Adios Canary Islands and Hello…MADAGASCAR!!

(August 13-15)

That's right, loved ones.  MADAGASCAR!  (Yes, Shannon, Madagascar is a real country!)

Madagascar is the fourth largest island nation and is home to more than 23 million people.  We will be docked in Tomasina (Tamatave) on the eastern coast.  The capital is Antananarivo which is about 4200 feet above sea level.  There is so much going on inside this island, and I am personally looking forward to visiting the rain forest!


We want to give thanks to God for guiding this entire process.  It took one week from the time our Directing Manager began talks with the Malagasy government until the protocol, or agreement, was signed by both parties.  This is a record.  Previously, it took several months to establish relationships and sign a protocol.  God is working miracles.

Also, God is opening new doors by leading us to this country.  God has opened communications for the ship to serve outside West Africa while still serving the poorest of the poor in Africa.  As many of you know, Mercy Ships is currently working on plans for a second ship, the Atlantic Mercy, which should be ready to sail in 2017.  When the second ship is launched, we will have built relationships in Madagascar.  In addition, we had also started lines of communication with some Central African countries after determining that West Africa was not a viable option due to the Ebola outbreak.

Today, Monday August 15, the Advanced Team in Benin is ceremoniously handing over the keys to the country's health department.  The team had set up locations for the Hope Center which is the rehabilitation center, the Dental Clinic, and the Eye Clinic.  Sometimes we refurbish old buildings and sometimes we build from scratch.  As of today, these buildings are in the hands of the health department helping the poor.



Saturday afternoon, September 13, we left Las Palmas, Spain, bound for Madagascar via South Africa. We will land in Cape Town between September 29 and October 1, depending on the weather.   We plan to land in Madagascar around October 26.

We are stopping in South Africa for several reasons…

First, we cannot hold enough fuel to travel from Las Palmas to Madagascar.  We will refuel in Cape Town, and also fill up on clean water.

Second, we will spend several weeks there, though the exact length of time is yet to be determined, so that the Advanced Team has time to prepare Madagascar for our arrival.  We have to research the port location, determine how to set up screening day(s), where to set up off-site buildings (such as the Hope Center, Eye Clinic, and Dental Clinic), find patients, etc.  It is a big job that our Advanced Team has ahead of them.  Normally, they have four to six months to prepare a country for our arrival.  Now, they have less than two months.

Third, this is a great opportunity to do a little Public Relations with our seldom-visited South African Mercy Ships office.  We are going to need a lot of extra people to volunteer as this new ship has about 1.5 times the capacity of the Africa Mercy.


SIDE NOTE:  We are about to set a record.  This will be the longest sail that this vessel, Africa Mercy, will have ever traveled without stopping - from Las Palmas to Cape Town - just over 4,400 nautical miles (just under 5,000 regular miles).

Luckily, I was not working Saturday when we left port and was able to get some photos of our departure.

The engines were started a few hours before the rest of preparation.  See the exhaust being pumped out:

One last look at the shipyard that has been home for many weeks:

And, of course, one last shot of my favorite subject with our neighbor in the background:

And here is our Chief Security Officer rushing to prepare for departure:

First, we have to remove the net from beneath the gangway and attach the crane's ropes:

Next, we "untie" some of the lines from the dock, though the ropes are not actually tied:

But, George could not do it alone.  Apparently, those lines are heavy!

The last man climbs aboard, and the gangway is lifted by the ship's crane to deck 8 (the top deck) to be stored securely:

Next, the local pilot climbs aboard.  Most ports, including this one, require a local pilot to navigate a ship safely to its mooring spot and safely back out to sea.  Watch the pilot (in the white shirt) climb aboard via ladder:

After the local pilot is onboard, we hook up to the two tug boats.  The tug boats guide us away from our parking space as where we have been parked requires us to move sideways, which we are unable to do at this point without the tug boats.  We do plan to go into dry dock to completely fix the propeller issue which will allow us to move sideways without assistance.  But, for now, we need these two smaller boats to move us:

Once we were connected to our tug boats, we need to cast off the last of the lines holding us to the dock.  For those of you paying attention, you remember that the gangway is already up and stored for the sail.  So, like most ships, we hire an outside company to come along and cast off these last lines.  I wonder how much it costs for such a small, yet extremely important, job.  

Once untied, our Deck Department reels those lines in:

Once the tug boats straighten us out from our perch, we unhook our lines and sail away…slowly…I was not the only one taking pictures, though my favorite subject has always been Joe.

Now, keep your eye on the dock on the left side of the pictures as we get closer and closer to the end…

And, finally, the port at our back….

And the open sea before us!!!

