Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Clouds


We've been back on the ship for a week now and I really felt led to express my thoughts about this week.  Our very first week on the ship in July of 2012 was one of the hardest of our lives.  Adalynn and Cora were not sleeping and so we did not sleep. John's job was overwhelming. We had just moved our family to a ship!!  It was a really rough time for us.  We thought we were moving to the ship to be missionaries and that life would automatically be good and easy and we were SO wrong.  We were trying really hard not to approach this transition with dread.  This morning I read in my devotional about a movie that was being made about WWI and that they had to postpone filming for several days because there weren't any clouds in the sky.  The producer said that the aerial fight scenes wouldn't be the same with a blue sky. They needed clouds to give perspective and make the film better.  The devotion related this to life, that sometimes the clouds are needed to give us perspective.  We had those clouds and I am so thankful to say that this week back has been amazing and we recognize the perspective that those clouds gave us.
We learned a lot in this last year and I think we were able to approach this move back to the ship in a different light.  We didn't have the false idea that life would be perfect but we also didn't come feeling completely pessimistic.  I think we came knowing that life was not always going to be easy but that the Lord has led us here and he will carry us through whatever pitfalls we encounter.  We spoke with a lot of our friends and family about the prayers we needed to make it through this transition.  I am so grateful to say that we have felt God's peace and all those prayers answered so vividly.

I wanted to write this blog because I don't want to miss the opportunity to praise God for the amazing answers to prayer and peace that he has given us in this time.  Last night we all slept through the ENTIRE night!!  Yes, that means that I didn't wake up AT ALL for any of my children.  This is a huge milestone.  Time and time again John and I feel that we have been attacked with lack of sleep. I think it is one way Satan has brought us down as a family.  We knew going into a transition overseas with 3 children that lack of sleep was a very real possibility.  We did have 3 nights in a row of the girls waking up to play in the middle of the night (including Cora singing "If You're Happy and You Know it".... at midnight". Lets just say we did not clap our hands.)  But instead of becoming overwhelmed and down about it all we really took it in stride, blamed jet lag and made it through.  Now after one short week we are all sleeping well-Praise Jesus.
The girls have adjusted so well! They love school on the ship and they love all the constant attention.  When I ask them if they want to eat dinner in our cabin or down in the dining hall they both say they want to eat with "all the people".  The things we thought would be overwhelming and take them time to adjust to have been a breeze.  Once again, answered prayers and the Lord's faithfulness in carrying us through this time.  Jack has assumed his role as the "youngest crew member" very well. He is such a laid back baby and has really not missed a beat with all this transition.   I got to take a walk into town with him on Sunday with our friend Gretchen.  We walked to a little café about a mile or so from the ship.  We got ice cream and Jack was swept away immediately by the ladies running the café.  They carried him around for most of the hour we were there, talking to him and showing him to all their friends.  They then asked if we named him after Jack Bauer.  And that is why I love Africa!

So, thank you for your thoughts and your prayers. Thank you for your continued support.  We look forward to our continued transition back and look forward to learning more about what it means to see the Lord through the clouds of life.  We feel so blessed to be here and to be able to serve in this way with such an amazing group of people standing behind us.  We will do our best to keep you updated and hopefully soon give you a little taste of Congo.  But, for now, join us in praising God for his faithfulness and also enjoying some fun pictures of our first week back!

The girls ready to head to school.  Adalynn goes to the preschool and Cora to the nursery.  Both get to go 3 mornings a week from 9-12. Their classes join each other for snack and recess.
Saying "goodbye" to Jack before leaving for school.





Playing on "deck 8".  This is the top deck of the ship. They have a little jungle gym with a slide and some tricycles to ride around.  Adalynn was so excited that she was big enough now to pull Cora on this tricycle.

Swinging on "deck 7".  This is where they spend most of their time playing outside. It's where the school has recess too.  They love the swings. From here we have a view of the dock and the patients waiting to get onto the ship.

A view of the dock from deck 7.  The tents and patient waiting area is behind me the other way.



Dancing in the cabin after I got it finally all cleaned up and all our stuff put away.  It feels good to be back to our small home on the ship.
Saturday morning we took the girls swimming. There is a pool made from an old container on the top deck of the ship.  The girls had a great time!


Jack just sunbathed and slept by the side of the pool.



You can see all  the large ships all around us in the port from the view off the pool deck (and Jack chilling in the foreground).
Another view of the port from the pool deck. That green floor is "deck 8" where the girls were riding the bike.

Jack looking super grown-up! 

Monday, March 10, 2014

We made it!

 Thank you to all of you for your many prayers for our journey to Congo.  We arrived safely yesterday around 3pm Congo time (8am Colorado time).  From door to door it was 36 hours of travel. A feat we hope to never do again.  

To say that prayers were felt would be an understatement. We felt surrounded by the Lord's peace and calm. The girls did amazing and Jack pretty much slept and smiled the entire trip! We sat next to a family with triplets about Jack's age so we felt like we had it easy compared to them! We were able to get seats in the bulk-head with a bassinet. This was such a great blessing and allowed for a bit of extra room for the girls (and us) and a place for Jack to sleep.  He even enjoyed just lying in the bassinet and staring at the seatbelt and no-smoking lights :)  

We were exhausted when we arrived but we were able to have some dinner and go to bed at our normal bedtime. We all slept really well and felt a bit rested this morning.  Tonight was a harder night for the girls to get to sleep as I think they are experiencing the jet lag they were too tired to feel last night.  Please pray that they would adjust quickly so that they are not too tired over these next few days.

Our first day on the ship today was really good. Adalynn woke up this morning and really wanted to go to school.  She's been talking about her school for months and she couldn't wait to go back.  We weren't planning on them going to day, thinking they'd be so tired but she insisted and she had a great time. Cora ended up going to her nursery class for the morning as well. They meet up with Adalynn's class for snack and recess so they enjoyed that very much.  It was so sweet to reunite with so many of our ship friends.  People gave us a really amazing welcome. Our cabin was clean and the beds were all set up. They even hung our pictures up for us to make it feel like home (we had to take everything down while we were gone as others used our cabin).

We are excited about our transition back and continue to be thankful for your prayers for us during this time.

I've included some pictures from our travel below!

Also wanted to let you know how you can contact us.

Email:  is always a great way. This email is fine or you can send one to our personal emails if you prefer.  traceylwall@gmail.com or johnwall215@yahoo.com.

I Message: Our I-message account is johnwall215@yahoo.com

Phone: Our number is a Florida number so it is free to call us from your cell phone.  Just remember we are 7 hours later than you (if you are in Colorado).  Our number is 

Mail:  We love to receive mail!!  It is free for us to receive letters of any kind and they usually get here in a couple weeks!  Our address is:

The Walls
M/V Africa Mercy-Crew Mail
PO box 2020
Lindale, TX  75771

Packages: It costs us $8/lb to receive a package directly (ie: to above address) so if you want to send us something that will get here in 2-3 weeks we ask that you please include some money for the shipping costs to receive it.  If you want to send something that can get here in 2-3 months instead you can send it to the same address but include FOR CONTAINER ONLY and it will be free for us and arrive on our shipping container 2-3 months after you send it. Address it  like this:

The Walls
M/V Africa Mercy-FOR CONTIANER ONLY
PO Box 2020
Lindale, TX 75771


Adalynn watching a movie while eating!

Cora having fun with the iPad

Jack sleeping away in his bassinet.