"Kehr"fully Docked in Dakar

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for man, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. ~ Colossians 3:23-24 Ward in cleaning process     This scripture has been echoing through my mind over the last several days. The work aboard this ship has not been glamorous. Many days have been spent scrubbing and disinfecting ceilings, walls, floors, toys, mattresses, and everything else that can be cleaned. There is a coating of dust on everything in the hospital from two years of dormancy.  Ward ready for patients One could easily slip into an attitude of grumbling. However, we are called to do everything heartily as unto Him. That means cleaning the floor with intention, choosing joy amidst the dust,  and celebrating the opportunity to serve out patients even before their arrival. Ultimately, cleaning and disinfecting means better outcomes for our patients as we prevent potential infections...

Hey all! I've been hesitating with writing a new post because so much has happened that I am not even sure where to start. I made it safely to Dakar last Friday! The Lord blessed me with a new Mercy Ship friend in the Chicago airport. We were able to travel the remainder of the journey together and share in the joy of arriving to the ship. All of you who were praying for a safe journey, know that your prayers were answered in ways far greater that I could have imagined.  My quarantine days at the hotel passed quickly. The room had a view of the Atlantic so I spent my daylight hours watching the local fishermen. The boats were traditional pirogue boats utilizing nets. It was incredible to see them cast the nets into the ocean, have a swimmer jump in to connect the nets, and then pull in a catch. The hotel stay helped to minimize the impacts of jetlag. After testing COVID negative at the hotel, I finally got to make my way to the ship! I embarked Sunday morning with nine other c...

🗹 Negative COVID test 🗹 Packing complete 🗹 All, and I do mean all, the immunizations 🗹 Airline tickets in hand It's departure day! This day has been much anticipated for the last year. I was initially accepted to the Mercy Ships team last February, however my skill set was not yet needed onboard. The ship was in Spain getting updated and weathering the COVID storm. Needless to say, when the official date for joining the ship arrived, I was ecstatic. I spent December and January gathering the physical items I will need (like a Senegal appropriate wardrobe) and investing time in studying the Bible so I can be spiritually prepared for the experiences to come. Today, I boarded a flight in Portland, OR. I have a 27-hour travel "day" ahead of me with stops in Chicago and Brussels, Belgium. Maybe I'll hunt down some chocolate during my second layover! Yum! Upon arrival in Dakar, I'll head through customs. Be praying for me; I hear there is very little English spoken ...