Ten. That is the number of ports the Logos Hope visited in the Middle East since we first arrived in Libya. Come to think of it, if I tally the three ports in Libya and the one in Egypt, that comes to almost half of the places where we've docked. A revolt against the government shortly followed after our departure. Of course, ship's community is in prayer that the timing of our stops would be divine. Meaning, that we all hope that the "hope" we brought on the Hope was a positive influence on the people who visited the Hope. And even though we had our first canceled port (Bahrain), we know that God had plans for us to stay an extra week in Doha.
So, how was Qatar different than the U.A.E? Well, for the most part they are quite similar. Wealth, new construction projects galore, arid climate and Arabic traditions. Another factor is that both have an incredible number of people living there from around the globe. I've met more Americans in the last three ports than any of the previous twenty-four ports...combined. Another factor would be that the churches are under strict gov. watch at all times. Well, Qatar far more than U.A.E., which is why I didn't post any pictures of speaking at churches (or any ministry pictures in general).
From the churches that we did visit, a family would usually take a group of us out to eat following the service, and that is quite a nice treat! So, through days such as these, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with Malaysian, South African, American, and Sri Lankan families. Out of all of them, I only actually preached a message at the Sri Lankan/Indian church.
Overall, I think I'll miss the Middle East. The warm and friendly hospitality of the Arabs is something that will stick in my memory bank and only collect interest as I strive to treat others with the same generosity. The church also needs much prayer as it is not easy for a lot of expatriates to worship in secret, and sadly at times, see their friends and families be deported for sharing the good news with locals.
What am I looking forward to in the following countries of Sri Lanka and India? Learning the culture which is utterly different from anything else I've experienced thus far. Also, going back to the "freedom" that our ship once had; to be bold for Christ and to lift His name to the visitors who board the ship. And, the freedom to share with you what all I'm involved with and places where I will be speaking or preaching.
Please keep the Logos Hope in your prayers as once again we will be endeavoring a long voyage through (slightly) pirate(y) areas. Also, pray for dry dock, which will happen after being open for three weeks to the public in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Don't worry, I'll explain in a later post what exactly dry dock is...just know that it involves much, much labor during long hours every day to fix any existing or potential problems with the ship. As always, if you have any more questions about the mission trip so far, or what will be happening during my last 6 months, don't hesitate to drop me an email. Of course, you can email me just to chat, too...I love hearing from my family and friends!
