Our 2nd Season

It’s hard to believe that we are midway through October and the first quarter of the school year is behind me! It just doesn’t seem possible. There is a ship saying that says ‘the days are long, but the weeks are short’. I get that now. Time here feels somehow different than it does at ‘home’. It’s hard to explain because it feels as though time stands still, but at the same time, passes so very quickly. In any case, we are feeling settled in our new home and have established a routine.

I am teaching 3rd grade and have 5 students. Yes, FIVE. It is extremely different having such a small class! Some things are obviously easier, but a small class has its struggles as well. I can say with all honesty, of my 26 years in teaching, this is the BEST year yet. I think there are many reasons this is true, and perhaps I’ll write a separate post dedicated to my thoughts on this, but for now, I am just so blessed and grateful that I am here, on this ship, in Africa, doing what I love!

Our weekdays begin at 5:45 when Matt gets up and walks 2-3 miles into and around Freetown. I haven’t mustered up the courage to brave the traffic on foot yet…but I think I will get there. Instead, I stay in our cabin and do some morning Yoga (stretching). We then get ready for our workday, head up one deck to the dining room, where we share morning coffee and conversation with our Mercy Ship family. At 7:45 we are engaged in our morning devotionals. The teachers in the Academy (school) each take one day a week to deliver a devotional, and Matt visits other departments and listens in, or gives a devo himself. It’s a wonderful way to begin each day! We usually finish our day between 1630-1700 and meet back at our cabin where we talk together about our day before heading up to dinner. There is always something happening in the evening; bible studies, prayer groups, worship, medical in-service (all are welcome to attend), visiting hours with patients, pickleball, boxing class…and the list goes on! If you are bored, you’re bored on purpose 🙂

Weekends take on a different vibe. We sleep in a bit and usually grab a quick breakfast in the dining room. Lunch is not served on weekends but there is food available (usually left overs from the previous night’s dinner) for crew to pack up at breakfast and take back to our cabin for later. Matt passed his driving ‘test’ and is now a ‘ship driver’, meaning we have more freedom to explore Freetown on our own. We have been venturing out the past few weekends and have been to the beach, a few local coffee places, a favorite ice cream shop, and the grocery store. In two weeks we will be taking our first overnight trip to Bo to participate in a 5k race!

I seem to catch all the various bugs that float (pun intended) around on ship, and even had to self-isolate for 48 hours. Overall, though, it hasn’t been too bad. Matt has managed to dodge all the germs, thank goodness. I am feeling great now though, and I’m looking forward to spending time with some of the patients. There are visiting hours every evening, which provides us with the opportunity to engage with patients-the heart of our mission. I am also going to help teach reading to some of the youngest patients in the low care unit 2 nights a week. I’m really looking forward to connecting to the mission in this way.

My time here, although brief, has been incredible. Yes, some days are hard, I miss our family, our friends, and some of the comforts of home. But I am at peace. There are so many amazing, faithful, selfless people on this journey. My faith grows stronger each day and I know I am where God wants me to be.

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

P.S. We LOVE to hear from family and friends back home! Please feel free to send us an email, card, or Facebook message. We are also both on WhatsApp (using our same cell phone numbers). We can get mail and small packages (under 4 lbs and no batteries, food or liquids) via crew mail, which takes about 10 days. The address for crew mail is :

Matt & Marci Murray

Mercy Ships GLM CREW MAIL

15862 State Hwy 110 N

Lindale, TX 75771-6763

If you want to send something over 4 lbs, or something with liquid/food, it must go in a container (can take up to 3 months) and is shipped with a slightly different address:

Matt & Marci Murray

Mercy Ships GLM CONTAINER

15862 State Hwy 110 N

Lindale, TX 75771-6763

For those of you who have asked for ideas, we have an Amazon Mercy Ships Blessing List

(please NEVER feel obligated to send anything!) More than anything else, we want your letters, cards and prayers.