The Reception Counter is going up!

April 2006 028, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

Penny and me at part of the Reception Counter! It's coming together and looking good! Penny is one of the receptionists.

The Reception Counter is delivered!

April 2006 023, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

I was sick and stayed home yesterday...and of course missed the delivery of the Reception Counter! When I came in today...there it is...upside down and ready to put up. We look forward to soon seeing it in place. It's huge!

Rachel....she loves to clean!

April 2006 021, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

This is Rachel, one of our receptionists and we have begun cleaning the ship! This is one of the windows in the Dining Room and Rachel, along with many others, cleaned these maticulously as it took about 3-4 hours for each window! They are looking good now!

New Date for Completion of the Africa Mercy

April 2006 024, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

Here is the new sign in Reception for the Africa Mercy Project Completion...the date has been changed from 31March06 to 31May06! The spaces completed are increasing and the ship is looking good! We are hopeful that we will make this date and then have some time to get the ship up and running, the crew moved on board and ready for Outreach to Ghana in October!

In Australia - a program to watch!

Wednesday, 22 March 06
7:30pm Channel 7 Australia

In this week's episode of BEYOND TOMORROW:

• The ultimate economy car - drive across Australia on one tank!
• Matt Shirvington at the world's biggest gadget show.
• The ultimate X-Ray for Border Security.
• What's cooking in the 'Kitchen of Tomorrow'.
• How baby boomers can throw away their glasses.
• Onboard an incredible floating hospital. (This is about the Africa Mercy!)
• Plus you won't believe what you can do with Cola!

Three of the Receptionists have arrived!

March 2006 065, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

The receptionists have arrived and joined Denise in reception! The reception counter is being built and there is a template now on the floor! From right to left is Penny (from South Africa), Helen (from Canada), and Rachel (from the UK), so we make up quite an international team!

Penny, Rachel, Denise and Helen

March 2006 048, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

March 2006 061, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

We also installed the satellite on the ship last week! Here is a picture of the satellite being loaded on board. The satellite will provide phone service and internet for the ship where ever we are. It will also allow us to have a phone number that will not change no matter where in the world we are...our number will be a US number (Florida, I think). So when we are in Africa, you can call us and only be charged for a call to the US! We'll let you know as soon as it is hooked up and ready for calls!

March 2006 079, originally uploaded by MercyWatch.

Here is the satellite installed and ready to go! Well....at least in place and bolted down!

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006

We have posted the daily devotions for the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 on a new site. Please click on the following link to go to the devotional site. http://mercywatchdevotions.blogspot.com

We hope that you will pray with us during this lenten season and as we prepare the Africa Mercy for it's first sail to Ghana, West Africa. Lent is a time of preparation and we are using this time to prepare ourselves as well as the ship! Only 90 days till the torch is passed from the Anastasis to the Africa Mercy on June 4th!