July 2022 Update - What inspires me?

We have had an amazing month spending time in both Ceuta, Spain and Valletta, Malta. We have seen over 21,000 people onboard the ship this month (that is not a final count as we are still gathering numbers), as well as had land-based teams ministering to hundreds of people. I am attaching the link to the Port Report Videos that the ship did for Sevilla, Spain and Ceuta, Spain. You will have to wait until my next update to see the Port Report video for Valetta, Malta.

Sevilla:

Ceuta:

What inspires me...

This month I heard a short story that really inspired me, and I hope it will do that same for you.

Hudson Taylor, an Englishman, founded China Inland Mission in 1865. He was a part of starting a whole new era in mission’s history by taking the gospel inland away from the coasts. He particularly had a desire to go inland in China. He tells a story about a man named Mr. Nee that he led to the Lord in his time serving there. This story really made an impact on me, and I wanted to share it with you today. One day Mr. Nee asked Hudson Taylor a question, “How long have you had the glad tidings of the Gospel in England?” Hudson Taylor was ashamed to tell him that it had been several hundred years. In astonishment, he exclaimed, “What, several hundred years? Is it possible that you have known about Jesus so long, and only now come to tell us? My father sought the truth for more than 20 years and he died without finding it. Oh! Why did you not come sooner?”

This story pierces my soul. Did you know that there are over 2 billion people who have virtually no access to the Gospel, we refer to them as unreached peoples? They are lost and need someone to come and show them the saving grace of Jesus. It is statistics like these that compel me to continue to serve in Missions. There are so many people who desperately need to hear the good news of the Gospel before it is too late. Jesus gave each one of us the instruction to take the Gospel to them. Each of our mandate roles will look different, but everyone in the church has a critical role to play. If you want to know more about what that might look like for you, please reach out to me.

This is why I serve the way I do. I can't live a "normal" life when so many people are dying without the chance to hear the name of Jesus. I count it a privilege to be able to go and shine the light of Christ in the darkness. We have some amazing opportunities coming up to do just that, but for security purposes, I can’t post them online. If you would like to receive my full update by email, please click here. Fill out the contact card and in the message please include the following: “Please add me to your mailing list and send me your full July update.” Thanks!

July Photo Highlights

Giving a call to missions at a church in Malta.

This month I was shadowing the Navigation and Training Officer. I assisted with planning the navigation for our next couple of ports, as well as helping with organizing and oversight for the ship’s weekly drills.

For one of our drills this month we coordinated with the local shore-based fire service and had a combined drill. This was great training for both our crew as well as the local fire departments.

Logos Hope docked in Malta.

The American crew organized a nice 4th of July celebration onboard in Ceuta, complete with a cookout, s’mores, and sparklers. We had a lot of fun.

Malta is a beautiful island so full of history and ancient architecture.

God did a wonderful job in creating this place as well. Just look at the color of that crystal clear water.