Update May 2006

Hey guys,

I know it seems like it was only two weeks ago that I sent my last update (well that’s because it was – a bit delayed on the communication front recently).

Right what happened in May eh? Well we finished installing all the pipework for the Medical Gas equipment. Now all we have to do is wire it all up and get it started (plus make a few adjustments and make sure it all works!). Oh and do my favourite of all other jobs – leak checking :-(!!

We also spent 2 weeks installing all the new water pipework for the Hospital Sterilizers. This as the name suggests disinfects all the hospital tools and equipment. This was cool to be back on the hospital deck and see the massive progress being made there. Most of the ceilings are now up and the temporary lights are coming down and the new installed ones are being used.

Also this last week we have installed the X-ray machines. We have two x-rays, one for full body and one for facial x-rays. We had a team of experts come in from the States and we got it all installed and working in 2 days. Not bad I think.

Right that’s the progress on the ship, now quite a few people have been asking what the news is that I mentioned in my last letter. Don’t worry I am now getting married or anything!! As 15th June I’ll be taking 2 months away from Newcastle and Mercy Ships to go back to my parents and get some paid employment. This last year has been more expensive than I budgeted for, as I have been living in the UK and not in the considerably less expensive Africa. Plus as I am staying on the Ship for significantly longer than what I previously expected, I need to return home and raise some more funds. I hope to get a temping job in a warehouse or factory for about 8 weeks and also to go back to Cardiff to visit my home Church and update them on what I have been upto.

It’s getting quite sad here at the moment as many of our crew here in Newcastle are heading off the Ghana to join our sister ship the Anastasis on her final Outreach. I am losing my house parents Robert and Susan and many of my friends. But it’s cool, there will be more technical crew coming in to continue the refurbishment. Plus there is now talk of Sea Trials for the ship so these next few months are going to be exciting (unfortunately I won’t be up here!)

So ta-ta for now from me.
And maybe see some of you guys when I return down south.

Paul Waldron – Project Team –Mercy Ships.