Benin…Postponed

(August 29)

Officially, we have postponed our visit to Benin due to the Ebola virus that is currently present in several western African countries.  We do plan to go to Benin, but the date depends on the course of the Ebola virus.  Many factors went into the decision.  

Please note that most of the following information was taken directly from www.tanyasierra.wordpress.com and was written by one of our writers in the Communications Department who is also a friend:

Thursday evening, August 28, Mercy Ships founder Don Stephens made the announcement to the crew of the Africa Mercy and national offices around the world that Mercy Ships would be postponing its scheduled field service to Benin due to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.  It is an absolutely heartbreaking scenario for everyone associated with the organization and for the people of Benin, whom were waiting expectantly for our arrival.  

This blog is dedicated to providing you with some background information on why the decision was made.

The Ebola virus was first discovered in Zaire (known today as the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1976 in an outbreak that killed 284 people.  At the time, it was confused with another similar deadly virus called Marburg, which also claimed its hosts through a hemorrhagic fever.  However, tests later proved that it was an altogether new virus and various outbreaks over the years have yielded quite a bit of information on the deadly virus.

The virus has a two to 21-day incubation period during which time individuals who show no symptoms are not contagious.  Once symptoms appear - the most common being fever, diarrhea and vomiting - a person can transmit the disease by way of bodily fluids including sweat and tears.  When a person dies, the virus continues to live on the secreted sweat and blood that remains behind on clothes, mattresses, etc.  The virus historically has between a 50-90 percent mortality rate and most individuals who will die will do so by day 8. 

Dr. Gary Parker, Mercy Ships’ chief medical officer, has been tracking the current Ebola outbreak since the first reports surfaced in February of this year.  As he has helped us understand how the virus works and why the decisions that are being made are being made, three questions have repeatedly come up.

First, as the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship, why is Mercy Ships not sending the Africa Mercy to help with this most unprecedented crisis?  Simply put, we are not equipped to handle such an outbreak.  The Ebola virus is classified as a Category “A” bioterrorism agent by the Centers for Disease Control, which can only be handled in a level 4 lab.  It is one of the nastiest virus’ on the planet and requires special isolation units along with the properly trained staff to handle it.

Second, the Ebola virus is not present in Benin, why is Mercy Ships not going to Benin?  Cotonou, the port city in Benin, is less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Lagos, Nigeria where there have been 21 reported cases, including seven deaths.  Until the past two weeks, those infected had direct contact with the infected individual who travelled into Nigeria.  Now, there are secondary infections - meaning people got infected who had direct contact with another infected person who had direct contact with the first patient; they are two degrees from the original patient in Nigeria.  The borders between Benin and Nigeria are completely open and businesses commute regularly and freely between the two cities.  As a hospital ship, with a top-notch reputation, the Africa Mercy attracts individuals from far and wide who are sick, in the hope that they can receive healing.  We could have the best of intentions, however, our good intentions would likely lead to attracting those infected with Ebola from across the border and spreading the epidemic into Benin.  

Patrick Sawyer is the Liberian-American, who brought Ebola into Nigeria.  Out of desperation and seeking more advanced health care he boarded a plane, which made 3 stops before finally arriving in Nigeria.  He collapsed at the airport and infected the people that came to his aid and those that treated him.  This was a desperate man hoping for a miracle, much like the patients who visit our ship.  In addition, the Africa Mercy not only attracts patients from far and wide, it attracts volunteers from all over the world.  Considering the virus’ incubation period, the safest course is to do everything possible not to bring Ebola onto the ship.

Our third most frequently asked question is what would happen if the ship were exposed to Ebola?  In that scenario the ship would be quarantined until the virus is determined to be contained.  The ship would literally have to go to sea and drop anchor until the virus ran its course; there would be no medical intervention beside the little we could provide onboard.  A key reason why Mercy Ships leadership is taking crew safety so seriously and is determined to prevent Ebola from setting foot on the ship in the first place.

Here are some staggering numbers Dr. Parker shared with us this week:

• As of August 31, there were more than 3,700 number of reported cases that have resulted in more than 1,800 deaths.
• The average fatality rate is currently 53%.
• The previous worst outbreak of Ebola was in Uganda in 2000. That outbreak resulted in 425 cases and 224 deaths.
• More than 40 percent of all cases have surfaced in the last three weeks, pointing to the outbreak spreading.
• It is believed that the number of cases are severely underestimated due to a fear of clinics, hospitals and health care workers leading to the hiding of infected individuals. The true numbers of cases could be two to three times higher.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is estimating that as many as 20,000 people will be affected before this outbreak is contained.
• Estimates in early August said at least six months until the virus was under control.
• An Ebola epidemic is considered over once 42 days (twice the incubation period) have passed without a new case developing from the last death or the recovery (hospital discharge) of the last infected person.

