VIP's on the ship

We as Mercy Ships are the largest NGO working in this country - and get alot of VIP visitors here if you want to call it like that - the president, various people of the government (that Wolfgang often gets to treat for there is nowhere else to go for them, and many more).




But to tell you the truth, I don't really care how "important" people seem to be... when I chat with one of the crew members who is a very rich business man in his home country but comes here to SERVE in the dining room washing dishes.... or seeing Gary Parker who could earn millions of dollars at home as a maxillo-facial surgeon but chooses to live here with his family for 23 years now and being supported by friends and churches just like everyone else.... actually EACH person here giving up alot and serving here on the ship shows me the real VIP's here!!! Not talking about for example the parents of a little boy carrying him for days just to bring him to the ship where he could get helped with his disfiguring two clubfeet - something that make it impossible for him to walk himself... and now he can walk and run like any other child!


Anyway, there was a special "VIP" event not too long ago when the German Embassador came for a tour on the ship and visited with us Germans here on board, and I got some nice pictures from her visit and want to share them with you:




The German Embassador greeting each one of us Germans individually ...

What is one of the greatest treat for Germans? I guess fresh German (dark) bread, bread rolls, pretzels, croissants etc! Being here in Liberia and on the ship has his many challenges, but at the moment we are extremely spoiled to have a retired German baker on board who was looking for a way he could serve after the death of his wife.... and comes here every year now being a huge blessing to all of us. (To all of you who are retired: what a great way to invest yourself in whatever capacity!)

Another treat next to talking to a very nice and interested Embassador: Albert's German Apple Cake (the biggest miracle: where did he get the apples from..? that's what I, Andrea, probably miss the most here foodwise.... smile!)

And here a picture of most of us Germans being on board at the moment - a great bunch of wonderful people! Lots of VIP's so to say... smile!