Pray for our Neighbourhood

Was that a bang, gun shot or what? was Tim's thoughts when he was awoken in the middle of the night. Somehow over the years, from all Tim's time on the ships, he's managed to train his ears to sense changes in any pattern of noises whilst asleep like when an engine cuts out, or a sail breaks and is able to wake up and respond. This is exactly what he was able to do last night as the car that was parked in front of ours was petrol bombed. Fortunately he was able to get there in time to move our car out of the way before that caught on fire too.

Please pray for this neighbourhood. Throughout our time here the crew have been committed to pray for this area and there have been some significant improvements in crime here, with lives touched in different ways as many friendships have been made. Pray that this is just a one off incident and things will continue as before.

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Week 5 - Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Week 4: Mar 19 - 25 Other Programs (Submitted by Glenn Strauss) Click here to download prayer points National Offices Week 5 40 Days prayer.pdf

Mr Strong & Miss Greedy Venture Out!

There are times when things get busy and we have to let our hair down and have some fun. There are a few crew members who love arranging theme parties so crew can get together and have some fun. We managed to get to the last one which was a Mr Men party. The Mr Men stories are always a favourite with children and include a good message.

(if you haven't heard of them before click here to learn more http://www.mrmen.net/ )

So with our glue sticks & paint at the ready we got cutting and sticking to make our costumes.

One top tip for if you ever need to make a costume....make sure you can sit in it!

In our haste we forgot to make an allowance for Tim to sit for the evening, as you can see he didn't have a very comfortable evening!

Week 4 - Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Week 4: Mar 19 - 25 Other Programs (Submitted by Glenn Strauss) Click here to download prayer points Other Programs Week 4 40 days prayer.pdf

Week 3 - Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Week 3: Mar 12 - 18 International Operations Centre (Mercy Ships Head Office in Texas) (Submitted by Deyon Stephens) Click here to download prayer points IOC-Texas Week 3 40 days prayer.pdf

2 More Lifeboats!

Just when you thought that installing two 150 man lifeboats would be enough, we go and put another 2 on. Last month saw the final installment of two 50 man lifeboats being loaded onto the ship. A lot of work has gone into this with many alterations to make them fit, so it was very satisfying to at last see them hanging from their davits. I just hope we never have to use them for other than training, but you never want to be without them!

Week 2 - Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Week 2: Mar 5 - 11 Sierra Leone Focus: (Submitted by René Lako) Mercy Ships currently have the land base, "New Steps" in Sierra Leone, click here to find out more: · History of New Steps: · New Steps News: Click here to download prayer points New Steps Week 2 40 days prayer.pdf

Week 1 - Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting

We would be grateful if you could spend a moment in your week to pray for some of these items...thank YOU for partnering with us.

Week 1: Feb 27 - Mar 4

m/v Anastasis Focus:

(Submitted by Solfrid Quist & Henry Gwani)

Click here to download prayer points Anastasis Week 1 40 days prayer.pdf

Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Once again, it is the season of Lent: the season for preparing our hearts and minds for Easter. For the 5th time, Mercy Ships has set aside these 40 days as a time of prayer and fasting beginning February 27th and ending at Easter.

This year, we will again be looking not only to the resurrection of our Savior, but also in eager hopefulness to the long awaited sailing of the Africa Mercy. Throughout Mercy Ships is a growing sense that the “Year of Jubilee” has begun for each individual and location. In the past, a devotional has been sent out daily with words for meditation and a prayer focus. This year we will have a different focus for each week according to the following schedule:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~27 Feb - 04 Mar - Anastasis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~05 Mar - 11 Mar - Sierra Leone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~12 Mar - 18 Mar - International Operations Center ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~19 Mar - 25 Mar - Other Programs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~26 Mar - 01 Apr - National Offices ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~02 Apr - 07 Apr - Africa Mercy

Since this is such a crucial time for the launch of the Africa Mercy we will also have an Africa Mercy focus every week in addition to the other focus of that week. We will be posting some weekly points for praise and thanksgiving, points for prayer, as well as an aspect of God’s character for meditation and worship if you would like take part in this time. These will be activated according to the timeline.

Psalm 34 will be a scripture focus for the 40 days. It starts:

“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

It’s a wonderful psalm of praise and promise, of teaching and caution.

