To commemorate the return of the OM ship, the MV Doulos, to Australia, Sight is running a Doulos Diary in which members of the crew will share their thoughts and experiences as the ship travels around the coast, calling at ports including Brisbane, Sydney, Geelong, Albany and Fremantle before departing on 31st October. To find out more about the visit, see Sight's events page or visit www.doulosdownunder.org.au or www.om.org.au.

27th October, 2008

Holly Suffron, a 23-year-old from the US, works in the communications office on board the MV Doulos.

“In Lebanon, we got called out to the quayside to pick up some chairs. We ended up going in a truck to someone’s home to attend their funeral - all in our pyjamas,” said Aaron (from the US) in the Doulos van when recalling how random life on the ship was when he was part of the crew.

While eating lunch in the Doulos’ Dining Room recently, I was asked to go to Denmark via the scenic route on the spur of the moment. Being a free spirit, I thought, “Why not?” When it comes to adventure, there are not any 'No Through Road' signs for me.

Six of us hopped in a white Doulos van, driven by Kevin (England), and went around Albany for three hours. Due to the constant reminders that Australia is in a drought, it took me by surprise that the countryside was green. I once heard someone say they thought God’s favourite colour was green. Based on the grassy fields, shrub-laden hills, and tree-lined lanes, I would have to agree. What a difference the sun made on that day. We visited white beaches dotted with French tourists, then went to the blowholes and beyond.

For me, Albany in all its glory is one of many more ports I will experience as crew on the Doulos. But for Aaron - whose days on the Doulos as a project worker where he does welding on the ship in the public area - this will be one of his last. He has met a lovely Australian lady and his days on the ship are coming to an end. Will I ever meet Aaron again in my life? Perhaps not. But I will not forget his story of going to an impromptu funeral in his pyjamas in the Middle East. As crew members on the Doulos, we leave each port behind. It is the stories we take with us.

15th October, 2008

Gary Barto is a 67-year-old electrician from the US who has lived on Doulos for more than seven years.

One of the local families took some of us out in the bush to do a “walk about” to see some big trees and the countryside.

Our driver spotted some kangaroos in a farmer’s field, quite a way off the road. He stopped in front of a pasture gate and opened it along with the electric fence wire and got back in and started “four-wheeling” it across this pasture to where the kangaroos were.

It had been raining all morning, the ground was wet and soft, and we were making muddy tracks out across this large field. We got to where the kangaroos were and took some pictures of them before they started to run. They slipped through the fences with ease.

It was then I noticed the land owner closing in on us. He came right up beside us and I knew we were in trouble. It turns out the property owner was a friend of our host and he had some of the Doulos crew in his car also. I had briefly pictured us all at the constable’s office, answering questions.

10th October, 2008

Floyd Bascones, a 24 year old Filipino, works in the Doulos book shop. Floyd has been on the Doulos for nine months.

Our visit in Sydney could be etched in my mind for the rest of my Doulos life. It’s not just because I went to Sydney, but mainly it was my first port where I started working for the book exhibition department. During my last day in Brisbane, I switched to the book-ex from the deck department due to my health condition. Sydney was my first port as a book-ex staff. Since I was a short termer last year, I was a deckie (deckhand) until this year; and working in the book-ex felt so different. I felt I just came from pre-ship training again.

To say that book-ex is better than deck work is inappropriate since both jobs are necessary in the ship’s ministry and no job or department is better than the other. I have learned to love the deck life as a deckhand and deck office secretary, but I guess the time has come for me to move on to a somewhat different place.

Working in the bookshop as a staff gave me a new challenge which is spending more time talking to people - there are a lot of people in the book fair - which I am not an expert with. It’s funny how perfect strangers come to me at work and ask me to pray for them in reference to their struggles, needs, addictions, future life-partners, and so on.

One man came to me in Sydney and asked me to pray for him as he wanted to join the ship and look for a wife. Of course, I didn’t encourage him to join the Doulos for that reason. I gave him a Biblical perspective on the matter as the Doulos is a floating bookshop, not a shopping centre for future life-partners.

10th October, 2008

Cindy Litchfield, from the US, is the head teacher in the Doulos School.

In our last port of Geelong, the children and teachers from Doulos School were invited to visit the students at Donvale Christian College. Plans had been in the works for months to match up children as pen pals in preparation for this event.

