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Newtownbreda Baptist |
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Tracy on the Doulos. Update 2 |
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I have been enjoying my job as travel Co-ordinator. It can be a challenge at times as I can be working with travel arrangements for up to 25 people over a few months. Things start to get complicated when we move from port to port and then from country to country as I try to make bookings at least a month in advance. Then there are always the last minute changes, cancellations and rebookings - but I have found that it has opened up some great opportunities to share my faith. In each port I look for the travel agent and I have been able to build some good relationships. In Hobart, the travel agent surprised me by coming to the ship one evening with her boyfriend. I showed them around and afterwards her boyfriend took a friend and myself to the mountain top. We were able to share the gospel with him as he asked us many questions. He is a policeman and he told us of some of the problems in Tasmania. It has a population of 750,000 and due to unemployment many young people move to Australia for work. There is a high suicide rate and we were shocked to hear that on average three people a month commit suicide from the mountain top. I was also privileged to be part of different church teams in Australia. Or aim was to challenge the people to missions and to build up partnerships. We were able to enjoy great hospitality and experience an "Aussie Barbie!" One church in particular held its evening service especially for the underprivileged youth in the area. After the service they would have a meal, then walk to a nearby home of a church member. Here they could play tennis, swim in the pool or relax in the Jacuzzi. Of course we joined in the fun…..a very enjoyable method of outreach! In Melbourne, a friend and myself were asked to host a table at our 'partnership dinner'. This is a special dinner held for Christian businessmen so that they can find out more about the shipministry and how they can be involved. I had been praying for opportunities to meet non-Christians and that prayer was answered. A young couple was placed at our table for the evening - both were students and the man's parents had won an invitation to the dinner and given it to them. We got on well together and have received an email from them since. I am pleased to say that my parents arrived safely at the end of our time in Adelaide. They sailed with us to Melbourne where I took my week long break with them. We had hired a camper-van, which meant that we could travel round quite a bit. After seeing the Fairy penguins the weather improved as we drove along the "Great Ocean Road" which has some breathtaking coastline. We then moved up into the mountains, which again had some beautiful views. I think my mum was most impressed when she got to feed a kangaroo! And yes, I did see a koala, a kangaroo, a possum and a Tasmanian Devil. So, that is the first part of the Doulos Down Under Tour of 1999. Next we go to New Zealand to the ports of New Plymouth, Christchurch, Napier and Auckland. Then we head back to Australia in July to visit Sydney and Brisbane. Thank you once again for all your prayers and support Yours in Christ Tracy |
