Yesterday (Saturday) we had nearly 6000 visitors to the ship here in Kingston Jamaica. During the 12 hours we were open we sold over 730 bibles, which is more than one every minute. We are so excited by how many Jamaicans want to get a copy of God's word.
This week I was in Florence, South Carolina. I have been talking for a couple of months with the Director of the ships Partner Ministries Division about a possible role in the UK representing the ships to supporters and churches. Hans asked me to come over to visit him for a couple of days to discuss further. You are so close it makes sense to visit he said.
So at 6am on Tuesday morning I was heading to Kingston airport for a flight to the States. 12 hours later, as I drove in to the street where I was going to stay for 3 nights, I really wondered how on earth I had agreed to the trip. 12 hours travel! I could have flown home in the same time.
Anyway, it was a great visit and really good to see the US office of OM Ships. All of our literature operations have moved to Florence as well as Partner development and several of our Marine Operations team.
One highlight of the visit was to catch up with 2 friends that I had served with onboard the Doulos nearly 25 years ago. We had reconnected via Facebook last year and when I let them know I was coming to South Carolina, they both agreed to come and see me as it was just a couple of hours drive.
This week I was in Florence, South Carolina. I have been talking for a couple of months with the Director of the ships Partner Ministries Division about a possible role in the UK representing the ships to supporters and churches. Hans asked me to come over to visit him for a couple of days to discuss further. You are so close it makes sense to visit he said.
So at 6am on Tuesday morning I was heading to Kingston airport for a flight to the States. 12 hours later, as I drove in to the street where I was going to stay for 3 nights, I really wondered how on earth I had agreed to the trip. 12 hours travel! I could have flown home in the same time.
Anyway, it was a great visit and really good to see the US office of OM Ships. All of our literature operations have moved to Florence as well as Partner development and several of our Marine Operations team.
One highlight of the visit was to catch up with 2 friends that I had served with onboard the Doulos nearly 25 years ago. We had reconnected via Facebook last year and when I let them know I was coming to South Carolina, they both agreed to come and see me as it was just a couple of hours drive.
Kitty and Joel hadn't seen each other either for 22 years despite living a few hundred miles apart. So we had a great evening catching up on each others lives. They have both been through some very hard times in their lives and I realised just how blessed I have been and particularly how grateful I am for my marriage to Heather and my wonderful kids.
It was also good to do a bit of shopping in Walmart which is always one of my favourite stores and to catch up with some other friends in Florence, including Richard - who has visited the ship a few times. Heather and I have enjoyed playing practical jokes on him when he comes.
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Friday morning it was another early start to drive to Charlotte airport and the flight back. I really enjoyed flying over the Kennedy Space Centre on the way in to Miami and then a few hours later I flew over Cuba heading out to Kingston.
After this visit to Florence, I am excited to keep moving forward towards taking on this new role in the UK after we leave the ship. We now have just 12 weeks left onboard!
