Time for work!

When people find out that we live on a hospital ship they ask if we are nurses or doctors.... the answer is no, and if we were all nurses and doctors the ship would not stay afloat!  So, this is the answer... Justin is an Engineering Officer and I am Crew Services Manager.  You now might ask "What's that??" 

 First up, Justin!

There is a whole deck (and more) of machinery on this ship.... close to the length of  a football field. The engineers make sure that; the electricity stays on, the water is safe to drink, our showers and toilets work, they maintain the temperature of the ship (so it's not over 100 degrees F).  They make sure the engine keeps running and the generators are working.... there are countless other things they do to keep the ship 'alive', yet they are mostly unseen... down in the depths, the belly of the ship.  

Right now Justin is currently working on writing procedures  and drawing diagrams for the mechanical and electrical systems (so that everyone knows how things work and what steps to follow so things are done the same way each time... yeah, he's a smarty) and he will soon take on a role concerning the refrigeration and hospital machinery aspects of the ship.  

Next up, Lorah! 

"What is Crew Services Manager?"  Well, there are lots of things that the 400 crew need on the ship for a decent quality of living.  My department includes;

• Laundry Room
• Housekeepers 
• Library
• Hair salon
• Crew Galley (where the crew can cook/bake for themselves)
• Boutique (like a free re-uzit shop)
• Seamstress
• Weight room

There are about 15 people in the department, and it's a busy hardworking group of people, I'm proud of them.  They aren't the 'spotlight' jobs, but the ship would be a mess with out them. My department consists of a dynamic group of people... from Benin, Kenya, America, England, Scotland, Ghana, Canada, and soon we have some Germans coming.  

I have an office in the Laundry room where I do plenty of work on the computer concerning our department, I like to 'run around' and see what my people need, I have lots of meetings and applications to review,  and I enjoy meeting together with them in the morning for prayer and business, and at 1pm for a devotional time.  Right now we are sharing our personal stories, it's so great to learn about our unique lives and experiences.  

That's us!  That's some of what we do to contribute to cause of Mercy Ships on board the Africa Mercy.