I arrived at the Monrovia Friday, June 27, at 7:30pm, about 27 hours after leaving Huntsville, AL. After customs, luggage, and other fun stuff, our drivers found us and took us in three Land Rover-type vehicles to the port where the Mercy Ship is docked. We arrived at 9:30pm to the Ship and were welcomed with a hearty meal of chicken pot pie and home made cookies. After a few quick instructions, my picture was taken for my I.D. badge and I received my key to my 2-man (sorry, 2-person, to be PC) berth (I found out the next day how fortunate I am as other are in 4 or 6-person berths. And I happen to be rooming for the first 7 days with a Brit named Elton, John (that's JOHN ELTON!). Saturday morning was a tour of the ship (I'm still working on the PORT and STARBOARD (a lesson on a future update once I'm sure I remember it correctly!) With 7 levels, it was (and still can be) a bit confusing. Fortunately, I arrived on what the Mercy Ship calls a "Ship Holiday." It is basically a long weekend to give all the crew (ship inhabitants) a break from the intensity of all that goes on during the clinics. So as of this posting, Monday, June 30, I haven't worked yet. That begins at 8:30am tomorrow.

In the mean time, there have been multiple orientations, including a couple of hours touring the pharmacy and learning a bit of what's going on there, making friends from all parts of the world, attending a local Liberian church service, trying new foods, and observing a full day of Liberia's rainy season.

A few quick first impressions:

Liberia is a country in early stages of recovery of a civil war that just ended nearly four years ago and the needs are staggering. Our driver to the ship said that 85% of the population is unemployed and without much hope.

The folks volunteering here are full of great faith and dependency of Abba Father and all that I have conversed with love Jesus with a depth and devotion that already have challenged me and caused me to pause with reflection on my devotion. Yet it has been an amazing encouragement hearing stores of God's faithfulness, provision and grace. The spirit of my other crew members and the sacrifices many have made amaze me.

The medical needs are great, as are the spiritual needs of the Liberian people. It is very overwhelming, yet Mercy Ship staff seem to have a well-developed screening process.