As the time for the meeting drew closer, there were some scheduling challenges that had been missed before: the Doulos School was going to be on break during the visit to the Donvale School, and the Donvale students were going to be on break during the visit to the Doulos. But the meetings went ahead as scheduled.

The children had a good time, enjoying the large play area and the bunnies, chickens and goats that the Donvale School had. The following week, the Donvale students came with their parents to visit their Doulos pen pals. The Doulos children had been practicing giving tours of the ship and were excited to show their new friends their school and home. The children enjoyed making friends and will try to keep in touch to share their adventures.

8th October, 2008

Sudhir Murmu, a 25-year-old from India, works as a deck hand, and has been on the ship 13 months.

One day, we were driven by a local pastor through the beautiful scenery to a beach area near Geelong. On seeing the beauty of the sight, we were quite amazed that our God is a great God who has created this world so beautifully. We were told by the pastor that when the first missionary couple arrived at that place, they got impressed so much that they decided to buy that area and make a relaxing place for the overseas missionaries to spend their break. They even made a kind of law to have an alcohol free area for 90 years. But sadly, today, 90 years have passed and this area is now affected by alcoholism. Today there are two big bars on each side.

When we arrived at the school, we were given two classes to minister in two sessions. Each session’s students (eight to 13-years-old) were super attentive as it was a small group of 10 to 12 in number. Christiane Duwe, from Germany, asked one student that if God really hears our prayers. They were not sure, so she shared her life story of how God heard her prayer and brought her to the Doulos and fulfilled her dreams of being an engineer. Students were impressed by her story as she encouraged them to look for God.

In the second session, I shared my story of salvation by using the tearing cross illustration. On showing the words "Hell" and "Life" by ripping pieces of paper, the kids became open to us and this gave us the opportunity to tell them about God.

6th October , 2008

Aradhana Thavare, 23, has been serving as a dental therapist aboard the Doulos for the last four months.

As a Christian, it has always been my desire to serve the Lord through my profession, especially in Christian organizations, where I will be used as a skilled person and be involved in evangelism and missions as a whole. I am the daughter of Rev Bhimrao and Mrs Kanta Thavare who are working as missionaries in Fiji with global mission partners churches of Christ for the last six years.

I was born in India. For the last 35 years my parents have been involved in missions, my father as a professor in a Bible seminary and pastor (church planting ministry) and my mother as a Sunday school teacher, women's fellowship leader and now, together, in Fiji as missionaries. Their lives have motivated me to be mission-focused.

I knew most Christian organisations have medical and dental teams. I graduated from Fiji school of medicine last year as a qualified dental therapist. I was surfing the internet for dental opportunities. We as a family prayed for where I could be used this year. I heard about Doulos coming to Fiji. On the first open day, I visited the ship. I was excited to tour the ship and as I passed the dentist’s clinic, I asked, “Do you have a dentist on board?” After finding that the clinic had been unused for months, I prayerfully decided to offer my professional services to the crew. By God’s grace and some of the enthusiastic crew’s help, I have been serving on board as a dental therapist for the last four months.

What a blessing to serve on board the MV Doulos, the oldest passenger ship still sailing , carrying Jesus’ love , joy and hope around the nations. I thank God from depths of my heart for this wonderful opportunity and unique experience He has blessed me with. It is awesome to be part of the international Christian community and serve the Lord together.

I am glad to serve the Doulos crew. I enjoy every moment working in the dental clinic. It has been great to see ‘dental phobic’ people walking out happily after their dental visit. Apart from working in the dental clinic, the other department I work with is ‘tour department’. I have enjoyed and am enjoying giving official tours. Telling all about the ship and observing the facial expressions of tour participants, and answering their mission related questions has made me to appreciate and value the ships ministry more.

I have learnt many things in the ship, such as the importance of prayer through the prayer night every week, to seek God’s will in my life and to depend more on Him. Activities such as devotions and Bible study groups have added to my spiritual discipline. I have learnt to love other people as God loved us, including Christians who do not love me back. And finally, that God’s promises never fail - Jeremiah 29: 11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Then you will call upon my name and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you”.

26th September, 2008

Holly Suffron, a 23-year-old from the US, works in the communications office on board the MV Doulos.

