World Water Day

This Sunday is World Water Day. A contaminated water source will devastate the health of a community. Mercy Ships understands this need and seeks to integrate an appropriate response to this issue with our health care development activities in an effort to holistically develop the communities we interact with. During past field services, we have supervised well digging projects, latrine making projects, and taught workshops on water, sanitation, and hygiene. I look forward to being able to showcase an example of how we've achieved this goal in Benin later in the outreach. Today's post was intended to increase awareness of World Water Day and the fact that Mercy Ships is actively engaged in addressing this issue as well.

-Justin

Where??

Cotonou, Benin!  We live in the little red circle.

 

 

Republic of Benin République du Bénin
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Fraternité, Justice, Travail"  (French) "Fraternity, Justice, Labour"
Anthem: L'Aube Nouvelle  (French) The Dawn of a New Day
Capital		Porto-Novo1 6°28′N 2°36′E
Largest city		Cotonou
Official languages		French
Demonym		Beninese; Beninois
Government		Multiparty democracy
-	President	Yayi Boni
Independence		from France
-	Date	August 1,1960
Area
-	Total	112,622 km2 (101st) 43,483 sq mi
-	Water (%)	43,483
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	8,439,0002 (89th)
-	2009 census	6,769,914
-	Density	75/km2 (118th3) 194/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$12.159 billion[1] (140th)
-	Per capita	$1,547[1] (166th)
GDP (nominal)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$5.566 billion[1]
-	Per capita	$708[1]
Gini (2003)		36.5 (medium)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.437 (low) (163rd)
Currency		West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone		WAT (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+1)
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.bj
Calling code		229
1	Cotonou is the seat of government.
2	Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
3	Rank based on 2005 estimate.

 

A little bit about life here in Mercy Ships: 

One evening, earlier this week, I went to a girls' home to assess their level of english reading and comprehension.  We are considering them for 'Mercy Ministries,' which includes variety of things that people can get involved with off the ship.  So far we are figuring out there schedule and then we might meet with them weekly to teach english.  

Work went well, and to end the week I played some 'Friday night Ultimate Frisbee' at the police academy here in Cotonou... I think it's a game that will forever live on in Mercy Ships. 

Justin is 'Duty Engineer' today.  He is responsible for helping the watchstanders in the engine room make sure that the ship is running safely and properly.  If any mechanical problems arise today (and tonight), he will be called to address them.  Right now he's making a 'round' of the ship's machinery spaces to make sure everyting is in order.

On another note, there is a new and easy way to support us in Mercy Ships!  Click on the link under "support us" on the right hand side of this page.  Thank you to all of those who support us and keep up with our blog.

Time for work!

When people find out that we live on a hospital ship they ask if we are nurses or doctors.... the answer is no, and if we were all nurses and doctors the ship would not stay afloat!  So, this is the answer... Justin is an Engineering Officer and I am Crew Services Manager.  You now might ask "What's that??" 

 First up, Justin!

There is a whole deck (and more) of machinery on this ship.... close to the length of  a football field. The engineers make sure that; the electricity stays on, the water is safe to drink, our showers and toilets work, they maintain the temperature of the ship (so it's not over 100 degrees F).  They make sure the engine keeps running and the generators are working.... there are countless other things they do to keep the ship 'alive', yet they are mostly unseen... down in the depths, the belly of the ship.  

Right now Justin is currently working on writing procedures  and drawing diagrams for the mechanical and electrical systems (so that everyone knows how things work and what steps to follow so things are done the same way each time... yeah, he's a smarty) and he will soon take on a role concerning the refrigeration and hospital machinery aspects of the ship.  

Next up, Lorah! 

"What is Crew Services Manager?"  Well, there are lots of things that the 400 crew need on the ship for a decent quality of living.  My department includes;

• Laundry Room
• Housekeepers 
• Library
• Hair salon
• Crew Galley (where the crew can cook/bake for themselves)
• Boutique (like a free re-uzit shop)
• Seamstress
• Weight room

There are about 15 people in the department, and it's a busy hardworking group of people, I'm proud of them.  They aren't the 'spotlight' jobs, but the ship would be a mess with out them. My department consists of a dynamic group of people... from Benin, Kenya, America, England, Scotland, Ghana, Canada, and soon we have some Germans coming.  

I have an office in the Laundry room where I do plenty of work on the computer concerning our department, I like to 'run around' and see what my people need, I have lots of meetings and applications to review,  and I enjoy meeting together with them in the morning for prayer and business, and at 1pm for a devotional time.  Right now we are sharing our personal stories, it's so great to learn about our unique lives and experiences.  

That's us!  That's some of what we do to contribute to cause of Mercy Ships on board the Africa Mercy.