Last week we wrapped up our first year with the Africa Mercy Academy and on June 14th we celebrated our first year serving with Mercy Ships! This past year we have all been on a steep learning curve! Chris learned a lot about being a principal and gained many valuable skills. Araina and Amayah had wonderful teachers, and classmates, and both learned a lot this year! I had a variety of roles this year: PCG (stands for Primary Caregiver), librarian, the Academy administrative assistant, substitute teacher, and Starbucks barista! I loved each role and grew in so many areas. At the end of each school year at the Academy, the teachers present each student with a Certificate of Character. Here are the girls with their certificates:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13
In May we also had the privilege of being a part of an exciting historic moment for Mercy Ships. After many hands and years of hard work to get to this moment: both ships are side by side in Africa for the first time. Thank you to the nation of Senegal for welcoming the #GlobalMercy to join the #AfricaMercy in the port of Dakar, doubling our capacity to bring life-changing hope and healing! We were grateful to be a part of the dockside Inauguration Ceremony for the Global Mercy was hosted by H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Government of Senegal. There were Heads of State and Ministers of Health representing many of the African nations visited by Mercy Ships in the last 30 years joined in celebrations around the ship's arrival and the Dakar Declaration, a roadmap to accelerate access to surgical, obstetric, and anesthetic care by 2030. We also got to attend the African Celebration to celebrate Mercy Ships' 30 years of service and partnership with Africa. The girls sang "This Little Light of Mine" with their school choir at the event. It was truly a beautiful moment!
Although we miss our family and friends back in Canada, we have decided to stay on this side of the globe and travel. Ethan is joining us tomorrow! It's been a year since we have seen him and we are so excited to give him a big hug!
Praise & Thankfulness:
an amazing, life-changing first year volunteering with Mercy Ships
the Global Mercy Ship arriving safely in Senegal and the opportunity to see good friends who are serving on the GLM
Ethan coming to visit us this summer
amazing friends for making it possible for us to travel this summer
clarification about our future with Mercy Ships after the AFM goes into dry dock in December 2022 (more information to come soon)
surgeries and life-changing MCB projects happening on the AFM and GLM
Prayer Requests:
safe travels during our summer adventures
rest and rejuvenation this summer
surgeries continue to transform lives on the Africa Mercy
the GLM to sail safely back to Tenerife in July
a dear friend's mom who is battling cancer
As always, we love to get snail mail! If you feel like reaching out, please send mail to the Mercy Ships head office at this address:
Mercy Ships - AFM- Crew Mail
Chris (or Shae, Araina, or Amayah) Attwater
15862 State Highway 110 N.
Lindale, Texas
USA
75771-202
If you would like to support us financially, please click on the DONATE button at the top of our website. We are so grateful for all of your support and prayers throughout this journey. We wouldn't be here without YOU!
With lots of love and gratitude,
Chris, Shae, Araina, & Amayah
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