Easter

As I stepped into the room, I did not recongize it covered in white sheets, pillows, and candles on the floor. Could this be where we had hospital meetings during the sail, where dinner is served to special guests, and where crew gather together to watch movies on the weekend? This week the Queen’s Lounge was transformed into the Upper Room where Jesus met with his disciples to have the Passover. Then outside on deck 7, towels and baskets are set at each chair. We wash each other’s feet as Jesus did for his disciples. In the International lounge, all your senses point to a garden; it is the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent his final hours praying… Could you keep watch and pray even for a hour?

This was just Thursday and the four-day weekend began the next day for most of the crew. Groups left for the beach or for a weekend excursion up-country. I lay in my bed on Good Friday with the worst cold ever. I still have not figured out how I come down with colds in Africa. I was restless from resting and eventually took a stroll into town Saturday evening. I spent a couple hours on the dock watching the sunset and waves crash along the coast of the fishing village.

Holidays always bring homesickness, but it cured in an instant seeing my adopted family of 400 come together to celebrate Easter. We gather for hot cross buns and coffee following the sunrise service. Our stomachs wait in anticipation for a wonderful brunch after church. We follow each other in to the International lounge for worship and celebration. The children sing, we declare “Christ is risen indeed!”, scripture is read, the youth perform, a message is shared, and then we partake in the Lord’s Supper. What a honor it was to serve communion to the crew this year. I looked into my friends’ eyes as they dipped their bread into the wine… “This is Jesus’ blood shed for you. I bent down so the children could reach the cup… “He died on the cross for you.” I have done communion countless times, but this time was different. His body broken, his blood shed on the cross… The magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice overwhelms me this Easter. How he loves us all, no matter what we have done. For those that believe, we will never have to face death, because Christ has overcome it for us. I will finish this blog as we finished the service, singing praises, with my favorite hymn... In Christ Alone. Happy Easter!

"In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless Babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From a life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Could ever pluck me from His hand

'Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand"

Lyrics by K. Getty, K.Towend

Photo by Maggie Hill