Last Monday, 17 other crew members from Doulos and I got picked up by a small bus for an afternoon tour of the surrounding towns and countryside. Canola fields, more brilliant than mustard, passed our windows as the greying sky closed in.

At a nearby village, we climbed out of the dry, cosy bus to see five kangaroos eating in a footy field. A bit later, we travelled along the coastline and stopped at every available lookout. In the rain, I stood outside and looked out at the magnificent view ahead. The charcoal sky lined dark blue waters in the distance, turquoise green waves in the middle, and sea-foam green waves in the forefront.

With the cold wind whipping through my bandana and braids, I thought of what it is really valuable about working and sailing on the Doulos. Many people glamorise it with the view that all of the volunteers are having a vacation for two years.

But instead, in viewing the nature of Australia, I thought of how it is not the scenery that makes these 24 months memorable. No, not at all. I could visit thousands of beaches, awed each time. Yet, something would still be missing. Friendship. To live on the Doulos is to live with my best friends. No tourist spot can impress me as much as the love and devotion I receive from my dear friends on the Doulos."

11th September, 2008

Holly Suffron, a 23-year-old from the US, works in the communications office on board the MV Doulos.

"I never thought of God in shorts." Peter Maiden - director of OM International.

When I pictured Sydney in the past, I had thoughts of surfers in colourful Quiksilver shorts in the sun, koalas in the trees, and kangaroos hopping loose. But working in Sydney, Australia, for three weeks changed my perspective.

One of my favourite days in the city was a cloudy one, a Sunday full of rain and wind. I walked past Chinatown to find a church, the name of which I cannot remember. After the church service, I strolled back through Chinatown to pick up cherry pops and a few other items. Being the only customer in the shop, the Egyptian shop-keeper and I struck up a conversation about the Doulos and why people work there.

As I was walking back to the ship and the rain stopped, I swung my black umbrella around in the air and thought, 'What are the odds I would meet the first Egyptian in my life, in Chinatown, in Sydney, Australia, while working
as an American on the Doulos?'

I never thought of God in shorts, and now that I've been to Sydney in September, I know Australians don't always wear them either.

5th September, 2008

Yoke Mei Lim, a medical doctor and mother, has been onboard the MV Doulos for six months.

It was a lovely Wednesday morning in ‘Beautiful one day, perfect the next’ Brisbane. There were many visitors coming to the Doulos. The paid tours were nearly fully booked. I took time out from the medical clinic to join the wives’ fellowship at the outdoor cafe on the car deck of the Doulos. As one of the ship’s doctors on board, I normally do the morning clinic but this fine morning, after seeing a few patients, I shut the clinic as no-one else had booked in. I sent my nurse Anna off the ship to accompany someone for a blood test at the local pathology centre. Yi-An my husband, the other of the ship's doctors, had gone to the the Ekka Festival with our three kids for the day. Our head nurse was on A team ( 'Action' team) ministry and would not be back till next week.

So there I was finishing my coffee, enjoying the warmth of the sun, having pleasant conversations with ship’s wives when I heard a page for me over the speakers. 'Dr Yoke Mei Neoh, please call the information desk!'

I rushed to the phone, was told there someone had collapsed on the ‘prom’ deck outside the mess area. I made my way there fairly calmly, wondering what I would find. There was an old man looking rather confused, slurring his speech and rolling his eyes. His wife crying saying 'He’s having a stroke! He’s having a stroke!' I tried to calm her as well as get a little more information about his medical history when he suddenly went ashen gray as the blood drained from his face.

'We have to lay him down! Call the ambulance,' I yelled out while trying to feel for his pulse. In my mind, I was thinking 'Oh, no! Is it CPR time?' The ship's stretcher team came to my aid. We lifted him off the stool he was on and laid the now unconscious man on the floor. Within seconds, I could feel his radial pulse and he opened his eyes. 'Sir, do you know where you are?' I asked anxiously. 'On a boat,' came the feeble reply. A wave of relief swept over me.

Even as I was thinking the worst was over, Lisette, from the ship's office, came running up to us asking 'Where is Dr Yi-An?' 'He is off the ship,' I replied with dread. And so are both our nurses, I thought in my mind. 'Oh, someone else has collapsed at the bridge!' she said, and then went off to find more help.' This can't be happening,' I thought. Yi-An, my husband, and both the nurses are off the ship and I am the only one of the medical team who doesn't normally go to the drills because of my other responsibilities as a mother of three children. Of all times, it had to be now, God, is there a lesson here for me?

