So, we just missed the City Cat ferry to Brisbane, so, while we wait, I thought I'd write a bit.
I have a few stories from the past few days... Here they are.
------------------------------
Back in Mackay, we met this little boy at an event he came to with his mother. I was waiting with him for a minute until the volunteer who was in charge of him for the night returned. As we waited, I asked him how he liked the ship. He nearly burst! This five year old kid was so thrilled with the ship that he had decided to become captain–not of any old ship, but just this one, the Ammari. He began to count, "...six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, eighteen, twenty!" When he is twenty, he says he will be the right age to captain our ship.
------------------------------
I met a man on the wharf in Gladstone. He was getting on his boat to go out to the reef for a week of fishing and camping. We chatted for a bit...his name is something like Murray...learned that he doesn't much care for Christianity, but it's a free country, he says, and people can believe what they want. He didn't want to go on the ship, just kept about his business of stocking his own boat to feed about twelve men for a week. I told him when he asked where I was from, what we are doing here, and the like. He was friendly and chatted to me all day from just after we started til just before we finished. It wasn't anything huge, but from the beginning of the day to the end he changed a bit. It started with his seeming almost bothered by us being here, and ended with friendly conversation as we finished off the day. It was cool. I had a chance to share a tiny bit of what I believe, and he brightened my day.
------------------------------
It was entirely unexpected. After church, Netani came to us and asked if we would like to go back to the ship or if we would like to go to the home of some new Fijian friends for a lovo. In favor of an adventure, we hesitatingly chose the latter.
Leaving, now over five hours later, I can honestly say that was the best time I have had in a while. It was family. It was friendship. It was real. God truly chose to bless us today. I can not even say how much.
We drove up and down roller coaster roads to arrive at a little place in the bush. A pit was dug and firewood gathered. Food was chopped and mixed and wrapped. Fire was started and stones were heated. Food was cooked. Laughter reigned. Cultures collided and mixed so beautifully. Food was abundant and so delicious. Contacts were exchanged. Blessings given, tears shed, and embraces exchanged. And as we pull away, I know that this will never be forgotten.
------------------------------
The sail from Gladstone to Brisbane was awful. Blackish waters, dark clouds, rain, rough waves. It felt like the ship was falling apart at times. Other times it felt like a whale was breaching under the ship. It kept slamming into waves. Many people got sea sick... I nearly did as well. We did see whales and dolphins again, as usual, but in my efforts to see them one time I had my hand slammed in the door. Long story short, it's purple-ish now and somewhat sore... Oh well.
Not much else in the way of happenings. I'm on ship ops this week, which means I'm back to cleaning toilets. Brisbane is another industrial port away from the city. Not much is within walking distance. Except for bulk fluid storage, that is. Nine days left of ship tour for Pacific. Then we drive back here to Brisbane.
That's all for now, I guess. Still waiting for the ferry. See you in 104 days.
No comments:
Post a Comment