a well-trodden path

Daniel 2:20-22

"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him."

Daniel's story amazes me. As a teenager, everything was taken from him- his family, home, and identity. He was given a name that wasn't his and commanded to conform to a foreign culture. It would appear God was being very harsh to him.

And yet, we see God was working, orchestrating each detail of his life the entire time. God was going to use Daniel to influence an entire nation. The plan was already set.

There is a well-trodden path before us which saints of the ages have already traversed. There are thorns, thistles, and bloody footprints. The path is narrow and at times steep, but it is well laid. And we closely walk in the shadow of the good Shepherd. Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.

*************

"May the lamb receive the reward of his suffering."

THE TALE OF TWO MORAVIAN MISSIONARIES

"Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2000 to 3000 slaves. And the owner had said, "No preacher, no clergyman, will ever stay on this island. If he’s shipwrecked we’ll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave; but he’s never going to talk to any of us about God. I’m through with all that nonsense." Three thousand salves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ.

Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money they received from their sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave, to pay their passage out to his island for he wouldn’t even transport them. As the ship left it’s pier in the river at Hamburg and was going out into the North Sea, carried with the tide, the Moravians had come from Herrenhut to see these two lads off, in their early twenties. Never to return again, for this wasn’t a four year term; they sold themselves into life-time slavery.

Simply that as slaves, they could be a s Christians where these others were.The families were there weeping, for they knew they would never see them again. And they wondered why they were going and questioned the wisdom of it. As the gap widened and the housings had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier, and the young boys saw the widening gap, one lad with his arm linked through the arm of his fellow, raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them, they were these: "MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!" This became the call of Moravian missions. And this is the only reason for being, That the Lamb that was slain, may receive the reward of His suffering."

the fellowship of kindred spirits

The Million Dollar Baby Girls. We found the same shirt in three colors on the streets of Cotonou and wore them to a dance party. The shirts pretty much made the party for us.

Sandra and I on a top secret stealth mission. I'm thinking I might be to old for this...but it hasn't stopped me yet :)

Sarah and I doing Ninja jumps off the high dive at a local pool. Notice the amazing form of our jump kicks.

"Next moment the book was in our hands, our heads were bent close together, we were pointing, quoting, talking- soon almost shouting- discovering in a torrent of questions that we liked not only the same thing, but the same parts of it and in the same way; that both knew the stab of Joy and that, for both, the arrow was shot from the North. Many thousands of people have had the experience of finding the first friend, and it is none the less a wonder; as great a wonder as first love, or even greater....Nothing, I suspect, is more astonishing in any man's life than the discovery that there do exist people very, very like himself."

- C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy

I'm always amazed at how faithful God is to bring kindred spirits into my life. There is a distinct difference between a kindred spirit and a friend. You can talk to, hang out, and do fun things with a friend. But you can just be with a kindred spirit. There is no need to do anything. Kindred spirits ride the same wavelength and as C.S. Lewis mentioned, feel the same "stab of joy". It's as if there were an unspoken language that quietly pierces both hearts.

I have been blessed to know many kindred spirits and I can happily say the list is growing.
There are so many little things my heart delights in. It's nice to meet those who share the same secret.

only when you live on a hospital ship....

....does a film crew tape your game of ultimate frisbee.

rumors of true reality

my friend and fellow writer Richard and the sick baby.

Yesterday, I again visited the Liberian children I had mentioned on Monday. This time, all seven kids were there. Two of the little boys looked really sick. There bellies were distended and fluid filled, and their faces puffy. Classic signs of congestive heart failure. But those two boys will most likely receive surgery and hopefully, will soon be running around without any problems.

But there is one little baby who won't.

When I walked in I immediately noticed him. He's five-months-old, but looks about two-months-old. He has hydrocephalus and his head is swollen. His belly painfully protrudes from an uncorrected hernia. As he breathed, I noticed sub-sternal retractions and nasal flaring, signs of respiratory distress. He is really sick. You could just tell.

But in spite of it all, he was amazingly alert. As I peered into his eyes he stared right back. I put out my finger towards his hand and he wrapped all five of his small fingers around it. He was sweet.

My friend Ali told me the grandfather of a child who died at the hospital said, "Some of the children got to go back." You can never tell with these things, but if I had to guess, I'd say it won't be long until this baby is nestled in the arms of Jesus.

The suffering of children is always unnerving. Working in a Pediatric ICU, filled with kids who had to"go back", I spent months trying to reconcile a God of love with their sufferings. It never made any sense. I don't think it ever will. But something about it directs me towards heaven.

I've had a lyric from a Brooke Fraser song stuck in my head all week, which says,

I've heard rumors of true reality/whispers of a well-lit way.

Looking at that little sick baby, I needed to believe there is a true reality, one beyond the physical that is seen. I had to believe that Jesus was whispering to him. That there was a special fleet of angels assigned to his care.

My definition of 'reality' is always challenged when I'm here. Life on the Africa Mercy is far removed from 'normal' life. You wouldn't call it 'reality' on American terms. But after experiencing the blessing of showing someone mercy, the joy of serving God, and the treasure of holding the hands of the poor, I don't know that the American version of 'reality' holds much weight.