I checked the old man in front of me. He was responding to commands and was able to move his arms and legs, so I left him with the stretcher party and hurried off to attend this other situation at the bridge. Thankfully, the person who collapsed at the bridge had come to. Vivian, who worked in the ship's office, had been to see her, as she used to work as the nurse onboard. Someone had the good sense to call for her help. The old lady was part of a tour group who had obviously found the climb up the stairs to the bridge too strenuous. 'Have you ever fainted before?' I asked .'Yes, many times,' said the frail lady, a little embarrassed. As I returned to the clinic to attend to the first visitor who collapsed and waited for the ambulance to arrive, I resolved that from now on I would to attend all the emergency drills.

4th September, 2008

Andrea Laurita, 27-years-old from the US, works in Melbourne at the OM Australia national office. She is a journalist from USA, and is working to promote Doulos’ final Aussie tour. Andrea lived onboard Doulos’ sister ship, Logos II, for two years between September 2000 and September 2002.

Stepping back onboard an OM ship reminded me of one of the most full and fulfilling seasons of my life. I had been in Australia for three months doing publicity in preparation for the ship’s visit, but had never seen this old vessel or met her dynamic crew. The smells, the sounds, the humming vibration of a generator under my bunk as I tried to sleep at night all returned with sure familiarity. And though the faces of the crew were not the friends I knew onboard the Logos II, they were friendly, like-minded and I knew them all the same.

My role onboard Doulos was to meet ship visitors who were interested in missions and curious about joining OM or the OM ships. During my two weeks onboard in Brisbane, I had the privilege of talking with and praying for hundreds of Aussies!

On Tuesday, 19th August, we set sail for Sydney. Being at sea must be one of the most awesome and humbling experiences. Somehow, I had forgotten what a pathetic sailor I am. Sea swells weren’t bad, but the constant pitching motion of the ship as she bobbed along the water was just enough to cause me to violently abort my evening meal. One of the crew, a woman (whose name I’ve since learned is Eva) swept in and ordered me straight to bed. She knelt on the carpet and took my mess upon herself as if it had been her own.

The remainder of the voyage was gorgeous! Whales boasted by leaping from the water, dolphins played in Doulos’ bow wake, and the Milky Way was like a speckled mohawk streaked across the midnight sky. Creation certainly celebrates our awesome God.

Being onboard Doulos and interacting with her international crew is an incredible experience of growing in knowledge, help and hope.

2nd September, 2008

Vivian Sekkel, a 27-year-old Brazilian, has been onboard the Doulos for two years working as a project manager assistant.

It’s time to go home! What is it like for a Doulos person to finish his or her commitment on the ship after two years of such an amazing experience? I can only speak for myself and I believe that in the same way that it took some courage to come; it also takes courage to go home. For the last couple of weeks I am walking the journey of bringing closure to my time on board the Doulos and it goes like this...

Once I decided what I am going to do after leaving the ship, there was a season of communicating with my family, church and supporters about the decision made. When everyone was standing on the same page, then it was time to book my flight! I loved this part, to actually see my flight number and have something tangible that clearly states that I am truly leaving! Then it was time to choose a new person to take over my job. This process required a bit of negotiation since I’m not the only one going home, and many others need people to take over their jobs as well. For the last couple of weeks I have trained Laura Whitaker (UK) who will continue to assist the Advance Preparation Teams as they prepare the future ports the ship will visit.

Flights and job have been taken care of; it’s time to get a little bit more personal. This is the moment to look back and reflect on what I have learned for the last two years, how have I changed and who are the people that have influenced me the most during this experience? I had the opportunity of putting all of this together in the form of a farewell speech that I shared in five minutes at our community night. Yes, two years must be summarised in five minutes! I actually really enjoyed making the effort of not going overtime and I made it in four minutes and 52 seconds!

Copying photos and videos, collecting reports, sorting out clothes and packing, all of this is important; but not really a priority to me. Most of my free time in these last weeks was spent with people. It means so much to me to say a proper thank you and to enjoy being around those that I will miss the most. I make an effort to go out with them, eat meals together and write a short thank you letter as a memory gift.

