Angie in Africa

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

A walk down memory lane...

Well I have about one week left and the tears have started. I was looking at pictures tonight because I realized I have not posted any to facebook in about 6 months. Opps. But in looking at photos from these past few months here in Togo, I could not help but to go back to the beginning, also in Togo. So as a little walk down memory lane or as best as I can a photo, or two from each of my 22 months on this crazy journey.

August 2010

Togo- South Africa

After a two week sail we were SOOOOO happy to see land!

Soon after we arrived in SA we had a wedding, these are some of my first ship friends, so grateful for them!

My first glimpse of wild African animals, our mini Safari brought to us by Alexander Tours! It was great, minus the head injures.

September 2010

South Africa

A group of us decided to make the most of a three day weekend and went for a little safari! This is the whole group with a Zulu warrior.

This is part of our group in a hid in the game park.

October 2010

South Africa

For Rachel’s 21st she decided she wanted to bungee jump, from this world cup stadium, and because we are good friends we went along.

Camp fire on the field was a great way to put to use all the goodies mom sent in a Halloween box, glow in the dark hair ties and peep smores!

November 2010

South Africa

A trip through the trees was in order for one weekend. One of the largest zip line trips in Africa!

December 2010

South Africa- US

We ended the first semester of school with a Christmas play, not so fun during the week, but a blast on the actual day!

I was able to go home for Christmas and spend some much needed time resting and hanging out with my family!

A sight I was very happy to see.

January 2011

South Africa

In January we finally packed up our temporary life in Appelsboch and moved back to the ship, we were pretty excited!

Being in Durban meant we were able to go out, and we did one time 16 in a shuttle, no big.

Many fun nights!

February 2011

South Africa- Sierra Leone

We eventually left Durban and set sail this is a picture of my friend Jesse and I at a muster drill. Don’t you just love those vests?

A quick 36 hour stop in Cape Town before heading up to Free town.

This makes me so happy! Some of the best girls I know on top of Table Mountain!

But we had to leave Cape Town. Here are my ship life partners and I on our way out of the V&A water front.

We were able to enjoy a three week sail that was full of fun moments, and is one of my favorite times with Mercy Ships.

I could think of worse places to hang out with some of my favorite people.

March 2011

Sierra Leone

April 2011

Sierra Leone

My ship life partners and I on Easter!

My fellow teachers and I on Easter!

May 2011

Sierra Leone

My fellow teachers and I on the day we recived accreditation from ACSI.

My roomates and I before a dance party!

June 201

Sierra Leone – US

June saw a lot of my great friends leaving, goodbyes are so sad not my favorite part of ship life.

July 2012

Summer was full of lots of time with family!

I love my strange family.

I spent as much time at the beach as possible.

More time with Fam!

August 2011

US- Sierra Leone

We had a film festival onboard, we always love a time to dress up.

September 2011

Sierra Leone

Family dinners are always fun!

October 2011

Sierra Leone

Sometimes we would have dance parties those are always a lot of fun.

November 2011

Sierra Leone -US

We had a chance to celebrate fall with a fall festival!

I was able to go home for the week over Thanksgiving and see family! It was all so great including the family photo secession that created this awkward familey photo! And no I had no idea I was that far away.

The reason for my trip home a wedding of two great friends!

December 2011

Sierra Leone –US- Ghana

Pulling out of port in Freetown!

Sailing is always better on the bow, even if you try and fail to plank.

My kidds as we pulled in to Ghana.

Chirstmas play time!

Again I was able to go home for the holidays, so blessed!

Game time at the beach!

January 2012

US- Togo

Game night in the Palmer's!

February 2012

Togo

March 2012

Togo

Some of my favorite people around!

April 2012

Togo

Our family photo on Easter!

May 2012

Togo

All the ladies who were able to be there with me on a very important day.

It seems like it was only yesterday that I was preparing to fly to Togo to work for an organization I had never heard of. Now, I am getting ready to fly from Togo and can not imagine who I would be if it where not for this experiance. To all of you who have supported be along the way thank you! I could not have made this place my home for nearly the past two years if it where not for the cards, carepackages, phonecalls, prayers, emails, facebook updates and so much more. I am so greatfull for every friend that I amde along the way. It gets old making new friends and saying goodbye and you soon stop trying to make new friends. But to each and every person who has been apart of these past two years, thank you! It is beacuse of you that I am leaving here the person I am. I cant wait to see what is next.

May, 23rd 2012

A day at the pool, a nice break but would have been better with the sun.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

A big plunge

A big plunge
I feel like I talk a lot about how I heard about Mercy Ships and how I got here so fast. Well I guess that is how I work with big decisions, I have a clear idea or push to do something and I have to do it. I felt that about two weeks ago, but this time it was to get baptized. I have never been baptized before but have thought about it before from time to time. I had never felt though like I did that night that I needed to do it and that it should be before I go home. I decided to tell some friends my idea before I chickened out and I think that helped because I had said it to someone else and they did not think it was crazy in fact they were supportive, as good friends are.

I was able to speak to Mae, who along with her family have been on the ship for almost three years but have been serving with Mercy ships for about 15 years. I told Mae what I wanted to do and again I was met with support and encouragement. Well things started to develop and soon enough we had a plan for a day at the beach the following Saturday. I tried to keep it as small as possible with just those people I am closest to, it ended up with about 30 people including a few of the families that I am close with. It was a great day, it was sunny and the waves were crashing.

Mae spoke a bit about the call to be baptized in obedience to God, and well I tired to talk. I am a crier so it is not surprising at all that I was crying and could not talk. So we headed into the water, remember when I talked about waves crashing well it was not the easiest thing ever to get our feet. Everyone would yell at us that a wave was coming and we would try to stay sort of still and above the water. I think that it was perfect because it helped me not be so emotional and be able to laugh at it, of course even when getting baptized I was a spaz, that is fitting. We finally were able to get our footing and well, I was baptized!

I was so relived that it was over, I had been so nervous and anxious. We got out of the water and Mae asked people to pray. It was a moment that I will never forget, standing on the beach in Togo, surrounded by my ship family praying for what is next in my life. I am so blessed to have had the people there who were able to make it and wish I could have had my family there with me, but I know it was the right timing to do it even if that meant some where not able to be there.

The rest of the afternoon was perfect, we had a few long tables, groups and families where all mixed up and we just hung out and ate. Thanks for to all who where able to come and to those of you who were so supportive even from the other side of the world. It is crazy to think about all that has happened in my life in the past two years, I can’t even imagine my life had I not come to the ship two years ago. I can’t imagine who I would be, had I not meet the people I did, made the friends that I did and grown the way that I have. I am so sad to be leaving my floating home but am very excited to be a little bit more settled and to be able to spend time with my family and friends that is not a vacation but actual time investing in relationships again.

I have just over two weeks left; I have had count downs and paper chains to when I go home. Not because I hate it here but because I need to be aware of the time I have left and enjoy it all and spend that time with the people I will miss so much. I will carry these two years with me where ever I go, they will affect the way I see the world, the way I see joy and pain. The way I teach and talk to students. The way I understand God and question Him all at the same time. I have been changed by these times; it has been two years of my life, not a cruise or a vacation. Two years, or nearly 22 months, is a long time when looked at in isolation but over the course of a life not that long but none the less hugely impactful. I know that there are many more great things to come in my life and I am so excited to start on the next adventure. Love you all and see some of you soon!