Dear All,
Well, the big day (Saturday) looms and I'm beginning to feel like I might one day be organised enough to set off into the wide blue yonder. For those of you who don't know, I'm at the beginning of my Gap Year with the Christian charity Mercy Ships. On Saturday I'm flying to Bremen in Germany, and then catching a train to Bremerhaven, where I'm meeting the Mercy Ship Anastasis. Then on Monday we set sail, first for Tenerife for a bit of rest and relaxation (I hope!) and then on to Cotonou, Benin, in West Africa. We arrive in Benin on the 1st November and when we get there I'll be working as a steriliser in the operating theatre. This seems to be code for dogsbody, but I'm really looking forward to being able to observe some operations and generally see what's going on! The screenings to schedule for surgeries are on the 8th and 9th November and the first surgeries are on the 11th. We're staying in Benin until the end of February, and then sailing on to Liberia, where we will stay until mid-June.
Finally, I would really value your prayers over the next few months: I am feeling very excited but also apprehensive. Please pray that I would quickly settle in and make friends, that I would be able to work hard in God's service, and that the outreach will go really well - that many people would learn of God's love for them as we try to demonstrate it practically. I know that I cannot possibly manage this year in my own strength, so please pray that I continually look to God for his provision and that the whole experience would be one that enables me to know him better.
With love and all best wishes,
Rosie
xxx
The beautiful big white ship. She used to be a cruise liner, sailing from Trieste to Hong Kong. Now she carries very different passengers!