Leaving Doulos is exciting and scary at the same time! I often remind myself that time brings things to an end, but it always gives us new beginnings. Since Jesus keeps traveling with me no matter where I go, I have the confidence that He helps me to bring this season to completion and to embrace the new chapter of life He has in store for me in the future.

28th August, 2008

Carlien Govender, is 32-year-old South African, who is a "full-time wife and mother" on board. Having served on Doulos for four-and-a-half years, her previous jobs have included working in the book fair, on the reception desk, in project management and on the communications team.

We had a guest at our table recently. Samuel B. lives just outside Sydney and came to the harbour to watch Doulos sail in. It was his first time to see the ship he has heard so much about and previously only seen in photographs. During lunch he told us how excited he was about today. 'It took me an hour-and-a-half to fall asleep last night, and then I still woke at 3am wondering if it was time to get up yet,' he laughed.

Samuel is one of those precious friends of the Doulos ministry who has been supporting the ship with his prayers. He first started praying when a member of his church joined Doulos five years ago. "I prayed for him every day during his year on board," he said earnestly. And he kept praying even after his friend returned.

Since then he longed to see the ship himself, but when he heard that Doulos would soon be decommissioned he thought his dream would not be realised. However this morning it did come true as he stood among other well-wishers on the quayside, a Doulos cap firmly on his head. He was almost speechless as the ship first came into sight. And once the ship had berthed Samuel was thrilled to finally step on board and enjoy lunch with the crew in the dining room. 'I have waited five years for this! he said with a big smile.

As my husband and I listened to him, we both felt very privileged to have such a special person at our table. His enthusiasm and faithfulness in prayer is a great example to us. All the more since Samuel B is presently eight-years-old and was only three when he first started praying for Doulos!"

19th August, 2008

Marli Tirelli, 38-years-old, from Brazil, works in the communication office. She's been aboard the Doulos for one-and-a-half years.

The paging system broadcasted 'if you are available to give a tour, please come to the tour booth'. I thought, 'I am not that busy. I have been giving tours to so many people in the one-and-a-half years I have been onboard the Doulos, so I must help!' And that’s exactly what I did.

At 3:12pm I met the visitors and took them to the Captain’s Deck where I explained about our lifeboats, that the Doulos was built just two years after the Titanic, and that so many people died when the Titanic sank because they didn’t have enough lifeboats. In contrast, on the Doulos, we are sure we have enough space to fit the 350 crew. We then headed to the bridge where I could show them the magnetic compass from 1914 which is still working, the gyro compass, radar and the other modern equipments we have there.

Then it was time to go inside the ship and show them the pictures when this ship was the Medina, a cargo freighter transporting onions. In 1948, she became the Roma, a passenger ship that brought so many European immigrants to Australia. In 1952, she was transformed into a luxurious cruise liner, called the Franca C. In 1977, this old ship, then 66 years-old was going to go to a scrap yard, but Gute Bücher für Alle (Good Books For All) bought her and renamed her the Doulos, a Greek word meaning ‘servant’.

Going down the stairs, we ended up in the family section, where I could tell my guests that we have 15 families and around 30 children living on the ship, and about the school with certified teachers who follow the British curriculum. One of my visitors asked me if he could see a cabin. As luck would have it, there is a cabin in our tour route. The cabin is one of the smallest cabins with two bunk beds. Following that, we went to the holds where half a million books are stored and someone told me, 'for sure you don’t want any fire here, right?' My answer was 'of course not, but if there is, we have trained fire-fighters to put down the fire!'

Laundry was our next stop, then the fire station, and the bakery/galley (ship’s kitchen). Down the stairs, I took them to the engine room and someone wanted to know how many tons the ship is. 'The Doulos weighs 6,800 tons,' I answered. Corridors and stairs were in our way to the dining room, where my guests could sit down and hear more about life on this old lady. I finally took them upstairs and finished my tour, telling them about the Doulos’ sister ships, the Logos that ran aground, the Logos II that is being sold, and the Logos Hope that is in Denmark in fitting faze. The Logos Hope will start sailing soon, and the future of the Doulos, that will be decommissioned in 2010, due to new international maritime regulations that won’t allow ships with too many parts of combustible material to sail in international waters. 'That was pretty easy,' I thought and decided I should write about my experience on 17th August in Brisbane."