Verse 18 could apply to many of those whom we serve:

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

You may want to read all or part of the psalm as prayer and proclamation in some of your prayer times. May the Lord infuse our efforts with His Spirit and may He be pleased by our offerings of ourselves.

Deck Department Achievements 2006

What can a small team of dedicated people accomplish in a year? Move furniture more than 12,000 times? Prepare and paint an area the size of a WWII aircraft carrier flight deck? Move 20 tons of rubbish and scrap? Walk the distance from Newcastle to Jerusalem? These are just a few of the accomplishments of the Africa Mercy Deck department.

The year 2006 was a challenging and exhausting period for Africa Mercy’s small but determined Deck Department. The first two months of the year saw all efforts made to accomplish a planned limited capacity voyage from Newcastle to London. The Deck Department grew slightly during this time to 5 officers and 8 Seamen and deckhands. However, by early summer the department saw the departure of many of its long and short term crew. In addition, illness and leaves reduced the department to 3 officers and 3-4 healthy seamen/deckhands by December 2006, even though the ship was to be “sailing within weeks.” In addition to completing contract items renegotiated with the shipyard, and normal maintenance, the department was tasked to take over the moving of owner supplied furniture and equipment onto and within the vessel. Although various other individuals helped from time to time, the bulk of all labour came from the faithful few seamen/deckhands. Like Gideon’s army, they accomplished much with few people, with the help of the Lord. The following is a list of some of the amazing accomplishments made by the members of the deck department: FURNITURE MOVES: Furniture components amounting to approximately 4950 pieces were moved. However, although the shipyard wanted these items placed on board, most could not be placed in final position, necessitating two, three and even four relocations.

Therefore: 12,375 moves performed. 2062 Pieces of furniture by EACH person! STEEL PREPARATION AND PAINTING: These same people also accomplished the following, mainly using hand power tools due to limitations by the shipyard on the work done by the crew. Many of these areas were originally in the shipyard scope of work but negotiated back to the crew.

Deck and other areas prepared: approximately 3600 square meters of chipping Exterior area painting: approximately 8000 square meters of painting (various coats) Interior Painting: approximately 2500 Square Meters of painting Total painting in 2006: 10,500 Square meters, equivalent to about 2.6 acres or the flight deck area of a World War II aircraft carrier! SCRAP, RUBBISH, and DEBRIS REMOVALS The ship’s crew were called upon to remove old items and equipment, debris from work and rubbish from the ship. The deck crew also removed scrap materials and other salvageable waste. In all, about 20 tons were handled by the deck department, much of it by hand.

INSTALLATIONS and OTHER WORK Assisted in and/or provided fire cover for engine trials, basin trials, etc. Completely overhauled and repaired two original lifeboats Installation and testing of liferaft cradles, davits and rescue boats Adjusted and shifted moorings many times. Installation of 2 new lifeboats. Participation in installation of new 23-ton Crane, including testing. The deck crew were also deeply involved in cleanup and preparations for the Commissioning Service and other on board events. Responded to unnumbered by the yard to assist. Countless other jobs to assist other departments and advance the project. WATCHES AND PATROLS Deck and other departments covered all watches on board prior to the arrival of the Ghurka security team at the end of February. They continued to be included in the Saturday watches and daily safety patrols, up to the present.

All together, the watchmen walked 3700 kilometers, about the same distance as a walk directly from Newcastle to Jerusalem, with a few stretches of wet travel over the North Sea!

All this work was accomplished by a very small but dedicated group of people, on average less than 4 healthy persons. Often the goals and directions seemed to be conflicting but each one remained as focussed and determined to complete the ship as possible. Their work goes unrecognized, but their dedication is seen by the God they serve and their treasure is piling up rapidly in heaven.

We are extremely proud to serve and work alongside men and women such as those who faithfully served in the Africa Mercy Project in 2006.

Goodbye to the Security Guards.

You may have learnt, or even heard, that you should never to mess with a Ghurkha, but if you get on their good side they are the sweetest people to know. As part of the new security regulations that have been brought in on ships, Mercy Ships now has security guards to keep an eye out for those “unwanted visitors”. We have been blessed with 4 security guards from Nepal who have faithfully looked after our ship day and night. In the day they hold the gangway watch, checking security badges for who’s allowed on board and at night they are patrolling the decks and have clocked up 3700 km in the year they have been here (that’s like walking from the UK to Jerusalem).

