MV Doulos

Constructed in 1914, MV Doulos is the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship (same age as The Titanic). During her lengthy career, she has sailed under four distinct names: Medina, Roma, Franca C and Doulos. The ship has been utilised for four very different purposes: freighting goods, transporting emigrants, for cruises, and most recently in her present role as a vessel to bring knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world.

Doulos visits port cities throughout the world, supplying vital literature resources, encouraging inter-cultural understanding, training young people for more effective life and service, promoting greater global awareness, providing practical aid and sharing a message of hope in God wherever there is opportunity.
It is due to be decommissioned and so is undertaking a farewell world tour and was in Wellington for a week earlier in the month! After talking to Dad and finding out that he had been on board the Doulos back in the day (when he was a young(er) person), I was keen to go and have a look. It also has a very cheap book store so decided it was definitely worth a look!

The office decided to go together on a beautiful sunny Wellington winter day!

Lives That Count

The TSCF conference entitled 'Lives that Count: Mission from McDonald's to Mongolia' took place in Auckland from 27th June - 2nd July. It went really well and it was fantastic for me to meet so many students.

The students seemed to really enjoy the mixed program of meetings, seminars, destination world, resource centre, Sunday morning at different churches, a day trip to a temple, islamic centre and mall, lots of recreation and the final night concert!

I was kept busy all week working long days but loved watching the students enjoy themselves and get excited about mission.

One of the highlights of the week was the trip to the three place of worship - A Buddhist Temple, An Islamic centre and A Mall. It was a great chance to see how other people worship, understand them better and therefore sharing the Gospel with them more effectively. It was very obvious at all three places the lack of hope or certainty in there futures wheras I can be certain of my salvation in Jesus Christ! The students seemed to find it beneficial and asked some excellent questions to the staff in each of the centres.

I was ready for home though by the time I got back and enjoyed a couple of days off!

A small Tiki tour to Auckland!

The TSCF mid year conference started in Auckland on 27th June. As there was A LOT of stuff that needed to be transported up there, I decided that it would be a good idea to drive. It also gave me a chance to see some more of the country. So last Thursday, Val and I set off with a heavey laden car for our long drive north. The previous day the desert road (main road north) had been closed for a short while due to snow so we were pleased to find it was open when we needed to drive along it. Normally from the desert road you get fantastic views of Mt Ruapehu but there was too much cloud! I did get to see some snow though!

The remnants of a snowman - most of the snow had melted!

Val and what we could see of the mountain through my car window!

The base of Mt Ruapehu! It is very high - I promise!

We kept driving and made a stop at the Huka falls! Very beautiful rapids which are illegal to Kayak down. They are an amazing colour! Can't wait to take Jenny, Simon and the girls to go and see them.

We then carried on our journey - stopped off at Vals parents for the night and then carried onto to Auckland on Friday morning. Next installment will be about conference!

Completed at Last!

So, at the beginning of March, I decided to start a jigsaw. I fancied a bit of brain activity and thought it would be good to do as the weather got colder and had lazy afternoons in the house. It was much more difficult then I expected, but just before leaving for conference (post to follow) I completed it after nearly 4 months! I had lots of little short bursts and then long breaks as I got frustrated and bored with it but perseverance came through in the end and here it is: