April 2025 Review

 April has been a busy month onboard. Not only some very special extra activities during the week before Easter, but an internship for Lauren, extra busy at work for me and special events for Sam and Sadie as well. 

Please enjoy this month in review in photos!

The month started off with a fun sleepover for Lauren with some of the other Jr High and High School girls 

My work in the hospital continues to be challenging, but taking a few moments to make balloon animals for the kids with 2 other PTs was super fun!

Two of my work friends who are also moms on board, Berdien and Rachel. 

Speaking of amazing mom friends, I spent the night off ship with some other moms by the beach! Great conversations and beautiful views!

First event for Holy Week was a special Palm Sunday Service. Sadie had a great time waving a palm branch and singing with the other kids. 

Next was the Passover Seder meal. We learned about the symbolism of each item on our plate and how a traditional jewish family would recite certain phrases and scripture. 

Every Thursday afternoon there is some kind of drill on board and Sadie was asked to be the "victim" so that the EMT (Emergency Medical Team) could practice. The story of the drill was that she fell and hit her head. She loved acting out the part and even got to lay on the CT machine down in the hospital. 

Thursday night we had another amazing Holy Week activity of different stations in different spaces on board... foot washing, communion, etc. 

Friday night was a Good Friday Service. Our all purpose room was decorated like a garden. We all sat own the ground and heard the story of the Last Supper and Jesus in the Garden, The room got darker and darker until they read "It is finished". It was a powerful night I will never forget. 

Then came Easter! We had a beautiful sunrise service watching the sun come up over the ocean and a lovely Easter brunch! 

Sam went on a field trip with his class to a chimpanzee sanctuary. 

Lauren has been working as Ward Admin Assistant 2 afternoons a week. She absolutely loves working in the hospital and serving our patients and crew in this way.

And then we finished off the month with a pottery class in Freetown with friends!

As you can see, we keep very busy here. This does not include the normal things of school, work, laundry, homework, etc etc. 

Looking forward, this season in Sierra Leone ends in mid-June when the ship has its annual maintenance period up in Spain. We will have some time off while the ship is in dry dock and then will sail back down to Sierra Leone the beginning of August. 

We continue to be thankful for all of you who read this blog, love and support this journey.