Now it is time for them to return to their families in Nepal…..thank you Om, Pradip, Bharat & Tek for your faithful & diligent service & may God bless you as you return to the mountains of Nepal…you will be greatly missed!!

Meanwhile we'd also like to say a big welcome to 4 new security guards, Lum, Ras, Shyam & Bablu. Please pray for them as they settle into life on the Africa Mercy, for their safety during their watches and that they will see and know the love Jesus in their lives.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

O Lord, You have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in-behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your Presence?

If I go to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (taken from Psalm 139) Hopefully you have all caught up on the news that we are expecting our first child in April. So far both mother and child are growing rapidly! And the father is coping well with the extra chores like carrying the shopping and putting up with the strange antics of a pregnant woman. As you can see by the picture even Aunty Sally spent some time introducing herself over Christmas. (click on the movie to hear what she had to say)

Deck Leaders Get Together

What a great bunch of people we have in the deck department, it is a priviledge to serve alongside them. With the arrival of our new captain we had a get together for a chilli night at the "Tretheways flat". Getting together has proved very important as we gel as a team.

Deck Leaders from L-R:

Lars (2nd Officer-Danish), Jurryan (Captain-Dutch), Lee (2nd Officer-S.African), Lawrence (Bosun-Ghanaian), Tim (Chief Officer-USA) & Rodrigo (3rd Officer-Brazilian) Quite a mix of nationalities The wives from L-R: Gina (Ghanaian), Tatyana (Brazilian), Rahel (Swiss), Dana (S.African), Sharon (UK) & Lena (Swedish)

Ghana Outreach News

Due to the delays of the deployment of the Africa Mercy the outreach in Ghana has continued by using the Anastasis as it's platform. Many of you will remember the fun "christmas gift ideas" of last year that were available to purchase from the Africa Mercy to support projects in Ghana like beekeeping, mushrooms, rabbits and snails. The response from that plea was amazing and has enabled many projects to take place through our Construction & Development Services (CDS) who transferred down to Ghana in June.

The excitement started in Newcastle when a whole load of funky wellies / gumboots (...USA translation) & beekeeping clothes were donated.

Now - the training is well underway for the beekeeping side of things.

Currently 52 Ghanaian women are being trained in the art of beekeeping as part of a micro enterprise initiative for women.

They were given new bee hives and apiary tools to maintain them and of course the trendy beekeeping outfits.

The hives were placed in 13 locations throughout the region and were baited to attract the bees. We are praying that they will “bee” swarming before time! The initiative is being conducted in co-operation with the forestry commission of Ghana. They were asked to locate poor women who would benefit immediately from a source of income, who were farmers and who were willing to share with others what they had been taught. Among the trainees were 2 prison officials who will teach the skills to female inmates to provide an income on their release.

A second phase of training will be held to teach then how to harvest and market the honey and honey comb.

Yum yum, we just wish we were down there with our toast to try it out!

Lifeboats Move on Board

Yesterday we saw a big move forward as the 150 man lifeboats were loaded onto the ship for the first time. All went well, click below to watch the video of the davits being tested and the lifeboats being loaded.

Mercy Ships Global Day of Prayer - 3rd Nov 06

Walk out of the gates. Get going! Build the highway. Get at it! Clear the debris, hoist a flag, a signal to all peoples! - Isaiah 62:10 (The Message) The scripture above encapsulates the heart behind the Mercy Ships Global Day of Prayer. On Friday we came before our Heavenly Father and asked Him to clear the way for the Africa Mercy. Together we declared in the heavenlies that any obstacles, any debris that is trying to hinder the timely release of the Africa Mercy will be cleared in the name of Jesus. With our prayers we wanted to build the highway that will bring the Africa Mercy to the forgotten poor. All of Mercy Ships joined in a 24 hour period of continuous prayer. Staff & friends in New Zealand and Australia started off since they were awake before all the rest of us & the US West Coast concluded the day.

