Seasons

Today, I would like to walk in the Lake District and just breathe cool fresh air.

Don't get me wrong, I love ship life and the opportunities I have here. But every so often I just want a different kind of air. 

I saw some photos the other day of the UK in autumn. It reminded me how beautiful the different seasons are. I miss seasons. My favourite seasons are Spring and Autumn. I love the changes in colours that nature offers. 

On the ship we are about to go through a different season, where a large group of people leave the ship and another large group will join. It never gets any easier to say goodbye but I am also excited to see who will join us.

There is a time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

 ¹ For everything there is a season,
      a time for every activity under heaven.
 ² A time to be born and a time to die.
      A time to plant and a time to harvest.
 ³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
      A time to tear down and a time to build up.
 ⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
      A time to grieve and a time to dance.
 ⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
      A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
 ⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
      A time to keep and a time to throw away.
 ⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
      A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
 ⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
      A time for war and a time for peace.


In time, I will walk again in the Lake District...and probably wish I was in the heat of whichever country the ship is in :-)

It is one year ago today since we were sailing down the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Aden being chased by pirates!

Ok, so we have come to realise that sometimes I get to say random amazing things like:

(Taken from my FB page this past month)

- For these next six hours I will be in a different year to my family and friends in the UK! You can't say that many times in a life time!!

- It is the last day of school today and we are going on a visit to the Singapore Zoo. Now that's what I call a field trip ;-)

- I was reminded tonight that I am part of the most AMAZING ministry in this world! :-)

- Woah....this ship is rolling tonight.... Still, I think it's amazing how we have internet in the middle of the ocean....granted it's limited, it's still pretty cool! :D

Well today is another one of those occasions. It is one year ago today since we were sailing down the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Aden being chased by pirates! I am so thankful that the God who protected me and sustained me then, still looks out for me now!

I can honestly say that I have never felt 'scared' on this ship. There are times when I have felt a little uncomfortable, like with the pirate situation, or because I was going to speak at a Church in a muslim nation where there were possibly spies or secret police in the service waiting for you (me) to say something against their religion, which they could then have you (still me ;-)) put in prison, for a long time. In these kind of situations I have not been able to do anything in my own strength to make it go away.....What I have had to do, is to push further into God. When I have been taken out of my capability zone and not been able to do anything to make it 'right', it has pushed me to trust my Lord and Saviour on a higher level to come through for me, and he always has!

I am not going to go into either story now but do ask me if you ever want to know.

These situations were real. With the pirate one, we sent out a distress call to the Navy ship that was closest to us and they released their helicopter to give us air support. It took me 9 months to tell my family about it. I wanted to tell them in person so that they knew for sure everything was fine. I told them when I was home in September.

When we arrive in this next port, it is my 22^nd port in around 16 months. It is my 15^th country. I thank God for the huge privilege He has given me to meet His people from literally all around the world. I am supposed to bless and encourage them, but time after time it is me who is blessed, encouraged and amazed to see what He is doing in the world.

I love history

Today is one of those strange days where I feel like I should be taking part in one of those things at home that has been 'drilled' into me since I was a child. I should be wearing my Poppy with pride and paying respect to those who have fought for our country in past years.
Maybe because my grandfather served in the second world war is why I feel like this. As a child, I loved hearing stories of him serving in distant far off lands. I used to love looking through old photos of what days were like in the UK then, seeing letters he sent back to his future bride (who is now my grandmother), being taught about the 'ration' books and how they couldn't get hold of many types of foods or clothing, of my great grandmother taking in evacuee children who were sent from big cities where bombings were happening every night.
In recent years on Remembrance Sunday I have gone with my grandfather (and many others) to the cenotaph in our city centre to pay respect to the ones who have fallen, and to pray for the ones still fighting. It may sound weird but I love going there with him...to share this with him is special!
On the ship, this occasion is obviously not recognised.  I live and work with people from many countries that we have been at war with. It wouldn't be appropriate to recognise this occasion as a full ships company...But I will be taking part in my own way. I don't have a poppy but I hope to make one :-). I aim to take part in the 2 minute silence at 11 o'clock UK time...7pm my time and pray for those who are serving to try and keep peace.
I just found this poem on the internet while I was looking for items on Remembrance Day. The ship does show aspects of how the world could live in harmony. DON'T get me wrong...the ship is NOT perfect and we DO have many differences, but we are from over 45 different nations and we live and work together every day in a small community....without killing each other! It is possible to do it when we all have the same vision. We are serving Christ!

A wish..

Maybe it is pointless
To wish for lasting peace
For all mankind to lay down arms
For all fighting to cease

I could despair of seeing
Peace throughout the land
No longer hearing talk of war
Blood mixed with desert sand

We do not have the tolerance
For cultures not our own
Seeds fly on an ill wind
From beds where they are sown

Hope lies in a child's heart
Not yet turned to stone
A mind free of prejudice
A child not alone

If all children of the world
Held each others hand
They could do what we could not
Make a Brotherhood of Man.

Maxine Kendall
Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Maxine Kendall was born in the UK