Back in Belgium and Blessed to be Home!

Hello Friends,

            Sorry I forgot to post January’s update last month.  As I was sitting at my desk and looking at the website, I realized it was never published.  So as an Update I have been back on the ship for 8 days now.  It is such a blessing to be home and back physically serving the crew as well as supporting them remotely from afar.  It is also amazing to get to sleep regular hours again instead of a couple of two-hour naps per day. 

The team has done an amazing job of accomplishing a lot of things over my 3-months absence.  Over 300 devices are in place and functional, the other 200 are stored and prepped for deployment.  Vendors and 3 other Texas based staff were able to return to work two weeks ago and we are now in the mode of securing everything, even down to keyboards and mice for the sail that takes place on February 25 to head to Rotterdam for the Donor Appreciation Event.

Donor Appreciation Event – Speaking of this did you know that you can attend this event from the comfort of your living room?  Well you can, I have tested the link out and it works to register for an online tour and you will be able to see live everything that the people who have traveled and are physically present.  If you would go to https://globalmercy.org/events/global-mercy-experience/ .  You might even catch a glimpse of me as I guide people through the ship.  My heart is so happy that folks who have donated time, prayer and resources will get an idea of how God’s grace has provided this vessel to carry his spirit, mercy, love, hope and healing.  Please join us, it will only cost you a little time as it is free to anyone.

Finally, I wanted to share a thought the Lord has placed in my mind and heart over these 8 days.  It is easy to see the negative and how plans don’t exactly work out the way that we think they should. 

In the last 8 days I have literally had 6 Covid tests due to travel and surveillance tests we take to keep the crew safe.  That’s a lot for this native born, hardheaded, Texican.  But the grace of the Lord has given me 6 Negative tests’ even though many around me in various locations are coming up positive. 

On Friday I went to Belgium for my Seaman’s Medical Exam, praise be to God I passed!  Even though I’m not the picture of a Seaman and can’t lift 75lb cables I am allowed to sail medically cleared for the next two years.  After the exam I wanted to thank the Lord in worship and found the “Cathedral of Our Lady” which is a magnificent sanctuary.  There were not having tours or church, but I was able to enter.  The very first thing that caught my eye was this statue, “The Man Who Bears the Cross”. 

Please notice his eyes are not on the ground, his stance is firm/stable, and his focus is on the cross.  This bronze encourages the visitor to try to maintain a spiritual equilibrium, to keep the cross in balance and to experience first-hand how this affects them.  

As I sat for many moments it reminded me of Psalms 123:2 “We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.” In all of the trials we are experiencing if we stay focused on Him we see the outcomes not the present circumstances.

I wish they had a second bronze next to this one where the man does not have his hand on the cross.  It only takes our eyes, as the windows of our soul to keep the focus.  God does the Heavy Lifting and the sacrifice he made for you and I on the cross is unmovable, unbreakable and the full atonement needed for our relationship.  Such a gift, not our burden but his grace.

Praises 

No More Immigration Issues *** The Africa Mercy has arrived in Senegal. *** I Passed the Seaman’s Medical *** We sail February for the Donor Appreciation Event ***When I arrived on ship many of you had sent me Christmas Cards and gifts.  Some are here and some are on the way so it was like Christmas all over again.  Thank You!

Continued Prayer for –

• 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.
  • I have a request for two special friends in need of physical healing in Utah, please join me in thanking God for his hand of healing and grace on these lovely people.
  • Please keep our crews on this prayer, at one point this past week our IS team was reduced by ½ who had to be quarantined due to close contact with someone who had covid. Praise be to God we only had one positive out of the group and he is doing well.
• 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.

May the Lord Bless Your day and bring Joy to your life.

In God’s Love,  

Mendy