MSA

On board as I would hope you know at this point we have an Academy, the Mercy Ship Academy. (But if you are my daddy who tries very hard but just does not listen you may not, and to clarify I am in Sierra Leone not Sri Lanka as dad might lead you to think.) The academy is loveingly called MSA, which can be confusing becuase that is also short for Mersy Ships Appropriate, as in " Angie that shirt is not MSA" or " Shhh that is not MSA we are in midships." But I am talking about the first MSA, my MSA where I spend a lot of time with two very cool kids.

These are those two very cool kids, pretty much as they are all the time, and I like it that way!

This is the second and third grade kids on board as well as the third grade teacher, Amy. We each teach different subjects for our grades and then teach a few classes combined.

This is our teaching staff. I have had a lot of fun this year becuase of these people. It makes me sad that only 7 of them will be staying for next year. It has been a crazy year with moves and water damages, writing ciriculum and getting accreted ( fingers crossed).

This is our whole school, we have students from preschool to 10th grade on board at the moment. I am on the right hand side holding one of my favs Emma.

May, 17th 2011 

victory or peace

Victory or Peace

We on the ship learned this morning about the death of bin Ladin. I would never dispute that he is an evil man and that he is responible for the deaths and loss of lots of people. But does killing this man bring back all those who where lost on Speterber 11th? Does it bring back the sense of peace we had before? Does it take away the hurt of the people who lost loved ones? I cant stand looking at the pictures of people celbrating his death. When 9/11 happened and the media showed pictures of people celebrating we, Americas were outraged and hurt that people where celabreting our loss, but we are doing that now. How can we stand as a country to provide freedom and justice to all and then celebrate in the face of those grieving. I am happy he is not in control anymore, please dont misunderstand but what now. Will it stop? Is this going to be the end of terrisom against the US and the West? Or will people come with more force and vengence? Where is God in this? When we pray do we pray for victory or peace?

I remember when Robby was in Iraq and praying that he would come back safe. I read a story from or about the Civil war that talked about one side winning causing the other to lose. You where in fact praying that your son/husband/brother would live meaning that you where praying that someone elses son/husband/brother would lose and die. When I prayed he would be safe did that mean I prayed that bullet would miss him? Yes, does that mean I prayed it would go to someone elses brother? No, not intentionally but did I? How does that make sense? Can we not pray for peace instead of victory? Can we not come together as a global society of man instead of country vs. country or relgion vs. religion. Can we not cometogher as people dedicated to life and not destruction? I understand that this hatred it not towardsa group of people but a man who was the figure head but does that make it ok? I am happy that men who have dedicated their lives to saving ours where not harmed and that they did what was asked of them, but at what cost?

I am gratfull for the men and women who serve like my brother, who did it/do it so I have the right to speak my mind; even in oposition of them. but when does it stop? Are our tropps coming home now? Will they be sent somewhere else? When does it end?

sorry my mind is just kind of a jumble of thoughts and emothions and memories of scary days and years waiting for bad news that thank God never came to my family but it did to lots of others, so when does it end?

May, 2nd 2011