It was funny how people from Australia and RSA got there on time but people from 30km away were late. This is always the way though. I lived 10 meters from school and was never on time. unless I was the prefect on duty making sure people weren't late always late. We finally embarked on a voyage through the waterways of the Ijsselmeer, a freshwater sea in Holland. The weather was stunning and the water was very calm. Perfect sailing days.
The course was all about what to expect, what Mercy Ships stands for and their modus oparandi. It was quite an eye opener and it really made me question my motives for going, as well as whether or not I would be able to cope. It hit home that I would be living and ministering with people from many different cultures and denominations. Each of these have their own methods and probably slightly different beliefs to me. Although the ship predominantly consists of Christians, clashes and misunderstandings are inevitable The other thing that hit home was how big, but at the same time how very small the ship is. I am a person who must retreat into his own space every now and again to recharge. When sharing a cabin/room with six or eight other people, of different ages, nationalities and languages, it will be interesting to see how I cope.
However, saying all this, God is good and the opportunity to serve on the ship is a real privilege. I still do not fully know what to expect and trying not to pre form and idea of what it will be like.
Ryan
