It's been a wonderful Easter season here on the ship!
The last week starting with Palm Sunday we had lovely services on the ship all week. Song services at night, special programs including a Seder Supper in the dining room. We learned about all the Jewish Traditions with Passover. It was very interesting and special to be a part of. The dining room was set up beautifully and each table had the special foods like Matza set on it. We sang a little bit of the Jewish songs that are sung at the Jewish Seder supper. :)
They also had a night with special things in different rooms. On deck 7 they had a foot washing station set up for anyone to come and have their feet washed or to come with friends and wash each others feet. The international lounge was set up as the Garden of Gethsemane where you could go and have some quiet time in prayer. Then there was a room set up as the upper room where you could go read the sequence of events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ.
A very special week to be here!
The Good Friday service was Friday morning and Sunday morning there was a sunrise service on deck 8 followed by another service later in the morning and a beautiful brunch was served in the dining room! So enjoyable to be here with friends and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!
He is Risen indeed!
This afternoon we were able to visit the deaf school where our patients were from. One of the teachers invited us to come by and see the school.
It was in a nice quiet location in the city and was very nicely set up!
We found out the school has about 30 students that live there and during the day about 30 more students come from the surrounding area. It is one of the only deaf schools in Madagascar so children come from far away sometimes. The school is sponsored by a Christian Bible group? I'll have to get more details. They have a lovely chapel on the grounds. And the Mercy Ministries group goes to the school once a week and they tell Bible stories to the children. I would have loved to join the group while I was here but they only go Wednesday mornings and... I am working the hours they go.
So it was very nice to see the school today and see the children when we were not pulling their teeth out. :-)
Our friend from the dental clinic was able to take me and a friend out to the Lemur park for some hiking yesterday and to see the lemurs for the last time. The hike was up a short mountain with a nice view and then waterfall along the trail! We had a picnic by the waterfall and then enjoyed a nice ride on a bamboo raft down a river back to town. Most enjoyable day!
Now it's time to start saying goodbye to all my friends and it's been sad.
One of the hardest things about Mercy ships is all the goodbyes.
The ship has so many amazing interesting people on it and friendships form so quickly.
I have started to pray about coming back for one more outreach with the ship..Mada 2. I hope I will be able to see my friends again. :-)
My friends Julie and I are now preparing all things to arrive in Bangkok and head up to Chiang Mai within the first week. Our plans are coming together!
Don't worry about us because we will rarely be alone as we are meeting friends in each place we go. :-)
The last week starting with Palm Sunday we had lovely services on the ship all week. Song services at night, special programs including a Seder Supper in the dining room. We learned about all the Jewish Traditions with Passover. It was very interesting and special to be a part of. The dining room was set up beautifully and each table had the special foods like Matza set on it. We sang a little bit of the Jewish songs that are sung at the Jewish Seder supper. :)
They also had a night with special things in different rooms. On deck 7 they had a foot washing station set up for anyone to come and have their feet washed or to come with friends and wash each others feet. The international lounge was set up as the Garden of Gethsemane where you could go and have some quiet time in prayer. Then there was a room set up as the upper room where you could go read the sequence of events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ.
A very special week to be here!
The Good Friday service was Friday morning and Sunday morning there was a sunrise service on deck 8 followed by another service later in the morning and a beautiful brunch was served in the dining room! So enjoyable to be here with friends and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!
He is Risen indeed!
This afternoon we were able to visit the deaf school where our patients were from. One of the teachers invited us to come by and see the school.
It was in a nice quiet location in the city and was very nicely set up!
We found out the school has about 30 students that live there and during the day about 30 more students come from the surrounding area. It is one of the only deaf schools in Madagascar so children come from far away sometimes. The school is sponsored by a Christian Bible group? I'll have to get more details. They have a lovely chapel on the grounds. And the Mercy Ministries group goes to the school once a week and they tell Bible stories to the children. I would have loved to join the group while I was here but they only go Wednesday mornings and... I am working the hours they go.
So it was very nice to see the school today and see the children when we were not pulling their teeth out. :-)
Our friend from the dental clinic was able to take me and a friend out to the Lemur park for some hiking yesterday and to see the lemurs for the last time. The hike was up a short mountain with a nice view and then waterfall along the trail! We had a picnic by the waterfall and then enjoyed a nice ride on a bamboo raft down a river back to town. Most enjoyable day!
Now it's time to start saying goodbye to all my friends and it's been sad.
One of the hardest things about Mercy ships is all the goodbyes.
The ship has so many amazing interesting people on it and friendships form so quickly.
I have started to pray about coming back for one more outreach with the ship..Mada 2. I hope I will be able to see my friends again. :-)
My friends Julie and I are now preparing all things to arrive in Bangkok and head up to Chiang Mai within the first week. Our plans are coming together!
Don't worry about us because we will rarely be alone as we are meeting friends in each place we go. :-)
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