Tours and Bloggers
I'm still in Cape Town where we have just finished our Public Relations phase with tours and receptions and our now moving into loading all the cargo necessary for our time in Liberia.
This past weekend has been the busiest time for tours in the 25+ years of the Anastasis. On Saturday there were approximately 3,500 people coming to see our home and hear what God has been doing. The numbers aren't in for Sunday yet but in all estimations in beat Saturday's. It is humbling to see people wait for over 2 hours in line to tour our ship.
On another note, I'm relatively new to the blogsphere, beginning in January, but have come to appreciate many of you. Some of the blogs I read, I know the people. While others I don't know personally but feel like I do. I am drawn to the blogs about Africa and the issues pertaining to the poor and the needy.
This past Thursday Steve and Amy from the blog two and two makes five came to the ship to tour and say hello. It was fun meeting them and chatting about our ministries and Africa. They have recently moved to Cape Town to work with ServLife. Steve and Amy, thanks for stopping by and may God bless you as you move into this next phase of your lives.
Justice?
As I continue to enjoy the "divine"city of Cape Town I am keeping my eye on what is going on in W. Africa.
From 2001-2004 the Anastasis worked in Sierra Leone. Like Liberia, this was a nation that endured a brutal civil war at the hands of rebels who chopped people's hands and legs off just for fun. Now that the war is over much of the focus has been on integrating the soldiers back into society through vocational training and cash for disarming.
I do see the need for re-integrating the soldiers but, as I saw in Liberia, sometimes the victims are ignored or don't seem to be getting anywhere near the same benefits as the ones that mutilated them. The BBC addresses this issue in this article.
"Since the war's end in 2002, the amputees said ex-fighters have received training and cash for disarming.
But the many people mutilated by both sides in 10-year war have to make their living by begging, they said. "
"Sahr Momodu, whose left leg was chopped by rebel forces in 1994, said he felt cheated as those who mutilated him have been compensated for disarming."
I'm not sure what the answer is but I do know it was difficult to talk with people in Liberia who were victims of the war and are barley getting by day to day. And those that victimized them were being paid to get training.
Cape Town
We arrived safely in Cape Town on Friday afternoon. It has already been a blessing to be here and I haven't even left the port.
We've begun our Public Relations phase with a good weekend of tours of the ship open to the public and receptions. We will be in this phase for 3 weeks and then begin to load supplies during our remaining time here before heading to Liberia in mid-October.
Sailing
After a couple days delay, the Anastasis has set sail from East London, South Africa to Cape Town. We should arrive in Cape Town sometime on Friday.
mercy.
The mercy. exhibit began this week in New York and I know Scott and the rest of his team would appreciate your prayers. The exhibit has gotten some good press like this interview and this story.
May people that come to this exhibit and gala see Jesus Christ and God receive all the glory!