Of course this prayer doesn't stop on the 3rd November 2006 and we ask you to continue to hold these things up to God. Below you will see a list of the technical milestones that need to be reached in order for us to see the Africa Mercy completed by 15th December. Please use this as a focus for your prayers.

(Click here for guidance on how to structure a time of prayer.)

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/8/159894/Guidelines%20for%20prayer.pdf

Yard Resonsibility 1. Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning (HVAC) ~~~a. Receive remaining controllers by 31-Oct-06…one delayed until Nov 21

~~~b. Complete installation of controllers by 25-Nov-06

~~~c. Testing, balancing, commissioning by 10-Dec-06…potential to take longer 2. Sewage System

~~~a. Repair/replace defective vacuum valves by 30-Nov-06…Commercial decision needs ~~~ to be made

~~~b. Transfer of sewage to treatment plant by 10-Nov-06 3. Public Address (PA) System

~~~a. Install amplifiers by 14-Nov-06… Still awaiting final approval from Class

~~~b. Test and commission system by 30-Nov-06 4. Fire Detection System

~~~a. Install/relocate 78 detector heads by 15-Nov-06…Potential issue with supplier

~~~b. Test and Commission by 30-Nov-06 5. Sprinkler System

~~~a. Identify solution to emerging problem by 1-Nov-06…Awaiting detailed ~~~calculations, looks like additional pump & tank will be necessary

~~~b. Install additional hardware by 20-Nov-06…Delivery time still unknown

~~~c. Test and commission by 30-Nov-06…Need revised plan approval back from class 6. Inclining Experiment by 28-Nov-06...Need good weather 7. Sea Trials by 7-Dec-06...All of above needs to be complete MERCY SHIPS RESPONSIBILITY 1. Lifeboats

~~~a. 50 man boats by 6-Nov-06…Certificates for wires - in process

~~~b. 150 man boats by 6-Nov-06…Certificates for brake modifications - in process

