Christos anesti | Χριστός ἀνέστη!  (Greek)
Alithos Anesti (Aληθώς ανέστη!)
‘He is Risen’ and in response, ‘Truly He is Risen’
On Sunday morning, in the International Lounge on the Africa Mercy here in Toamasina, Madagascar, the Chaplains started our service asking for our participation in sharing this proclamation: “He is Risen, Truly He is Risen.”  The crew spoke it out in over 25 different languages. I should have been quicker and shared it in Spanish/Espanol, as there was no crew from Spanish-speaking countries present.

Photo Caption:  Schedule for Holy Week on the Africa Mercy in Toamasina, Madagascar 

It is always an exceptional, impactful, and meaningful time of the year on one of the Mercy Ships for Holy Week / Easter —my last time was on board the Africa Mercy in 2019. Last week, I was grateful to stay in a guest cabin onboard for a few nights.  

On Thursday night, the “Interactive Walk-Through Experience for the Night Jesus was Betrayed” included entering a modified family cabin to hear the story of Passover, a time of Foot Washing ceremony out on deck 7, time at a table eating snacks – hearing readings from God’s word and prayer, then to the Crew Mess with Dr. Andrew Clark, our Senior Chaplain, for Holy Communion and then to a space created in the International Lounge to be the ‘Garden of Gethsemane,’ more Scripture reading and prayer.  This space was available Thursday night and all day Friday and Saturday for a quiet place.

Photo Caption:  Easter Morning in the International Lounge with my friend from Cameroon Kingsley

Following the Easter Service, an American missionary family here in Toamasina who are involved with us on the Africa Mercy conducted a baptism of his three children in the small swimming pool on board – so special to witness.  
Then an amazing feast was shared by all in the dining room – the best meal of the year.  

Photo Caption:  On Saturday, I hosted some dear friends, including AR, his wife, and his four-month-old baby boy – whom I got to spend time with on Christmas.