Since returning from Jamaica, my days have been filled with tasks, meetings, email, family, and sickness. This is why I have not blogged at all the past two weeks. So here is my long-overdue wrap-up of our trip to Jamaica to visit the Logos Hope (“wrapped” around an acrostic to reward you for your patience). 
It Probably Can’t Be Done
Some of the thoughts we had going into the trip are proving to be more difficult than we had hoped. For instance, before departure our team dreamed of future teams from New Covenant flying to the port wherever the ship was located and doing ministry in the local area with the ship as the hub from where ministry took place (as well as the place the team could eat and sleep.) It became clear to us that it will be difficult to make this dream a reality. The ship often knows its future ports only 3-6 months out, which is a short time frame to prepare a team from NCBC to go. Some of their potential ports in the Africa/Middle East region (where they are headed beginning in April) will be near impossible to send a team to. And, our team from New Covenant would have to get linked with the ship’s line-up team, who already has a very large task of preparing a port for the ship’s arrival.
On behalf of the Logos Hope Jamaica Vision Team, thank you for your prayers. If you would like to hear more about our trip, as well as see many more photos, you are invited to the Missions Lunch on Sunday, March 14th in the New Covenant Activity Center. Our team will be sharing further highlights and insights about our trip, as well as hearing an update from Pastors Bob and James who will be back from their trip to India. Please join us for pizza, prayer, and more at 12:30 pm following the third service.
Just one of the crew
The entire Logos Hope crew did a fantastic job of making us each feel like we truly were part of the ship’s crew for the week. As you read in my previous posts, we got to experience a wide variety of jobs, had our own badges, participated in everyday ship life, and got involved in the ship’s ministry to the local region. (This photo of Erin is with one of the crew members, a gal from Australia named Pippa. Erin will remember Pippa quite well since they were lost together in downtown Montego Bay while out doing street evangelism as part of their "E-day" (experience day) off the ship.)
The entire Logos Hope crew did a fantastic job of making us each feel like we truly were part of the ship’s crew for the week. As you read in my previous posts, we got to experience a wide variety of jobs, had our own badges, participated in everyday ship life, and got involved in the ship’s ministry to the local region. (This photo of Erin is with one of the crew members, a gal from Australia named Pippa. Erin will remember Pippa quite well since they were lost together in downtown Montego Bay while out doing street evangelism as part of their "E-day" (experience day) off the ship.)
Amazing Ministry
All six members of our vision team came away highly impressed with the ministry of the ship. They are truly aiming to share the gospel, partnering with the local churches of the country they are visiting. (In the above photo, Andrew is leading a Sunday School class at the church he, Erin, and Mark attended as part of a Church Team.) It was an honor to be a part of the "local ministry" for 6 days.
All six members of our vision team came away highly impressed with the ministry of the ship. They are truly aiming to share the gospel, partnering with the local churches of the country they are visiting. (In the above photo, Andrew is leading a Sunday School class at the church he, Erin, and Mark attended as part of a Church Team.) It was an honor to be a part of the "local ministry" for 6 days.
Made to serve
The Logos Hope is a fantastic place to learn more of what it means to be a servant - whether working in the Galley (aka Kitchen) like Kandy did one day, or the engine room like all the guys got to one day, or on the ministry deck of the ship, or wherever they assign you to work. Both Mark and I (as well as the rest of the team) would highly recommend to graduating high school seniors or single young adults interested in overseas missions to consider serving two years on the ship. The potential for personal growth is very high. But even more importantly, the opportunity to be part of a Christ-centered community that is aiming to make a Gospel difference in the world is a wonderful gift for anyone.
The Logos Hope is a fantastic place to learn more of what it means to be a servant - whether working in the Galley (aka Kitchen) like Kandy did one day, or the engine room like all the guys got to one day, or on the ministry deck of the ship, or wherever they assign you to work. Both Mark and I (as well as the rest of the team) would highly recommend to graduating high school seniors or single young adults interested in overseas missions to consider serving two years on the ship. The potential for personal growth is very high. But even more importantly, the opportunity to be part of a Christ-centered community that is aiming to make a Gospel difference in the world is a wonderful gift for anyone.
All isn’t glorious
It became very clear through conversations with crewmembers and witnessing things first hand that not everything is "glamorous" aboard the Logos Hope (I think the photos from the engine room revealed that!). Every crewmember we talked with admitted there were really difficult days, whether from rough seas or frustration in the daily grind. We heard firsthand during one morning Ship Devotion that two crewmembers had to be sent home because of ongoing poor choices. We saw visitors to the ship upset about waiting in the hot sun to board the ministry deck. Yet in the midst of these painful moments, we saw grace. Crewmembers saw the bigger picture of what God had called them to do through the ship. Gentleness and care was communicated through words and deeds. Smiles, prayers, and gifts were still offered to visitors on the brink of belligerence. These instances reminded us it often takes difficult moments for grace to shine brightest.
