MaritimeMercy.com

In the March issue of the AmericanWay Magazine, Gerald J. Arpay, American Airlines CEO, in an editorial entitled “Help From Above” describes how America Airlines and its employs have responded to the Haitian earthquake. “Within hours of the quake, we flew multiples relief missions into Pot-au-Prince. And since then, we have continued to transport relief workers, critical supplies and evacuees.” He says. Tragedies like the earthquake in Haiti, awakens peoples’ conscious to the misfortune of others. Horrific images shown on the TV, the internet and other means of communication confront to a reality beyond ones imagination. Awaken by this reality people want to know: How to give? How to help? How to donate? Like many other organizations Mercy Ships is also helping in Haiti http://www.mercyships.org/content/home. Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive. Each one of us should be a channel in providing “Help From Above”. May the Lord continue to awaken people to the needs of tho...

Today Christians everywhere commemorated Easter, Passover, Pascoa in Portuguese. I have many Easter memories growing up with bolt catholic and protestant influence, that ranged from not eating meet on Good Friday, which was not a problem because we expected to eat bacalhau (cod fish) to early Sunday mass or service. An Easter egg was a must, Brazilian chocolate taste really good. In the midst of all this the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus was never lost. So this Easter week here in south Brazil we ate fish on Good Friday, attended an Easter Sunday service with our relatives, got a big Easter egg and celebrated the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy Easter!

After a long flight that began in Tyler, Texas we arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “O Rio de Janeiro continua lindo” (Rio de Janeiro continues to be beautiful) says the Cariocas, people from Rio. My sister Marli was waiting for us. We had lunch together; however, Rio was not our final destination, at least not for now. The next flight took us to Porto Alegre where Reinaldo, Carla’s brother, was waiting for us with uncle Urbano, and cousins Marlise e Maidi. Reinaldo drove us to Sao Leopoldo where his wife Rose was waiting for us with Felippe e Vitor. At the airport in Rio de Janeiro At the airport in Porto Alegre

This is the most recent picture of the Mercy Ships Marine Operations Department here in Texas. Beside me, in the center, is my daughter Cassia who is the Marine Operations Admistrative Assistant.

On February 10 the Africa Mercy arrived in Togo. Togo is a small country wedged between Benin and Ghana in West Africa. My family and I were onboard the Anastasis in the first visit of a Mercy Ships to Africa in 1990. We love our first experience in the African continent. I even learned some Eve, language spoken in the capital Lome. I look forward to go to Togo in June/July.

Normally we get few flakes of snow during the winter here in East Texas that by the time it reaches the ground has already changed to the liquid state. Last Friday the white staff fell in abundance, six inches. It was beautful.

Fourteen students attended the January Basic Safety Training (BST) in preparation for joining the Africa Mercy in Togo, West Africa. The Africa Mercy crew is required to receive training in accordance to international maritime standards. I teach on the subject of Personal Safety and Social Responsibility. This course stresses each crew member's duty to work in a safety manner and their responsibility for the safety of others. Jesus articulates this concept well when he said: "Love your neighbor as yourself".