A New Van

Today was a day of celebration as Pastor Michael drove into the shipyard to show us the new van that he had bought with the remainder of the offering money.  He was like a kid with a new toy and I lost count of the number of times that he told me "look, it starts first time".  He gave us a tour of the engine space and seats are going to be put in the back to transport everyone around.  The kids were additionally pleased as they gave thanks for not having to push the van anymore.

But it doesn't just stop at the orphanage, Pastor Michael and his wife, Michaela, do so much for those in their church and the surrounding area.  His servant heart brings many people knocking on his door for help and his compassion for them never gets put aside, so this van not only helps the orphanage but the church and the community around  them.

Thank you all for making this dream possible.

Our Little Swimmer

One of our aims this year was to get Nathanael swimming which is kind of difficult when his Mother can't swim and his Father is a busy man.  He had some lessons when we were in the USA but the 5 kids to a class didn't quite work for him and we came to realise that he really needed a one on one teacher. So we were really grateful when Michelle offered to teach him and we, in turn, paid her a little pocket money to go towards her college "accessories" when she graduates from the ship school this month.  She is hoping to go onto to become a Radiologist.

So every Wednesday and Thursday after school we would head up to the pool deck and gradually over time he built enough courage to swim with just the noodle.  Michelle took it very slowly so he would gain her trust as swimming just a few feet was out of the question for him.

 and soon he was swimming the whole length of the ship swimming pool

Then working on swimming underwater

 and finally jumping in (we're still working on that) 

 and when it get's tough he just lies back.

Well done Nathanael for doing so well.  

The Rent is Paid in Full!

You may remember a couple of months ago we were trying to raise some money for the God is Love Orphanage so they could pay their yearly rent of $3500 that was due at the end of April. (see March blog post).

(Picture taken during a recent visit to the ship)

Thank you to all that gave to help this come to fruition, and it did.  We also had the opportunity to have our cause included as one of the ships offerings that are done in the our weekly community meeting.  We are constantly amazed how those who already give so much to be here continue on giving in such an amazing way.  

Through that offering and the donations through yourselves we were able to raise enough money to pay off the rent of another year and also hopefully replace their VERY broken down van.  If you can imagine having to push your car every time you need to go anywhere, or even having to stop every few miles to fill it up with water that continues to gush out the bottom, you will understand that this is something that is needed.  Maybe some of you have been there with your car but it was probably only a temporary solution to get it home after a break down.  This is normal life here in Africa and it's amazing how creative they can be to get another journey out of their car or van.  So as we have enough money, we thought it would be good to replace it.  So please pray that they find the right one soon.  Transporting 22 kids is not an easy task by foot!

(22 crammed in a van!)

 So just over a week ago we had the privilege to be witnesses to the signing of the rent from 2013 - 2014.

Yes that is 24 million Guinea Francs ($3500) sitting in a plastic bag!  That's how it's done and has actually become quite a normal thing to do!

Continue to check out their website news at: www.godisloveorphanagenews.blogspot.com - you can see some of the things we have been doing with them during our time here.

School Photo's

This last week Nathanael had his school photo's taken.

Here we have all the academy students - around 50 kids.

 Below-the elementary part of the school

 Below-Nathanaels kindergarten class

 Nathanael

Jazz Concert

Last March when our social activities co-ordinator went on LOA and Sharon was asked to cover the admin side of her job, it sounded quite simple. A couple of events organised by other people, just keep the sign out sheets current for regular activities-easy.  Then an email came to her inbox about a vision trip visiting the ship from Canada.  One of the ladies was a jazz singer called Maria Manna, and can we organise a concert, with a band.

Then the rest is history.

Sharon contacted one of the drummers on board who had "coincidently" been thinking of getting a jazz band together from ashore to treat the crew with a concert so this was the icing on the cake to go with all that.

Meanwhile as the weeks went on it turned out the band ashore weren't available and so we pulled in various musically inclined crew members to help make the concert work.  As time went on Sharon's learning curve of Jazz went vertical.  Her jazz song repertoire went from nil to maybe 2 songs to 17!  The band decided they should get together and have a practice but we soon learnt that for some of the songs we just didn't have a clue how they went, others we sort of knew but were afraid to do too much in case we had totally interpreted it the wrong way only to have to re-do when Maria got there.

