God bless..

The best thing about living on the Africa Mercy is the opportunity to meet omse of the most inspiring, humbling and generally awesome peopleI have ever had the chance to meet!

The downside that come with that is while people arrive, others have to leave.
This last week some of my closest friends have left the ship. People that I look up to, people that I have shared the most vulnerable of my life with, the high and the lows. People that I respect as professionals followers of Christ and friends.

The other realization that comes with this is that as they leave.. it means soon I am leaving and I don't quite know how to deal with that.

I don not do these things well, but thanks you for being you, and for letting me be a small part of that, you know who you are. God bless.

Ben

For God so loved the world..

I often ponder how much of my true feelings I share on this blog, how much I want to be putting out for all to read. Tonight I am taking a risk, I hope you understand my thought and my heart.


This week I received an email from my Dad that a close family friend and sister in Christ, Ineke, had passed away. I was shell shocked, Ineke had been battling cancer for many years, but her death hurt. It drove home the feeling of separation from those I love. Ineke was an amazing person.
Later that evening while I was sitting with friends someone asked me what was wrong, I with shared them that Ineke had lost her battle with cancer.

But that.. that is a lie.


Ineke did not lose any battle and cancer did beat her.

Christ won. 

Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour won.

As much as we hurt I know without  a doubt in my mind that there is rejoicing, celebrating in the heavenly realms as God gathers one of his daughters to spend eternity with Him.
Ineke, I miss you. You truly are an inspiration and example to me.


John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God bless,
Ben

I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

I need Africa more than Africa needs me.. A sentence that has come back to haunt me recently.

The slogan comes form a group called the MochaClub, they are making the statement that although circumstance are dire in a lot of nations on this continent, their seem to be an ingrained happiness in the people (I blogged on this a long time ago) and I was introduced to the slogan when I read it on a T-shirt of a friend who returned to the ship this year (good old repeat offenders).

Ever since reading it it has stayed stuck in the back on my mind. Standing on the aft (back) of deck 8 (our top and outside deck) it struck me the other day how true a statement it was.
As I watched the sun set into the ocean, watched the smoke hang over the fishermans village, watch the busyness of Freetown carry on into the night; those words rang true.
I love this place, I love west-Africa. Yes it frustrates me to see some of the organizational lackings and it will literally bring me to tears to see the pain and poverty in this country. As I have lived in west Africa for the last 2 years it has become part of my existence, my life, my faith, it has snuck its way into me. It has slowly become home, it feels safe, it feels familiar; lets be honest it is almost an addiction..

My time with Mercy Ships is slowly drawing to an end, in less than 2 months I will board a plane to Europe with no immediate plans to return. As excited I am about the future, as excited I am to marry Hannah and start our life together, it will hurt to leave. It will hurt more than I care to admit to myself.

It is true that their is still help needed here, I am unimaginably thankful to God that the work continues and others step in as some step out.
But in my heart of heart, that little voice keeps telling me what I know to be true.

I need Africa, more than Africa needs me.

God bless,
Ben

To find out more about the MochaClub see: https://www.themochaclub.org/i-need-africa

50 Years Forward

Celebration!

Today is Sierra Leone's 50th anniversary of Independence, this since it had been a British colony from 1808 until 1961. 

Celebrations in town are said to have gone on all day. Around the national stadium here in Freetown is where the celebrations centered. A good friend (an English photographer that has just moved off ship to work with another NGO) is living in that area for a while just now and spent the day photographing the non stop party :) including the President meeting and greeting, who of course came out for the celebrations.

This is a nation that came through the pain of emperial rule and following independence was plunged into the horrors of a 10 year civil war.

Happy Birthday Sierra Leone, may the next 50 years bring peace and prosperity; God bless

Ben

Waddle away.

Short blogpost (seems to be the trend these days)

I just want to mention to the world that my nephew is awesome! Simeon (my older, wiser yet less handsome brother) sent me some video last week after Ians 1st birthday.

One of my favourite ones is him absolutely wiping out when catching the leg of the high chair, and I mean absolutely WIPING OUT! He has learned to waddle recently, I call it a waddle cause I am not sure (as a physical education professional) that it is actually walking :p Yes, he moves by stepping one foot after another, but it looks so funny that it is definently a waddle!

It is when I see little videos like that that I really miss home, miss my siblings, nephew, parents, fiancee. Makes me not wonder why I am here, I know why I am here and I know why thats important, but it just makes me long to have everybody around me. Someday that will happen. Until then..

God bless,

Ben

A year ago today..

 So one year ago I was packing up to go to Kenya, for the ICEC teaching conference..
If you're struggling to remember when that was: Remember when I shaved my head... yeah that was to raise money so the Academy staff could go.
It was an amazing trip for enjoyment reasons as much as professional.

It is amazing to think how much happens in a year.
Togo-Kenya-Togo-USA-Togo-South Africa-Netherlands-South Africa-Sierra Leone.. unbelievable.

