Curacao

It's been awhile since I've given you an update on what I have been doing and I am doing now! If I want to catch up on my lost time I need to go back to Curacao (or the Dutch Antilles), a small comfortable island of 250,000 people. I didn't like the idea of staying in such a country for a few weeks if it was just to entertain some of our donors living there.
Yet those few weeks really flew by! I was able to minister in the local prison a few times, sometimes playing soccer with prisoners, some having up to a thirty year sentence! Seeing this peaceful prison and the rapport among the 600 prisoners was a heart warming experience. A local pastor has been investing his time and energy there for the last 25 years and it shows.

The French and French speaking on board were able to have a "French day" on Deck 4 (the visitor's deck) and were able to interact with the visitors (no, that isn't wine or a wine bottle on the picture, it's all non-alcoholic..). I had a "divine appointment" that day meeting a French speaking woman from Quebec who was visiting her son for the week and we were able to have quite a good discussion.

Another opportunity given to us was being able to talk to the local Haitian population (numbering more than 18,000) through a radio program, hosted by Daniel, a Haitian living Curacao.
We also got to participate through drama, music and practical work (small maintenance jobs in a shelter for the homeless).

If there is one thing I will remember of Curacao for a long time, it is this: near the end of our stay, Daniel (the one who hosted us on the radio) came to see me on the Logos Hope with his family and told me:
"Jeremie, I thank God that he sent you to Curacao, this island has a great need for the hope you bring, you can do so much through your service to God, we will not forget your visit for a long time!"

So, even though I though we were at the wrong place at the wrong time, God showed me that I had no idea what I was talking about...
Happily, my small voice cannot change God's will for the world!