Update from Australia

Dear  Friends

I want to thank you for your prayers and support.  My time in Australia has been very fruitful.

Here is a summary of the Ship Equipped Ministry conference from our YWAM Ships Kona Director, Brett Curtis:

“We discussed issues of communication, crisis management, interfacing with Government and developing marine training to better meet future regulations, as well as having various Fleet Support offices helping new ministries come online with things such as insurance and technical assistance. We learned that we now have 24 vessels in our fleet. Our fleet is growing in both size and influence and we all agreed upon the need to develop very intentionally as we move forward. We heard the first day from Loren and Darlene Cunningham, the Founders of YWAM, as they recounted the early days of pioneering with difficult lessons learned: Listen very carefully to God, keep Jesus central, don't quit, and grow in strength together - referencing the UofN and Ships' twin vision.

In typical YWAM style vessels of all shapes and sizes are being used depending on the local need.

Lessons being learned in the PNG theatre are proving instructional for other locations. God is giving us a training ground to engage in a nation together as twins. “

I was able to meet with leaders who also have Maritime training as their Primary focus and we are moving forward as a team. 

From Townsville, I rode with new friends, Hal and Cathy, to Airlie Beach and  encouraged their vision to use their 50 foot Ketch in Missions in Melanesia. I stayed at the YWAM Whitsunday Base and was excited to see how God is growing his network of mariners.

A short stop in Brisbane allowed me to get my visa for Papua New Guinea (PNG) and make more friends at YWAM Brisbane. 

I was picked up at the Newcastle airport by Mike and Karen Thorpe with their speed boat in tow.  After a delicious lunch of fish and chips on the beach, they launched the boat and gave me a grand tour of Port Stephens.  The sights, sounds and the smell of outboard motor exhaust brought back so many memories of of my childhood, cruising in the San Juan Islands in Washington State with my family. 

My first three days in Newcastle were Rest and Recreation while seeing many sights in the area.  Then we had two days of very productive meetings with the “Ships” staff at YWAM Newcastle.  I shared my experience in Ship Equipped Ministry and Fleet Support and they created a structure that will help them move forward with their new ship the S/V Ruach (Ruach means Spirit in Hebrew).

See http://ywamships.net/ruach/

Tomorrow I fly to PNG.  Please pray for my health and safety as I serve as Ship Manager onboard the M/V Pacific Link for a month.  I will be updating my blog where you can also find information on how you can partner with me in reaching the isolated with the Love of God.

Blessings,

Captain Ann

Captain Ann goes to Papua New Guinea

Sailing from Oahu to Kona on a 44 foot sloop last month, God showed me how far he has brought me. Crawling on the foredeck to rig the storm jib in 30 knot winds and steering through 12 foot waves in the Alenuihaha Channel, I felt home again. My amazing crew helped with all the repairs and preparations before  departure. The six day sail, with a stop in Lahaina, Maui, provided real ocean sailing experience. Your prayers over the last 18 months have made a difference!

Would you prayerfully consider partnering financially with me as I continue to follow God’s lead this year?  In July, I will be attending the Ship Equipped Ministries conference in Townsville, Australia.  Leaders from Youth with a Mission (YWAM) who use Ships to reach isolated areas are networking to create a long term vision and work together to be more effective.  The biggest need in all ship equipped ministries is trained and qualified crew. I will be developing on-board training and documentation to help our crew advance and fill the crew needs within YWAM.  If you know anyone who has deck or engineering experience, please pass on my contact information.

From Australia, I will fly to Port Moresby, then to Madang in Papua New Guinea. After nearly a year working behind the scenes in the Fleet Support office, I am excited to be going to serve as the Ship’s director on the M/V Pacific Link for 4 weeks. The ship has been operating out of Madang since January.  You can read about the amazing results of our medical outreaches  at ­­­­­­­ http://ywamships.net/new-vessel/  .

