Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Time
Without realizing it, Christmas has sneaked up on me and soon another year will have past. It's amazing how fast time goes when you are busy focusing on other things. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I pray that your holiday season is filled with the true meaning of Christmas, Christ coming to the earth to save us all. And I also pray that you make the most of your time with family and friends and the gift of fellowship.
Spending Christmas away from home is nothing new for me. But I'm really excited about all the different ways I get to celebrate Christmas this year. Last night a German family hosted a group of four of us and we were able to visit their home, have a home cooked meal and spend time in fellowship. (I get to do that again today with a different family.) For Christmas eve the ship has teamed with the local Salvation Army and we are helping with their annual homeless holiday meal. We get to decorate their hall, and also get to present a one hour international Christmas service. Please pray for the 80-100 homeless people that expected to turn up for the dinner. Following the program, and back on board the ship, the ship's company will have a special Ship Family Dinner and exchange gifts. On Christmas day I'll open my presents and it will be a day of relaxation, open cabins, and movies. (Sorry no Football coverage). The day after Christmas, more of us will be sent to homes to celebrate the holidays with local families. I don't know how big the after Christmas sells are here, but I might go take a look.
Christmas will be busy, but we will be busy serving the Lord, and in return being served by the people of Kiel. Christmas cards are on their way, I would blame the German post, but I didn't really get them in the mail on time.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Spending Christmas away from home is nothing new for me. But I'm really excited about all the different ways I get to celebrate Christmas this year. Last night a German family hosted a group of four of us and we were able to visit their home, have a home cooked meal and spend time in fellowship. (I get to do that again today with a different family.) For Christmas eve the ship has teamed with the local Salvation Army and we are helping with their annual homeless holiday meal. We get to decorate their hall, and also get to present a one hour international Christmas service. Please pray for the 80-100 homeless people that expected to turn up for the dinner. Following the program, and back on board the ship, the ship's company will have a special Ship Family Dinner and exchange gifts. On Christmas day I'll open my presents and it will be a day of relaxation, open cabins, and movies. (Sorry no Football coverage). The day after Christmas, more of us will be sent to homes to celebrate the holidays with local families. I don't know how big the after Christmas sells are here, but I might go take a look.
Christmas will be busy, but we will be busy serving the Lord, and in return being served by the people of Kiel. Christmas cards are on their way, I would blame the German post, but I didn't really get them in the mail on time.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Kids On Board
I just can’t get away from them, Children. I’ve been working with kids for the past 10 years in various ways, from babysitting to camp counselor, Sunday school teacher to after school supervisor. I even spent my vacations with them, coordinating the kid’s programs on board the cruise ships. Why did I think things would be different here? I joined not wanting to work with kids. I’ve been there, done that. Now it sounds like I’m ungrateful. I love kids, I can manage kids, I have fun with kids and they have fun with me. I just wanted to try something new.
God knows our talents and want us to use them for his glory. It’s just funny how he ends up using our talents in ways we aren’t expecting. The “Holiday Camp” was great. There were various bumps along the way, but in the end we all had a blast, even my fellow teachers. (And we were super entertainment for the hairdresser on board who had set up shop in our main meeting room). The kid’s highlights were “the moose song” and dissecting squid! And we even made the top story on the OM ships website!
But once camp ended there were no plans for me. I knew I would not be returning to laundry, but no one had communicated what my job would be on the LOGOS HOPE. That is, until Friday, the last day of camp. I was asked to be a substitute teacher, an emergency permanent substitute teacher. I didn’t come to the ships to work with the kids full time. I came to the ships to be involved with ministry, in any way, and to learn a new skill, a new job.
I did a lot of praying. God reminded me what an awesome ministry working with kids is, even when it’s just being “teacher”. I get to teach and be an example for kids growing up in a community of multi-cultural missionaries. I get to be a blessing to their families. And daily I get the rewards of kids, watching them learning and growing in knowledge.
