Hello Friends,
So sorry it has been such a long time since I have reached out to everyone. It has been a crazy few months, to say the least. I arrived in Antwerp, Belgium the end of August and the Global Mercy arrived on September 12. It was a grand day of celebration before the work began.
Sixty-to-eighty-hour work weeks to try and find all of our IT gear that was stored on the ship in China and then deployment and installation began. The team pictured above dedicated their time to tasks supporting the deployments and our end users under less than perfect conditions. In one 4-day period we installed over 700 phones, with the help of contractors.
Rest and Reflections – But we did enjoy:
- Some amazing suppers together about once per week in the town of Antwerp to pick up IT gear at Media Mart.
- Fellowships with Antwerp Christian Fellowship church that welcomed us with open arms.
- Games and Coffee on Sunday Afternoons at the Playgrounds coffee shop.
We were able to move aboard the first week after the ship arrived. The cabins are wonderful and the beds are comfy and cozy with lots of storage underneath, “Praise the Lord”.
On October 16th I was able to take my first full weekend off since early August, instead of just hours off in a day, and I was so tired that I slept 30 out of 36 hours straight. It was an amazing time of rest and rejuvenation with the Lord the remaining 12 hours of my weekend. He knew I would need this time to prepare for the next week.
James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I must admit that from Sept 13-October 22 this scripture made me laugh, cry, be angry and frustrated while I questioned and wondered if the rest of the world was okay. During this time the Global Mercy crew was battered and beaten down with trials. Mom always told me “if the devil is picking on you, he is leaving someone else alone”. So, to the rest of the world, “your welcome”, we took one for the team during those weeks. Things went wrong, people burned out, covid protocols increased, travel for partners and staff was blocked, and lack of people onsite meant things didn’t get done; yet we continued to push through. Until October 22nd when we found out that labor and immigration issues had not been completely worked out with the Belgium government. So the staff /contractors who were able to be aboard the ship ceased work until we can get it resolved. All travel to the ship has been suspended or postponed and many were sent back to their home countries. This also included volunteers like me who had spent time in European Union (EU) countries in the last 180 days.
So I sit, sending you an update from Texas in eager anticipation to return in late January. Today I rejoice in this scripture and do “Consider it all Joy”. In my time back home I have gained a better understanding of:
- “in the Lords time it will “All” work for his Glory”
- “don’t forget the Lord of the work while doing the work of the Lord”
- “my plan for today doesn’t always line up with His purpose for today”
- “I was needed at home, more than I was needed aboard during this time”
- “returning home is not defeat, it is mending nets for greater fishing opportunities”
Prayer Requests – Please continue to pray for:
- The global governments that they be a positive influence to allow us to bring the Gospel of Christ to every nation.
- Mercy Ships as a whole in the resolution of the trials impacting our progress towards God’s Mission of bringing Hope and Healing.
- The Global Mercy in her trials and for God’s mighty hand to open the doors we are to walk through and shut those tight that we are not.
- The Belgium Government that a speedy and conscientious resolution will allow our work to begin again and that our witness and testimony will bring God the honor and glory in every way that we deal with them.
- The Africa Mercy as she and her crew are preparing physically, spiritually, and mentally to return to Senegal to complete surgeries that had to be stopped due to Covid.
- Our patients that are waiting patiently in Senegal for our return, that the Lord would keep them safe and provide healing even before we arrive in a manner that lets them know they are loved, precious and adored by Him.
- The crew of all our ships, that they would feel the presence of the Lord and see His hand knocking down the strongholds against them. Let us look for Him each day in every task, trial and temptation with a smile on our face to the joy of His victory over our circumstances.
- To special friends and family that are on my prayer list and yours for restoration, healing, salvation, and reconciliation of relationships with Christ and each other.
- In Thanksgiving to those who support me in this time of couch surfing with my family and friends as I mend nets, work from 1 am to 10 am to support the IS team on the ship and wait upon my return to Belgium in late January.
- In Thanksgiving for all those who have supported me in the past, may the blessing you have provided me be multiplied, pressed down, shaken and overflowingly given back to you that you may know Christ is our creator and provider in all ways, opportunities, and resources.
One last request is that during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season bring the light to someone else’s darkness. Let no man/woman stand alone or feel alone but instead show them the love, grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as he would if he were here in the flesh.
May the Lord Bless You day and bring Joy to your life.
In Gods Love,
Mendy