Archive for September, 2008

I always thought everyone was a gift giver. I feel a need to express my love and/or appreciation from the depths within me. It usually is something small, maybe some cookies, a card, pictures etc…It was quite a surprise when I realized not everyone had this same need. When I got married I quickly realized that this was not universal. I read the popular book about the five love languages and gifts is one of them and I identified immediately.

My first experience with Mercy Ships was on the Caribbean Mercy in Honduras and I worked in village Guadalupe Carne as much as I could. The week before the ship left, one of the ladies in the village wanted to bring me a gift. She brought me a live chicken. My first thought “Why in the world would she bring me a chicken.”. My second thought was ” Oh man she only had 5 chicken and she gave me one.” So of course I killed, plucked, cleaned, and cooked this chicken. Not this city girl’s idea of fun, but to honor the gifter I did it.

Today my friend Bendu came to the ship to bring Becky a going a way gift. It seems sort of weird that since last week she came to the ship and took us to her house but would not let us inside. So we sat outside on her porch for 2 hours. Don’t get me wrong, we still had fun. We chatted, she showed us pictures, told us about the night she got burned, and talked about our future plans. At one point we asked her if we could see her room, but she just laughed and changed the subject.

Bendu presented Becky with a neatly wrapped package that held a dress and she gave her a black plastic bag for me. My present was a bag full of cucumbers. What? Why in the world? Becky got a dress and I got a bag of produce. But who am I to second the gifter? The whole situation is just so funny. How many people can say they have received a bag of cucumbers as a gift?

Last week I returned to the ward after working in the recovery room for 7 weeks. I enjoyed a normal schedule more than I can express in words, but I missed building relationships with my patients (especially the long term ones).

Thursday, I was working in A ward on day shift. One of my patients needed blood so that kept me close to his bedside most of the shift. He and his 3 neighbors were very chatty and friendly.

One of the other patients mother was not feeling well and wanted to take a nap, so I put her 5 month old grandson, Godgive (yes that is his real name) on my back (by myself, quite the task). Oh man, all my patients went crazy. “African Lady, African lady. You a African Lady. You name Miatta (meaning first born female child) from the Bandi Tribe in Lofa County.” So of course I put a basket on my head and pretended to sell cold water and plums and they all yell “Auntie Miatta I buy you col wata cuz you a African lady!”

Now when I introduce myself to my patients I say my name is Stephanie but you can call me Miatta.

This is Larry, one of the chubbies babies in Liberia, he too likes to be in a lappa.

From time to time Albert (a retired baker from Germany) comes to the ship -  the Anastasis but now the on the Africa Mercy – to grace us with his presence for about 3 months at a time.  No, I am not making fun.  He can put out crescents, rolls, bread, specialty baked items like nobodies business…he’s THE MAN!

Last time he left he really had a passion to have some equipment items he deemed necessary for our small bakery on board.  So he directly went home, raised the money, bought the equipment…and had it delivered to Dutch office before we even knew what was going on!!!

And were not talking about a couple of pizza cutters, were talking about thousands of Euros in money and hundreds of kilos in weight.

[Click picture to make larger]

This mixer is specifically made for mixing dough.  Our other mixer was moved further down and has multiple attachments to do a myriad of other things…So now it is nice to be able to use the older mixer for everyday bulk prep & use in the kitchen without ‘bumping’ heads with the baker.

This is a semi-automatic bun roller.  You slide a weight of dough in the machine on one of the ‘trays’ you see hanging on the side of the machine.  You pull the big handle down for it to cut the dough into equal proportions.  Then you slide over another lever to lock it into gear,

and pull another for it to start gyrating…Its kind of like doing the twist.  Mechanically it gyrates/vibrates (in a circular pattern) the ‘tray’ under the cut dough until they form separate balls trapped within the cutter.  Stop the machine lift the big handle and pull out the tray for your precise made dough balls for rolls or small breads.

Thanks Albert!  And all who contributed to these purchases…They are both installed and ready for action when you come back to visit us!  But don’t worry the current baker is using them now…the only dust they’ll collect is from the flour.

Mac is a grief-stricken father in mid-life about to have an extraordinary experience with God. His great sadness began four years ago on a weekend camping trip, when his 6-year-old daughter, Missy, was murdered…Mac is heartbroken and mad at God.  For quite a while ‘The Great Sadness’ has continued to effect him and his family till God invites him to come back to the shack where the murder took place.

Willie, his good friend starts the book and tells this great story as if he was Mac himself since Mac confesses not to be a writer. ~

It does not amaze me that this book has become so popular.  WHAT does amaze me is that it has been heralded and picked apart all over the Internet spawning new web sites and forums.

The Shack is a great book, a work of FICTION.  So let us remember that and enjoy it as such.

Most reviews are positive, but there are some reviews that call this book dangerous and are inflamed at the implications of how the trinity and theology is represented.  I find this book is about love…BUT its dissected (by the few negative reviews) as if its a non-fiction theology or inspirational book?  Its a fiction book.  Whether you agree with the thoughts of the trinity or the views of mankind by ‘Papa’…it will still inspire you to be a better person, love a little more, and take stock in relationships.  And most importantly as a fiction book, you will enjoy the writing and the story.

Great story, wonderful characters, and it makes one think about his own life’s impact, assumptions, and relationships.

*If you are interested in reading it, Almost 3 years ago I wrote a very strongly opinionated post on DaVinci Code, Harry Potter, & Lord of the Rings

About a week ago at around 4 in the morning a mother of a young patient went into labor and a baby girl was born.  She is beautiful!  She weighed in at around 4 pounds 9 ounces.

Now there are a few more questions as to what was decided to be her real name. 

I heard that the mother had a little ‘peer pressure’ to call her Mercy.  But then a few days later I was told the mother wanted her name to be Nancy, and then my wife said she was called Mercy on the birth certificate? Hmm.

No matter…

The next question would be:  Our ship is registered with Malta and since she was born on board will she get duel citizenship?

(* for any other questions please direct them to my wife since she knows a little bit more about these things than I do…)

This word means so much to me right now. I receive so much support in different ways in my life. I am supported with love and encouragement by my family and friends. I am supported by my husband with love and companionship. For us to be on the mission field we need to be supported in prayer and financially.We have been blessed the entire time we have been on the ship. However our financial support has decreased by more than 50% since June. We are trusting in Lord that our needs will be provided and are confident that we are exactly were He has called us.

As the end of our committed time on the ship nears we are considering our options and are praying for the Lord’s guidance. Please pray for us as we decide if we will stay on the ship or go home for a while. In order for us to stay our financial support must increase greatly so please pray for discernment and wisdom as we make decisions.