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.
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.
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 13th
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.
We will board the Africa Mercy on July 28th
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! |
No comments:
Post a Comment