Update from the Caribbean Mercy


Spring is arriving slowly in Mobile, Alabama. We have enjoyed the cool weather but are looking forward to the warmth of the season. The Crew has been taking on all the tasks required to get the ship ready for the next outreach. Repairs have been made to the engine, steering gear box and hydraulic systems. The Surveyor from Panama has been aboard ship checking the depth of the steel in various places aboard. Bill had to rip out part of the carpeting than runs the length of B deck then drill holes in the deck to check the measurement, then fill the holes back up in preparation for laying down the carpet again. A new bathroom and shower were installed on B deck and Bill has been working on the completion of it. It seems, though, that every time he went to work on them, he was called away to tear out parts of a cabin so he could “fire watch” it as welding was being done in the vicinity. The work will wait, though – it’s not going anywhere. He has been blessed with helpers for several weeks at a time.

The ship is at a small shipyard but we have no dock. The Surveyor is not happy with some of the welds that were done on the “tween” decks in the hold. Here at this dock we are unable to unload cargo, so leadership has been looking for another dock to move to which would allow us to unload cargo so welding work can be done in the hold. We are also still without a Captain so the search continues in that area. Also being tested are the ballast tanks. I think there are nine of them, so a couple are pumped out at a time, measurements are taken, the tanks filled back up and the process begins over again. All the tanks cannot be pumped out at once because the ship is in the water and our stability would be compromised. We are hoping these tanks are in good shape. If not, the ship will be required to go in to a dry dock for repairs.

It seems that we have had one thing after another that affects our ability to leave for outreach. We do believe that the delays are in the hands of the Lord and we are trusting Him as we walk daily with Him. We love the Mobile area. The magnolia trees are beginning to bloom. I love driving down Government Street and look at the old homes and the beautiful Live Oak trees that line the street. We attend the “Downtown Fellowship” that is close by.

We are hoping to leave for Barahona, Dominican Republic in the not too distant future. We do not have a definite date yet, but the plan is to do the entire 4 month outreach once we sail and arrive in that area. The scheduling of some of the volunteers needed to be changed, but everyone has been very gracious and accommodating to the changes.

Thank you for checking out our blog site. Please continue to remember us in your prayers. We are enjoying our time here aboard the ship, especially the fellowship of believers united together in the cause of spreading the Gospel of Jesus to a hurting world. Bless you!