I am now officially TEACHER. I’ll just be filling in until the new teachers arrive in February. I have a wonderful support team here who believe in me and are teaching me daily. I’m up for the challenge, this will be exciting and the best part is that I am exactly where God wants me.
And where will I be working in 8 weeks? I don’t know. But God does, and that’s all I need. Please pray for me these next couple weeks as I’m trying to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
For those interested, I have a class of six between the ages of 7-11, five boys, and one girl. They range in grade levels from second grade to fifth grade. One student from each of the following countries: America, Scotland, England, and South Africa, as well as brothers who have lived in Finland and Brazil and began learning English six months ago. (Don’t worry, their English is amazing, and it’s their third language!) Our school day is 9-3. And we will have the week of Christmas off.
God knows our talents and want us to use them for his glory. It’s just funny how he ends up using our talents in ways we aren’t expecting. The “Holiday Camp” was great. There were various bumps along the way, but in the end we all had a blast, even my fellow teachers. (And we were super entertainment for the hairdresser on board who had set up shop in our main meeting room). The kid’s highlights were “the moose song” and dissecting squid! And we even made the top story on the OM ships website!
But once camp ended there were no plans for me. I knew I would not be returning to laundry, but no one had communicated what my job would be on the LOGOS HOPE. That is, until Friday, the last day of camp. I was asked to be a substitute teacher, an emergency permanent substitute teacher. I didn’t come to the ships to work with the kids full time. I came to the ships to be involved with ministry, in any way, and to learn a new skill, a new job.
I did a lot of praying. God reminded me what an awesome ministry working with kids is, even when it’s just being “teacher”. I get to teach and be an example for kids growing up in a community of multi-cultural missionaries. I get to be a blessing to their families. And daily I get the rewards of kids, watching them learning and growing in knowledge.
I am now officially TEACHER. I’ll just be filling in until the new teachers arrive in February. I have a wonderful support team here who believe in me and are teaching me daily. I’m up for the challenge, this will be exciting and the best part is that I am exactly where God wants me.
And where will I be working in 8 weeks? I don’t know. But God does, and that’s all I need. Please pray for me these next couple weeks as I’m trying to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
For those interested, I have a class of six between the ages of 7-11, five boys, and one girl. They range in grade levels from second grade to fifth grade. One student from each of the following countries: America, Scotland, England, and South Africa, as well as brothers who have lived in Finland and Brazil and began learning English six months ago. (Don’t worry, their English is amazing, and it’s their third language!) Our school day is 9-3. And we will have the week of Christmas off.
NEW email
my new email address is:
jessica.edwards@logoshope.org
can'twait to start getting email from everybody! (hint, hint)
jessica.edwards@logoshope.org
can'twait to start getting email from everybody! (hint, hint)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
HOPE Floats
The day had arrived; the Hope would be sailing into the Ostseekai port. The Logos 2 community had all joined on the quayside to watch the HOPE come along side her new berth and greet missed friends with a dance. 
There were lots of cheers, laughs and dancing. The day was cold, but the joy and anticipation kept everyone warm. She was beautiful and eased into her berth with little effort. After waiting for the port authority to clear the vessel we were allowed onboard and met with long lost friends.
My first impression of the HOPE was “Stairs”! There is only one elevator and it’s a freight elevator. There are 40 steps down to my room.
I live on deck 2. If I want to go to meals or the computer room it’s 55 steps up. If I want to go play darts that another 15 steps up. Going up and down the gangway is another 40. But whose counting?!
Honestly when I first saw the inside of the ship I was greatly disappointed. There is still so much that needs to be finished. There are two decks that are completely empty. Everyone in OM had made such a big deal about how much was finished and completed that I wasn’t ready for cabins without sinks, meetings rooms without carpet, a reception area without a desk. I could go on and on about how much we don’t have, but God reminds me of everything we do have!
