Hello From East Texas

June – July Training at Mercy Ships’ Headquarters with the other Long termers. 

I am wrapping up a period of training (onboading) here at the Mercy Ships’ headquarters just outside Tyler Texas. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Mercy Ships is serious about sending long term crew who have the proper foundation and the tools to do their jobs with excellence. Week one we focused on Mercy Ships as an organization, their core values and why they do what they do.

Why Surgery?

Of all the things a hospital ship could do why does Mercy Ships focus on surgery? Answer: The inaccessibility of surgical intervention is the number one killer in the non-developed world. More people die due to the inaccessibility of surgery than AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria combined. 

Week two we studied Faith Foundations which went into depth about the character of God, our identity as children of God, prayer, and so on. At the end of the week we were dropped off at a State Park close by for a silent retreat. Of all the weeks week two was the most emotionally draining, but also the most empowering of our training. As I closed this week out with focused prayer I truly felt the Holy Spirit in ways I never had. Going into the week I was struggling with trusting God completely, but He gave me just what I needed through Mercy Ships, my small group leader, fellow onboarders, and His word for me to be able to give up control and just trust.

Week three we focused on community and ship life. Long term crew (myself included) make up about 150 of the 450ish crew onboard the Africa Mercy. Between 1000 - 1500 volunteers rotate through the Ship each year. The people who serve come from many walks of life (nationalities, denominations, cultures, ages, life experiences, etc.). We spent time learning about our own personality types, how we relate to others and how others relate to us. We also learned about the difference between “hot” and “cold” cultures, where miscommunications can happen and how to understand each other better.

Cultural Diversity

A Swiss, a Dutchie, a Yankee and a Texan went to the Rodeo. No I’m not starting a joke; that’s just what happened. Mercy Ship Volunteers come from all over the world. My onboarding group alone consist of 10 different nations. With time off over the weekend some of us were able to go into Fort Worth and experience Texan culture. We had a blast!

During week four we dug deep into the 3 major worldviews (animism, naturalism, and biblical theism). We were asked to look through the “glasses” others use to view the world so that we understand the core of their belief system. West African culture has a strong animism influence stemming from voodoo, meaning everything is spiritual. Looking at the world through animistic glasses is looking at the world through a fog of fear. In West Africa it is not uncommon for villages, families, even parents to push out individuals with deformities such as tumors, clubbed legs, clef lip/pallet, etc. because they view physical problems as a spiritual one. They fear that the individual is cursed or has angered a spirit. Imagine the isolation and shame the physically deformed in West Africa go through. This is one of the many reasons I am so excited to be serving with Mercy Ships, an organization dedicated to demonstrating the unconditional love of Christ, even to the most unlovable, those who are forgotten.

Week five we are focusing on safety. The non-hospital crew are taking a basic safety course complete with firefighting and lifeboat training. Hospital staff will receive evacuation training on board so I have most of the week off. 

What’s next?

We will be leaving Texas on July 13^th for South Africa to complete the last two weeks of our training. Mercy Ships understands that living and working within the ship community means that the ship has created its own unique culture, and Mercy Ships desires that its long term staff experience African Culture off ship before we minister to individuals in the context of the ships culture.

Our field practice will be in the town of Winterton South Africa, an area decimated by AIDS. 80% of the town’s inhabitants are HIV positive. We will be assisting in some construction projects as well as visiting houses, many of which are run by children because both parents have died of AIDS. 

We will board the Africa Mercy on July 28^th and set sail for Cotonou, Benin soon after where we will spend the next ten months.

Thank you for partnering with me in this journey. Your support in whatever way you have given it (financial, prayers, encouraging words) makes you as much a part of this mission as I am. I couldn’t be doing this without support. I am truly bless by you.

                   

Nicole Lukens

Prayer Points:

1.          Travel safety / jetlag / no delays

2.         Safety in Winterton (physical, spiritual and emotional)

3.          That we would trust God to work through us and know how to minister to others cross culturally

4.         No delays in setting sail for Benin

5.          Calm waters for the sail

6.         That we will arrive in Benin on time and ready for the service God has for us there

	Like all who work on Mercy Ships I am not paid for my service. I raise all my own support. If you would consider supporting me financially click here to go to my donor page. Thanks!