Box Ship News

issue 2 Disclaimer: We serve with Mercy Ships. Everything here, however, is our personal opinion and is not read or approved before it is posted. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercy Ships.

Presidential Dinner by Alanah Palmer

Near the beginning of this outreach, on February 22nd 2009, Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni, the current President of Benin, visited the Africa Mercy. While on the ship he visited the hospital, gave an encouraging speech for the entire crew and upon leaving, he invited the whole crew to join him at the presidential palace for dinner. A date was scheduled but as the day drew nearer the President had an unplanned matter to attend to, so the event was postponed. It was rescheduled a few more times, and each time the crew wondered if it was really going to ever happen. Earlier this week however, the crew were able to take him up on his invitation. Buses were hired to transport all the crew members who weren’t on duty, and everyone arrived wearing their best formal wear. Some people got African outfits made specially for the occasion. Once the buses made it through the front gate everyone was ushered into a large hall. After waiting there, enjoying cold drinks, everyone was escorted into an even bigger, beautifully decorated, room. Many crew members commented that it looked like it was decorated for a wedding, with each individual chair wrapped in material and ribbon that matched the decorated pillars around the room. After everyone was

seated, the national anthem was played and the President was announced. Don and Deyon Stephens, the founder and cofounder of Mercy Ships, were awarded the highest award in Benin. Dr. Gary Parker was given an award last time the Anastasis was in Benin and was once again acknowledged. Ken Berry and Daslin Oueunou were also given awards. After these awards were given out, Don Stephens presented the President with a picture of the Africa Mercy in port that was made up of hundreds of pictures from this outreach. Once the ceremony was finished, dinner was served and the crew had a choice of many delicious Beninois dishes,

Interview with Robin Newsam pg. 2

Review on the TV show PINGU pg. 3

including fish, chicken, rabbit, and lamb with an assortment of rice, noodles and potatoes. Dessert was fresh fruit that had been arranged into culinary pieces of art. The President had arranged special enter-

Another MiniAdventure of Furry Fury and Pon Pon pg. 3 tainment, and we were entertained by dances from all over Benin. The dance group presented a traditional mask dance from the north, as well as dances from the west and from Abomey, the centre of Benin. Though the night was long, the crew thoroughly enjoyed the great honour of attending a state dinner. It was also an honour to see members of the organization receive such high medals of recognition and thanks.

Box Ship News

Too Close to Call By Tommy Farrell

Saturday November 7th saw the most important football match in the Africa Mercy’s season. (In actual fact, pretty much the only full 11 a side game of the season). The team from the ship was facing the strong challenge offered by the Beninois Day Volunteers. It was real privilege to get the opportunity to play at the plush Benin Marina Hotel – the training ground for the Benin National Team. The perfectly manicured carpet of completely, flat grass provided a beautiful surface for playing (although the strange omission of a marked 18 yard box was puzzling).

Robyn Newsam By Chris Cole and John Palmer

Robyn Mark Newsam has been working with Mercy Ships for 5 years now. He has worked in food services and as a galley store- man on both the Anastasis and the Africa Mercy. He has also worked as a baker and spent some time in housekeeping. He is currently the ship librarian. Where are you from? I’m from England. How is your family doing? My dad and my sister a both still alive. What kind of school did you go to growing up? Did you go to College? I went to a 700 year old, modern

issue 2

The two sides rose to the occasion and started very competitively with a real battle in midfield. The referee quickly established his authority in the game, refusing to allow over-enthusiastic tackles from either side. Although his timekeeping was slightly suspect with a first half of 39 minutes and a second of 64 minutes. The game continued in the tight manner throughout both halves with neither team having many clear chances. The Mercy Ships side used their fresh players at the start of the second half to force the pace of the game, but the disciplined defence of the Day Volunteers stood firm. Although the final score remained at 0-0 the supporters had seen a competitive and hard fought game of football. Their patience and vocal support were rewarded when the referee decided the game should be decided with a Penalty Shoot out. The Africa Mercy team won the toss and decided to take the first

kick. A powerful shot put the ship team ahead. The first kick from the Day Volunteers was hit hard and high towards the top right corner but that was not enough to make it past the goalkeeper, Samuel Slennett, who saved it at full stretch. The second kick was expertly dispatched by the ship team, piling on the pressure to the Day Volunteers. Their second kick was also hard and right. But again Samuel was up to the job of keeping it out resulting in a score of 2-0 after two kicks each. The third kick for both teams were scored leaving the score at 31. The fourth kick for the Africa Mercy would decide the match and was expertly taken to deny the Day Volunteers the chance of lifting the prestigious Africa Mercy Cup. Although Samuel Slennett produced an outstanding performance in goal for the shoot out, the man of the match was awarded to central defender Erik Ahlgren; who battled for 90 minutes in the hot African sun to repel the best attacks from the Day Volunteers.

grammar state school, which later on while I was in my final 4 years, changed to a comprehensive school. What was your favourite subject in school? History, even though my teacher was a bit scary. What was your most memorable moment as a child? Being rushed to hospital at the age of 7 What was your favourite hobby as a child? I read a lot, I was a book worm, but not so much now. What jobs have you worked outside of mercy ships? What was your favourite? I worked 10 years with Her Majesties government department doing administrative work. I did paper work and managed statistics there. My favourite job was when I served as an Outdoor court Clark.