“This outbreak is unprecedented. We cannot predict the final outcome based on previous outbreaks.” – Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer, Africa Mercy

So my friends, we are in uncharted waters.  However, I echo the words of Don Stephens who ended the evening by marveling the leadership team that God has assembled for this season.  He has brought unique people with special giftings, who are leading the organization through a difficult season.  So often it is we who are bringing hope to people, but in this season, it is we who are finding hope in our leadership, which is sustaining us through these uncertain waters.

Since this blog was originally written, there has been some additional news.  First, there is a single confirmed case of Ebola in Senegal.  Second, the DRC has quarantined a remote section of land due to the virus.  However, this strain of Ebola is not the same as in West Africa which is good news since the virus has not travelled from west Africa to central Africa.  This is the seventh time the virus has appeared in the DRC since 1976.  This country is trained to move quickly and quarantine the infected area(s) so that it does not spread.  So far, their method is keeping the virus from spreading further.

Mercy Ships will return to West Africa.  This is fact.  Don Stephens and all our management team have echoed this.  However, no one knows just yet when that will be.

My First Goodbye

(August 22-28)

I worked over the weekend.  Yes, more chopping.  The galley is divided into "hot" and "cold" sides.  I am working on the cold side.  So, I also make salads, dressings, etc.  For instance, I made potato salad, chicken salad, and fruit salad between Friday and Sunday.

One of the galley workers was leaving very early Monday morning, so we brought in a camera to capture some moments together.  I have not been able to get the pictures from my fellow crew member yet, but will try to do so in the next week.

SIDE NOTE:  I have been trying to share eventful and fun items with you, my loved ones, so I have not discussed much about my work, except in passing.  I will be dedicating a future blog to my work, just FYI, but the next few have already been planned.

Alicia was a great co-worker.  I will miss her hard work and good humor.  To celebrate her time with us, a few of us went out Sunday night to say goodbye.

I know that there will be a lot of short term people coming through my life in the next few years.  This is but the first of many goodbyes.

What a real man can do with a set of keys and first-aid scissors!!

(August 18-21)

Joe is my hero.  Right now, he is also Tanya's hero.  Possibly Justine's as well.

Last Monday night (August 18), we went into town in order to get some supplies.  We were supposed to stock up on some foodstuffs for when we are in Africa - pastas and sauces, granola bars, crackers, etc. - things that keep well for many months.

Just a side note on the Mercy Ship vehicles - all the Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are equipped with VHF radios.  All radios are set to channel 5.  Reception has a radio as well.  So, if something happens, one can communicate to the ship's reception via radio, although the range is maybe 10 miles (that is a very uneducated guess).

Anyway, we visited an art store first.  No big deal, I bought a few supplies.  However, once we (Joe, Tanya, Justine, and I) got back into the car, we pulled out of our parking space, and the car died!!  Joe would turn the key, the car would start, but once he released the key, the car would die.  Apparently the fault lies with the ignition switch.  (Obviously, it was Joe who knew this, not me!)

Unfortunately, with the power off, the radio was not working…we had no way to contact the ship.  Looking in the car, we found a well-stocked first aid kit, a pen, and gum, in addition to the car keys Joe had.  Joe managed to pry open a panel above the gas pedal with just a key!

After twenty minutes of fiddling, he found nothing wrong there.  At this point, Tanya and I decided to venture out to find a very elusive beast: a public pay phone.  Tanya is fluent in Spanish, so I figured, how hard could this be??  Apparently, very hard.  A kind man directed us to a pay phone, only 1 block uphill…

Yet, we could not figure out how to work it!  Yes, I admit to being unable to work a pay phone!  The ship has a Spanish phone number as well as its American satellite phone number.  There were clear instructions written in Spanish. Unfortunately, the directions, when followed precisely, did not work.  Pressing #04 is supposed to provide further instructions - but, again, the directions were not helpful.  Eventually we figured out how to call internationally using the American phone number.  Yes, we were in Spain, had a Spanish phone number and still had to dial an international number even though the ship was 2 miles away (by line of sight)!  (To actually get to the ship, though, you have to drive farther in order to enter the marina and then backtrack all the way to the end of the marina to the ship.)

We asked Reception to page Joe's boss so that he could bring us tools.

Tanya and I walked back to the car and saw Joe taking off another panel directly beneath the steering column with his key.  He was very resourceful.  After some work, he was able to figure out which wire was not working right.  But how to fix it??

Aha!  Let's use the first aid scissors!  In a very MacGyver moment, Joe fixed the wire with the scissors! If you look closely, you can see the first panel Joe pried off is not completely put back together, and you can also see the exposed wires that Joe MacGyver-ed!!

We were able to limp back home before Joe's boss ever left the ship.


