Wednesday, 28 September 2022

Fire, Water and Sand

So part of my training is learning what to do in an emergency, and that includes some practicals! So I had to spend ages in a pool learning survival techniques in case I fell in the water. It was pretty awesome to be honest, but also cold. Unfortunately there isn't any pictures of me in action here, but rest easy knowing that I did in fact flip a liferaft... on my own in the water. Also we did it in an outdoor hotel pool.

After the water, it was time for some fire training! I was prudent enough to get some good action photos. Yes! I did in fact save the day and put out the fire!

Also, I practiced CPR, so if any of you collapse nearby and stop breathing, then never fear! I am barely qualified!

But training has been pretty intense, with ample exams and ten hour study days. But thankfully, this afternoon, we were given some time off! So we went to Vlore Beach! It was really wonderful! The beaches here are a little cluttered, but it was such a joy to relax and enjoy the sunshine!

Things are looking good. Tomorrow we have a lifeboat drill, so that's pretty awesome. I'm not at the end of PST just yet, but Sunday the 2nd of October I find out the department where I will work! That's something to look forwards to!


Thursday, 22 September 2022

Basic Training All Day Long

Right, so here's the tea. For the first 2/3 weeks onboard, I'm undergoing something called Pre-Ship Training. This is stuff that I NEED to know before I can integrate into ship's life. Thankfully it's not just me doing it, I'm part of a larger group of just under 100 people doing the same thing. Collectively we're called PST Vlore (Vlore is the port city in Albania where we all embarked and its said 'vlora').

It's pretty intense. From 9am - 10pm we take part in this training (with breaks of course), but it means that for the whole day we are busy. It's pretty fun, and very informative, but I'm definitely feeling the wear on my body. It's tiring.

So now we're all doing something called Basic Training. This is geared specifically to life on a ship, and at the end of it (if we pass some exams), it means that I will receive an international qualification to work on a ship. Pretty awesome if you ask me.

But of course this is all in English, and most people on board have English as their second language, so I spend a lot of my time trying to explain words like 'acidification' and 'eutrophication'.

Even still, its not all study. I had the opportunity to explore Vlore somewhat. In the evening, a small group of us wandered around the main part of the city and had a bit of a nosy. It was refreshing to just meander through the lazy streets, and I certainly hope to explore Vlore more before we leave.

Also, I played Jenga and the group nearly 'beat the game' by having a really tall tower, but alas, like the Tower of Babel, it came crashing down.


Tuesday, 20 September 2022

I'm onboard!

This is just a quick blog to share that I'm on board, I'm well fed, and things are looking good!



I've met so many people that I don't remember all their names, but I have been fortunate enough to already play football on the top of the ship; at Deck 9.


There is a bit of an information overload, but I'm feeling well rested, so I hope I remember most of these things.

As I've mentioned in the newsletter (if you've received it) this blog will be a chance to receive more regular updates. The subscribe feature doesn't work at the moment, so I will have to look into that, but I'm happy to confirm that I'm feeling well and my spirits are high!

I hope to update more soon!

Friday, 16 September 2022

Last Minutes in Britain

As I'm writing these words, I am sitting in the London Stansted Airport Lobby enjoying my black coffee and a healthy salad. I've never felt more like a hipster in my life.

 I would like to thank my Mum and Granny for driving me all the way up here even though we arrived here way too early (All my fault!)!

I don't think the full force of what I'm about to embark on has hit me. I'm more nervous about airport security than two years away from my family. Perhaps this reality will become more apparent as my time onboard the ship lengthens, but it is times like this that I am so appreciative that I can claim a family whom loves and cares for me as they do.

May I reflect this love to all the peoples that I encounter over the next two years.


Friday, 9 September 2022

Prayer at the Quinta

 Thursday night was dominated by the death of Her Majesty, but I first heard the news at a prayer evening at the Quinta.

The Quinta is the OM UK Office of OM.

Operation Mobilisation (OM) is an organisation that supports the recruitment for Logos Hope. When applying to the ship, I went through OM UK, and will have contact with them throughout my time onboard.
OM has the mission statement of  "creating Vibrant Communities of Jesus Followers among the Least Reached"... which I will have to expand upon in a later blog.


The Quinta is a campus with facilities for church groups, camps and teaching. Its quite large and has a lot of greenery, and would recommend.

Previously, I had an online conference with many of the members there, but I was disappointed that I could not meet these people in person. But thankfully, I was invited to visit in their prayer meeting!

It was great to meet many of the people I had met online, and wonderfully encouraging to hear about OM projects all about the world. But as I was standing at the front and answering some questions about what I was doing, I was hit by the realisation that it was only a week away!

In some ways it was surreal... after all, I have been preparing for this for over nine months. But overwhelmingly, I am excited! I think the excitement is divided between meeting the crazy number of people on the ship, but also serving the Lord Jesus in such a unique way.

Remembering Her Majesty

 I have lived my whole life as a subject of Her Majesty, and indeed, so have my parents. Previously, I could scarcely imagine Britain without her as monarch... yet this day was bound to happen. Now that it is here, I am filled with an overwhelming gratitude for how she has ruled at the helm.

It has been a family tradition for some time that after Christmas Dinner, we should wander through the living room door and listen to Her Majesty's speech at 3pm. Without fail, her Christmas message has filled me with joy as she reminds the whole nation of what has transpired over the past year, and crucially, making clear her own journey with Jesus Christ as we celebrated our Lord's nativity.

I am delighted at the kind words of so many people throughout the world who have claimed her as a friend, a councilor, even an inspiration. And although some of these relationships may be slightly embellished by the mourning process, Christ said that we would know them by their fruit. The testimony of so many speaks for itself.

And now that she has run her race, and I pray residing in glory, I am so glad to say that she in my own life has been an encouragement and inspiration. Upon my return to the UK, there may be a different anthem, different currency, even a different sense of Britain... but the Britain I will leave in seven days time will always be marked by her reign. And I pray that I will indeed be able to thank her myself at the end of the age.