19th August, 2008

Holly Suffron, a 23-year-old from the US, works in the communications office on board the MV Doulos.

As the Doulos will sail out of Brisbane tomorrow, I reflect on our voyage from Wellington, New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia. I remember the day I went to hell and back again. I would have to say the Tasman Sea will forever have a connection in my brain to the Tasmanian Devil.

My jolly German friend and I were lounging in the dining room, the only two souls left in an upright position. In the Bible, it says that pride comes before the fall. I saw it before my own green eyes. This joyful German was just bragging about how he’d only thrown up once in his two years on the ship. Then, in the middle of the sentence, he ran to the food waste bin and threw up. I couldn’t hear much, but his convulsing body pretty much spoke for itself.

A few minutes later, a jubilant German lady walked in and started to gab away. The more she talked, the more queasy I felt thus I went up to a couch in the Volunteer’s Lounge. Being horizontal did not change the ten-meter waves’ impact unfortunately. Eventually, I found myself worshiping the porcelain throne in the nearest women’s toilet. Goodbye Brisbane and all the fond memories it has brought."

16th August, 2008

Holly Suffron, a 23-year-old from the US, works in the communications office on board the MV Doulos.

When visitors visit the MV Doulos, they often say, 'What? You don’t have a TV? What do you do for fun?' But on our one day off a week, especially in the 'Sunshine State', there’s endless possibilities of how volunteers from around the world can experience Australia.

Our trip to the Gold Coast was golden indeed. Two Swiss, one South African one Dutch, and I rented a low-priced car (one third of the cost of renting one in America) and drove an hour-and-a-half away from the ship. I’m telling you, it was 11 hours of pure bliss. We went for a swim in the sparkly water, shivered under the sun on the sand, and shared a puny picnic lunch. The girls and I watched grandfathers in Speedos swim in the surf (which is in stark contrast to the strict Doulos dress code) while the guys went to another part of the beach. A little later, we brushed the sea off of our feet and legs and hopped in the car for another part of our road trip.

The next stop was high up in the hills where birds cawed, the breeze blew bubbles in our hair, and a busload of Japanese kids stalked us. In fact, I found it odd that just about the only people we didn’t meet on the trails were Australians. Wearing flip-flops (Crocs) was a mistake as we decided to go on a hike to a wonderful waterfall. After returning from the falls, it got too cold to bear, so we all snuggled up in the car and headed to Hungry Jacks.

Sitting down with our big burgers, fries, and drinks, we ate in sweet silence. And then...one-by-one, our heads turned to the TV screen which showed the Olympics. How ironic it was to spend a day in the 'outback' and end up in-front of a TV far away from the ship, and far away from home."

14th August, 2008

Carlien Govender, is 32-year-old South African, who is a "full-time wife and mother" on board. Having served on Doulos for four-and-a-half years, her previous jobs have included working in the book fair, on the reception desk, in project management and on the communications team.

"So where do you actually sleep?" my visitor asked as she was about to leave. I thought I had pointed out all the features of our family's cabin on board Doulos, but I had forgotten about the bed! I showed her how the couch on which she had been sitting can be pulled out at night to become a double bed.

It had been a busy social day. As a full-time mother and wife, most of my hours are filled with daily chores and supporting my husband in his managerial role on board. But on Doulos I also have the opportunity to play hostess in our cabin and I see a variety of people passing through. Some are fellow ship-mates, team members from my husband's department or younger ladies looking for some counsel and a chat. Sometimes we entertain visiting missionaries who come to Doulos to tell the crew members about their ministry. And sometimes we meet local people - strangers at first - who we invite for a tour and then get to know better.

Here in Brisbane, my husband was overjoyed to meet an older couple who remembered him from the ship's previous visit to Australia in 1999. We gladly invited them for lunch on board and then to our cabin. I was touched as they tearfully shared how good it was to visit and how they would have loved to join Doulos if only they were younger and fitter. Experiencing this couple's enthusiasm and warmth reminded me to be grateful for the privilege of being on board at this time of my life.

