The run up to Christmas looked like chaos here on the the Global Mercy. Organised chaos but chaos nonetheless. There was an event almos every day, lights and trees populated every deck and the excitement was infectious. What a privilege it was to be this busy with so many beloved and wonderful friends! But it was a little overwhelming, so I am taking this time to reflect on the Christmas craziness!
On Thursday 21st December school officially finished for the semester. We had a long break, about 8 weeks to be exact! While Christmas was a whirlwind of activities it was also a great time to observe and feel the joy on the ship. One of many wonderful events was The Nativity, this one was callled “The Angel Who Nearly Missed it All”.
I was so proud of the children and all their hard work! They remembered their lines, showed off some wonderful acting skills and made the start of the Christmas period so special. The teachers worked hard organising, creating props and playing the songs in our classrooms every moment we could!
We also had a Christmas craft night, which made my craft heart happy! As well as this there was a Christmas market, crew members sold items they made. I love handmade products so this made me feel ready for Christmas.
Shortly after that was the variety show! Who knew the GLM had so many talented people on board? After that was a worship evening where the Key of Sea sang with some of the many amazing musicians aboard. While it felt a little outside my comfort zone (I was terrified) I enjoyed it, because it was the last time this particular Key of Sea would perform together!
https://youtu.be/ySfer7P42ys?si=yEhbHJYnmuTdsKm-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=GSz4_HNTmVE
Finally we celebrated Christmas Day together, starting with a Christmas breakfast, followed by church , a beautiful lunch and then a whole day of watching films with friends. Honestly, it was one of the best Christmases I have experienced. I felt loved and cherished, I gave some little gifts, I love gift giving! To be surrounded by family who you are not related to, is truly the greatest gift!
New Year’s eve was wonderful, I spent yet another wonderful day with friends watching films and then the GLM crew gathered on deck 11 to ring in the new year. The excitement was infectious and the anticipation for the new year and the joy it could hold was tangible. I felt excited and hopeful that 2024 would bring blessings.
This video shows the wonderful Christmas and New Year’s events: https://youtu.be/ytWh_v35nro?si=oLu3lWkZ4yKtMboY
In January I worked with the sales team which meant working in the ship shop, cafe and post office. All three are places I could never imagine myself in but I find that God likes to surprise me. I can now make a passable cup of coffee! I also got to know many more of the crew which was lovely! It was a wonderful time and an experience I will treasure!
School started on February 13th, with back to school night on the 12th. The new semester brought new teachers and some old friends! I feel very blessed to have this new team, they are equal parts wonderful, crazy, creative, loving and fun! We are an eclectic bunch and I am so happy they are here on the GLM!
We are in week seven of the second semester, which is wild! I feel like time has flown by and we are in the thick of it already! Grade 3 have been a real joy to teach, I love this time of the school year, where the rules are established and the relationships deepen. Don’t get me wrong, I have made many mistakes already, taught some lessons which need changing and faced challenges. But I have also laughed a lot, shown the children the wonder of learning and science (hopefully), made some lovely/educational crafts and (perhaps most importantly) I have learned from my students every day.
It has been a time rich in joy, laughter and learning! Sometimes I get a little too focused on getting the lesson done, the learning objectives achieved and the grading. But at the end of the day, I will never teach these children again, I only have a limited time to spend with them and that is precious! It is very easy to forget that I teach the whole child and that teaching is far more than imparting knowledge!
Some challenge’s over the last few months have been goodbyes! I have “see you latered” some wonderful friends and honestly, I still miss them! Ship life is the best but sometimes it is hard. Saying goodbye is good for our souls, because it is a part of life, but it hurts our hearts. The good news is that you get used to it. But the constant transition takes a toll and while it makes us strong in the long run, short term it can feel unbearable!
A highlight was Jabulani day, it is a day of celebration where the academy dress up. The theme this time was careers/jobs! Naturally I dressed up as an artist, but we had astronauts, crew clinic nurses, CEO’s, estate agents, ballerinas and chaplains!
Another highlight was the GLM film festival, affectionately known as the Nalgenies. It was so much fun, we had 16 incredible films and voted for the best in each category! I was briefly in two of them, despite telling myself I would avoid being in any! I prefer to be behind a camera! But I feel honoured to be part of something bigger than myself, and filming was a great time!
The people’s choice and a worthy winner: https://youtu.be/HN9mprhdxd8?si=u6bOlxRo2YFI2rX2
I know this update has been long overdue, but life gets busy on this ship! This is the home I never knew I needed, the family I never dreamed I would have and that alone is a reason to celebrate! Trials may come but God is bigger than any mountain I face, and easier to face with this amazing family around me!
All my love
Sarah
quietwordsnoisymind 