It became very clear through conversations with crewmembers and witnessing things first hand that not everything is "glamorous" aboard the Logos Hope (I think the photos from the engine room revealed that!). Every crewmember we talked with admitted there were really difficult days, whether from rough seas or frustration in the daily grind. We heard firsthand during one morning Ship Devotion that two crewmembers had to be sent home because of ongoing poor choices. We saw visitors to the ship upset about waiting in the hot sun to board the ministry deck. Yet in the midst of these painful moments, we saw grace. Crewmembers saw the bigger picture of what God had called them to do through the ship. Gentleness and care was communicated through words and deeds. Smiles, prayers, and gifts were still offered to visitors on the brink of belligerence. These instances reminded us it often takes difficult moments for grace to shine brightest.
It Probably Can’t Be Done
Some of the thoughts we had going into the trip are proving to be more difficult than we had hoped. For instance, before departure our team dreamed of future teams from New Covenant flying to the port wherever the ship was located and doing ministry in the local area with the ship as the hub from where ministry took place (as well as the place the team could eat and sleep.) It became clear to us that it will be difficult to make this dream a reality. The ship often knows its future ports only 3-6 months out, which is a short time frame to prepare a team from NCBC to go. Some of their potential ports in the Africa/Middle East region (where they are headed beginning in April) will be near impossible to send a team to. And, our team from New Covenant would have to get linked with the ship’s line-up team, who already has a very large task of preparing a port for the ship’s arrival.
Can Be Done
While it might be difficult to send a team to work in a country in partnership with the Logos Hope, it wouldn’t be as difficult to send a team to work on the Logos Hope itself. We were told by one crewmember in the Engine Room that she would estimate about 5 years of projects that work teams could help with (even with “unskilled” members). This is something New Covenant should pray about.
While it might be difficult to send a team to work in a country in partnership with the Logos Hope, it wouldn’t be as difficult to send a team to work on the Logos Hope itself. We were told by one crewmember in the Engine Room that she would estimate about 5 years of projects that work teams could help with (even with “unskilled” members). This is something New Covenant should pray about.
And finally…
The other part of our trip was to investigate ministry opportunities in Jamaica (and the Caribbean as well). Jamaica is not only a beautiful country, but a paradoxically fascinating one as well. Like Iowa, Jamaica is very “churched.” In fact, we were told that Jamaica has the most churches per capita of any nation on Earth. However, also much like Iowa, those in the churches don’t appear to have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. One bit of evidence is the high crime rate in Jamaica. Another evidence is the easy ability to obtain drugs (I personally was offered marijuana at least a half-dozen times when I was on the Hip Strip of Montego Bay – you’ll be glad to know I politely turned each offer down :o). The citizens of Jamaica may claim a church affiliation, but the culture reveals a deep need for the Gospel to penetrate hearts, minds, and lives. We met with a local pastor one afternoon to inquire about opportunities (that's the photo above). It became obvious that needs exist – but we also realize that needs are everywhere. We could send a team to help with the orphanages and children’s homes this pastor told us about. We could also help build church buildings in the poor towns located in the mountainous regions. But it is my personal opinion that the deepest need Jamaica has is an understanding of the gospel. Just like I long for my home state to understand who Christ is and what He truly has done for us, I would love to see the Jamaica church completely infused with this understanding and begin to send their own missions teams to the nations.
The other part of our trip was to investigate ministry opportunities in Jamaica (and the Caribbean as well). Jamaica is not only a beautiful country, but a paradoxically fascinating one as well. Like Iowa, Jamaica is very “churched.” In fact, we were told that Jamaica has the most churches per capita of any nation on Earth. However, also much like Iowa, those in the churches don’t appear to have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. One bit of evidence is the high crime rate in Jamaica. Another evidence is the easy ability to obtain drugs (I personally was offered marijuana at least a half-dozen times when I was on the Hip Strip of Montego Bay – you’ll be glad to know I politely turned each offer down :o). The citizens of Jamaica may claim a church affiliation, but the culture reveals a deep need for the Gospel to penetrate hearts, minds, and lives. We met with a local pastor one afternoon to inquire about opportunities (that's the photo above). It became obvious that needs exist – but we also realize that needs are everywhere. We could send a team to help with the orphanages and children’s homes this pastor told us about. We could also help build church buildings in the poor towns located in the mountainous regions. But it is my personal opinion that the deepest need Jamaica has is an understanding of the gospel. Just like I long for my home state to understand who Christ is and what He truly has done for us, I would love to see the Jamaica church completely infused with this understanding and begin to send their own missions teams to the nations.
On behalf of the Logos Hope Jamaica Vision Team, thank you for your prayers. If you would like to hear more about our trip, as well as see many more photos, you are invited to the Missions Lunch on Sunday, March 14th in the New Covenant Activity Center. Our team will be sharing further highlights and insights about our trip, as well as hearing an update from Pastors Bob and James who will be back from their trip to India. Please join us for pizza, prayer, and more at 12:30 pm following the third service.
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Dick and Patsy Norem are planning to attend India and Logos Hope/Jamaica Vision Trip Reports on March 14th. Save us some pizza!
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