Where'd It Go?

So, rumor has it that 2010 has passed us by.  If it weren't for the fact that I witnessed the count down to 2011 myself (waaaay too late for me to be awake) I'm not sure I would believe it.  How can 365 days really have passed already?  I guess its one of those crazy things where the year seems to have flown by and yet, when I consider everything that has happened, I'm shocked that 365 days could contain it all.  We're still here in rural South Africa waiting for the technical work to be completed on the Africa Mercy.  Actually, we've been delayed a bit despite the incredible work that our technical team is doing onboard.  Delays seem to be something of an inevitability in shipyard phases.  The delay is disappointing as we are eager as a family to be back 'home' on the Africa Mercy and back in West Africa doing what we've been called to do.  However, it does afford us an opportunity to tackle some more projects and tasks that we would otherwise not have been able to get to.

Anyway, back to 2010.  We began our year on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago.  At the end of January we sailed to Togo where we had a six month field service (shorter than our usual ten months in port).  Dara and I made a very brief jaunt to Ghana to spend some time aboard the Logos Hope during our time in Togo. Then, on to South Africa.  We arrived here in early September, moving all of the necessities for continued land-based operations ashore in about 24 hours - an incredible feat and testimony of God's faithfulness and our dedication.  Grace and I flew to the US for a couple of weeks in October, adding another nation to our list of visits for 2010.

There have been stories, challenges, joys, hurts, frustrations, victories, laughs, and so much more in each of the nations we were in during 2010 (five in total, although not all of us were in all of them).  Its phenomenal to look back and see what God has done through our ministry, through us personally, and in us during the past year.  We are incredibly grateful for our Mercy Ships family here as well as for the privilege of being called to serve with them.  We are equally grateful for and indebted to our family and friends back in the US and worldwide who are equal partners with us in this beautiful mess of a journey that we're on.

As resolutions seem a bit fad-ish I think we'll pass on making any of those.  Really, the beginning of 2011 is just a continuation of the great epic story God has been crafting for millenia.  So, for 2011 we will continue to resolve to believe in His promises and that the story will end exactly as it is meant to as we each endeavor to walk in faith and obendience.

Prayer Request

About a week ago my (Peter) dad fell off of a ladder and sustained some significant injuries; a shattered elbow, broken ribs, and a broken saccrum.  His heartrate was also quite high for a while and they had to cardiovery him (which was successful).  He has a long road of recovery ahead of him.  Also, as difficult as it is for me to be here and not there with him, he is surrounded by people who love him, which is a huge comfort.  I would like to ask you to join me in prayer for my dad as well as my mom, brother, and sisters as they walk through this together.

The Schwebel Family Adventures: Mercy Ships Academy Christmas Play

Here's a blog from our Chaplain, Marty Schwebel about the Christmas play the kids just put on. Our kids did an awesome job and we're so proud of them all.

The Schwebel Family Adventures: Mercy Ships Academy Christmas Play: "The boys were all involved in this year's Mercy Ships Academy Christmas play. The title of the play was 'The Fear Not Factor'. At times I sa..."

A Day At The Farm

Xavier's class recently got to go on a field trip with some other classes.  They went to a local farm where the kids got to interact with most of the animals.  They got to ride ponies, milk cows, and feed the animals.  It's awesome that they have the opportunity right now to do these sorts of things that aren't generally available in West Africa.

Science Fair

This past week was the Mercy Ships Academy Science Fair.  The junior high and high school students all participated by doing an experiment of some sort and preparing a report and display.  It's so cool to see the creativity of God shining through the kids. 

They did an amazing job and we're so proud of all of the kids in our community.  We're especially proud of Grace and the huge amount of effort and attention to detail she put into her project.  She is so incredibly wise and mature.  We're so honored that God was pleased to enturst us with the treasure of her life.

Riding the Thunder

To live out this quote from Theodore Roosevelt is exactly what I need in my life right now.  Maybe it will encourage you as well.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength. It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who "but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier."

Field Trip!!!!

The Academy has been doing an awesome job of taking advantage of our being in a developed nation by planning field trips for the kids.  Recently, the Elementary went to uShaka Marine World in Durban.  They had an awesome time.  Thanks to the Academy teachers (Dara included) for making the trip possible.  What a blessing to have teachers who care so passionately about our kids!  Here are a few photos of their trip: