Where in the world hasn’t modern technology reached? Judging by the relative lack of emails the ships office is receiving from the region, there aren’t many people in Papua New Guinea with internet access. News about the current Doulos visit to the country is still getting out though. The ship’s 24/7 satellite communication system keeps those of us working at the head office informed about all that’s taking place on board. Furthermore, other missionaries in the country that crew are ministering alongside do have access to computers. Read one such person’s perspective of the ship’s time in Lae here .
Such a bizarre story can only be true… Arriving in Rabaul, a small town on Papua New Guinea’s New Britain Island, Doulos is berthed close to an active volcano! There’s no dramatic lava flows and fiery explosions though, only continuing clouds of smoke billowing from the top. Having been on board during the ship’s previous visit to Rabaul, we can recall the stench of sulphur in the air and the neverending ash that rains down like grey snow. Keeping the ship’s air-conditioning filters clean and exterior decks swept is a big challenge. Pray that the wind blows away from the ship during the two-week stay.
It’s all happening in Kiel, Germany! Renovations taking place on board Logos Hope are progressing in every way. Several recent donations of specialist tools, including a plasma cutter, have been gratefully received by the project team. Skilled welders have also volunteered their services and built stage platforms for the public ministry areas of the vessel. Furthermore, a more efficient fuel generator is also on the way from India and will be installed during a dry dock, scheduled for late April. It’s not all about work though. Those crew not needed during the dry dock will minister with churches across the region.
Illness knows no international boundaries. A team from Doulos experienced that fact firsthand when they visited a hospital in Papua New Guinea. Although the lack of resources, equipment and medicine was immediately apparent, so too was the patients’ warmth towards their international visitors. The team handed out personal hygiene packs of soap and toothpaste, distributed Bibles and prayed with those they met. That combination of practical assistance and spiritual encouragment was especially appreciated and made the visit more than worthwhile.
Be informed! Here is the latest video to be released about the exciting project to launch Logos Hope. Unlike previous clips that have been made and focus on the technical aspect of the vessel’s renovation, this features more on the aims and goals of the project. With the renovation efforts having gone on for a while now, it helps all of us involved in OM Ships to step back every once in a while and focus on the bigger picture of what God is doing through the ministry. We hope this video not only informs but also inspires and motivates others as much as it did us!
Logos II has left Europe! These pictures of the ship sailing from the Netherlands were taken from a web camera at the entrance of Rotterdam port. The departure marked the beginning of a two-week voyage across the Atlantic to the island of Bermuda. In all, 61 people answered the call to serve on board at very short notice and the current crew meets the minimum legal requirements for the ship to sail. Pray that more people, especially men, will volunteer to join when the ship arrives in the Caribbean. Pray too that the books on board will bless the region’s isolated island communities.
Pictured above are Raul and Sabine Ventura – a classic example of the kind of union OM Ships produces! This Filipino / Swiss couple met on board Doulos, but only started dating after their time with the ships had come to an end. Now parents of two lovely twin girls, Raul and Sabine are rejoining the ships ministry later this year. Raul is about to complete his studies as a navigation officer and those skills will be greatly needed on board. Pray for the whole family as they begin this period of transition and once again step out in faith to serve God through the ship ministry.
This little piece of God’s beautiful creation is situated at the very edge of the OM base here in Mosbach. It’s a wonderfully quiet spot, where nearly all signs of human activity disappear behind the trees or are replaced by the sound of the river’s flow… Over the years we’ve used it as an area for quiet reflection, picnic site or somewhere to simply sit and read. It’s also a place that we and others have used to step back from the world’s troubles and engage in prayer. Such retreats are hard to find in the rush of today’s busy world, and we’re very grateful it’s so close at hand!
People said it would never happen… We have started going to the health club in Mosbach and are maintaining a several-times-a-week fitness routine! Rest assured that this is not the start of a permanent lifestyle change though. Each year the health company we use in Germany heavily subsidises us to take part in some form of sporting activity. Since we can spend summers cycling and hiking, we’ve decided to take this year’s campaign in the dark winter. And so, for five whole weeks we have unlimited access to facilities at the Mosbach gym. What happens to our waistlines after that remains to be seen!
It’s certainly one of the more unusual donations given to Doulos… Among recent additions to the many donations of fruit and vegetables crew have received in Lae were two live pigs! Those on board are honoured to have received such a gift and realise the community that gave them has made a significant sacrifice. Acknowledging that fact, the ship’s associate director and captain, along with other Doulos leaders, were in attendance at the butchering ceremony. Local media were also present, and their coverage of the event captured how grateful the crew are for all the gifts they have received in Lae.
Who decides where the ships go? Rest assured that rumours of someone opening an atlas, closing their eyes and pointing are untrue. Mostly. Actually, over a hundred criteria are considered for each destination which includes everything from official invitations, timing of the last visit and even the breeding habits of jellyfish! Dates and behind the scenes details of planned visits do change frequently, which keeps a team of four (pictured above) at the ships head office busy. Ultimately it is God who guides the process, but pray for Gerd, Val, Ronnie and Humberto (left-right) as they put that into action.
Beer and sausages put Germany on the map. We’re rather partial for another part of the country’s cuisine though – fresh baked bread. Despite Mosbach’s small size, there are plenty of places for us to indulge in buying and eating the stuff (which helps keep the cost down too). Of all the different bakeries to choose from, our favourite has to be the one at the refilling station though! Just a five minute walk from where we live, they have weekend specials that have become a regular part of our routine. They’re also open late into the evenings, unlike the rest of the bakeries!
Commissioned by the European Evangelical Alliance, Mission-Net is the event for Easter 2009. Demand for a large youth-oriented missions conference in Europe is evident and a consensus has been reached that only OM has the resources to organise such an event. There’s a whole network of people co-ordinating the plans, some of whom are based with the team in Mosbach. Paul has been asked to help with the odd little task and has written two promotional press releases. Only a year away, time is fast approaching when those preparations will became reality. Read more about mission-net here .
See the latest OM Ships promotional video here! This is a well-made resource that has a professional feel about it and provides a more behind-the-scenes indepth perspective. We often use such material when we go out and about, visiting churches and youth groups to raise awareness of the ships. In such a dynamic ministry, informing people about the opportunity to pray for the work, support it financially or even serve on board is vital. Slideshows, interactive presentations and videos such as this help bring alive to audiences how God is at work through the ships around the world.
Doulos at an angle never seen before… or should that be at angles never seen before! With the wonders of modern technology these images, which were kindly taken and offered to us during the ship’s recent visit to the Philippines, bring alive the vessel’s interior. People wanting to see what it’s really like to live and work on board almost need not wait for the ship to arrive in their port! Seeing this for the first time really reminded us of our four years serving with the ship. The galley in particular has barely changed since Paul’s cooking skills were inflicted on the crew – see here .
Yohan and Manami are on their way to joining Doulos. Last week these two new OM recruits from Japan joined 150 others at the Global Orientation conference held in Mosbach. For Nobby, this is a very rare chance to speak Japanese in Germany! She was therefore very busy helping both Yohan and Manami find their feet at the training conference – translating several sessions for them, finding a computer for them to use with Japanese language fonts installed and even doing some of their laundry! We pray these little acts of love helped them feel welcomed into the OM family.
Posted by shipsbecks 
Posted by shipsbecks 
Posted by shipsbecks 
