January 16, 2005 update

Update : 12:23 pm (Jan 16th) We are still under our own power and sailing about 8.5 knots. The seas have just once again picked up to about 8-12 foot and the ship is sailing quite smoothly! We got some pictures of the tug, battling the waves! Most everyone is up for lunch and feeling fairly well. God is very Good!
We are once again sailing and heading towards Mobile, AL. We left Cozumel under our own power... however, the engine is once again having problems and we are praying to get to the North end of the island to anchor out and wait for the tug, Kirsten Grace, that is coming from Mobile to escort us to Mobile! We arrived at anchor in Cozumel Harbor about 9:00 pm. on January 6th .... we were there almost eight days until about 3:00 today.

The Kirsten Grace

Kirsten Grace, the Tug Boat that escorted us from Cozumel, Mexico! 

January 14, 2005

UPDATE: 6:08 pm (Jan 14)... We're underway again with our own power! Rob came up from the engine room...and I thought they had used him to drag through the clogged cooling pipe for the engine...He said no...He only got to help hold the pipe as the engineers cleaned it out! Praise the Lord! Also, the Kristen Grace came alongside us just after we started back up again! Thank you for all your prayers!
Please pray for us as we sail and as we plan to enter the US under heavy security restrictions. We pray that God will grant us favor and traveling mercies!

Rob after helping the engineers clean out a 6 inch valve! 

Update on Caribbean Mercy January 10, 2005

Currently, the Caribbean Mercy still is anchored at the port of Cozumel, Mexico. Some repairs have been completed but additional work is needed. Therefore, we are in the process of dispatching a tug to escort the ship from Mexico up to Mobile, Alabama. Currently, 50 crew are housed ashore at hotels.

To lessen the sailing crew, some of the families will fly to Mercy Ships IOC in Texas to be housed until the ship reaches Mobile. These families could be here on Wednesday, January 12. The ship could be underway Saturday morning with an estimated transit time to Mobile of four days. Thank you for your prayers.

Best Regards,
Steve

Steve Koinis steve.koinis@mercyships.org
Chief Executive Officer
Mercy Ships International

We made it to Cozumel! After a couple circles south of the island waiting for clearance to bring the ship in! 

Mercy Ships' Tsunami Disaster Response

Mercy Ships is deeply moved by the recent earthquake and tsunami that affected so many in Asia. We are assessing the needs and will respond with a focus on long-term development projects to aide in recovery from this catastrophe. Let me explain our approach as it stands today.

Dr. Glenn Strauss, our new Vice President of International of Health Care Services, has been appointed as coordinator of the tsunami disaster efforts. Assisting Dr. Glenn will be Mark Thompson as our lead field manager on this project. They will be assisted by Soo-Jin Lee and various other key, experienced Mercy Ships personnel so that we develop and then execute an excellent and effective response. Mercy Ships is experienced in long term disaster development and is preparing for a two-year commitment to the monumental task of rebuilding following the tsunami disaster.

We have already received approval for significant grant funds to commit to our long term plans. To date, those efforts include plans to send medical and construction teams to Sri Lanka and Banda Aceh, Indonesia. We do not anticipate sending any teams within the next 2 to 3 months. We will also purchase fishing boats and nets for the fishermen who lost their livelihoods in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka. We are sending a container of medical supplies and relief goods from our office in Australia to Sri Lanka.

Please refer anyone interested in being considered for one of our short term medical or construction teams in the next 12 months to our web site. There will be a special interest form to complete. We hope to be able to respond within the next 4 to 6 weeks to anyone who submits the online form with more information about our specific plans. Mostly, I thank you in advance for your continued prayers for the victims of the tsunami and for the relief work to be done. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16

Best Regards,
Steve

Steve Koinis steve.koinis@mercyships.org
Chief Executive Officer
Mercy Ships International

Caribbean Mercy Situation

After a successful sail through the night at about 2.9 knots, the Caribbean Mercy has almost reached the port of Cozumel, Mexico. They are approximately 10 miles from port awaiting clearance from port authorities to enter the port. This involves space available due to three incoming cruise ships in the port area.

Upon docking or anchorage, the Mercy Ship will be assessed and appropriate repairs will begin. Thanks for continuing to pray for the crew, particularly the engineering and deck crew who are doing a fantastic job of bringing the ship safely to port and have gotten little sleep the past couple of days.

Don Stephens
Founder/President
Mercy Ships

Caribbean Mercy Situation

The Caribbean Mercy was adrift due to engine problems, but is now under way at approximately 2 ½ knots, making way for Cozumel, Mexico. Her estimated time of arrival at the current rate of speed is approximately late evening tomorrow -- Wednesday, January 6th. It is unknown at this time if a fouled propeller or else the engine’s turbo-charger is the cause of the engine problems. The weather conditions at this time prohibit a diver from checking on the propeller. Current plans call for the Mercy Ship to continue underway at this reduced speed to Cozumel as long as she continues to hold out but contingency plans are being made in the event she will need assistance. Please keep this situation in your prayers and we will send out an update periodically as to the ongoing status. Thank you.

Don Stephens
Founder/President
Mercy Ships

We're underway again ... slowly 2.9 knots! 

We are underway, again!

Praise the Lord! We are once again underway! We're going at about 2.5 knots!Please continue to pray for us and for our technical crew! God has been amazing in that the peace on the ship has been incredible and everyone is praying and lifting each other up in prayer!

We appreciate all who are supporting us in prayer! Thank you so much and we'll keep you updated on our status!

God is amazing!

Drifting for 30 hours! 

Drifting towards the Bay of the Holy Spirit!

Please pray for us and for our technical crew! The engine cut out about 5 am on 04 January 05 and as of this morning (05Jan05)... the engineers and deck crew have been working at fixing whatever is wrong. We are praying that we will be going again this afternoon! God has been amazing in that the peace on the ship has been incredible and everyone is praying and lifting each other up in prayer!

Drifting towards the Bay of the Holy Spirit  

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! May God bless you abundantly as you seek to know Him more and more throughout the new year!

This picture was taken during Christmas Dinner. Chief Engineer, Charles and Tom, our machinist, plumber, welder and game master, joined us for dinner! We enjoyed the time, food and the view! During Christmas Day the weather was beautiful, bright and just a bit cooler (probably about 82 degrees). Very enjoyable!

Christmas Dinner 

In the evening, the weather changed as a huge thunderstorm rolled in! It began raining so hard that the scupper drains on A deck clogged and the next thing we knew was there was standing water on A deck. About 4 inches of it! So many Bailingpeople (including us) grabbed buckets, wastebaskets, etc. and began to bail the water! The deck and engineering crew scurried around and cleared the scupper's drain pipes. The engineers brought up a pump from the engine room to help pump out the water, too! We soon got the water under control (out of the ship) and then the drains could take care of it ... even though it continued to downpour the rest of the night! The rainy weather continued for several more days and just a couple days ago, cleared up just in time to load the cars on the bow of the ship.

Bailing water off A deck! 

We're all packed up and ready to go tomorrow morning (03Jan05) back to the USA. We should arrive in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday afternoon, 06Jan05. Please pray for us as we sail and as we plan to enter the US under heavy security restrictions. We pray that God will grant us favor and traveling mercies! You can keep track of us by...

Checking out the bridge cam at:

http://www.caribbean-mercy.org/golden/BridgeCam.htm

Checking out the sailing map at:

http://www.caribbean-mercy.org/golden/sailingmaps/zoommap.htm