A few hours later another group of visitors arrived for tea - four ladies I have never met before, but who belong to the same internet book club as I do. They had never heard about Doulos so had many questions about our life and purpose on board.

As a mother I don't have a "normal" job on Doulos. I am not an official tour guide, a book fair worker or an engine room watchkeeper, but I realise I can still be a blessing to all kinds of people, just by opening my cabin door to a few visitors.

13th August, 2008

Vivian Sekkel, a 27-year-old Brazilian, is a project manager assistant with the ship's advance preparation team.

Time flies! In September 2006 I joined Doulos in Thailand to live with 330 strangers from all over the world! Two years later I sailed into the last country which I will visit with the ship: Australia. I arrived not with strangers, but with my home which holds a community of friends who share the same journey. It is exciting to run the final lap in a country such as this! After over a year in Asia, it is a unique opportunity to be in a western society that shares similar values as my home country Brazil.

My job onboard consists of assisting the project management of the future ports Doulos will visit. At the moment the ship has small teams of three to four people in Sydney, Geelong, Albany and Fremantle who are overseeing the permissions, programmes and publicity for the visit to each of these ports. Before the ship sails in, there is a lot of work that takes place several months in advance. It is a great satisfaction to see all the planning to come to Australia actually being put into action! The work is ongoing and even though we are in Brisbane at the moment, my mind is far ahead looking forward for the future ports.

Everyone on the ship has a job to do that usually is quite demanding. I try to leave that aside every now and then, and remind myself of the reason why I am on Doulos. Personally, it is for the opportunity of meeting people, to learn from them and to pass on a little bit of what I have seen and experienced on board. This week I had the chance to share a story with young people who came to a youth event. It was encouraged to see how we can relate to one another, and how we share similar challenges and uncertainties. This meeting showed me the deep desire in young Australians to leave a legacy that will impact the future generations that will follow after them.

11th August 2008

Bridget Tallon, a 23-year-old Australian, is a member of OM's advance preparation team for the Doulos visit.

Saturday was a lot of fun. I started off the morning eating breakfast in the dining room with a very unusual group of people. Sitting around the table was a German guy, a Cypriot guy, a Dutch guy, a South African girl, an American girl and myself. Thank goodness we can all speak English!

Some of the topics of conversations were topics that, understandably, come up quite a lot – our differences. For instance, we spent a lot of time laughing over the differences we have in personal space. The American girl was expressing how, especially when she first joined, her sense of personal space was a lot larger than many other people who lived onboard. A couple of us enjoyed “poking her bubble” and seeing how close we had to get to invade that space. Someone also tried ‘the elbow of encouragement’ on her - a very strange way that a few people have of holding your elbow while encouraging you. It is a surprisingly uncomfortable feeling for nearly everyone who experiences it. I find it very interesting that the times I have the most fun on board are the times when we’re celebrating and laughing over our differences.

The rest of the day I’ve spent working in the office, catching up with people who have gone out to visit various schools and churches, connecting other people with some local pastors and inviting still others onboard the ship for a special breakfast. It has been continually busy and honestly quite stressful. A part of me (yes, a big part) will be very relieved when this is all over and I can sleep for a while. On the other hand, this has to be one of the more rewarding jobs on the ship. Hearing people coming back to the ship full of excitement for the people of Australia warms my heart. That, and the friendships I’ve made with so many people here in Brisbane is going to make it hard to leave. But! It is too soon to be thinking of leaving, so, for the meantime, I will persevere and enjoy all the positive things about being in the advance preparation team.

9th August 2008

Bridget Tallon, a 23-year-old Australian, is a member of OM's advance preparation team for the Doulos visit.

These last few days have been some of the busiest Iíve had in a long time. The first few days in a port are always busy, but even more-so when it is the first port of the country. Iíve been running around all day just making sure that outgoing teams connect with their hosts, that everything weíve organised happens, and just being available to answer all of the questions that people may have about, well, everything.

But while being busy, it has actually been a very positive time. I have to admit that, being an Australian myself, I was very anxious about having the ship come to Australia. I so much wanted ‘my ship’ to like my country and my country to like my ship. I expected however, that Doulos people wouldn’t like Australia, simply because this is one of the first Western nations that we’ve visited in a long time. I (a little pessimistically) thought that Doulos people would find Australians too busy. I’ve been so encouraged therefore how every day, many Doulos people have come up to me and said, “It’s so great to be here in Australia! The people are so friendly, and are so warm”.

