I've recently gotten some additional details about my upcoming year in Africa. First the bad news - I will be sharing a room with 5 other people and we'll be sleeping in bunk beds. Yes, bunk beds - just like camp! I expect to meet some really interesting people from all over the world and now I'll be sharing close quarters with some of them.

Now for the good news. I will be spending the first five months living on the ship in the port of Monrovia, Liberia. Then sometime in early December, the ship will be sailing to the Canary Islands for about two months. The Canary Islands are owned by Spain and are located off the coast of NW Africa. During this time, the ship will be in dry dock (meaning it will be undergoing maintenance and stocking of supplies) and I will be living off-ship. I assume I will be working during those two months but I'm also envisioning plenty of beach time!!

After the break in the Canary Islands, we'll sail to Sierra Leone where we'll remain until I leave in July, 2008. Mercy Ships has an existing land office in Sierra Leone that focuses on the rehabilitation of land-mine victims. I haven't had much time to research Sierra Leone yet but I know they have spent many years in civil war until 2002.

After Sierra Leone, I hope to do a little traveling in Africa and then return home sometime towards the end of the summer of 2008.

My plane ticket is bought and I'm one step closer to Liberia. I leave Des Moines on June 28 and arrive in Monrovia on June 29. That will give me two days to recover before I start working. Here's my flight itinerary:

• AA446 Des Moines to Chicago 12:45 pm to 1:59 pm
• AA088 Chicago to Brussells, Belgium 4:30 pm to 7:40 am
• SN235 Brussells to Dakar, Senegal to Monrovia Liberia 9:40 am to 5:50 pm
• (Airline SN is called SN Brussells and it's the only non-African airline that flies into Liberia)

Thank you soooooo much to all of you who are supporting me financially and prayerfully! Less than three months to go.

Finally! After six long years of preparation, I'm finally ready for my journey to Africa. I'll be leaving for Monrovia, Liberia at the end of June, 2007 to work as a nurse for Mercy Ships for 12 months. I'll be living and working on the Africa Mercy while it remains docked in Monrovia. The Africa Mercy is the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world and it will be in its maiden voyage starting in Liberia. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the forgotten poor. One way Mercy Ships brings healing is by performing free surgeries aboard the Africa Mercy for those in need.

To learn more about this amazing ministry, checkout www.mercyships.org. Look at the Success Stories and you will be shocked and saddened at the types of hardships people endure in developing countries. I am posting a before and after picture of Edohm, a young girl with an unbelievable tumor. I know the picture is shocking - can you imagine living like this? I am posting this photo because I hope it triggers a spark that will make anyone who sees it want to reach out to a person in need - maybe someone at work, or a neighbor or someone halfway around the world.

May God's peace and mercy be a reality in your life today.