Tuesday we sailed back to Las Palmas in order to begin work on the propeller.  Joe and I both took the sea-sickness medication this time.  Although I was working in the galley again, I did not feel the effects of the sea as drastically this time, so I think I plan on taking the medication on the long voyage to Africa.

Wednesday and Thursday were my days off.  I had tea with a friend and attended the community meeting Thursday night - normal ship life stuff.  At the meeting, Dr. Parker talked about Ebola in more detail.  I will be sharing some of those facts and graphs with you in the next week, I hope.   The good doctor stated he planned to send out the most updated information later this week.

I also did some housekeeping - let me just say how very little time it takes to clean the bathroom!  Well, all of the rooms, really.  But especially the bathroom.  I barely begin before I am nearly finished!

Sail Date Update

This Monday, August 18, we had our weekly Community Meeting.  Finally, we received an update about the sail:

Our new sail date is September 5th(ish).  It will take at least that long to get and install a part for the propeller.  Unfortunately, we also have to move again.  The ship needs to be back in the shipyard in Las Palmas for the repairs, though at this point in time we do not plan to go into dry dock.  Dry dock is when the ship is pulled front the water so every inch of the ship is accessible above water.  There is a possibility that we will have to go into dry dock, but we are trying to avoid this.  During dry dock periods, all the families (those with children) must leave the ship.  Children cannot be aboard during the dry dock.  Again, that is not the plan at this time.

Las Palmas is the island where Joe and I met up with the ship over two weeks ago.  We had only been there two days before we sailed the five hours to Tenerife.  We did not have a chance to explore the island and are hoping to be able to do so in the next few weeks.

The Volcano

(Aug 14-17)

In our meeting this last Thursday, August 14, we had an update from our Managing Director (MD).  The International Management Team (IMT) continues to evaluate the Ebola situation.  All the higher-ups continue to work on contingency plans for various possibilities.  While we were given some details, we hope that this coming week will give us a clear picture of when we should be leaving for Benin.  The blood results for the patients in Benin came back negative for Ebola.  This is good news, for not only us as a ship but also for those patients.

The real update, though, is that we have a broken propeller.  We have several propellers on ship, and there is one that is not working right.  We are able to sail, but it is not ideal to sail without getting it fixed.  We have time here in Spain now that we are waiting.  It is good that these two delays overlap rather than occurring separately.  A specialist will be coming in on Monday to assist with the repair, and we will know more then.

In the meantime, we moved locations within this marina - which we did on Friday morning, all of less than one mile (by sea) from our original destination.  Basically, we are now at the end of the marina, about 4.5km from the entrance to town.  This is a little far to walk, so the ship arranged for shuttles from the ship to town.  Joe had signed up for a two hour shift for Friday.  However, the two hours turned into four hours.  The ship has TVs mounted in common areas that play announcements 24/7.  The announcement on the TV said that shuttles would continue through 1am, but the drivers' sign-up list only asked for drivers through 11pm.  Joe was the last scheduled shuttle driver of the night (9pm-11pm).

When he returned to the ship, the ship's security guard said that over 20 people were still in town and then Joe discovered the discrepancy.  Being the upstanding man that he is, he volunteered to drive for the next two hours as well.  It was a long night for him!


DISCLAIMER:  The following story has many, many photos attached to it.  I simply could not chose any fewer.


Saturday was a brilliant day for us.  We arranged for a group of people to go up the volcano; fourteen of us in all.  We took two vehicles.  By the way, these Land Rovers can hold nine people!!  It was about a two hour drive to the volcano, and we stopped for a leisurely lunch just before we reached the volcano.

The volcano itself was gorgeous.  We rode up a long lift to the top.

Notice the view of the cables from the top…and how they drop off sharply like a roller coaster ride!

The views on the way up were so stunning…I could not wait until we were actually at the summit.  You can see the path of the lava (look for the blackened areas):

At the top, there was a number of paths and lookout points.  And the views all around us…so beautiful.    In the first photo, notice one of the other islands, which looks like it is floating amid the clouds and not grounded in water:

I picked one of the paths and wandered down it for a ways.  The path was rocky.  And twisty.

The view at the trail's end was no less grand than the view from the top:

The climb back up the path was strenuous, both due to the angle of ascent and the altitude.  I had to stop several times.  During these stops, I attempted my first selfies!

I have to admit, the climb took a lot out of me, and I ended up falling asleep on the drive back.  But I still managed to get a few photos of the drive back down.  The road was just as twisty as the hiking path, but not rocky in the least:

There were some great views here as well:

Wow!  Such grandeur that God has created!


And to recover from such grandeur, we rested all of Sunday.  The sun and the altitude sapped all our strength.  Not to mention, I got sunburned.  I was uncomfortable most of the day.  But it was worth it!