The Faroe Islands are just like no where else I have ever been, both in their geography and the people who are the most generous and hospitable you can imagine.
Every day we have seen crowds coming to the ship and buying so many books. For them, the books are very cheap because they normally have to pay a fortune for all the imported books.
Yesterday, Saturday, we saw the highest book sales we have ever seen in a port in Europe in the ships history. This is a real blessing for us at this time as much of our other giving and donations are well down.
Sunday evening, the leadership team onboard all went out for a meal with their wives to say farewell to 2 members who are leaving. Sadly, Heather was the only one not present. We had an amazing meal - 4 different kinds of meat. But as good as it was, some of us were disappointed to discover that our host is known as the king of lobsters because he has an export business for lobsters and the guy in our team organising the meal asked for meat. We felt cheated of the chance for a lobster meal. On talking to this guy, Mani, I discovered that we actually had been on Doulos together in '88/'89.
On Monday, nearly the whole ships company got to go out on various outings as the ship was closed and for most it was a day off. I joined 4 others and took a ship van up to a remote part of the island where we were told to go to a small cottage to have some coffee and cake.
We had no idea what to expect. So we found ourselves in this little 15o year old, grass roofed, wooden hut drinking coffee and eating cake, when suddenly Mani arrives and he has brought crates of live lobsters along with many other delicious food items.
So a few of us actually got to try out some uniquely Faroese food. I won't go into details but you can email if you want to know. Then we had as much lobster and strawberries and cake and cheese and salad and bread and fruit as we could eat. Now missing out last night didn't seem so bad.
After this amazing lunch, we had a fantastic tour of the island, visiting many beautiful places -a village completely cut off from the outside world before a tunnel was cut through the mountain a few years ago, and the top of a mountain where there is still snow lying, twisty mountain roads that are better quality than most roads in Edinburgh but lead to a village of 4 houses. It was an incredible day out.
On Thursday we sailed from the capital Thorshaven to another port called Klaksvik. In the morning, before we sailed, I was asked if I would like to go and have coffee with the Prime Minister. He had been on the ship the day before and wanted to invite some of the leaders for coffee. Most were busy so myself and our Faroese chief mate went to see him. He has his office in a beautiful old, grass roofed building, right across the harbour from our berth with a great view from his window of Logos Hope. He seems a really nice guy and had previously sailed as an officer on the ship when she was the Noronna.
Instead of sailing to Klaksvik, myself and a friend drove there across several different islands, over mountain passes and through a sea tunnel so we saw the ship sail out and sail into the new port. As the ship was coming in, a fierce squall blew up and it poured with rain and the wind blew hard, soaking the hundreds of people on the quayside waiting to welcome Logos Hope, including me. We had another quayside welcome and within an hour, the ship was open again to visitors.
Although Klaksvik has a population of only 5000, in 2 days and 1 evening, we had already had over 5500 visitors!
While here in the Faroes, there have been so many invitations for people to go out for meals, sightseeing trips, sailing, hiking etc. We have also received so many donations of food, clothes and other items including 800kg of Salmon and 2 tonnes of other fish, and cakes, every day cakes.
On Saturday night, we had our first ever large onshore event. Historically, OM Ships have always held "International nights" where we perform cultural dances and other items to crowds of people. Until now we have resisted this on Logos Hope due to the large amount of organisation required. But as a special thank you to the Faroese, we put on a performance in a local sports hall which nearly 2000 people attended. it was standing room only.
During the event, the Faroese Christians were challenged to send more people to join Logos Hope and continue to support us around the world. Then at the end of the programme, there was more cake - more tray bakes than you have ever seen.
Today is our last day in the Faroes. Many of the ships company are out at churches and crowds are again visiting the ship. I had been told of an incredible opportunity to take a helicopter ride from here to a few other islands and back for a very good price, so a group of us headed up the hill to the helicopter pad. When we got there, they actually charged us only half of what we were expecting, about £13! However, we didn't quite get the trip we were expecting as instead of taking us to other islands, they gave us a sightseeing tour around the area with several flights right over the ship. It was a fantastic experience and more than worth the cost.
So tonight we say farewell to this country that calls Logos Hope their ship. We will close the ship at 10pm then have a farewell celebration on the quayside at 11pm. We hope to sail after midnight. Tomorrow, most of us will be off and many will be hoping for a smooth voyage down to Belfast.
Just 1 more week and then I fly home to the family whom I am missing very much. It has been great to be here but would have been even better to share with Heather and the kids.
