Independence Day and Farewell

Today was Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence Day. The day was complete with lots of loud music, crowds of people, street vendors, and fireworks. We had a nice Indian dinner together as ships company and met together in the Logos Lounge for a farewell/thank you service for our director onboard. Him and his family are going to be leaving in a couple of weeks and going back home to Australia to continue working with OM there. After the service we all gathered up on Deck 9 to take in Trinidad and Tobago’s fireworks. They launched them from the dock directly across from our ship. It was a pretty amazing show! Any time I see fireworks anywhere other than home I am always left a bit disappointed because no one can do fireworks like Bettendorf, but I have to say, Tobago put up a pretty good fight. I was very impressed with their finale, not only was it almost too much for the eyes to handle but they also set off some pretty loud explosives, it was awesome!!! We ended the night back down in the dining room with an ice cream sundae bar. All in all, it was a good day of celebration.

I'm still alive!

Wow! 2 Months. I am so sorry I have not been keeping you updated. Those of you who were actually following my blog have probably given up on me by now, but don’t give up completely. I’m back! And I will try to do my best to give you regular updates again so that you all can feel like you are sharing in my journey. The last 2 months in bullet form: a very brief summary…

• Participated in some great ministry in the port of Cardiff. I got to help in giving out food to some of the homeless and spent the evening in the streets talking with many of them. I was amazed at how much they opened up and were willing to share their stories. Both times I went I was given the chance to pray with someone and felt so much joy in my heart that I could give them a piece of hope. I pray that God will complete the work that was started.
• Survived a smolder fire that started in the toilet paper storage room onboard the ship while sailing from Cardiff to London. Our fire team responded quickly and got things under control with no one injured and very little damage.
• Spent a few weeks in London ministering to the multi-cultural population that exists there. Got to take a tour of the city in a red double-decker bus and prayed for the needs of the city and for God to intervene.

• Got to help lead worship for the official opening of our Hope Theater on Deck 3. This is where many of our onboard ministries and programs now take place. It can seat about 400 people.
• Celebrated the 4th of July with the American’s onboard in Cork, Ireland. Was great to celebrate our countries freedom but more so to celebrate the freedom we have in Christ and to pray for others to experience that freedom.
• Spent 14 days sailing across the Atlantic. What an amazing time together as a ship community. God did many great things during the voyage. We came together in unity and experienced rest and refreshment from our Savior. We enjoyed quiet days, work days, family night, barbeque’s outside on Deck 9, prayer nights, worship nights, movie nights, fun/talent night, saw dolphins and whales, beautiful sunsets, nothing but ocean for miles and miles and so much more. I think I have been mostly cured of my sea-sickness (praise the Lord) and was able to really enjoy the voyage. 

• Arrived safely to the Caribbean and just finished our first port of St. Vincent’s and the Grenadines. We had over 43,000 people come onboard the ship. We sold more books in that one port than we sold in the last 4 ports in Europe. We sent out 22 sports teams, about 30 church teams, and saw over 100 people accept Christ, Amen!
• Arrived in Grenada this morning and are preparing for the ministry here. We have our official opening tomorrow and are looking forward to all that God is going to accomplish during our stay.