They do it all.

It’s late… actually it is pretty early on the morning that we will leave, completing our 14th week. As you may have read from the others comments it has been a great week. I am sitting in the dining hall of the ship, lights out and with a cup of tea while I finish journaling and ready myself to say goodnight for my final night on the Spirit. Dave Matthews sings sweet songs in my headphones while my neck is pinched now and then from my necklace string of 17 bobbers. The Spirit is one of two 338-foot cargo ships docked here in Lake Charles on the Calcasieu River. We live on the Spirit while we prepare the Grace for her voyage to Haiti.

Midnight Tuesday brought cool air from the north causing a wind and rain storm that blew tarps and other objects around the decks of the two ships. I happened to be awake to witness several members of the crew rise from slumber and take action scurrying through the cold rain on slick steel decks. I could not resist but to join in the fun. We tied down what looked to be loose and blowing around. Craig, the deck supervisor, sprinted the decks of the two ships to check for any weaknesses in the storm. For a moment I lost myself in what was going on and I imagined the dangers of the open sea where not only did the skies smash down but swells also rise from the ocean that could rock the ship to pieces.

Friendships is the real deal. The organization works hard to bring basic needs to people worldwide. They venture out to unstable countries over the dangerous open sea. They have also started a program which grows flowers and garden goods to give away to the local community. They do it all. Work has been carried out all week with smiles covering the faces of everyone here. This is a place where the captain walks the ships each day visiting with the crew and joining in water fights. This is a place that invites people of all ages to ready a ship for disaster relief to the poorest country in the western hemisphere. This is a place where Bill and I could wear the same slimy grease-covered clothes for 3 days in a row and still sit right beside the showered folks from the office in the mess hall at lunch time. I have found it easy to be here, work here, serve here and worship here… This has just been an awesome experience.

Jesse