Gearing Up for the Summer Trip

In just over a week, we will begin travelling for the summer and won't be back home for seven weeks. Fortunately, we've got some great folks tending the flora and fauna at our residence for us!

Lily 'driving' all of us on a safari on the tractor at the zoo.

Lorah, Lily, and Evelyn will be in Pennsylvania (or PA, as the locals call it) the whole time, except for a weekend in Ocean City, Maryland, and a long weekend in Connecticut. I'll be with them for half the trip, but I'll be going to the ship for three weeks while they remain in PA with the grandparents.

Lily enjoying the beginning of summer

While I'm away, I'm sure they'll have a lot of fun catching up with Mom-mom and Pop-pop as well as a fair few friends that they haven't seen in a while. I will get a chance to catch up with a few friends on the Africa Mercy while working hard to get the ship ready for its next field service in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville, the small one on the North-side of the river, not the big one on the South-side).

During my trip to the ship I'll be working on a lot of projects (as usual) including:

• Installation of a new main engine lube oil purification system
• Conversion of several hospital rooms to increase the ship's medical through-put
• Much needed upgrades of facilities in the galley

The M/V Africa Mercy dry docked at Astican Shipyard, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

We're going to be alongside at the Astican Shipyard in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where we dry docked last year. I'm excited to be working with Astican again this year, last year's experience with Astican was great; the management is quick and competent, as are the laborers.

It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it!

As always, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,  if you are skilled in a trade and willing to come, we'd be thrilled to have you on our project team. Email me and I'll get you in touch with the right folks!

I hope your summer is as much fun as mine!

-Justin

Photo Credit: Jay Swanson