We were very aware that time was short, Maria Maria arrived on the Sunday, practice on the Monday and concert on the Tuesday.  Unfortunately Maria arrived minus her luggage which included her lyric sheets and her "Jazz" dress but we were sure it would arrive before the concert.  We learnt new jazz terms like head, tag etc and what triangles and circles mean on jazz chords and soon we were starting to sound sort of Jazzy.

By the time Tuesday came there still wasn't any luggage so we compromised.  We changed our name to Maria Manna and the scrubettes.  Yes you guessed it, we got the scrubs out as Maria only had the clothes she had flown in.  She even encouraged the OR staff to consider wearing their caps on the side of their heads, much more stylish.

the band

 The concert went really well, we had a great time working alongside Maria.  She is such a great entertainer and the crew had a fabulous time.  You can click on the video's below to hear some of the concert that was recorded on our camera by Tim.

Maria's bags never did turn up and but I love how she turned that around.  Here are some of the things she said in an interview with the Victoria News Monday Magazine, Canada

She packed all the things she thought she’d need: a stunning gown, high heels, jewelry and sheet music.   “I’m all about hair, makeup, heels, nails and pedicures ... and I’m going to Africa,” she said, just days before departing. “You just can’t take that out of me.”

All she had was the clothing on her back, and what little supplies were in her carry-on.

“I felt so poor and alone,” says Manna. “It was amazing the lesson God was teaching me.”

Luckily, the few “necessities” she needed — her face lotions, potions and makeup — had been packed in her carry-on, along with a pair of Ugg boots.  “God knows how important it is for me to have my face,” says Manna. “He wouldn’t leave me totally naked.”

In the 37°C heat, Manna had the choice of wearing the one outfit she had — capri pants, a T-shirt and blue and white striped wedge heels — or scrubs and Uggs.

“I tell ya, God has a great sense of humour,” she says. “I was stripped of all the things that make Maria Manna. She was in the luggage, and her soul went to Africa.”

“Africa was nothing I expected and more than I thought it would be,” says Manna. “There’s a world out there that you don’t know exists and it’s dying ... There is a beauty and happiness in poverty and it lives in Africa. They want nothing more than what they need.”

“I saw their souls through their eyes and I realized that it’s not about me ... I have enough.”

(You can read the full article here: http://www.vicnews.com/news/201331901.html

Did she ever find her bags?...oh yes.  

She was getting her boarding pass to come home and she thought I'll make one last attempt and go look at the lost and found luggage. Sure enough there it was. Security asked, "How can we be sure this is yours, there is no tag on it". She opened it up and pulled out her CD'S!!!!! BINGO!!!! Took her luggage back home! (Gave security a CD)

Maria, thank you so much for blessing us with your talent, humour and heart, we really enjoyed having you here and look forward to the time you return to us.

To follow Maria and hear her music go to her website at: www.mariamanna.com

Random Things

Sometimes I often think if only my friends or family back home could see what I am doing or seeing they would laugh or think I was crazy.  So to give you a picture I'm going to start occasionally posting the random to you/normal to us things of our life here whenever I come across them and think to take a photo of it to share it with you.

With an exchange rate of $1 = approx 7,000 Guinea Francs and the largest note available is a 10,000 note!  we are often walking round with bulging pockets just to pay for the smallest of things.  These last few weeks Tim has had to pay some bills for the ship.  Of course it has to be dealt with in cash and so he looks more like a banker rather than a Captain.

 Most of our food we get via a container each month, but for the fresh food we have to order locally.  This is how our fruit and veg got delivered the other day.

 Packed to the limit, even with a foot!

Then carried on board

Any builders out there considered using wooden scaffolding. 

 Everyday life on the ship 

 Normal fishing boats here

and always expect to bail your boat!

Anybody old enough to remember ring pulls and bottled coke?  Well they still have them here, except here you don't dare put the ring pull back in the drink and you don't get money back for returning your bottle!

 How to carry your load

 Ever wondered where all those used cars go?  They get shipped here.

Creative Arts Fair

Yesterday the academy school held their annual creative arts fair.  It gave us a little look at Nathanael's creative side.  There was music, drama and many pieces of art on display.  It was a very enjoyable evening.

Here is Nathanael in the school choir-click on the video below to hear them

This is one of Sharon's piano students playing the Entertainer. 

 The Grade 1 & Kindergartens did a rendition of the 3 little pigs.

Part of a slideshow of Nathanael's drama lessons

 Nathanael's art work below

A farm scene made out of plasticine