It's funny, the first time I was here I was constantly thinking about what life would be like when I returned to 'the real world'. And then I returned; and I didn't quit fit. Echo's of "there must be more than this," haunted me. And yet I found the buzz, the business, the pressures of 'The real world" drowned the whisper of a well-lit way. They felt real. But only for so long.

When we are confronted with mortality, suddenly the volume of it all is turned down and our hearts can hear them. The whispers. The Spirit leading us towards that which endures.

The moments of tension, the things that don't make sense, will make or destroy our faith. But if we let the pressure cause us to search out the heart of God, we will never be disappointed. For in Him, we will learn of True Reality.

The rumors are true.

the meirts of Fanmilk/FanIce

**Disclaimer*** "FanMilk" and "FanIce" will be used interchangeably

I heard about Fan Milk/FanIce before coming to Benin and it sparked my curiosity. When I arrived, I found it was an Africa Mercy buzzword. Everyone boasted of it merits. My curiosity was further ignited.

And then, it happened.

I was sitting in the cafeteria, clean and in my sweatpants, after a hard game of ultimate Frisbee. I had just enjoyed a homemade piece of pizza (yes, pizza :) at a frisbee afterglowish meal. I was happy. I was content. I didn't things could get much better when suddenly my friend Sarah exclaimed, "I think they are selling Fanmilk in the ship shop now." She went and purchased chocolate Fanmilks for the entire table.

All it took was one mouthful and I realized all the rumors were true. Fanmilk really was amazing.
So what is it actually? It's Ice Cream in a perfect sized, 30 cent plastic pouch. You bite off a corner and consume.

The Fan Milk website says this,

"When you say FanIce, everyone knows you are talking about the creamiest and most delicious ice cream in town! FanIce comes in three scrumptious flavours - Strawberry, Chocolate, and Vanilla.Anytime of day, when you are on the go and you find yourself craving for some ice cream, you can have the flavour of your choice in a 150ml cup or pouch for the road! For now, the pouch comes in Vanilla only. If perhaps, you want to enjoy some delicious ice cream with your family, the 2-liter pack is available. For your small social gatherings, we have a special 5-liter pack for you! FanIce, so nice!!!"

FanIce, so nice!! I couldn't say it any better.

pulling at my heartstrings

The kids :)

This is the sweet little girl. I (bravely) let the kids take photos with my camera. They did a pretty good job.

I intend to never fully grow up :)

Last night I was walking by reception when my friend Davey, who runs the Hospitality center, told me about 7 Liberian children who were staying there (Patients who have traveled a significant distance and are waiting for surgery or former patients who need regular dressing changes/other procedures, stay at the hospitality center).

The children are suffering from heart problems. They are being assessed by a Mercy Ships physician, using our electrocardiogram machine, in hopes we can properly diagnose them. There are surgeons in several other countries who have agreed to perform their surgeries. At the end of the week, pending a proper diagnosis, they will be off again to receive the cardiac surgeries they need.

I was able to visit the kids today and I can't tell you how much joy it brought my hard. Me + Liberian kids = feeling at home. Although I now spend my days staring at a computer screen, I will proudly say I haven't lost my touch. I was made them giggle and smile in less then five minutes.

My heart really breaks for them, for Liberia. Their ages ranged from 4 to 15 and only 2 had their moms with them. Apparently, a few of the children cried on the plane ride to Benin. I felt so sad for them. I told them I cry when I miss my mom too.

Of the five kids I saw, there was only one little girl, who was 10. Her mom wasn't there and she was very quiet, probably sad. I put her on my lap and gave her a back rub while we were there. I hope it brought her a little comfort.

The kids were precious. I asked them how they were feeling, they confessed they couldn't run or play sports. It was too hard to breath.

I hope they get their surgeries and I hope I can see them tomorrow.

birthday party.

Two weeks ago I was sitting at Bab's Dock (a lovely little Benin getaway) with my new friend, Sandra, when we heard a song that pricked our inward love of dancing. Simultaneously we had the same thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to have a dance party?"

So last night, we did.

This is a week full of birthdays on the Africa Mercy. Four of them belong to the faces you see on the flyer above. Jesse, Ryan, Suey, and Ali, are celebrating another year of being a 20-something.

Jesse is the lead cook, so naturally he baked a three tiered birthday cake (which everyone enjoyed). Sandra and I transformed deck 8 into a party, and our friend Enoch provided the music.

I love dancing. And I mean good, wholesome, silly, be-as-crazy-as-your-heart-desires dancing. I will dance by myself, but it's always better with a friend. However, I have learned that not everyone shares my love of being silly, nor the willingness to make a bit of a fool of themselves (they don't know the fun they are missing out on :).

Almost to my surprise, the dance floor was filled with silliness and fun. We had a large group of people from all different areas of the ship, and everyone just had wholesome fun together. No one was inhibited by any pretensions. We just enjoyed the company of one another.

Life is simpler on the ship and I really love it. It makes me stop and really appreciate moments.

Like dancing the night away on the top of a hospital ship in Benin with friends from around the world. Heaven has to be at least a little bit like that.