Since we got alongside it has been a hectic whirl of officials, paperwork, meetings and more officials as we start getting set up to work here in Benin. Immigration have been to the ship 4 times already (and were supposed to come back last night but couldn't make it).
I've been to the airport twice to help new crew get through with the Mercy Ships paperwork and to meet the Head of Immigration there. So far so good - though the first arrival had her passport confiscated and we had to persuade the officer to give us it back!
Today we have a Civic and Media Reception onboard to get to know some of the other civic officials and for them to get to know us, then tonight we have 18 people arriving on one flight so another trip to the airport for me. There are many challenges that require prayer - our vehicles aren't registered yet so we can't use them, our mail isn't being allowed through customs, the crew neeed all their passports stamping to allow them to travel easily and many more things.
Next Thursday and Friday we have the main patient screening days and we're expecting up to 4000 people to show up. Please pray that those days go smoothly and that everyone that the Lord wants to be seen gets seen and that those that He has other plans for would not get there.
Here are some photos of our arrival...... (in reverse order for some strange reason!!)
Posts
2 comments:
Great news, you're in our prayers, Love to all, C&T&Chip
Thank you for all the photos and for the reassurance that I can come here anytime in the next year and read about the life on the Africa Mercy. My son will be joining the ship March 9 (he returns from Gateway training tomorrow) and, as his mom, I am happy to 'meet' his new family.
Blessings to you all.
Post a Comment