Africa Mercy
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Sunday 29th, random city pictures
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Saturday 28th, 2 for 1 blog
Ventured out today to a tiny town of Teror. It was very quaint and reminded us a lot of Switzerland with the narrow streets and shops. We got into town after a 45 minute roller coaster through windy narrow roads that were so narrow in some places the bus barely made it through with oncoming traffic. Again reminds me of riding the bus in Switzerland. We had a nice pizza (since that is the one item we are sure of when we order), 2 coke lights, an espresso and donut and an appetizer of bread and a mojo sauce. Pronounced (moho) not like, "Getting your mojo on". I asked what the ingredients are but I didn't understand the answer, just that it is a Canaria item.
Below are pictures of the day, and tonight we are going to a futbol game between the ship's team and the ship yard workers. Game was canceled Wednesday night, so hopefully it will be on for tonight.
I have learned that tipping is not required or expected here so the $6.50 tip I gave the first night must have shocked the waiter but I would venture to say I made a friend.
Enjoy the pictures.
A wedding in town, we weren't invited but we showed up anyway!
The bride got out of a car and walked into the church.
The church in Teror
The one item we know how to order.
Mojo
Gargoyles on a church, of all places.
This is for my daugher,,,Haribo gummi bears and Haribo candy everywhere
Local grocery chain everywhere
Below are pictures of the day, and tonight we are going to a futbol game between the ship's team and the ship yard workers. Game was canceled Wednesday night, so hopefully it will be on for tonight.
I have learned that tipping is not required or expected here so the $6.50 tip I gave the first night must have shocked the waiter but I would venture to say I made a friend.
Enjoy the pictures.
Saturday 28th of June....weekend finally!
Well, it has finally arrived,,,the weekend of course. So looking forward again to a restful day after a long hard week. A lot was accomplished and we are proceeding on schedule. But as we all know about schedules, this could change.
I was able to finish the electrical in several areas that I was afraid would be too hard, but God enabled me and some of it turned out to actually be easy. I was shocked, not electrically, just in the awesomeness of being able to do it. Peggy continues to slave over a hot computer, and I do mean hot. The little corner of her world has 4 people, and that generates a lot of heat along with the computer. I was told that possibly we will be back in the water in 2 weeks, then the A/C will work.
They moved the large tanker that was next to us back to the water, so we lost some of our shade in the afternoon. It took 3 tractors to push it back down the dock into the lift that lowered them into the sea. I was told that we are the largest ship the dry dock can handle and it took 4 tractors to move us and they were straining hard.
Last night we had plans to leave the ship and walk to town, but I told Peggy "I can walk down the scaffolding, but there is no way I can walk back up, so unless you want to sleep on the dock, we better stay in tonight". It was a wise decision. We played canasta, (I beat the socks off her again) and then we watched some international ping pong on deck. So now, after a very restful evening, we will head out to explore an old city named 'Teror", I think. A large group of us are going by bus (gaugaus), which is pronounced "whawha" so it should be fun. Tomorrow we plan on attending "The International Church" which preaches in English and Spanish and is highly recommended.
I was able to go down and see the propellers and shafts being overhauled, and I have pictures attached. You cannot imagine the size of these things. One of the pictures shows Sara standing next to one of the 4 fins of the propeller and she is 5' tall. I show a picture of the bolts that hold the propeller on and you can judge the size by my hand. I was told, they have to heat the hub to something like 200 degrees Celsius in order to screw the bolts back in, then the hub cools off and locks the bolts in. Almost, if not all, of the work done on the propellers and shafts are done by hand.
Thanks for all the many, many prayers and encouraging words we are receiving. One of our devotions this week was "What is our purpose here" and it truly opens your eyes up to know why we are here doing what we are doing. Just as millions of servants serving God in all areas of ministry around the world, it is not about what we are "doing", but rather who we are serving in our "doing". So whatever God has called you to do, do it with all your might as to the Lord.!
Love to all
Ken and Peggy
ps. I was told that after 2-3 weeks, we should get used to the stairs..That is my #1 challenge right now.
Arie, enjoying is new toy, a headlamp,
Working on the shaft and hub
One of the propeller fins, 4 per shaft
Fin bolts to bolt on the fins
International ping pong
Water blasting and sand blasting, getting ready to paint
My super son in law
I was able to finish the electrical in several areas that I was afraid would be too hard, but God enabled me and some of it turned out to actually be easy. I was shocked, not electrically, just in the awesomeness of being able to do it. Peggy continues to slave over a hot computer, and I do mean hot. The little corner of her world has 4 people, and that generates a lot of heat along with the computer. I was told that possibly we will be back in the water in 2 weeks, then the A/C will work.
They moved the large tanker that was next to us back to the water, so we lost some of our shade in the afternoon. It took 3 tractors to push it back down the dock into the lift that lowered them into the sea. I was told that we are the largest ship the dry dock can handle and it took 4 tractors to move us and they were straining hard.