We have a ship to impact the world for Christ. We have a place to sleep, a wonderful chef, and Internet connection. More importantly we have the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, and we have a community of believers to encourage and come beside us when we are felling overwhelmed or discouraged. Because I never saw the HOPE before she arrived in Germany, I can’t really appreciate all the changes that have taken place. I’m sure that if you ask me in a few months time, I’ll have a completely different view and I’ll be very appreciative of all the changes that I’ve seen and been a part of. But God is faithful and he had been comforting me and I’m feeling better about my new home.
I’m so grateful that I can be here involved with OM at this point in history. I hope that you all realize the adventure you have joined with me. Together we can look forward to lives that will be changed, the hope that will be given and the bibles that will be read because of this ship, her crew and God’s grace.
The Logos 2 from the bow of the Logos HOPE.
There were lots of cheers, laughs and dancing. The day was cold, but the joy and anticipation kept everyone warm. She was beautiful and eased into her berth with little effort. After waiting for the port authority to clear the vessel we were allowed onboard and met with long lost friends. My first impression of the HOPE was “Stairs”! There is only one elevator and it’s a freight elevator. There are 40 steps down to my room.
I live on deck 2. If I want to go to meals or the computer room it’s 55 steps up. If I want to go play darts that another 15 steps up. Going up and down the gangway is another 40. But whose counting?!Honestly when I first saw the inside of the ship I was greatly disappointed. There is still so much that needs to be finished. There are two decks that are completely empty. Everyone in OM had made such a big deal about how much was finished and completed that I wasn’t ready for cabins without sinks, meetings rooms without carpet, a reception area without a desk. I could go on and on about how much we don’t have, but God reminds me of everything we do have!
We have a ship to impact the world for Christ. We have a place to sleep, a wonderful chef, and Internet connection. More importantly we have the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, and we have a community of believers to encourage and come beside us when we are felling overwhelmed or discouraged. Because I never saw the HOPE before she arrived in Germany, I can’t really appreciate all the changes that have taken place. I’m sure that if you ask me in a few months time, I’ll have a completely different view and I’ll be very appreciative of all the changes that I’ve seen and been a part of. But God is faithful and he had been comforting me and I’m feeling better about my new home.
I’m so grateful that I can be here involved with OM at this point in history. I hope that you all realize the adventure you have joined with me. Together we can look forward to lives that will be changed, the hope that will be given and the bibles that will be read because of this ship, her crew and God’s grace.
The Logos 2 from the bow of the Logos HOPE.
American Thanksgiving
Family, turkey, football and a nap, all things associated with Thanksgiving. Living in an international community national holidays can often be forgotten. I didn’t even realize thanksgiving was upon us until I got the invitation to the American dinner being served in the I-Café. There were 22 of us, all Americans and a couple people from other countries that had been living in the states. 
Dinner was delicious; we had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. We had stuffing that had to be made from scratch, first the bread was made, then the stuffing. We even had one can of cranberries to share. The baker on board is American and her mom sent her a can of pumpkin mix for a traditional pumpkin pie, and she also made apple pie, pecan pie, and a banana cream pie. Dinner wouldn’t be complete without everyone sharing what they were Thankful for this year. It was a special time for all of us.
A friend from Finland later asked, “Why do Americans have just one day of thanksgiving, shouldn’t you be thankful every day?” Of course we should be thankful everyday. And we are. We are privileged to live in a country where we still have religious freedom and are allowed to believe in Christ and also share that belief openly with others. Take advantage of these opportunities and thank the Lord for all his blessings.
Dinner was delicious; we had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. We had stuffing that had to be made from scratch, first the bread was made, then the stuffing. We even had one can of cranberries to share. The baker on board is American and her mom sent her a can of pumpkin mix for a traditional pumpkin pie, and she also made apple pie, pecan pie, and a banana cream pie. Dinner wouldn’t be complete without everyone sharing what they were Thankful for this year. It was a special time for all of us. A friend from Finland later asked, “Why do Americans have just one day of thanksgiving, shouldn’t you be thankful every day?” Of course we should be thankful everyday. And we are. We are privileged to live in a country where we still have religious freedom and are allowed to believe in Christ and also share that belief openly with others. Take advantage of these opportunities and thank the Lord for all his blessings.
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