What is your favourite meal? Full English Breakfast or Rice and Potatoes Greens Do you like cats or dogs the best, and why? Cats because they actually like me. Dogs just bark at me! What is your favourite book? Little Woman by Louisa M. Alcott What is your favourite movie? I was really impressed with the Matrix. What has been your favourite country that you have been to on this planet? By the time we left Liberia, I had become quite fond of the country.

Box Ship News

issue 6

ing and patient parents. His father is a postman and his mother is a By Alisia Jacobsen stay-at-home mom who cooks, cleans, and looks after Pingu and Pinga. They both share the tasks like knitting, cooking, cleaning and looking after the kids. Academy Christmas In one of the episodes — called Pingu is Jealous— Pingu is Play following the jealous of little baby Pinga who is story of a boy on a receiving all of their mom’s attention, and he tries everything to get journey to Bethlehem his mother’s attention. It doesn’t to find the true meanAnyone who has a child work and in end he hides in his toy about 2-5 years of age has probabox, but then his mom comes and ing of Christmas. bly heard of Pingu; the penguin takes him out. In the vey end who has such funny, human charPingu and Pinga share the cradle acteristics. The show Pingu was for a nap. In another entertaining first aired in 1986 and ran four seaepisode, Pingu and Pingo (Pingu’s sons until 1998 on the Swiss TV friend) go to build an igloo. Once channel RTSI. In 2001 HiT Enterat the site they set to work decidtainment bought the UK rights to ing where to build the igloo, and Pingu for £15.9 million or 26.5 then they started to fight on where million U.S. dollars. In 2005 on to build it. After about one minute Buy a PBS Kids Sprout started to run they split up and start to build their finished Pingu and then was removed in own separate igloos. Slowly they April of this year. The main chartake blocks until there is only one booklet of acters in Pingu are as follows: left, which they fight over. Then the backPingu—the accident-prone main you see Pingu’s stack of blocks character who annoys his parents fall over and Pingo starts to laugh ground story of how easily. He is able to change himand then Pingo’s stack of blocks Furry Fury and Pon self into different shapes, and falls over and Pingu starts to laugh. make himself taller. He also has a Pon became SuperheIn the end they realize that they megaphone-like beak gesture and can’t make an igloo by themselves is famous for his exclamation of roes for only and start to work together. Once “NUGG - NUGG!". Pinga— they completed the igloo they cents! Pingu’s sister, is shown to be difshare a blanket and eat some fish. ferent ages ranging from eighteen By not speaking Pingu months up to a few episodes in shows good life lessons that both Contact Carys Parker (6423) or which she is in kindergarten. parents and kids can learn from. Linde Tvedt (7219). Mother and Father are Pingu’s lov-

Pingu

The Bethlehem Express

The Adventures of Furry Fury and Pon Pon

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Box Ship News

issue 6

CRUSING FOR MURDER Fun photos taken at Linde Tvedt’s 14th birthday party!

KNOCK KNOCK JOKES Knock knock. Who’s there? Repeat. Repeat who? Who who who. Knock knock. Who’s there? Little old lady. Little old lady who? I didn’t know you could yodel! Knock knock. Who’s there? Alex. Alex who? Al explain later, open the door! Thanks to Bonny Jean Worland for the Knock Knock jokes

DINGBATS

Example:

by Emma Cole

HANDED

Quite easy: all you need to do is decipher the common phrase from each box given. For example: this example box has the word ‘HANDED’ to the left side of the box. So, the answer is the phrase ‘left-handed’...get it? The answers are given at the bottom of this page.

1

2

FISH

WATER

3

HANDS HANDS

DECK 5

2

6

2

4

BEGGARS MOFOOTUTH = CHOOSERS 7

8 NaCl NaCl

2 2

TERRIBLE 2

2

ALE G

2

DOG

2

2 2

NaCl NaCl

NaCl NaCl NaCl

NaCl NaCl NaClNaCl NaCl

NaCl NaCl

NaCl NaCl

NaCl

NaCl

NaCl

NaCl

NaCl NaCl

NaCl NaClNaCl NaCl NaCl NaCl NaCl NaCl NaCl NaCl NaCl

Answers to dingbats puzzle: 1. fish out of water, 2. two hands on deck, 3. foot in mouth, 4. beggars can’t be choosers, 5. the terrible twos, 6. underdog, 7. break a leg, 8. saltwater.