Last night we had plans to leave the ship and walk to town, but I told Peggy "I can walk down the scaffolding, but there is no way I can walk back up, so unless you want to sleep on the dock, we better stay in tonight". It was a wise decision. We played canasta, (I beat the socks off her again) and then we watched some international ping pong on deck. So now, after a very restful evening, we will head out to explore an old city named 'Teror", I think. A large group of us are going by bus (gaugaus), which is pronounced "whawha" so it should be fun. Tomorrow we plan on attending "The International Church" which preaches in English and Spanish and is highly recommended.
I was able to go down and see the propellers and shafts being overhauled, and I have pictures attached. You cannot imagine the size of these things. One of the pictures shows Sara standing next to one of the 4 fins of the propeller and she is 5' tall. I show a picture of the bolts that hold the propeller on and you can judge the size by my hand. I was told, they have to heat the hub to something like 200 degrees Celsius in order to screw the bolts back in, then the hub cools off and locks the bolts in. Almost, if not all, of the work done on the propellers and shafts are done by hand.
Thanks for all the many, many prayers and encouraging words we are receiving. One of our devotions this week was "What is our purpose here" and it truly opens your eyes up to know why we are here doing what we are doing. Just as millions of servants serving God in all areas of ministry around the world, it is not about what we are "doing", but rather who we are serving in our "doing". So whatever God has called you to do, do it with all your might as to the Lord.!
Love to all
Ken and Peggy
ps. I was told that after 2-3 weeks, we should get used to the stairs..That is my #1 challenge right now.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Tuesday night in Las Palmas
Well today was just another day in paradise, Las Palmas style. It really is a nice vacation area with beautiful beaches and lots of historical history...how do you like that description. They say there is a house here that Christopher Columbus stayed in but we haven't ventured out to find it. Lots of Spanish architecture and building along with lots of museums and theaters. Wouldn't mind coming back for a vacation.
Work continues along with progress being made every day. Peggy continues in HR and it really is different for her to be stuck in an office and using a scanner and computer for 8 hours. You know her, she is the people person and she needs lots of interaction,,and not with office equipment.
I continue to do electrical projects as needed, and no sparks today! I learn more and more about ship wiring and systems. There are 2 electricians from the Netherlands here who have worked ships and offshore rigs all their lives so they really have a leg up on me.
Got a chance to tour deck 1, which has ALL the engines, generators, systems that make this ship function and it is a conglomeration of stuff. Since we are in dock, nothing is running down there so the noise level and heat was a minimum, something that you can't do while at sea. I am posting pictures today of HR and the engine room tour. They have one propeller and shaft pulled and I went down to get pictures, but they have already taken them in for inspection. Hopefully, when they pull the other one I can get a picture. On the tour today, we saw where the shaft was pulled and a look at the other one before they pull it.
Tomorrow is hump day and we are already planning our week-end....WHOOPEE!!!!!
Love
To
All
Ken and Peggy
Have to open up and inspect all seawater valves to check for corrosion
1 of 2 sewage treatment plants on the ship
All part of the fire water system on board
Refrigeration equipment
1 of 13 water tight doors
UV water treatment in addition to chlorine
1 of 4 generators for power, in addition there are 2 generators that run the bow thrusters and emergency
Medical waste incinerator
Performing a 12,000 hour inspection of 1 of the generators
Back end of the 2 of the ships main engines, there are 2 engines that drive each of the 2 shafts, 4 all together
Fuel oil filter system, that have to purify and heat the fuel oil and lubrication oil
One of the main shafts with the outboard shaft gone
The other shaft being made ready for removal, the small shaft inside the large shaft controls prop pitch
There used to be a propeller and shaft here
Anchor and chain laid out on the dock for inspection
Arie and Lukas doing what we all do best,,,3 meals a day....
The lady in the forefront grew up on the Mercy Ship with her parents, now she is staff member
What I do at lunch,,,after eating.....power nap!
Work continues along with progress being made every day. Peggy continues in HR and it really is different for her to be stuck in an office and using a scanner and computer for 8 hours. You know her, she is the people person and she needs lots of interaction,,and not with office equipment.
I continue to do electrical projects as needed, and no sparks today! I learn more and more about ship wiring and systems. There are 2 electricians from the Netherlands here who have worked ships and offshore rigs all their lives so they really have a leg up on me.
Got a chance to tour deck 1, which has ALL the engines, generators, systems that make this ship function and it is a conglomeration of stuff. Since we are in dock, nothing is running down there so the noise level and heat was a minimum, something that you can't do while at sea. I am posting pictures today of HR and the engine room tour. They have one propeller and shaft pulled and I went down to get pictures, but they have already taken them in for inspection. Hopefully, when they pull the other one I can get a picture. On the tour today, we saw where the shaft was pulled and a look at the other one before they pull it.
Tomorrow is hump day and we are already planning our week-end....WHOOPEE!!!!!
Love
To
All
Ken and Peggy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)