Three Friends

Every culture is unique. Those serving with OM for any length of time will learn that fact very quickly! Before arriving in Germany, we knew the country was famous for creating rules and regulations – and here is perhaps the proof! Pictured here are ‘three friends’ that represent the different cleaning duties in the shared building we live in. There is a schedule for sweeping the communal stairs, cleaning the big garbage bin and shovelling snow. These little symbols are placed outside the respective apartments to remind people it’s their turn to do that duty! Loving our neighbours, we strive to do our part!

Filling The Literature Void

The value of books in Papua New Guinea cannot be underestimated. Internet access is extremely limited in the South Pacific nation and even television availability is sparse. With the high cost of importing educational texts, citizens are making the most of having Doulos in port. Academic institutions like schools, colleges and libraries are also seizing the opportunity to stock up from the affordable selection offered on board. Previous calls at to the country have seen huge crowds visit the ship and book fair staff are working hard to meet a similar expected demand this time round – read here .

Logos II Leaves Kiel

 

The calling is clear. Judging by the number of requests received from the Caribbean, the surplus books on board Logos II are needed in that region now! While renovations on board Logos Hope continue, the decision was made to send Logos II across the Atlantic on a literature distribution project. However, to avoid slowing the pace of renovations on Logos Hope, a skeleton crew of around 80 people has been found or come forward to sail Logos II. Here’s a picture of the vessel departing Kiel, Germany, for the Netherlands where final preparations for the voyage to the Caribbean are being made.

Memory Lane In Lae PNG

Talk about a trip down memory lane! Doulos has just arrived in Lae, Papua New Guinea – the port where we first joined the ship, no less than nine years ago. Seeing the first pictures of the visit gives us flashbacks to the time we were in this amazing corner of the world. We found the people and culture to be some of the most friendly in the world and while we had come to minister to the local people, all of us on board also found ourselves learning from them! Their devotion to an unmaterialistic lifestyle remains impressive and we pray that those on the ship now will also have this refreshing experience.

Cross-Cultural Classes

The 2008 OM Global Orientation Conference is in full swing! As in years gone by, Paul is leading one of the Discovery Groups that makes up a significant part of the participants’ training. These sessions address issues such as teamwork, personal values and cross-cultural communication. All are vital skills those joining OM will need when they arrive in their separate fields and start reaching out to those around them with God’s love. Although the sessions are draining, Paul greatly appreciates the chance to share his experiences of serving overseas. Read one G.O. participants’ view of the conference here .

Ready, Steady, GO!

It’s a once a year event. Every January, the OM base in Mosbach hosts a conference for new volunteers joining OM. Although there is another Global Orientation (or GO) Conference each September, that takes place in Holland. Subjects covered at the conference include cross-cultural living and stepping out of personal comfort zones to serve God away from home. After the training, the personnel directly join OM fields overseas. For the ten day period, Mosbach becomes very international and 2008 is no exception, with 170 attendees arriving from every corner of the globe. There are even two Japanese!

New Format For Newsletter

A major part of the work Paul is involved in at the ships office is preparing ‘Currents’. This is a bi-weekly e-mail newsletter featuring stories of God at work through the ministry, which over 3,000 people presently subscribe to. Also translated into Spanish, French, German and even Japanese, the update is the main means OM Ships keeps prayer partners and supporters informed. Starting from the first edition of 2008, the newsletter is now in all-new format featuring images and links to the ships’ website. Pray that this tool will help the ministry further strengthen links with partners around the world.

A Taste Of Home

There’s no doubt about it – food is very cultural. With both of us being far away from home, we often miss the familiar tastes we grew up with. Nobby is very blessed and extremely appreciative to receive regular packets of Japanese goodies that friends send (fortunately no-one has sent any raw fish yet). Having grown up with British cuisine, Paul’s palate is (ahem) somewhat easier to please. Pictured here is the regular once-a-week serving of eggs, fried potatos and a ‘chip butty’ that helps remind him of everything that’s unhealthy about British food. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! 

Logos II Latest Schedule

 

It’s a big world out there – the ships can’t be everywhere at the same time! However, if the schedules were decided democratically, then the number of requests from the Caribbean would win. It’s exciting to see that Logos II is answering the public’s demand for the books on board and heading to the region soon.. The first ports have already been confirmed – Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas from 22nd February to 10th March 2008. Efforts are also underway to secure berths for the ship in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad too. Keep checking the ship’s website for details: Logos II schedule 

Among Friends In The Philippines

From our time on Doulos, we fondly remember the friendly reception crew received in the Philippines. To show how that hasn’t changed at all in the last six years, here’s some feedback from the ship’s latest visit there; “We enjoy the wonderful books we purchased from the bookstore,” said Liza;  “I was so inspired by the warm and friendly volunteers,” said Patricia. Amy added to those thoughts: “The crew touch and transform lives of many people in the world. Their dedication to help others deserves a reward that is not material but a reward from our Lord Jesus Christ.“

Community Building

 

No-one likes to spend Christmas time with strangers. For many on board Logos Hope, that issue was a very real one as the celebrations approached. The current ship’s company is a diverse mixture of ex-Logos II personnel, volunteers helping renovate Logos Hope and former Doulos leaders. The whole group has never been a ministry unit or even sailed together. Thus, several events have been organised to break down any barriers and form a united community focused on serving Christ. As this image from ship’s photographer Tom Brouwer shows, the effort appears to be working!