“Desiring to follow the model of Jesus, Keith seeks to become the face of love in action, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor, by loving God, loving and serving others and by being a person of integrity and excellence in all that he says and does.”
I have this posted at my workstation as a reminder – a combination of the Mercy Ships mission and vision statements and four core values. I want my life to be one expressed in my love for God and living a life of service and love for others.
We continue to pray, plan, and prepare to bring the Africa Mercy back to Africa in 2021 – though there are many unknowns. Our crew who remain on
The crew who left went on one-way tickets as we do not know when it will be possible for them to return. There are others on the ship for whom it is not possible to return to their home countries as their borders and airports remain closed. I keep watching the updates I receive on the African nations and their restrictions, etc. and talking with my brothers and sisters who are impacted by this.
“A man can plan anything, but the Lord determines the course of events.” Proverbs 16:1
I have so enjoyed listening to ‘The Blessing’ sung by so many different nations/language groups – English, Latin America, Ghana, Hebrew, Swahili, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa, and many others. Just type in ‘The Blessing’ in Youtube and enjoy this amazing song inspired by Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 7:9, and Psalm 103:17-18 – singing God’s word.
Please join me and continue to pray for those on the African continent as there is a great fear of the coronavirus. They have seen the great numbers of people infected and thousands of deaths from this virus in Europe and the Americas. They worry about when it hits their communities with less access to healthcare. Pray for their protection, for those working on a vaccine, and health.
I am working on compiling our past statistical and narrative reports in order to have better clarity with our reporting numbers. It is often a trip down memory lane as I served on all the ships except the Pacific Ruby. Though it is not just the ships, years ago Mercy Ships had land bases in Sierra Leone, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Plus working on improvements in our processes as in 2021, we will have both the Africa Mercy and our new ship, the Global Mercy – more to follow in future KRB Updates on the Global Mercy.
As many of you know my Mom, I wish to give you an update. She continues at a nursing home in Greenwood, Indiana as she is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Prior to coronavirus, my brother would visit her every Tuesday night and the highlight was when he was holding her hand and she would hold his hand back. He would often send us a photo. As she is not verbal, that little bit of holding is special. I have experienced the same when visiting her. Sadly the nursing home has been struggling with the COVID 19 virus with employees and the residents. Mom has remained negative and in a separate wing with others who are negative. Though with the restrictions, she does not leave her room for meals or any activities and we are not able to visit. The staff do send us updates via text and email and at times also a photo. As we approach Father’s Day in the US, this is my second without Dad – I miss him. Though my prayers are with two families for whom it is the first Father’s Day without their dads as they are no longer here but walking with Jesus now.
I continue in good health, enjoying some long walks for exercise, and reading more books than normal. The Mercy Ships base is still closed and so I limit my interactions with others and when with others the six feet (2 meters) social distance. I am taking the Rosetta Stone course in French online to increase and not loose what I learned previously. Though my brain can get confused as at the same time I am enjoying listening to a new Christian radio station Fuzion en Espanol (Spanish).