Freezing in Texas

During our chilly time in Texas we had to undergo Basic Safety Training, which is training required by marine law for anyone who lives onboard a ship for long period of time. It included firefighting, First Aid and Water Safety and was quite challenging. On the day we put out fires with exstinguishers and fire hoses (oxygen masks and all) it was negative 15 degrees with windchill! The day we had to do water safety, which involved practising righting a flipped raft; there was snow on the ground outside! So much of the teaching was interesting and I feel like I learned a lot for survival (especially at sea). Some might think this is not important when the Africa Mercy is docked for 10 months at a time in each West African country we are serving; however there is always the sailing to each country that has to be undertaken and I do hope to be apart of someday :) At present our thoughts and prayers are with the crew as they sail from South Africa (where the repairs have finally and miraculously finished) and are on there way to Sierra Leone, we are all so excited for their arrival! Hope you enjoy the photos :)