile.  It saddens me to see so many children without parents in this world.  I am so thankful to God that He has adopted me into His family!  I have wonderful earthly parents, but I have been blessed beyond measure to now be a part of God's family.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" - Romans 8:15 (really, read all of Romans 8!)

October 4 - Mercy Ministries

Yesterday, I participated in a different ministry to a place called Maison de L’Espérance et Soleil.  It is a Catholic organization which ministers to teenagers, and many of the teenage girls are actually mothers.  They are so small and young, yet carry babies on their backs like the rest of the African women.  It is very sad to see them so young and immature and yet, in part, grown up.

There were five girls (myself included) who went along with the Mercy Ministries coordinator and a day crew worker (he was there to interpret, and he also preaches here in Benin).  The plan was to have a Bible lesson on what love is (taken from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8), make a craft related to it, play games, and sing songs.  I held the son of one of the girls while she worked on her craft.  Once all the crafts were done, the mothers were to stay in a roofed area with their babies while the teenage boys and other girls were playing toss, basketball, and being kind of rough.  It was a fun time for them all.  Then we had music and dancing African style.  I was just sort of swaying and clapping a bit, but then got pulled into the dancing.

I do not have any photos of both of these Mercy Ministry experiences, as Mercy Ships has a strict photo policy and only one designated photographer for certain activities can take photos.  The people who run both the orphanage for babies and the Maison took photos, but I do not believe we will have access to them.  The same goes for hospital photos, and I do not have any yet, but will keep checking to see when some have been taken.

This is a video of the traffic in Cotonou, Benin.  However, videos definitely do not accurately convey what it is actually like!  The roads can either be wonderful or horrible.  On the way to the orphanage last week, I was sitting in the back of the vehicle, and could barely even speak due to how bumpy the road was and our jostling around.  My teeth were sort of jittery!