There's a hole in the boat!

Hi all!

Been a little while since my last blog and it’s been nonstop since.
Last week was a tough week when the baby passed away in ICU. It’s one of those things that hits the whole community here on the ship and especially the nurses must have been hurting. Sadly it is an inevitable part of our work here and we can only trust it features in His plan.

The school year is in full flow now and when I’m not spending my time teaching I’m busy doing ‘Reflective Unit Plans’ or ‘Subject Philosophies’.. There is a reason I wasn’t made for a desk job..

I’ve got everything sorted for the up and coming basketball court but still need the netting to be hung. The joys of working in an industrial area means that I need an ‘Elevated work permit’ and someone who is ‘safety harness trained’ to complete the work (ie read: stand on a chair and zip tie the net to the frame..) but I understand that safety is important.

Some of us managed to get away to a local hotel last weekend to enjoy their pool. And for the first time since the shoulder problems I nailed couple back flips! Water seems safe enough a landing.. Peer pressure got the better of me ;)

Sadly there were problems with the donation cards so everybody donating should have received an email, if you haven’t, let me know. The first newsletter will be out in the run of the week.

I ALMOST FORGOT THE BIG NEWS! We officially heard yesterday that next year after Togo we will be in South Africa for 6-7 months while there is major upkeep work (something about generators being replaced after a big hole is cut in the ship, never seems a good idea to cut holes in floating things really but I’m not an engineer so what do I know..) done on the ship. This will most likely mean the academy will have to relocate for a time and in accreditation year that will be interesting.

Keep the news coming on how all y’all are doin’!
God bless!

Ben

Just as a little extra; here's a photo of my 'gymhall'.. Also known as the starboard (look at me being al maritime) side of deck 7.