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 :) )