I have been blessed to see some amazing places in the last year, interact with some amazing people, experience incredible highs and be carried through some lows.


one year from now.. God knows.. really, only God knows..


God bless,
Ben

Screening through it all.

This is the blog post that has taken me a month to summon up the courage to write..

At the start of each outreach we use what we do a mass screening to locate as many patients as possible that we can help. The people are then given appointments for surgeries or for a followup appointment to have another assessment of their condition. There are a lot of people that we sadly cannot help, due to our limited possibilities on board and how advanced their condition.

Before we arrive the wheels are already put in motion; radio commercials go out and posters are spread to tell people over all the country where and when we will be screening.

At the beginning of May we did our screening at the national stadium. Through a series of events this day turned from what should have been a day of celebration to nothing more than a disaster.
I myself was first involved in an outreach with the kids then transferred to security outside the main gate. There were too many people and not enough organisation.. there was chaos and it ended in the tragedy of 1 man losing his life and more being injured. I do not car or wish to revisit the details of the day.

It shook me, more than I even thought it had. It hurt me, it knocked my beliefs about people and about God. I left wondering why I was here, why we were here and in all this where God was.

I still don't have all the answers, but God and me are working through our part of this.

There is a happier story to tell.

About 2 weeks ago now we tried again, at a new location, to do a mass screening.

I was part of a 9 man team that went out the day before to run security through the night and ensure that the organisation that was missing at the previous screening was thoroughly set up before the crowds arrived.

When we arrived at 15.00 the day before the screening there were already people waiting around the government compound that we were going to use. This is more than 17 hours before we were going to start the screening. 

As the night progressed the line grew longer and longer. Our team made sure to speak to every person who joined the back of the line. Firstly to check that they have a problem we could possibly help, secondly to assure them that all would be fine in the morning, to ensure people that we cared.

The day itself ran better than I could have expected. Sam and myself ran the main gate, letting people through that had come through the pre-screening (an initial medical examination to see if we can actually help them) and were actually going to be assessed for surgery.

A lot of people were turned away, but a lot of people came through the gate, and a lot of them will end up having surgery on board.

I don't know how to describe how 'real' life suddenly felt when you were surrounded by people that were either having there life changed or were moving on and back to every day life.

But I know that every person who was even considering coming that day left with our prayers. And sometimes that is all I have to offer..

As I read this blog post through after writing all I can think is how insufficient it is to describe the intense feelings and thoughts that this took and takes me through, but I had to try.

God bless,

Ben

Photos taken from the second screening (thanks to Tom Bradley)

 

Prayer request

I have no way to describe my feelings at this time; I have no words to describe what happened on Monday and I have no will to describe where I was in the whole thing.

All I can ask for at this time is your prayers. I dont even know specifically what I would like you to pray for, but pray..

Ben

News

I am sorry that this is the only way I have to communicate this news but at the moment I have no other words.

Ben


Mercy Ships press release, 7th March:

Mercy Ships is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred today during medical screening at the Freetown National Stadium when a crowd stormed the gate resulting in several injuries and one life lost.

Mercy Ships personnel working at the site attended the injured and accompanied them to local hospitals.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the individuals and families of those affected by today's events. The occurrence of this incident in the course of activities intended to restore lives is tragic. We move forward with tremendous sadness, but great determination, to assist as many people as possible in the next ten months," stated Mercy Ships Founder, Don Stephens.

Mercy Ships exists to serve the forgotten poor and has served Sierra Leone five times over the past two decades, also helping establish two land-based health care facilities. For the next ten months, Mercy Ships will be providing surgeries for qualified patients while working alongside the Sierra Leonean Government to support its five-year healthcare plan and strengthen the functions of the national health system.


http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/screening-day-update

Now tell me there's not a God..

Sailing has the general disadvantage of not being able to leave the ship (technically you could but.. yeah you get the point) but at the same time has some moments that you almost never get a chance to experience while on the solid stuff.

My favourite evening activity during a sail is endlessly and without purpose wandering the outer decks at night.
I love the sight of the ocean in all directions. I love the absolute lack of normal day to day noise. I love that nobody else is around. But most of all... I love the sky!

Im not sure this needs much explaining but at sea there are not a lot of streetlight, not very many office blocks and no cars.. all this makes for complete darkness, well complete darkness aside form the amazing view of a million stars in the sky and the Milky Way spread across the heavens.

The other day I was lucky enough to be out on a clear night without a moon.
Absolutely beautiful!
After your eyes get used to the darkness there are stars literally everywhere.
Now I dont just mean the stars that you see on a 'normal evening', but literally everywhere, every single inch of the night sky is in someway covered by a dot, a speck of light that represents another solar system.
All of these specks are others suns, each sun with the possibility of endless planets.

Well the other night I was taken by the question: How... how can this be chance?
Who can look at that and not acknowledge God.
How can something this big be the pure work of randomness, no design, no planning, no beauty.

Dont get me wrong, I love science, I believe there are many answers to be found in science (yes even in our Christian existence), but lets not forget: it is His science.

