What lies beneath a smile?

Today while our was sitting having breakfast in the dinning room, i was reminded again about how much i take for granted - even the privilege of being here on board this ship and how each day God is radically changing lives!

As i was sipping my coffee at 6.30 am this morning still feeling a little fuzzy around the edges after a night spent coughing and spluttering ( I am recovering from a bout of flu) I was feeling very sorry for myself realising that it was only Monday and the whole week lay ahead. I decided to look out the window to distract myself and was faced with the perfect reminder of just how wonderful our God is.

The line of patients at the Gangway had been forming since the very early hours of the morning, long before i got to breakfast and people were waiting patiently to be seen or admitted. When a young man, most likely in his early 20s arrived on a zemijan wearing a smile that you could see a mile a way. At first i wounded why he was here, was he one of our day volunteers or a visitor, not thinking for a moment anything more.

When the motorbike came to a stop at the end of the line the driver got off and held the bike, while the young many carefully eased himself off. It was then that i saw his left leg was badly deformed and could hardly hold the weight of his body. (As i looked at him i was ashamed of my own self pity that i started the day with.) As he balanced with help from his friend he proudly unwrapped a small suit case and out of a side pocket produced a small pink card!

The smile on his face only grew - the card that he held was an surgery appointment card whihc he would have recieved at Screening Day! Today he was being admitted and would receive surgery that would restore function to his leg but more importantly would give him 'a hope and a future'

'For I alone know the plans i have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'

Jeremiah 29 verse 11

Please pray for this young man over the next few weeks as i am sure this journey will be very painful, but it will be life changing for him! I thank God for the privilege of watching a small part of what he is doing in this young mans life and seeing what lies beneath his smile.

Screening Day - a picture tour!

Sights and Sounds of Cotonou, Benin, West Africa

The M/V Africa Mercy docked in the Port of Cotonou, Benin, West Africa. This is the road leading to our dock, which we share with fishing trawlers and large commercial loading vessels. Unlike Liberia we do not have our own dock and have to be careful of passing trucks.



As we walk towards the city we pass this fishing village on our left.


Each morning and evening the fishing boats sail past us as they go out to sea to fish for their livelihoods. It is a strange mix of traditional fishing methods with bits of modern technology.


As we leave the 'Zone 4' Port Gate we walk though the 'commercial' part of the fishing village before we walk straight into down town Cotonou.




The Zemijan is the most common mode of transport and there is a thriving industry surrounding it.

The roads are always busy and packed with people and shops.

As you walk closer in to the city, the roads improve and you get to walk on paved sidewalks.

Throughout the city there is a fantastic network of roads and highways leading you to where you want to be. The roads are always full of Zemijans.


Street traders always find ways to transport their wears.


The City of Cotonou seems to build around a network of river leading to the port. The city has grown around these water ways and uses them for all sorts of things.

.... even transport!

The local markets are full of local produce, which is very exciting to see.

The City is growing with many construction projects - build West African Style.

Sunset over one on the many bridges in the city of Cotonou.

Sometimes we just have fun...

Yesterday day was one of those days i will remember for a long time. A group of us ventured out of Cotonou to find a local resort called Castle del Papa about 45 km away. The journey was eventful as all journey off ship seem to be. It took us about an hour and a half to make the trip. Firstly we had to find our way out of the very busy, traffic filled streets of Cotonou onto the main highway towards Togo. After 5 round-a-bouts (traffic circles) surround by thousands of Zemijans (Get-me-there-fast Motorbike Taxis) we managed to hit open road. Norah Jones' song Million Bicycles in Bejing came to mind as i dodged the Millions of Zemijans in Benin! Once we came to the city of Quidah (wee-da), the voodoo capital of Benin, we didn't stop there, this time, but choose to turn towards to coat to find Castle del Papa. We only had to ask for direction once and make our way to this beautiful resort. We even had to pass through my first West African Toll Road which cost us 500 FC ($1). The road was great, very few potholes and i only had to stop 3 times for life stock crossing the road. I have never seen such creative ways to transport just about everything on the back of the motorbike. One day i will need to let someone else drive and i can just take photos of people of the back of zemijans with their wares.

We spent the day at the most beautiful pool on the beach. It was a day to relax and breath after a busy week. There was of cause the mandatory relay races and games of Marco Polo! (see photo above for the start of the underwater relay race!) At the moment there is a group of South Africans on board, who are all from Cape Town and all grew up in the Southern Suburbs around the same time. So needless to say we have many stories to tell and jokes to share - it feel a little like home. Even though we are all well into our thirties we have reverted back to our student days and are enjoying the moments away from the ship. We are all busy during the week, but manage to find time to relax and have a few adventures on the weekends. It is a real blessing to have a group of people to let your hair down with. We are even teaching fellow crew members a few Afrikaans phrases. It was a great day!