How has it already been a month? It has flown by.
First, let me start with saying I’m praying you. For all of my friends and family. I know I’m not in the middle of what is going on at home but please know, just because I’m am across the world doesn’t mean I am oblivious to all that is happening. I’m not going to pretend to understand the level of fear and intensity this all has caused in my home nation but I will say I’ve noticed so many rely on The Lord like never before. Even though many feel like you can’t do all the ‘important things’ you’re used to doing- you are still alive. God is STILL with us all. We have all lost control of our plans for our lives and are having to rely on living more day to day. I know loosing control in my life was by far, uncomfortable BUT the best thing ever to happen to me. If it wasn’t for that season of life, I might never have learned to fully surrender to The Lord. I know some do not have food options like normal, people are losing their jobs…all the unknown and uncomfortable is hard- but I know the Lord will provide! I pray people at home seek God for their security and strength. We will all get this through this. Though we (even we, as mercy shippers) are being asked to socially isolate, it’s important to not to isolate completely. Find that someone that you can open up to, someone you can pray with and that can pray for you, and find at least one thing to be thankful for everyday.
He has not given us a spirit of fear.
As for news aboard the African Mercy..
We have left Senegal and are currently at sea. I’m not allowed to say where we are going yet but we are all safe! It was a very emotional departure from Senegal but before we left we had a meeting on board. The meeting mentioned returning to Senegal at some point in the future which seemed to ease our hearts and minds.
How is ship life? Well its been good. We have all joined together and have been willing to help with whatever needs to be done on board. Really not much has changed since my last post other than we are now at sea. Last Monday our last patients left. If they needed continued care, we partnered with medical ministries in the area to make sure their needs were taken care of. As many of us aboard the ship transition into different jobs, I’ve been so shocked with everyone’s attitude. We have all been open and willing to serve. Sometimes I feel like many people’s usual response to some of these tasks would be such as, “I’m too good to clean a community toilet or wash a cafeteria’s worth of dishes”… but literally everyone’s response has been just the opposite. Today (3/29/20) we were able to have worship on the bow. It was the most peaceful thing to be apart of. The waves were crashing and the voices sounded like a peaceful harmony. In that moment I just had Holy Spirit chills and felt the immense peace of The Lord. Isn’t it so amazing that when we redirect our focus on how great God is, our fears become less? Then we can just see fully, God for who He is: holy, pure love, peace, father, comforter, and grace. Thank you Lord for giving me another day! Thank you Global Health Collaboration and those who have poured into me, to help make this trip possible. Even though it has gone differently than expected, I’m so grateful for this experience and this community.
Also I have had some people thinking we are going to New York to help. We are not. I can see how this could be confusing. However, the ship going to New York is a US Navy ship named Mercy. That ship is a governmental ship that normally does similar things to the Africa Mercy however without the faith based focus and with the help of governmental funding where as we are the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship- run purely on volunteers willing to serve.
Until next post-with much love to all - Lauren
Written by Lauren Craig
2020 Global Health Collaboration Missions Scholarship Recipient
Working with Mercy Ships
Dakar, Senegal- Africa