| SA Crew |
| News from some of our SA crew on board: |
• South Africans United For Common Goal
Back Row, left to right: Murray Crawford, Lourens Lessing, Bates Alheit,
Naomi Myers, Tashwill Myers, Lee and Dana De La
Rue.
Middle Row, left to right: Monah Scarsbrook, Nikki Aldum, Chenell Myers,
Tracy Jackson, Louisa Van Zyl, Ilne Paalman.
Front Row, left to right: Winston Myers, Brenda Van Straten.
Absent: Emily De La Rue, Lucy De La Rue.
The M/V Africa Mercy is the world’s largest charity hospital ship. There are
400-plus crew members representing over thirty different nations. One of the
countries with a strong representation is the Republic of South Africa.
South Africa has been through a lot over the past sixty years – from our
darkest chapter, apartheid, to the reconciliation and healing of the present
democratic era. With a population of over 45-million inhabitants, with eleven
official languages, it is one of the most diverse nations on earth. Hence the
beloved nickname The Rainbow Nation.
It was therefore fitting that on Friday 25th July, just a week after Nelson
Mandela’s 90th birthday, the seventeen South African crew members held a
special get-together. We shared stories from back home. We spoke Afrikaans,
a South African language with strong roots in Dutch, and although there was
no biltong (similar to beef jerkey, only better!) or boerewors (a spicy sausage),
a great time was had by all.
After reminiscing over milk tart and chocolate mousse, a South African movie
was shown. Scenes of the awe-inspiring Table Mountain and the roads of
Cape Town reminded us of our home and maybe made one or two of us a
little homesick.
But leaving South Africa is a small price to pay for the privilege of serving God
here in Liberia. We have all left different cultural backgrounds and income
groups to serve here. Yet we are all the same. We all love God and are here
for a common goal. It is truly an honour to be united with all the other crew in
bringing hope and healing to the nations. |
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