Making Friends In Montenegro

Logos II recently visited newly independent Montenegro.  Here’s one visitor’s experience of being on board:
HI, I am Marija and I am student from Kotor… You were in Kotor, I was on ship every day, I met very good and interesting people there, they are now my friends. I have to say that I didn’t imagine that people from the ship are so kind. I started to think about GOD on different way and I was impressed because I have never seen that someone worship GOD on that way. I would like to be member of your crew….. now I am sending you lot of hugs and greetings from MONTENEGRO

Team Supper

All those working at the ships head office will agree their role is more than a job. As a Christian organisation we are also a community, which involves praying together and supporting each other inside and outside of work. This is especially important given that most of the team are not from Germany. The monthly team supper is just one way we build that sense of community – everyone brings food to share and the family members of office staff are warmly encouraged to join.  Yesterday was the first time this year we could enjoy the event in the scenic garden surrounding the ships office. Praise God for the beautiful weather which made that possible.

Hitomi’s Coming!

It’s good to have friends… Serving at the ship’s head office here in Mosbach, it’s reassuring to know that friends from around the world are supporting and praying for us. We’re always ready to welcome visitors to stay a few nights with us, but we know for most folk work and / or family commitments make that difficult. That’s why we’re particularly excited that Hitomi, a friend and supporter from Japan is coming to visit us for a week. Besides seeing the work we’re involved in, we’ll also take her out sightseeing around the south Germany region. With Hitomi’s arrival, the number of Japanese in Mosbach will have probably doubled. Nobby’s looking forward to speaking her first language again!

154 & Counting

Over four decades of ministry, OM Ships have called at 154 countries and territories. Here are two recent emails we received from countries the ships haven’t been to! George works as a United Nations translator in landlocked Macedonia: During our recent stay in Kotor, Montenegro we visited Logos II. I was leading a group of UN personnel and they were all very satisfied with your amazing project. We bought a lot of books and when I returned to my home in Macedonia I am telling the story of your ship to all of my friends. Keep up the good work and may God bless you! Oscander lives in a very different part of the world and he also contacted us with a simple request: I´m praying one day you can visit us in Cuba.

Graduating From OM Ships

Most people serve on board OM Ships for two years (we were a little longer) – but what happens next? Ship life features many training and learning opportunities, for life and future Christian service. Through his cross-cultural experiences on board, Paul found a job teaching in Japan (despite having no teaching qualification!). Nobby went on to help the Japan CCC office. Other ships graduates taking what they learned to keep serving the worldwide Church include; Stuart (Scotland) who new serves with OM Sweden; Taru (Finland) who will work with orphans in Cambodia; Reinhold (Namibia) is now a youth worker in his home country. Time spent on board is a real investment for the future!

Meeting A Need

The literature on board OM Ships is a vital resource for many lower-income countries. In places like the Caribbean, the ship’s educational titles have made a massive difference, as shown by this request that came through the Logos II website: I work with the Clarendon Parish Library under the Jamaica Librray Service. The organization has visited the Logos II and find that material on the ship is very useful to our organization especially the National Reading Competition. For this I am writing requesting information of your next visit to Jamaica so that the opportunity does not miss us and also put in place measures to access the service that you offer. I therefore await your reply. Thank you. Melicia Paul.

Help Needed!

What skills do those wishing to serve on board need? People considering joining OM Ships often think a theological degree is the most important qualification, but that’s far from the real picture. A whole range of positions need to be filled to keep the ships going. Marine engineers and deck officers are the most obvious examples of skilled people, but there are also openings for chefs, hairdressers, electricians, teachers, journalists, photographers, event managers, carpenters, welders, plumbers, doctors, nurses, PR staff… God can use people with these skills, and even people straight out of high school. Overall, the most important criterias are simply availability, a love for God and a desire to serve others!

Lunchtime Prayer

When we served on 93 year-old Doulos, we used to joke that only paint and prayer kept the vessel floating. However, while keeping the ships maintained is an important part of the ministry, prayer is at the very centre of everything that takes place on board and at the Mosbach HQ. Every day, just before lunch, all of us at the ships office meet for a time of updates and prayer. This is a great time of sharing, interceding and relating to one another. Seeing all the leaders here uniting with the regular workers in prayer is a powerful reminder how we are all equal in God’s eyes and how we all rely on Him. Email updates of each day’s prayer points are available to supporters – leave a comment if you would like to receive them.

Safety First

The fleet of OM ships are unique – but that doesn’t mean they are exempt from international regulations. Indeed, with most people serving on board having no sailing background, the potential for an accident is increased. Thus, safety drills are a regular part of ship’s life. During our time on board, Paul was in the teams that practiced lowering the lifeboats every week. Then he became responsible for checking ‘all hands were accounted for’ during emergency drills at sea. There are also fire drills, international spot checks of the ships and external safety audits. Even this week here at the head office we were involved in a drill… With OM ships the policy is safety first.

