Looking Back to Move Forward . . .

This has been reblogged from Kathy Sheran's blog, "A Journey of a Thousand Miles  Be More Heart".  If you don't have the time to read the book, read this!  We, as a family, have served on both the Africa Mercy and the Anastasis. We were in Liberia for the end of the Anastasis and the maiden voyage of the Africa  Mercy.  In addition, we served in Togo in 2O12 where the Anastasis began her life changing surgeries.  It didn't come on fully, but it will give you a general idea.  We have just finished up 40 days of prayer and fasting on board the Africa Mercy.  Back in early October (October 5th to be exact) we celebrated 40 years since the first Mercy Ship (the Anastasis) was paid for in full. The theme of this time was looking back as we move forward.  I think it is important to remember from where you have come to help see what has shaped you as a person.  I know many of you have heard me talk about what Mercy Ships is like currently as an organization and all the  work we are doing, but most of you don’t know much about our history.  For those that find this interesting, the founder, Don Stephens, has written a book that offers a first person account of the early days called Ships of Mercy.  I do have a copy in a box somewhere and it is worth a read!

One of my favorite things about how Mercy Ships started is that God used someone who didn’t know anything about medicine or ships or who even grew up on the coast to start this charity.  Don Stephens was a young man from Colorado who loves Jesus and had a dream to use floating vessels to break hope and healing to those in need.  This is pretty incredible considering what a steep learning curve this must have been for Don!  This also reminds me of a passage in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat defeats Moab.  The Lord tells him that he will fight for him and he will be victorious but he must show up!  Yes, God will do the work but we must take the first few steps in faith.

“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow march down against them.  They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.  You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you.”

— 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

Think of what would have happened if Don did not answer God’s call?  My life would sure look a lot different and so would the lives of countless others.  It takes small moments of great courage (and a whole lot of prompting by the Holy Spirit) to live out a dream and I am thankful Don did!
What the last 40 years have looked like:

The Anastasis

In 05 October 1978 the Anastasis was paid for in full and fittingly her name means resurrection.  The ship was once an Italian cruise vessel and from what past volunteers have said, she was a gorgeous ship full of wooden details that made her feel like home.  This was the only vessel in the fleet until the early 1980s when The Good Samaritan was donated to the cause.  In these days the ships served for earthquake and hurricane relief, did recruiting and public relation stops and also served in the Caribbean.  It wasn’t until 1990 that the Anastasis sailed to Africa for Mercy Ship’s first outreach on the continent which was in the West African nation of Togo.

In 1994 a Norwegian coastal ferry was purchased by Mercy Ships and renamed The Caribbean Mercy whose outreaches were mainly going to be in the Western Hemisphere.  During this time The Good Samaritian was renamed The Island Mercy  and the fleet of ships was up to 3.  The Island Mercy served parts of Asia and was also joined by The Caribbean Mercy at times.  Meanwhile the Anastasis traveled up and down the African coastline keeping mainly to West Africa.

Switching from the Anastasis to the Africa Mercy in Liberia

The start of the new millennium saw many changes for the organization.  Through a generous donation the Danish rail ferry, the Droning Ingrid, was purchased and renamed the Africa Mercy.  The Island Mercy was sold from the organization in 2001 and The Caribbean Mercy in 2005.  Due to maritime law changes, the Anastasis had to be discontinued because of her wooden hull.  The two ships met up in Monrovia, Liberia in 2007 to switch over supplies and crew.  The Africa Mercy had her maiden field service in Liberia and continues to serve the people of Africa until this day.

The Africa Mercy

Sprinkled throughout this timeline are patient stories of God’s faithfulness and provision.  Of the blind seeing and the lame walking.  Of clinics opened and medical programs strengthened.  Of thousands of volunteers having the chance to see a world bigger than themselves and returning to their communities ready to bring change.  As much as God has used Mercy Ships to shape and improve the lives of under-served populations, he doesn’t stop there.  He uses his ships as a sharpening block for the volunteers that come.   Some may stay for two weeks and others many years but they all leave changed by this place.
The easy question is ‘what is next?’.  The question I like to ask is ‘Who is next?’.  What patients will the ship serve and who will call her home?  How will they shape and change this place?  How will God take their mustard seed faith and make His glory known?  How will we make the world a better place for future generations?  These are questions worth pondering over.
To close, an old naval saying was shared with us throughout this time of prayer and fasting and I really like it. It puts all aspects of my life into focus and I hope you are blessed by it as well:

“Whoever is a slave to the compass enjoys the freedom of the open seas.”