The Event

Mercy Ships Founder/President Don Stephens addressed the guests and dignitaries in attendance at the Commissioning Service on April 6th. Our role in the event was to greet the guests as they arrived on board the ship. We had a quick lesson on who to address as Lord, Dame, and her Excellancy. Afterwards Jean Campbell, the Medical Services Manager, gave a tour of the Recovery Ward and one of the Operating Theatres discribing their features. Over all the Commissioning Service was a success including the raising of $2,000,000 for the Africa Mercy.

British House of Lords member and Mercy
Ships UK Board Chairman, Lord Ian McColl,
served as host for the event. Dame Norma
Major, wife of former British Prime Minister
John Major, presided over the ceremony.
JC Penney Company CEO and Mercy Ships International Board Chairman Mike Ullman
gave the opening prayer. Special guest Mrs. Joseph Boakai, wife of the newly elected
Vice President of Liberia, brought greetings
and best wishes from Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

Communication Antenna

Today, March 17, our Satelite has been installed on deck 6. this system will provide telephone and internet access when we are in the middle of the sea and while we are on outreach in Africa.

Read all about it!

In October of last year we mentioned a journalist came to interview Terry and a few others on the Africa Mercy: well here it is! The article is published on the April issue of the Professional Mariner . You can read all about it; however you have to buy the magazine to see Terry's picture.

Pastor Gary in Benin

While in Benin last year, Terry met with Pastor Joseph and heard his desire to partner with our church in El Paso, Restoration Fellowship. Upon hearing of Joseph's desire, Pastor Gary Wilcox contacted him and they agreed to work together. Pastor Gary with Dr. Joe Moreno and his son Tony set out to Benin ministering God's Love that crosses cultural and national boundaries. Returning from their two week trip to Africa, they spent an evening in Northern England to tour the Africa Mercy and tell of us of their experience. This is an email from Pastor Joseph a few days after our visitors left.

Beloved Terry,

I am excited to intimate you with these few lines of missive. The good news is that the proposed visit/ crusades of pastor Gary and his team brought a great impact to both our church and the Nation. I give thanks to the Almighty GOD for using you to organise this programme; May HE richly bless you. I hope that when next they will come both you and your wife will also come with them. How about your services with the mercy ships, hope all is well. Extend my greetings to your family and friends on the board.Our church members are greeting you together with Okay.

THANKS

Pastor Joseph

KLGM BENIN

Holey Ship!

Isaiah cut a very big hole in the side of the funnel for the 11ft tall by 4ft wide air tank to stand inside. The 3000 liter tank to store surgical air for the hospital. On the right the tank can be seen in its final position.

Prayer Ministry

Last Saturday, we had a chance to pass on our passion of the Theophostic Prayer Ministry by facilitating the basic seminar for a few members of the crew, including the chaplain and the executive director's wife. With enough fruit platters, snacks and coffee, we settled down around the comfey living room of Ann Berry to watch three sessions of lectures on dvd. In between we had a break and discussed the ideas; they took to those well and either were excited by what they learned or tried to grasp the concept outloud. The day was so enjoyable that it sneaked right past us, so we waited to watch the rest of the video on the following Tuesday.

Counting Down the Days

March 31, 2006 is the historic day when A & P Shipyard has scheduled the completion of the M/V Africa Mercy. Where there were empty hall ways there is now the bustle of activity. As you can read on the sign 5 spaces or cabins are completed. Excitement is in the air as the crew and subcontractors prepare the ship for service in Africa.

BEYOND TOMORROW

Just wanted to give you a heads up that the Beyond Tomorrow program on the Africa Mercy which aired in Australia in October has been sold to Discovery Science Channel in the US and Canada...
Here are some tentative air dates (subject to change) so you may want to keep an eye out for these on your local listings in the USA and Canada so you can alert folks to watch with a web alert, let alumni know etc. etc...
Their website hasn't rolled over to the exact dates yet but should soon.

BEYOND TOMORROW program airs in the USA:
Feb 1, 2 & 5 - The Africa Mercy will be featured in Episode 17 on the Beyond Tomorrow Series, Discovery Science Channel US

Shortcut to:
http://science.discovery.com/schedule/series.jsp?series=115556&gid=0&channel
=SCI

BEYOND TOMORROW airs in CANADA:
At this point, Episode 17 looks to be aired April 27 on Discovery Science Canada 8pm and 11pm ET

http://discoverychannel.ca/on_tv/releases/beyond/

Changes in Mercy Ships

The Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy are both to be retired after serving as effective tools.
Both the Caribbean Mercy and Anastasis are over 50 years old. International maritime regulations indicate significant additional expense should the two ships remain in service. Many of the crew from the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy are considering service on the Africa Mercy.

On April 6, 2006 Mercy Ships will commission the flagship of our future, the Africa Mercy. Due to a significant increase in the hospital and community development capacity, the Africa Mercy will double the amount of people served by the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy combined.