Even more encouraging has been the way that Australians have been responding to this ship and her people. So many have gone out of their way to come and visit, and have enjoyed themselves thoroughly onboard. There is still a long way to go with ensuring that everything goes according to plan, but the biggest hurdle seems to be over.

8th August 2008

Katherine Ho, a 29-year-old Singaporean, is a member of the book exhibition staff aboard the MV Doulos.

Toooooooooooot!

I love to hear the horn of the ship because it meant that we’ve arrived! We have all survived the fierce stormy Tasman sea and here we are on the land of Australia. Yes! Australia! The only continent occupied by a single country, the land of the kangaroo and koala. Crikey! Not forgetting the crocodiles and the late Crocodile Hunter. Oh I love to watch his TV shows!

Everyone is out at the deck waving his or her flags proudly! I’m feeling the goose bumps as I sweep my huge Singapore flag up high in the sky as long as I could. There are different groups of people welcoming us in and I even see some customers in the Japanese restaurant waving enthusiastically at us! It must be a sight to see Doulos come into a wharf.

Jiamin (my fellow Singaporean) is down there waiting for our arrival. I see her wiping tears away. Happy tears I’m sure. She has been here the last four months preparing for the ship’s arrival and I believe with the help of OM Australia, the ministry here is going to be over the moon!

Before anything can possibly happen, we need to pass the custom’s quarantine check. The last few days before arrival, the ship has been cleaned thoroughly and each cabin checked and cleared of food stuff not allowed into Australia. I hope that all these will go smoothly and quickly.

After watching the arrival, I went back to work, setting up the bookshop. Shelves were uncovered and restored into their position, tables were laid out and books displayed. Even though it is going to be a long workday, there is a certain buzz of excitement in the air! A few of us were talking and recalling moments from the previous port in Wellington, New Zealand. It was a beautiful place but it was rather cold and way too windy for comfort. The temperature is just right here in Brisbane. I can sense good things coming our way here. Can’t wait to step off the ship and see what things are like!

Oh, Angela (my Swiss friend) lost her precious Ovaltine drink to the trash. It did not pass the quarantine check.

6th August 2008

Michel Mack, a 21-year-old German, works in public relations on board the MV Doulos.

Doulos arrived in Brisbane, Australia, on the 31st July, 2008. Despite of some rough parts, the major part of the voyage has been experienced fairly calm. For the crew this was an urgent answer to prayer, because the Cook Strait and the Tasman Sea are normally famous for huge swells.

I was on watch on the bridge and could witness the beauty of sailing the coastal areas of Australia. During the entire voyage the sky had been cloudy and the weather had been foggy and rainy, but during the arrival morning the skies were clear and while most of the crew members were still sleeping, we could witness the most beautiful sunrise on the horizon, we were able to see in a long time.

After manoeuvring through the coastal reefs with the pilot for five hours, we approached shore and long before the tugs pulled us into the berth, we could already see many people waving and raising banners on the quayside to welcome Doulos and her crew into Australia.

I’ve been on the Doulos since September 2006 and coming to New Zealand and Australia was the first time in the western world for a long period of time. It was an interesting transition from the relationship-orientated South Pacific culture, where time just had no meaning, to the comparatively reserved and busy western culture. But I’m looking forward to sit down with many Australians for a cup of coffee, listen to their stories and to be able to share what I was able to experience during my last two years on the ship.

This is my first visit to Australia and being here is a big privilege for me. I’m looking forward to experience the “Australian culture” and being able to share with people from a similar cultural background and to bring a good closure to my time on board, as I will head home on the 1st September after two years on board.

FOR PREVIOUS STORIES:

DOULOS DOWNUNDER: IT'S ALL PART OF A CAPTAIN'S LIFE FOR ASHLEY McDONALD

ANDREA LAURITA talks to Ashley and Alison McDonald about their life aboard the OM ship, the MV Doulos... | more...|

MV DOULOS: OM SHIP RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA TO SHOW "THE DAY OF MISSION IS NOT OVER"

DAVID ADAMS speaks to OM's Sam Scott about the mission organisation and the return of the MV Doulos to Australia later this year... | more...|