Although getting to work in the engine room and having a Starbucks on board has been awesome. I would have to say that the best part of the month has been the community on board. There are about 350ish people living on board at any given time. They are volunteers from all over the world. Doctors, nurses, baristas, chefs, electricians, plumbers, accountants, computer techs, families, the Africa Mercy is a small floating town. And everyone is here because they want to make a difference in the world. To be a part of something bigger, something that will changes others lives and there own forever. They come and stay from 2 weeks to 2 yrs and some stay longer. New people are always coming and going so they are very open. They welcomed us aboard and made us feel like part of the family straight away. It is always encouraging to find another group of people living in community, having movie days together, potlucks and random worship nights. Baristas that know my drink order, coworkers that have a morning prayer and worship time before work. Doctors that make time in their day to help out the sick members of our team that aren’t even working on board. Security guys from Nepal that learn everyone’s name. This is truly an amazing group of people.
I think that one of the things that many of us on the race worry about is going home and not having community on the same level that we have it here on the race. It is something that we have all become accustomed to and love but aren’t sure how to create. This month being on board and seeing another community functioning and doing its thing has been a great reminder that it can be done outside of WR. That there are lots of Christians out there looking for a place to be apart of something that is bigger than them. And it makes me excited to bring home all the things that I have learned about community along the way and bring it home to my town, to my people and create our community. We won’t have a ship in Africa or a trip around the world to bring us together but we will find other things to bring us together, to give us purpose to create a place were we can welcome others into our family. We will find our purpose, our people that we are called to reach in the way that only we can. So although I can’t create a community exactly like this when I get home, I can partner with God and my people to create a new one.
Love and miss you all back home:)