Next clear night stop and look up, take it all in for a few minutes... now tell me there's not a God.

Have to admit.. not my picture.. I dont have good enough camera of photography skills for this :)

What to do when sailing #1

Sailing, 16 days at sea.. and to be honest not an awful lot to do.. (well thats not actually true, there is a lot of work to do..) (there is always a lot of work to do..) (and I have really been doing a lot of work!)
But besides the above mentioned work (I really do work!) there is not a lot to do after hours (after I have finished doing work) (or in between leaving and going back to work).

But as I was going to say.. you have to be fairly creative to entertain yourself.
A long standing tradition therefore is to hold a poker tournament (dont worry, its not for real money) in honour of the country that we are leaving.
So this sail was the South Africa Tournament.

Now what I so far have failed to mention, even avoided mentioning.. we always add a theme to the tournaments, and everybody dresses up, and everybody takes it very seriously. I feel the pictures will explain this better than I ever could.. the theme was 'Wild West'.

Oh and a small side note: I WON!!!! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE REIGNING AFRICA MERCY POKER CHAMPION (haha I'm still pretty stoked)

So in conclusion:
If you're ever on a long sail; and you're strapped for ideas to entertain yourself (after work)..

#1. Hold a themed poker tournament.

A special thanks to Lorah Ray for the photos, 

the Peets for the hat 

and my face for putting up with the horrible moustache.

You've never heard of me!?

So do you know the joke: "Oh, you've nerver heard of me!? We'll I'm huge in (name obscure place)."

Well... that has actually happened to me! I made it to the Tyler Morning Telegraph. For those you have no idea where Tyler is, Tyler (Google map link) is a small town in east Texas USA, not far from our IOC (International Operations Centre).

Below you'll see the link and the actually cutting as sent to me.
Tyler Morning Telegraph

ps What we think has happened is that the paper reused the picture from a story in October about the teacher on the Africa Mercy, I just happen to be the stock photo. :)

(And yes, the scanned picture is distorted, I havent had a major accident)
(And no, we're not actually in that much danger, these are all procedures, just in case)

Spur of the moment.

So I am sitting in midships (the central public area of the ship, it's like our communal living room) we're on day 6 of the sail now.   I just turned to look outside and the ocean is this magnificent deep blue colour and runs as far as the eye can see.

Makes you feel very small to see nothing but water and sky in every single direction..

(apologies for the quality of the photos, they were snapped with the built in webcam on my macbook)

ps. Just saw my first flying fish of this sail.

Home sweet ship..

We are back onboard! We have traded the wide green expanses of Appelsbosch, KwaZulu Natal for the even wider expanses of the Atlantic ocean (currently just off the coast of Angola).

Walking back up the gangway was like stepping through your front door after a prolonged period on the road. I like my home, my ship, the people I share it with and the madness that runs along with that :)

Home sweet ship..

Find your blessings..

Sometimes Gods blessings come in disguise, other times they are as apparent as the day.
This winter they were more clear to me than ever before.

As the school stopped for the holidays towards the end of December I was lucky enough to be able to fly back to the Netherlands for the holidays. Now although I am originally from Scotland my immediate family are all living in the Netherlands.
The time at home was exactly the pick me up I needed after being away for over a year.


Where to start?!?
   My parents are wonderful. They have supported me in prayer, advice, encouragement and financially from long before I went into the mission field. I have a stable constant in them, a fall back that will always be there.

   My sister, a shining example of how God works in 'real life'. A believer and do'er. A disciple and discipler. I lover her dearly and thank God every day that I am reminded of the gift she is to me.

   My brother (the younger but taller), gone from a boy to a man, loved by so many at work and with friends. A budding start in the making, I pray God leads him to a place he can witness to others. Watch out world!

   My brother & sister-in-law, an example of how to live for God, not just with God. My brother has stuck with me through many times and trials and my sister-in-law could not be a better match for him or the family. Always there, always waiting yet always loving.

   My nephew, the new light  in my life. A new star on he horizon, sun in the sky. I love the little man more than I ever thought I would. Children show me more more of the face of God than anything else. God bless my little man.

   My fiancee, loving, caring, blessing and patient. Someone than understand me and can live with that, oves me and let me love her. And is willing to stand before our God almighty and in His sight be one with me. I got lucky with this one :)

   The Scots International Church Rotterdam, my spiritual home, not because of the building but because of the people. From my friends and peers who are an intergal part of my life, to the mothers who mother us all. Thank you all for the constant report. It is through that prayer and love than I serve God. With you not just because of you.

   My friends, the get-togethers and lunches. The drinks, coffee and late nights. I would not miss a single one. You sustain me through life and live it with me. Thank you for just being you and not changing. I pray you all find the true happiness.


This is far from an exhaustive list, its not all my blessings for they would literally be to many to count.
God is good and will show Himself in the faces of all who are willing to reflect that (and even some that don't realize it yet). Thank you for being faithful.


Find your blessings, they really are all around you...

 

(A little game of guess who.. make sure to claim your own photo with a comment :) )