A five day voyage across Australia’s most treacherous waters, slamming full speed ahead at 13 knots in 10-12 foot seas doesn’t create a pretty picture, especially with 350 plus people living together. To me this voyage from the port of Geelong in Southern Australia to Albany in Western Australia is an adventure that I haven’t been able to get enough of since it started 3 days ago. The non stop pitch of the ship from front to back has 75 percent of the crew hugging their toilets and walking about aimlessly, pail faced, and fully equipped with a pillow in one hand and a plastic bag clinched tight in the other.
MORNING DEVOTIONS...
For those of us that have been feeling quite overwhelmed with our private space totally torn down this is a welcomed experience. The Ship is empty, there is plenty of space to read, listen to God, and Journal without the constant interruptions that found us in the port before. I am beginning to feel at Home here on the Doulos, being in strange villages and towns the only thing that remains constant in my life is this 94 year old ship. While in port, the Ship is such an attraction to the public (which is awesome) that it is very hard to find time to fellowship with those that are part of the crew, living on board. This voyage has really been a blessing for me to interact with people that I have seen but have yet to meet in port due to their or my business. Card games and Movie Nights are a big deal here while on voyages, since no one can leave the ship it is a great way to get close to our “House mates”.
FELLOW DECKIES LEONARD (KENYA) AND NICKERSON (FIJI ISLANDS)
In the Deck Department we meet every morning before work and have devotions together, which usually entails, prayers, acoustic praise and worship with our manly bass filled voices, then team announcements. The thirty plus deckhands are broken down into work groups consisting of 6-8 people per team. This has been a blessing for me to work, laugh, and pray hard with the guys in my team. God has already given me insight into what the next 2 years will be like working within these same groups while developing life long friendships with fellows from; Fiji, Germany, New Zealand, Kenya, and Sweden. One of the things I enjoy most about my time here has been these devotions. Being able to surrender my Day and especially my attitude to the Lord in prayer with my brothers has been Epic. I can’t imagine living a Life or working a job without having this. It is such an incredible action to take part in before doing anything else, Thank you Lord!! The past few Nights I have been laying awake in my bunk unable to sleep because of the pure excitement and Joy that God has put in my Life everyday. I am so blessed to have this experience in Life, Apart from God’s direction and Your support I would never be here to Live this, so I thank you once again.
OUR WARM NIGHT WATCH BOX
Please keep our next port of Albany in your prayers, while we are only there for a short time (5 days) there seems to be some trouble brewing with the harbor master. While we do have permission to be there and we are invited, this particular man does not believe in our cause and has vowed to make our short stay very difficult. We will not be allowed to have sewage lines run from the port, so we need to pay trucks to come, which is very expensive and not something we normally encounter. This man has also criticized the Doulos for many things that aren’t true. I believe that He is angry at God for some reason and taking it out on us. Either way, I have been praying for God to change His heart and to allow this man to open His heart to God’s grace and forgiveness and to accept salvation, furthermore please keep this man in your prayers. Also here in Australia they have a very strict security policy, which means we have not had the freedom to evangelize to people in the streets, or share the gospel through mimes or dramas like we usually do. It’s hard to believe that such a tolerant western country like Australia would have such strict rules and enforce them so aggressively. On the other hand we had a tremendous turnout from people in Geelong coming through the Bookstore and the tours of the ship itself. Sometimes I forget how powerful the Ship itself is in Ministry, and How God can use this 94 year old, rusty, slow, Ship for His marvelous Glory.
OUR HOME DURING VOYAGE
How are you doing? What’s new in your Life? I miss you a lot and I miss not hearing from you on a regular basis. The ship does have a fully equipped satellite, and the best part is the phone number to the Ship is a U.S. Number based in Broward County, Fl (Ft Lauderdale). Meaning I can receive calls from you all just like I was back in the states at no additional or long-distance charges, Amen. We have operators on board that will take the calls then page us on the ships P.A. system telling us we have a very special phone call. Quite a comfort, I Know but if you saw the size of the cockroaches in my bed/bathroom you would realize that everything balances out Here is the phone number (1-954-518-7219) for those of you that would like to give me a call and encourage me along this journey.
Until next time friend,
May God soak you in
HIS joy,
compassion,
and encouragement.
Tranquil SEA
SUNRISE
GODS GLORY!!!!!!!
SUNSET
It is cool to hear from your eyes wheat is going on. Sort of feel like I could be there. Beautiful pix. Hope to call you sometime soon.
By: Mick Haupt on October 6, 2008
at 3:12 pm