Faith On Every Corner_Issue 2_Final_91617

The Bahamas trip would have to wait until next
fall. Ed and Cora sailed north towards Annapolis,
Maryland. Severe weather caused them into port
near Savannah, Georgia. While doing some sightseeing,
they noticed a rather large ship named the
Caribbean Mercy tied up at the dock. They were
conducting tours of some sort so we decided to go
on board. The ship, part of an organization called
Mercy Ships, was crewed by believers in Jesus
Christ and provided outreach, when invited, to
developing nations. Ed and Cora were impressed
by the education department where children of long
term crew members were schooled. They left a
donation check and went on their way. They then
sailed from Savannah to Charleston where they
planned to stay about 2 weeks because Cora wanted
to work on genealogy. About 2 days before they
planned to leave, the ship Caribbean Mercy came
into the harbor and tied up at the dock. Thinking
it very interesting that a Mercy Ship should come
into our lives again, they decided to go take another
tour. They were again impressed by the crew
and the work they did including surgery, general
health examinations and treatment, well drilling,
optical, dental, and evangelical outreach. The crew
members came from almost 20 different countries
and even more denominations. Leaving Charleston,
they knew that God was sending them a message;
find out more about the Mercy Ship organization.
Leaving their boat in Annapolis, Ed and Cora returned
to their home in Ohio.
They contacted Mercy Ships, applied for positions
and in less than a month, they were working at
the headquarters in Garden Valley, Texas. Ed was
working in the computer department and Cora in
the education department. They could live in their
newly acquired 5th wheel travel trailer that they
parked the Mercy Ship headquarters facility. After
about three months, Ed and Cora were led to join
the Caribbean Mercy Ship in its ministry. Before
being able to do that, they had to complete the
Mercy Ship Discipleship program which consisted
of about a month of classroom activities where they
heard several speakers from different aspects of
Mercy Ship’s activities in addition to exploring and
deepening their relationship with God and seeking
His guidance on how they could be used.
They contacted Mercy Ships, applied for positions
and in less than a month, they were working at
the headquarters in Garden Valley, Texas. Ed was
working in the computer department and Cora in
the education department. They could live in their
newly acquired 5th wheel travel trailer that they
parked the Mercy Ship headquarters facility. After
about three months, Ed and Cora were led to join
the Caribbean Mercy Ship in its ministry. Before
being able to do that, they had to complete the
Mercy Ship Discipleship program which consisted
of about a month of classroom activities where
they heard several speakers from different aspects
of Mercy Ship’s activities in addition to exploring
and deepening their relationship with God and
seeking His guidance on how they could be used.
They traveled to Juarez, Mexico where a house
was being built for one of the member families of
the sponsoring churches. During this time, they
worked very closely with the church members to
deepen their relationship and were encouraged to
spend a night with a church family. This night
touched Ed and Cora in many ways. The young
couple came from outside Juarez and their family
was very rich. But their family was Catholic, and
when the couple converted and became Protestants,
declaring their love and commitment to Jesus
Christ, they were disowned by their families. The
house was built of tin and whatever else could be
found. The family slept on dirt floors and their water
and bathroom facilities were outside. They had
only bare necessities for them and their children.
Cora says, “The thing that brought us to tears and
showed their level of Christian commitment was at
breakfast time. They had taken funds that would
have provided for them and bought items that they
thought Americans would normally eat for breakfast.
What an example of Christian hospitality!”
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