MV Doulos – Sihanoukville Step – 15 July to 20 September 2009
Thus far the greatest time of my Life.
I went to the Doulos with unknown expectations as not much has been said before hand, and also partly going with an open heart and mind to allow God to show me things and to keep my pact with God.
Initially the days seem to crawl by and at times it was lonely as you did not know anyone well yet, and although there were many people around me and many hellos were exchanged, I still felt very new and foreign there.
But as time went by, time stared to grow wings and even an engine and flew and even zoomed by too quickly. I was working in the bookshop shift 2, and over the two months, we grew really close and to me, shift 2 was family. They taught me how to work, how to have fun, and how to care for each other. It was working there, and seeing others work in departments like catering and Accom did I truly learn that my joy should not come from my circumstance, but because we are all working for God.
To me every port was different as the people were different, thus resulting in different dynamics, and also the strategy for the different ports were also different.
For Cambodia, it was to preach the gospel and to offer aid to the people, give out free books. Yet my highlight was the HIV hospital which we went to paint, where I was able to see the actual work of our hands and know that it would be a great blessing to the people.
In Thailand, active sharing was still allowed and we were to be the fragrance of the Lord to the local people. My E-days in Thailand were mostly on board except for a school visit but the highlight for me was a church visit to New Song Church. Going to a local church really helped me to feel the spiritual climate of the land and to connect with the local Christians to see what they are doing in the country. After that we had dinner with some new friends and spend a very lovely evening just chatting away over a nice meal.
In Malaysia, our strategy was different and we were there mainly to encourage the local church and to open doors for them, so many of our E-days were church related events like prayer meetings and cell groups. In Malaysia, the highlight was the breakfast which the Lord so graciously provided through a very nice lady who just happened to sit across us. It again showed of God’s provision and a lesson on faith for me.
Over the last 2 months, I had a more than fantastic time on board and I have really built many good friendships which I know I will keep for life.
But more than that I have learned their lifestyle and attitudes and 3 important lessons the Lord has taught me.
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That truly your work is worship when you give God the glory and you work with excellence for God.
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Although you are in a christian community doing God’s work, you still can get caught up in a routine. So we must be aware. “Don’t get caught up with the things of God, that we forgot the God of all things.”
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Be available to God. All 3 highlights were not scheduled but volunteered activities and God always more than rewards a willing heart.
It has been an amazing time for me and I will forever remember this time of my life. After coming back with my eyes opened any my heart transplanted, I re-learned what are needs and wants, what is important vs what is eternal.
At our re-entry training, the training director said this, that he had changed his prayer, from ‘God I am here, use me”, to “God don’t forget me and do not leave me out of your salvation masterpiece”
And that is my prayer too. God is at work, whether you are in it or not, he could just pass over you, or he could use you to do mighty works for HIM! To God be the Glory!
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