Logos Hope Update

“When will Logos Hope be launched?” This is the number one question we get asked at the moment. While there have undoubtedly been delays, God is still very much in control of the project. Through genreous giving, there are now sufficient funds to pay for the shipyard renovation work taking place in Trogir, Croatia. 80% of the projected budget cost has now been received! Progress across the vessel is progressing rapidly too. People are living on board and whole sections of the vessel are being ’signed-off’ as complete. We were there in February and are excited about the immense ministry possibilities offered by Logos Hope. When will it be ready? Soon. See the latest video here.

Saints of the Ship Ministry (1)

DAVID & JUDY GILLAN – This amazing couple are at a stage when their peers are retired – with feet in front of the fire or on the golf course. Not David & Judy! David is the Project Chief Engineer overseeing the renovation of OM’s latest vessel Logos Hope. An extremely warm and practically-gifted Christian, he has served in mission for many years, especially in Papua New Guinea. As long as we’ve known Dave he’s had a heart for mentoring and training the younger people he’s often surrounded by. Being David’s wife would be enough of a responsibility, but Judy is also a ‘mother’ to many. She always has a listening ear and makes time for those in need. When we were on Doulos together, Judy also oversaw the practical care outreaches in each port. Their lives truly point to Jesus and we’re blessed to have them serve with OM Ships.

Neighbours & Partners

Mosbach isn’t only home to the OM Ships office. If we want to visit the OM Germany team, it’s just about a ten metre walk from our building to theirs! Being so close has many practical advantages – ships office staff regularly give presentations and updates about the ministry at the many Christian seminars and conferences OM Germany organises. Business visitors to the ships office can also stay in the large accommodation area OM Germany operates. We can even event in their staff canteen too (for a small price). Besides being our neighbours and partners, Nobby and I also count several of the OM Germany staff as good friends. Here’s a recent photo of the two teams together.

Africa Mercy Ready to Set Sail!

God isn’t just using OM Ships to bring his love across the seas. We both had the privilige of visiting one of Mercy Ship’s vessels in 2003 when Doulos berthed next to MV Anastasis in Sierra Leone. The medical work the crew perform on board is awe-inspiring and has made a huge difference to many lives. In 1999 Mercy Ships announced plans to equip and launch a much larger vessel – MV Africa Mercy. Operation Mobilisation founder George Verwer prayed prophetically when he asked God that the Mercy Ship would be ready before OM’s new vessel MV Logos Hope. Recently those prayers were answered when Africa Mercy completed sea trails - http://www.mercyships.org.uk/ . OM Ships  enjoys a strong relationship with Mercy Ships and we celebrate this exciting news with them.

Counting the Contacts…

For once, the British weather was perfect… Staffing an OM exhibition stand at Spring Harvest, we wondered if people would rather be in the sun than inside talking to us. However, after four days over 25 people left contact details to receive further information. That figure is no reflection of the work God was doing in those people’s lives though. Some of those we met were ex-OMers looking to reconnect with the organisation; then there were youth workers wanting details about short term campaigns; several students approached us about gap year opportunities; finally there were older couples looking for ways to serve now their children had left home. All in all, plenty to give thanks for. Pray for the OMUK team as they follow-up all of this!

Spring Harvest

No sooner are we back in Mosbach, than we’re off again! This time, we’re heading to Spring Harvest, a huge Christian conference that takes place in the UK every year. Indeed, this event is so large it’s split over two venues and we’ll be presenting the work of OM at an exhibition stand at the Minehead site. We’ll be away over the Easter weekend - a time when few others were available. Since our families are spread over thousands of kilometres, we’re quite excited to be among God’s family during the holiday period. We certainly wont be taking a break though, needing to be present to talk to passers by for seven hours each day. OM hasn’t had a promotional stand at this event before, so we’re hoping to see many positive contacts and potential recruits through the initiative. Here’s a link to Spring Harvest’s official website: http://www.springharvest.org/

Finland Trip Finn-ishes!

We’ve made it back to Mosbach! After five action packed days of ministry meetings we’re back on German soil. Pray for the OM Finland staff who remain behind at the office in Tampere – Juhani Ahola and his small team are now busy following up all the new contacts we’ve made. He reckons that through attending our presentations there’s at least ten people now seriously considering serving with the ships! Praise the Lord if even half of them join. Please also keep Finland in your prayers. Time after time we heard how alcohol abuse is a real problem amongst Finns, especially during the long winter months and we ourselves witnessed people stepping from the Helsinki ferry terminal carrying boxes of vodka supplies. May God fill the land with his light during times of darkness.

Many Meetings In Finland

Well, it’s been a fascinating few days for us in Finland… We’ve talked about the ship ministry in five very different church meetings, including two services in two different cities on Sunday! There was even chance to share on Christian radio about how God works through those on board. The highlight came on Saturday, when we shared about the ministry for a whole day. Three people who we met at a meeting on Thursday travelled over 100km away came to see our presentation again and ask details about joining. There’s been the odd sauna too, and we even walked on a frozen lake! Back to Germany tomorrow – we’ll miss Finland and the new friends we’ve made here.