MaritimeMercy.com

One of the biggest challenges faced in one’s career is keeping up with current trends and developments of their field. We live in a dynamic environment that has change as integral part of its foundation; dynamic because is in constant motion and changing because requires constant adjustment. In the past three days, I am attending a workshop “Managing the Learning Function” . Based on the ASTD Competency Study, this program covers many of the responsibilities the learning manager experiences. We are discussing the evolving role of the learning manager and the challenges of this field. I am the only one representing not for-profit sector. It is interesting to see that workplace issues are the same. I enjoy the discussions that have arisen in the course of the class and benefited from learning from the interaction with the instructor and other participants.

The documentary The Dawn of A New Day won best South African documentary at the Cape Winelands  Film Festival. The Dawn of a New Day deals with access to health care issues through the eyes of three West Africans in need of specialized surgery. Portraying the intersection of a surgeon’s life with the life of a 10 years-old boy growing up in rural West Africa, the documentary is a true story of hope and Healing on board the Africa Mercy .

Dr. Chris Ampadu’s question: Is Africa cursed? Got the attention of 350 participants at the Leadership Conference organized by Mercy Ships in Kara, Togo. This common misconception has dire consequences on the way Africans live their lives and is chief hindrance to the development of the continent. Kara is a city of one hundred thousand people located seven hours drive from the Capital city Lome, in the north of Togo. The first time the Mercy Ships Anastasis came to Africa, Carla and I helped to lead a team of 100 student and staff to Kara. We visited schools, villages and small churches sharing the love of God. It was a great and remarkable experience for our family. Mercy Ships’ Off Ship Project is partnering with Samaritan Strategy to conduct Pastors leadership conferences in Togo. The theme of the conference in Kara, March 5-7, was “Partnership in the Whole Person Development”. The Togolese government is encouraging communities around the nation to be initiators of their own dev...

After a long flight from Texas, I arrived in Accra, Ghana last Sunday. The last time I was in Ghana was 2006 on the Anastasis. I stayed at Faithful and Mary Biney in Tema. The Biney’s were one of the first friends Carla and I made when we joined Mercy Ships in 1983. Monday morning I had meetings at the Regional Maritime University in Accra. It is nice to see Ghana experiencing a time of stability and progress, new buildings and roads coming up everywhere. Most West African crew of the Africa Mercy come to Ghana to received maritime training. Wednesday I flew to Lome, Togo. The Africa Mercy arrived in Togo for a five months field service in February. In June, she leaves to the Canary Islands for the annual dry-dock. Last night I went with the Jesus Film to the fishing village of Catanga. It is fascinating to see how people are drawn to what the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The children are the first to come and the last to leave. Today, Saturday, is a day off onboard...

Churrascaria is a restaurant specialized in grilled meat, churrasco . While in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul our cousins Maidi, Marlise and Aquiles took us to a churrascaria rodizio ou espeto corrido . At a churrascaria rodizio you can eat as much as you are able to eat. The waiters come with skewers, slicing meat onto your plate.

Churrasco is a Portuguese and Spanish term for grilled meat. A typical Brazilian churrasco includes a variety of meats fraudinha, picanha, chicken heart, sausages, and chicken legs. Almost every house in South Brazil has a purpose-built " churrasqueira ". The meat is alternatively cooked on large metal skewers stuck into the churrasqueira and roasted with the embers of charcoal or wood. Carla and I had a wonderful churrasco at her brother Reinaldo and Rose’s house in Sao Leopoldo, picture bellow. 

One of the attributes of friendship is that it transcends time and space. Friends may be apart half way around the world, but the instant they get together it is like time and space never existed. This is not different with my friend Benoni and I. We became friends at seventeen and for a decade participate in the most memorable events of each other lives. This time in Rio we had the opportunity to catch up again.