~~~c. Load test davits by 8-Nov-06…Dependant on above

~~~d. Install boats by 10-Nov-06…Dependant on above 2. Prepare for Inclining Experiment by 20-Nov-06…Remove/relocate all loose items ~~including spare gear 3. Complete Technical Manning by 1-Dec-06…In process

4. Complete necessary documentation by 30-Nov-06…In process 5. Complete Modifications to Oily Water Separator by 10-Nov-06… In process - Need to find ~~an oil sensor 6. Complete Testing of Incinerator by 10-Nov-06…In process 7. Familiarize and Train Technical Crew by 6-Dec-06…Need systems completed and ~~handed over from shipyard Program Departments Operation Departments

-Completion of all "paper work", such as certificates, to be presented to Bureau Veritas ~~~(the classification agency for the Africa Mercy). -Completion in good time of all equipment and tasks by suppliers. -Defeat of all enemy powers in all of these matters. -Setting up of the galley. All that needs to be done to get it to an operational status. -Moving on process of crew, departmental assets, furniture & fittings. -Funding proposal for IT equipment & 5 new vehicles. Education Departments -Pray that education within Mercy Ships reflects our core values and enables staff/crew ~for effective service.

Staffing -Staff shortages - as we approach the busy transition time more HR staff are needed on the ~Anastasis. -For current HR staff on the Anastasis and the very high workload as we process the ~applications for both the Africa Mercy and the Anastasis. -For the staff required in all departments on the Africa Mercy for the sail to Africa as so ~many have now come to the Anastasis.

Funding -That we are able to participate in the Rabobank reception/fundraiser on Dec 20 -That funding for the non-shipyard activities/items will be available -That our year-end fundraising will provide the needed funds to cover operating expenses ~and reduce ministry debt

Good to be Back on Board

Each Wednesday night all the crew meet for our weekly community meeting. It’s a bit like our church with an opportunity to fellowship together. Since we’ve moved off the ship we’ve been hugely blessed by being able to use St John’s Church in Hebburn as a meeting place but we’ve looked forward to the day when we can hold our meetings on board again. We were able to have a one off test run last Wednesday.

The IT department has been busy fitting the sound equipment and what better excuse did we need than to hold a meeting to test it out. It seemed to work out well with just a few bugs to fix.

For Sharon, working with the worship teams has been such a blessing. In an ever changing community, the teams are constantly changing and putting together a team each week can get quite interesting. Sharon is currently working with Lawrence and the chaplain, Phil, to lead the worship and it has been great to work with Lawrence again after his move from the Anastasis. (Some of the church at Bethel Baptist, Llantwit Major may remember Lawrence when he came on a visit with the African Praise Band from the Anastasis). We are excited about how the teams are building and look forward to many more new crew joining them and also being re-united with those who transferred to the Anastasis.

Tests & Trials

It is strange how the rumble of long silent engines and the hum of long quiet machinery can change your feelings when you work on a project that has run far longer than anyone thought it might. Since last spring, various tests have been run on critical controls, systems and of course the main and auxiliary engines. Tim has been very involved in much of this work and is encouraged at each step. In late spring the main engines came to life and a while later the bow thrusters (propellers in the forward end of the ship that push the ship sideways). Steel became warm, pipes no longer empty, wires now energized. Wash swirled around the bow and stern of the ship, control lights glowed and the decks had that purposeful throb of the engines that will one day carry much hope, much relief, much healing to West Africa.

Since that time, tests, surveys, more tests and trials have continued. It is amazing to see what has been accomplished. In the coming weeks, the crew will now be preparing, finally, for the final stability tests and then long awaited Sea Trials where the entire ship will be put through its paces, all systems working for the first time as a coordinated whole. To achieve this next hurdle, many long hours of work are expected, but it is work that now seems to have more tangible or visible results in terms of completing the project and putting the ship finally into direct service for the Lord and His Kingdom.

Vacation time!

We expect you've been wondering where we've been. Well we've been enjoying a short break away to get a nice rest. The first week was spent showing Sharon's parents around the beautiful North East.

(Angel of the North)

We enjoyed ships, castles,museums and even a trip to Edinburgh.

(Africa Mercy Visit)

(Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh)

We think we walked their socks off and packed them off home on the Friday so they had a weekend to recuperate! For the second week we headed off down to the small seaside town of Tywyn and had the use of a lovely chalet appropriately named "The Haven" courtesy of Mrs Betty Boot and it sure was a huge blessing to us and a pure haven.

Thank you again, Betty, for your generosity!

It gave us a chance to rest, read, walk, & explore a little more of Wales...............

(Tall-y-llyn Lake)

(One of MANY steam trains Tim found on our travels!)

From Newcastle to Ghana

If there is a way, a Mercy Shipper will find it! With recent delays on the deployment of the Africa Mercy it meant that we would not be able to make it to Ghana for the start of the outreach, so contingency plans were put in place! The service of the Anastasis was extended so some of our crew could use her as a platform to start work until the Africa Mercy is able to join them.

At the beginning of June the outreach started off with a medical screening in Tema where by 8am at least 2000 were waiting in line to be seen by a doctor, with the hope of an appointment card, a miracle, a new life.

In an interview with local volunteers who helped out with the security, they said

"We waited in vain to see racial boundaries prevent them from working effectively. Growing up, we were taught to believe that "The white man is always around to take from us and never cares about the black man’s well being." Our warped perceptions were totally shattered."

We praise God for the many lives that will be changed both inwardly and outwardly - please continue to pray that many lives will be touched !

"With God there are no boundaries"

We will continue to keep you updated as the outreach progresses

USA v GHANA

Living in a multi-cultural community we all like to take advantage of joining together for world events/competitions etc. In May we had the Europeans get together for our yearly Eurovision Song contest, along with some non-Europeans trying to work out why on earth we endure the contest and trying to figure out if it was serious or not. Of course we at Mercy Ships take it seriously as each of us fill out our little score cards after each song. One thing we came to realise was that our taste in “euro” music on the ship doesn’t seem to match the rest of Europe…what a sheltered life we must lead. Yesterday saw the head to head of Ghana v USA in the world cup. Tim has started to enjoy the football (Soccer) culture having already enjoyed some courtesy tickets to see matches at local grounds in Sunderland and Newcastle. With his department being made up of 50% Ghanaians the two just had to come together. See below for their reaction:

GHANA SCORES!

USA SCORES!

GHANA SCORES AGAIN!!!

Congratulations Ghana.....now you've got to play Brazil!