Ann's-Mercy-Africa-Service-Trip

You walk up the gangway, a metal swaying stair way of about 30 steps. At the top you check in with security every time you go in or out scanning your badge. Once in you are met by a professional looking front desk with women in uniforms manning it. To the right or left of the desk are doors into a full cafeteria which feeds the 300+ volunteers and crew 3 meals/day every day. Rice is a staple here. There are always 2 entrees, a basic salad bar, several vegetable choices and some form of fruit- oranges, pineapple, mango, papaya, Lychee, or passion fruit. I have been able to find something to eat every meal. It is basic but good food and plenty of it. There is tea, coffee, water, Ice tea and what tastes like Koolaid from my childhood. All day long one can make toast. Lunch is often left over dinner from the day before along with salad and lunch meat and cheese.

The ship has 8 levels. The first level is engine room and heating/ventilating and plumbing. The second level has bunk rooms for 4-10 people. The “10 berths” as they are called have lots of people in them as well as a large sitting area and 2 bathrooms. Most people live in 3, 4 , or 6 berth cabins. Somehow I lucked out and got to be in a family cabin with only one other person! I have a double bed, couch, dining room table with lots of cabinets! I feel a little guilty as this is NOT the first time Mercy Ships experience. I tried to take a video of my room to post, but I can’t get it to upload so check out below for some pics of my place!

The Ship also has a Community room for meetings training and worship services coffee shop, a small store, a work out room, and a pool up on the 8th deck. People live on levels 3-7. It is all in all a very clean, very well run place. They make sure that we are safe at all times. There is a curfew from 10 pm until 6 am. When you leave the ship you can borrow a phone or you can take a card with the phone numbers on it. If you get in any trouble anywhere, you can call & the people from the ship will come and get you. You pay for things on the ship like coffee or things from the ship shop (cookies, chocolate, soap and shampoo by swiping your badge after you set up a crew bank account. Everything is VERY reasonably priced.

So Far the only things that I do not love about the ship are the ongoing air conditioning, which can be quite chilly and is a big contrast to the outside air, and the fact that one cannot take money out of the bank on the same day.