I just never had the guts to ask. Whoa… line-up? Four young people go ahead of the ship, arrange all the necessary things and obtain all the needed permissions for the ship to enter the ports. Sure, why not? It was the ultimate challenge to live a life totally dependent on God.
My first line up was in April 2008. Our team of three was sent to Wellington, New Zealand. I knew only 1 thing about New Zealand: they have one of the BEST rugby teams in the world! Being a rugby enthusiast I was super excited about doing line up there and getting to know the culture better. During our line up we were faced with so much opposition. Churches refused to work with us, journalists weren’t interested in a 94 year old ship and no one wanted to sponsor the visit. Surrounded by the loveliest committee (who became dear friends) we were encouraged and urged to press on. We knew through our team verse that God’s presence was with us. We started going to the berth where the ship was going to be and we prayed…fervently. I learnt that prayer is more than what we think. It is such a powerful, and often neglected, tool! The ship’s visit was a success – although many tend to disagree but i know that God used the Doulos to sow many seeds during our time there.
My second line up was in Singapore. This small developing country (can you call such a small island a country?) taught me about living to please God and not people (Gal 1:10). We had about 8 weeks to line up 22 two churches who would be willing to host Doulos teams for the 2 weeks Doulos was scheduled to be in Dry Dock. God provided and we lined up so many awesome ministry opportunities.
My third line up was in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In a country where English is not spoken as a first language we had our hands full trying to communicate with churches, governments and printers. I was blessed to be in the team with a close friend and God used him to teach me more about leadership and leading a team. As a team we made so many mistakes but God taught us through it. God gave us the opportunity to invest in the wharf owner’s life, to repair a broken relationship from the previous visit and to challenge many of the volunteers to live a life that makes an eternal difference.
After about 10 days onboard I was sent out on my fourth and final line up, this time as team leader. Great! (Add tablespoon of sarcasm). I always thought of myself as a follower because I am too scared of screwing up as a team leader. (Sooooo much responsibility and such high expectations for team leaders – scary!) Bangkok, Thailand, treated our team very nice. We were blessed with an awesome shipping agent that made my life much easier and we had 2 firecracker ladies that helped us to get into contact with the prominent, important and needed contacts. During this time my chapter on life lessons probably increased by 33 pages! I had the privilege of working closely with the Line Up manager. A man, who I greatly admired, respected and often times feared. He coached me through the whole line up and was ready with words of wisdom whenever I needed it. Together we planned the Princess of Thailand’s visit to the Doulos, a programme that became the most detailed I have ever put together. All the programme experience, all the lessons on being detailed and all the high standards I had learned up to this point…all of it came together in this programme. I praise the LORD for this opportunity we had to be the fragrance of Christ to this Thai nation and its royalty.
The story doesn’t end here, oh far from it! While finishing up the port, I was asked to take over the role of acting Line up manager while Seelan attended meetings overseas.
Probably the most challenging experience I had! They where big shoes to fill and I felt inadequate in more than one way! BUT GOD carried me through and He enabled me to get through these 2 months without jumping off the bow. J
So there I was having done all these crazy things, thinking life could not get any better when I was asked, by the new Director, to take on the role of Programme Manager – again it was one of my heart’s desires that only God knew about. After praying about it, I had peace that this is what God wanted me to do.
October the ship sailed into Singapore, almost a year after I did line up there, it was my first port as Programme Manager and also my last! A few weeks later we found out that the ship could no longer continue its ministry due to the age of this old vessel. If we wanted to we could have spent millions to get her up to standard again but it would have been too much. It was a sad day, but we know that this is God’s will.
I look back at my time onboard Doulos with great joy. I had seen God work in ways I could only dream of. I met people that forever impacted my life. I grew in more ways than sideways! I found myself here…
God has been so good to me here. I am not saying that is was all rainbows and ice cream. Oh no! I have had some tough times onboard but through it all God remained the constant.
There is a famous Christian song that helped me during many times during my 4 years onboard:
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
- end of part 2 -
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