A Time of Rest and Reflection
Dry Dock
noun: drydock – a dock which can be drained of water to allow the inspection and repair of a ship’s hull.
While the definition above is correct, onboard Logos Hope the term drydock means so much more. It refers more generally to the annual season of maintenance that ship needs to go through to ensure that it can pass the relevant certifications and surveys to continue sailing. During this time about 130 crew and staff stay onboard to do this work. Other groups of crew members are involved in various ministry projects onshore and the families stay in onshore accommodation as minors aren’t allowed onboard during this time.
For us, this dry dock season has can be summed up mostly in two words: rest and reflection. We were incredibly blessed by the accommodation we were able to stay at – it was amazing for us to see how much having a separate living area, choosing when and what to eat, and not being always being primed to have someone need you allowed us to rest well. We also used this time to intentionally reflect on our time onboard so far and the lessons we have learnt has we continue on this journey. We spent focused time thinking and praying about the future, the length of our commitment onboard, and where God might be leading us after that. One of the realisations we came to is that this current 2 year commitment onboard is the right amount of time for us to be serving in this context. We believe that God is leading us to consider continuing serving with OM and we are investigating possible future fields.
While onshore, the girls had the privilege of 3 weeks of holiday club lead by a team of crew members. This was a great time of fun, learning and adventure outside the normal structure of the school classroom. Although there were no opportunities to leave the accommodation due to COVID regulations, they thoroughly enjoyed the pool and the freedom to walk around barefoot most of the day. As case numbers dropped towards the end of our time in Curacao, we were also very lucky to go visit the Curacao Sea Aquarium. It felt a little like being home and reminded the girls a lot of their times at uShaka Marine World, Cori even had the chance to be kissed by a dolphin.
Prayer: For God’s guidance as we continue investigating possible future fields to serve in.
Praise: A renewed sense of family (both immediate and with our family onboard) and purpose for the remaining time onboard.
Unexpected Blessings
Since closing the gangways on the 12th of March 2020 in Kingston, Jamaica, Logos Hope has not received any visitors onboard. This all changed a few days before leaving Curacao. After 14 months and 8 days we had the amazing opportunity to open the Bookfair onboard as a special way to say thank you to the local ministry partners and dry dock workers of Damen Shiprepair Yard for all the hard work and effort they put into our visit. We were able to receive 44 visitors on board and had an wonderful experience as a Bookfair team, bonding together and reaching out to the public in a new (old) and exciting way.
We had the opportunity to engage with the shipyard workers, give them all a thank you gift, and most importantly to pray with, and for them. These men had spent the previous 4 weeks doing repairs and maintenance on our ship, and it was a blessing and a privilege to invite them into the Bookfair.
Of the 8 team members, only 4 had ever worked in the Bookfair when it was open during “normal” times, and this day gave the Bookfairies valuable experience that will be needed during our time in St Vincent and beyond.
Prayer: Please pray for the team as they prepare for the upcoming Bookfair ministry opportunities in St Vincent, for growth, resilience and good teamwork.
Praise: Praise God for the 44 people who came through the Bookfair in Curacao, and for the amazing team of Bookfairies we have.
Back to St Vincent and the Grenadines
We set sail from Willemstad, Curacao on Tuesday, 25 May and arrived safely in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday 27 May.
We are excited to be back in Kingstown and ready to serve with, and minister to, the people of St Vincent in the after math of the eruption of La Soufriere volcano. While in Curacao we were able to take on more that 12 pallets’ worth of donations, both from individuals, churches and companies in Curacao, and from elsewhere around the world (shipped from the USA). We will be working with a local non-profit relief organisation, as well as local pastors and churches to help meet the needs of those that were displaced by the volcano’s eruption.
In additional to this we are excited to share that we have received permission to sell and donate literature. We hope to do this through an onshore Bookfair, book-tables in the communities we will be working in, book packs at church services, and donations of bibles and activity books during our work in the evacuation shelters.
Prayer: That COVID numbers will continue to remain low and that all the ministry we have planned will be able to happen.
Praise: For the safe arrival in St Vincent and that volcanic activity is starting to subside enough for some residence to return to their homes.
The Benns 