We are preparing to rejoin the Africa Mercy in August.
It's quite a different deal to be going back as a couple and leaving our offspring behind. We met on board the Anastasis when we were serving as singles; we have served on 4 ships as a family, and now it is a very different kind of phase we are heading in to. As Jason and Chelsea are working, and Daniel is a university this year, they will be remaining in Auckland while we ’leave home’. (The younger two will be 'flatting' in our house with others to share the expenses.) This puts a very different emotional cost on leaving, but we are so sure this is a season that God is leading us in to for a year.
It's quite a different deal to be going back as a couple and leaving our offspring behind. We met on board the Anastasis when we were serving as singles; we have served on 4 ships as a family, and now it is a very different kind of phase we are heading in to. As Jason and Chelsea are working, and Daniel is a university this year, they will be remaining in Auckland while we ’leave home’. (The younger two will be 'flatting' in our house with others to share the expenses.) This puts a very different emotional cost on leaving, but we are so sure this is a season that God is leading us in to for a year.
The Africa Mercy will be returning to Madagascar for a second consecutive field service. While it sounds like a most amazing place, the health care needs of the 23 million Malagasy are huge, and Mercy Ships is dedicated to not only relieving immediate surgical and dental needs, but mentoring local healthcare processionals to enable them to more adequately meet the overwhelming and relentless demands they face.
Meanwhile with Mercy Ships in New Zealand ... the most exciting we have been involved with in a long time is the recent release of a music video, Hope On My Horizon. It is absolutely awesome and well worth a quick look!
We have been working on this music video project with Kiwi musician Peter Woolston (husband of Miriam Artinian who was on the Anastasis with Graeme in 1983) for a few years, and we are so stoked about the result. Peter and Miriam have such a heart for Africa's most vulnerable people and Mercy Ships' work to bring God's love to them. 50% of all the iTines, EP and CD sales will be sponsoring Mercy Ships - that's pretty cool!
Remember, if you want to come along on this remarkable journey to Madagascar with us, you'll need to sign up to our new blog, as we can't just transfer you onto another list. We'd love to stay in touch.
Your prayers mean a huge amount as we have so very many things to get organised before we leave. The Lord provided our airfares in the most amazing way, but we are still trusting Him for many other details including the house (and people to rent rooms), the well being of our kids while we are gone(18, 21, 22), and of course that the Lord would be preparing our hearts for the roles He has for us over the next year serving Africa's poor.
We will start sending notifications in a new formats from the new blog before we leave. Mandra-taty aoriana! 'Until later!' (Malagasy sure is a mouthful!)
Andriamanitra anie hitahy; God bless,
Graeme and Sharon
Andriamanitra anie hitahy; God bless,
Graeme and Sharon
No comments:
Post a Comment
Great to hear from you, thanks a million for your note!