Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrew
10:25
We recently went on a 2 week cruise vacation that celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, our teens’ 18th birthday and especially their once in a lifetime high school graduation. Something spectacular was about to happen… and we were floating right into the middle of it.
Whoever would have thought we might be “in a dry and weary land where there is no ‘water’” on a cruise ship! But remember, the Word encourages us to, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks”
As we mixed and mingled during the sail-away event camaraderie seemed effortless and we and the teens made new acquaintances quickly, including the Cruise Director Stewart from Edmonton. Providentially, he introduced us to the Event Coordinator, Nastja who would become instrumental over the next two weeks.
Through various events and interactions over the first few days we “let love and faithfulness never leave us”…and thus we, “won favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” just as the Word promises.
The ships Event Coordinator Nastja asked the Captain if he would present the teens with their diplomas in a special graduation ceremony. The Captain not only agreed but was joined by many other officers, along with the Cruise Director and his entire staff too. In all there were over 100 people in attendance at Bechah’s, Clema’s and Reign’s graduation which was held in a stunning 180 degree glass enclosed ballroom 12 stories above the sea. In an emotionally-charged presentation, everyone got to hear how very proud we were of the teens’ accomplishments thus far including their monthly support of 5 orphans, their construction of an orphanage, other philanthropic adventures and of their plans to attend Go Ministries’ 5-Fold Academy in Minnesota this summer. Most everyone was amazed for one reason or another. With Reign not actually finishing school, we surprised, honored and included him in the ceremony with an Entrepreneurs diploma, which many found quite touching. Wet eyes were common.
Later, we found out Anca, a Guest Relations officer from Romania found herself crying constantly during the ceremony. We discovered when she graduated her parents were unable to attend as she had hoped. She took photos for us and needed to let me know how this event had blessed her but also reminded her of her sadness. She and I talked about this for a few minutes and I believe Father gave me a word for her. I saw she has the ‘Burden Bearer gift’ and when she faces all the complaints from passengers on the first two days she is apt to carry it inside. I mentioned a verse from Jeremiah, “a curse without cause does not alight,” and showed her where it was found in the scriptures when we met for a couple of hours later that day. She realized that she could let the hurt and offence go about both her Graduation disappointment and her confrontation with new passengers. She did not do anything to cause the curse to come on her and so she did not need to accept it. We ended our time together with the baptism in the Spirit and I prayed in tongues over her. A passenger stepped into our space and said he was blessed by what he witnessed.
Leo, a line cook from the island of St. Lucia would make us Eggs Benedict each morning and as we got to know him we found he was without fellowship and a bible. In a surprise move, his supervisor gave him time to meet with us. He was thrilled as he hadn’t had any spiritual food or Christian fellowship in months.
Cecilia, a sommelier (wine steward) from the Philippines would come to our table each night and fill our water glasses if our waiter was busy. One evening I asked if she knew Jesus. She replied she didn’t attend church while on the ship and I said she wouldn’t even attend to heaven if she hadn’t said the believer’s prayer. She decided to do that right there. I told the family that she had become a believer and they all cheered. Peace was on her face, you know the kind………..
I went to the washroom and met Jacqueline and asked her if she knew Jesus. She replied she sure did and I was the 1st person to even mention God to her during her whole contract. We jumped up and down praising God in the ladies room.
Tucked in Allen’s bible were fabulous resources like The Victory Aid, Steps to Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and Steps to Salvation from Victory Life Fellowship along with E.W. Kenyon’s, All Things Are Ready and How to Become a Christian booklets. Guest Relations made color copies for us to hand out to Leo and Anca. They later told me that they devoured them right away. I went to the library and found a bible for Leo to use too.
Passengers Ellen and Martin approached me as they felt I knew people and could get a meeting room to have Church on Sunday. Yes, I did know Nastja and she arranged for us to have the library on Sunday evening at 9 pm. We had a sign put on the front desk that afternoon announcing our inter-denominational meeting and to my surprise we easily had 15 couples attend. We met a couple who are Messianic Jews and they were thrilled to have water to drink from and so joined us too. We also had Leo (kitchen staff) and Jacqueline (from the ladies room housekeeping) attend and be prayed over. Martin had injured his knee and the doctor ordered an MRI in Acapulco. I prayed for him while Ellen dined alone one evening and the eventual MRI showed he had no damage and would be on his feet in 2 weeks. PTL! Ellen declared that was the outcome of my prayers.
Nastja let me know that she would make sure the crew would have a room each week to continue with inter-denominational meetings. PTL! 850 employees now have access to regular fellowship. Please believe with us that the anointed men and women of God who work on the ship will take their place in leading the newfound fellowship and the Gospel tracts from Allen’s bible will continue to be published and distributed.
We found out our assistant waiter Nyarie from Zimbabwe was a believer too and he so wanted to attend the meeting but was on duty. I introduced him to Leo and they began to fellowship on the spot.
Our first port-of-call was Cartagena Columbia. We met our tour guide Julio and the driver Jose. As we toured a church with lots of relics I mentioned that we did not need these things to have faith in Jesus. This lit a fire in Julio and we talked for the next 3 hours about our faith in Jesus. He told me his children would be blessed as they had prayed that morning for him to get more understanding of God’s word. Jose and I shared the front seat and he and I would continue to talk as Julio gave information to the others in the back of the van. It was a great start to our trip. All in Father God’s hands and His will.
Allen and I were blessed every day as we watched our young people befriend passengers of all ages. They were, after-all, the only teens on the ship. They got involved with dance classes and later were asked to attend two special dance competitions. Each learning or teaching the art of dance to the Professionals. Busy were their days and evenings. Joy filled their hearts as they received gifts and accolades for entering in and being great sports through it all.
My prayers were answered when we took the risk to take this journey during a busy season for our students. Great lifelong memories for all of us.
All this happened on a ship and cruise line we never planned going on! You see, until just four days before departure we were sure we were going on another cruise ship leaving hundreds of miles away and on a different day than the one we ended up on. We had made arrangements for excursions in ports-of-call we never arrived at and others that we had to make some really quick adjustments to as we’d be there days ahead of schedule! We might have missed our boat – but just look what happened! Did we really miss our boat?
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks… 1 Peter 3:15
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews
10:25
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:3-5