Taking Out The Trash

We see some interesting things living on a ship.  I took this video from the aft end of the Africa Mercy the other day.  A whole new perspective on taking out the trash.  My boys would LOVE it if they were allowed to do this!

Humbled

I got an unexpected and humbling piece of mail a few days ago.  I was debating whether or not to blog it as it could come across as prideful. I decided, though, that it gives me the opportunity to both celebrate God's power in my life and to thank those of you who have been supporting me through my academic endeavors these past two years - especially my incredible wife and children who put up with me being unavailable often working on homework and writing papers.  Thanks, too, to all who have been supporting my studies through finances and prayer.  One year left to go...

Ketchup

Time to ketchup (catch up) again:

We celebrated Malachi's birthday with a viewing of 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meathballs 2', cake, pizza and presents.

New age, same vintage joyful smile

It would seem that I haven't lost the knack for good homeade pizza

Elijah recently participated in the work experience program onboard.  He got to take three days off from school to work in the Deck Department as a deck hand.  All of the Junior High and High School students applied for positions in departments onboard and got to work in them.  It is a great program, which Dara organizes, and a highlight of the year for a lot of the kids. 

Eli decked out (pretty punny, huh?) in his deck hand work clothes

This one was just a fun picture of Dara and the boys on the couch together.  Man, they're getting BIG!

Got There As Fast As I Could

As the saying goes for those not from the Lone Start State: I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could.  I will always have a lot of Seattle in my blood but I have also come to love East Texas.  I recently spent three weeks there as a firefighting instructor for maritime Basic Safety Training.  It was a fun three weeks.  A huge thank you to the Thompson clan for opening their home to me.  I don't actually have any photos of our fireground training this time but below are a few others that stand out from the trip.

Yeah, snow (well, frozen rain really) in March in East Texas.  Crazy weather.

Ed Woolever treated me to dinner at 'Circle M Crawfish' in Big Sandy, TX - and it's as redneck as it sounds, complete with a tractor auction on the TV...so of course I loved it.

Boiled shrimp, potatoes, and corn.

Fried Catfish and shrimp.

Perspective

Last week wasn't awesome.  I (Peter) was frustrated - okay, I was angry - on a number of fronts.  The other day one of the writers onboard asked if I would be willing to share a brief story about my time in Africa or on the Africa Mercy.  Writing it provided the perspective that I needed to shake out of my funk.  Thanks, Gracie.

Here it is:

How do you describe a changed life?  Where does one begin to express the depth of gratitude for a transformed heart?  Mercy Ships is about changed lives.  It is not what we do, it is who we are.  In the past seven years onboard the Africa Mercy I have seen physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation that defy reason and logic; miraculous healing, lives mended, hearts born anew, brokenness made whole.  My heart leaps for joy each time a Mercy Ships crew member impacts the life of those we are called to serve, in whatever capacity that may be.  Words cannot adequately express the glory of this process.

It is not these changed lives that I struggle most to describe, though.  It is my own.  When I first arrived in West Africa I was assaulted by experiences and sensations that I had no frame of reference for; physical destruction, ravaged bodies, trash-strewn roads, filthy water, oppressive heat, and a worldview and approach to life that was completely foreign to me – even after cross-cultural training.

Time, relationships, and the unrelenting love of those we come to serve have worked a gradual metamorphosis of my heart and paradigm.  The circumstances of life in the West and Central African nations that we serve is much the same as it was seven years ago when I first arrived.   However now I see beauty, opportunity, unfathomable joy…  I weep for the times that my vision falters and mourn the loss of a day spent doing anything other than reveling in the glorious adventure I am fortunate to be a part of.

Regardless of how long I stay or where I go next, these years will always be ones that I can celebrate as transformational.  West and Central Africa are not comprised of ‘developing nations’ to me.  They are where I learned that pain and joy are not mutually exclusive; to savor the lingering heat of pepper sauce at the back of my throat, and that plantains will sooth the burn; that many of my assumptions about the world and the teachings of Christ were, at best, narrow; to recognize the trickle of sweat down my back as a reminder of the blessing of this journey; the snap at the end of a handshake; the privilege of learning to see things from a new perspective; and knowing that I need to be transformed by Christ through those we serve at least as much as they need to be transformed by Christ through us.

Guitar Hero

Elijah has been getting guitar lessons from one of our friends, Nick Cash.  Having awesome guys like Nick giving of their time to do something like this (for free, no less) is one of the awesome things about community.

Elijah has been learning incredibly fast and joined Nick in doing worship for our Monday morning community meetings.  We are so proud of Elijah and his commitment to learning this skill, and we are blown away by how incredible he is at it!

Shipping Container Swimming

Okay, so it isn't exactly a shipping container, but it's pretty stinkin' close.  Several years ago someone donated money to have a swimming pool installed on the Africa Mercy.  Though it isn't much to look at (it pretty much is a shipping container with the top cut off that was placed on top of the deck and then a platform was built around) we are so very grateful to have it.  We make use of it frequently and it is a fantastic place for the boys to get some energy out - when there aren't a bunch of people sitting around it who cringe at getting splashed by rambunctious kids.  It is a pool...

Here are some photos of us using the pump-action water guns that Santa brought for Christmas.

Elijah taking aim

Malachi preparing for an attach

I think I missed my calling as a Navy Seal

Xavier leading the charge