What have we been up to…
- After finishing up as dorm parents at the college for the spring semester, we decided to spend our summer in Florida and get a break from boat work, but first we got to travel to Puerto Rico for a week and visit another couple from the ministry who lives and serves there. Jim and Staci have been doing ministry on the water for years all over the world from a house boat on the Amazon river, to youth sailing programs in Africa and now in PR. It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with them and to glean from their wisdom in both ministry and boat life. We were able to do a lot of snorkeling (which the kids loved!) and took an over night trip on their sailboat. It was great to be able to show the kids potential of sailboat life!
- we spent a good chunk of the summer back in the Tampa area where we had stayed in the RV for the year prior to joining the ministry. While there we officially became member of our church there. After feeling a bit like roamers, we felt it was time to have a home church again. Although we left town again for North Carolina the week after becoming members, we feel value in having a “home base” and people outside of Maritime Ministries to be connected with as we continue along our sailboat journey.
- We are back in North Carolina now and continuing the work on the boat (picture of our new RV spot below.) Our time in Florida served its purpose as we were away long enough to be excited about boat work again! After all the demo and removal we did to the boat last spring we are excited to announce that we have started the reconstruction phase! It feels go to be installing new pieces of wood instead of removing rotten wood.
- Our general goal is to have the boat livable as soon as possible. Once she is ready though we anticipate sticking around the local waterways of NC and VA and gaining lots of on the water experience before we are ready to use her for ministry or take her ”on the outside” (on ocean trips). But we are continually reminded and encouraged to hold all our plans and timelines with open hands as God continues to lead us one step at a time.
- In two short weeks Maritime Ministries will host a maritime missions conference called “Kingsfleet” (learn more here) Kings Fleet is an international network of Christian boaters and boat ministries that use their vessels for the sake of the gospel. We are super excited to be a part of this event and to hear about what the Lord is doing around the world, as well as spend time praying for one another.
- The ministry is prepping for the fall crushing season that’s just a few weeks away. This is the time of the year we are busy welcoming boats on our docks who are traveling south for the winter. It’s always fun for us to meet people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Elizabeth City is known as the “Harbor of Hospitality” and the city has placed the Ministry in charge of welcoming boaters at the city’s docks downtown as well. (Picture below – the kids working with other ministry kids to pack welcome bags for distribution to the boats who pass through the city)
- A huge answer to prayer! Late this summer Mr. Cameron came to stay on our docks in his sailboat and has been working on rewiring Selah for us! A friend of the ministry, Mr. Cameron seems to be an electrical wizard and we are so so excited that God sent him our way and that he’s been willing to not only work out all our electrical kinks but he’s also a great teacher and Aaron finally feels like he’s got a grasp on Selah’s electrical system. Earlier this spring I started praying that God would send us people who could help us fix this boat. Although money is always nice, often people who know what they are doing are far more valuable I think. (Pictured below, Mr. Cameron and Aaron sit in Selah’s engine room and talk electricity.)
“Just for Fun” Pictures…
Our current RV spot is a prime fishing and crabbing location. We have been catching and eating both! The kids all have their own poles and are impressively good at fishing (well, at least mom is impressed.) A college student who grew up in the area taught me how to cook crab (I feel like this counts toward sailboat life training)
All geared up for a blustery sail on one of the ministry’s smaller boats (ok, it was only 60 degrees out). This Florida girl is already fearful of the “frigid” North Carolina Winter.
Watching the kids learn how to work with boats has had lots of “proud mama” moments. Pictured below, Aaron steers a smaller sailboat towards the dock as Everett stands on the bow with a line in his hand ready to throw to Rielle on shore.
That’s all for now! Thanks for following along