I return to Kona just in time to lead the School of Navigation and Seamanship (SONS), a twelve week course, which includes 3 weeks of on board sailing, beginning September 29. http://ywamships.net/sons/

All of us in YWAM are volunteers.  Your prayers and financial support make the difference in the services and training we provide  If you would like to receive a receipt for your tax deductible donation click here http://www.ywamepj.org/donate/#how .  If you don’t need a tax deductible receipt click here PayPal.Me/AnnFord.

I would love to hear from you.  Please let me know how I can be praying for you.

Blessings,

Captain Ann

catching up Winter 2016

Building capacity with YWAM Ships. View this email in your browser

Loren Cunningham created lots of interest in YWAM Ships at Missionfest Alberta, February 19-21. We were able to share about the Outreaches going on now on board the Pacific Link in Papua New Guinea.  See  www.ywamships.net

I really enjoyed sharing stories making new friends in Edmonton. Support my service with YWAM Firefighting was part of a great week of Safety Training with Marcy Ships near Tyler, Texas.  A short but sweet stop in Reno to Celebrate my son Remy's Birthday and meet his daughter Victoria. I will be visiting more family on the West coast before returning to Kona.

Visiting Family in Eugene

I had a wonderful 2 week visit with my daughter and her family in Eugene.  They are a very busy family.  The newest granddaughter Aletheia arrived on July 11.

Pictures from Australia

 Galley on Pacific Link

 Geitz family on Pacific Link

Tug company moving the Pacific Link while I watch from the pier

 YWAM PNG arriving in Townsville from Papua New Guinea

 Great Barrier Reef

 Snorkel Buddy

 M/V Adrenalin -great trip to the Great Barrier Reef

 Sydney

 Maritime Museum Sydney

June and July in Australia

Here are some excerpts from emails I sent in June and July.  It provides a little insight into my journey.

June 21

God has my attention here in Townsville.  Craig Bower and I had a quick tour of the Pacific Link on Saturday.  The work that needs to be done is overwhelming, (that was not a surprise to me).  I went to church with Vicki this morning.  It was a great message about making declarations.   I realized that since I arrived, I have been resisting the role God has put me in.  Yes, I have been around this mountain before.  At least I realized it a little quicker this time.  The only way I will get volunteers is if I step up and be a leader, in this case step up to the role as Captain as God has called me.  

I am really thankful for Vicki who is my roommate.  She is a prayer warrior and very encouraging.  Thank you all for your prayers.

Blessings,

Ann

Hi Friends,

Thank you so much for your prayers.  I know my week went better because of your prayers.  The First thing Monday Morning I had so many confirmations that God wanted me in this Captain role.  Then on Wednesday Craig and I met with Ken Mulligan (the Director of YWAM Medical Ships Australia.)  Ken shared the big picture that he sees and we know that is only part of the huge plan God has for Ships.  One of the details he shared (I cannot share it yet) is so amazing that it really built my faith.  So I continue to take life one day at a time, and try to be obedient to the steps God shows me and continue to believe that God is going to do something really big.

I did have a very refreshing trip to Magnetic Island with Vicki on Saturday.  I have attached a photo sailing a Hobie Cat on Horseshoe Bay.  The whole day was full of joy moments.

The plan is still to depart Townsville on Nov. 1 and start the first outreaches in PNG by Nov. 15.  I will know a lot more about how realistic that schedule is next week, but one think I know for sure, God has big Plans.

I leave Townsville on July 25, I spend a few days in Sydney and then a few days in Orange County with Aaron’s mom.  Then I go to Eugene to be with my daughter and Granddaughter #3 who will be born by then.  

I return to Townsville for the Gathering, then back to Kona for SONS.  After that I don’t have a plan.  I would appreciate your prayers.

July 2

I want to thank you again for your prayers and give you a little update.  I started reading this book “Against the Tide” by David Cowie.  It is about pioneering the YWAM Ships ministry in New Zealand.

He starts off saying God is more interested in Character Development than any building, ship or program.  I was feeling very inspired in my quiet time this morning.  

Then I got a phone call from Captain Jeremy, the former Captain of the Pacific Link.  He is still in PNG on the YWAM PNG.  He made arrangements for a Tug boat to move the Pacific Link and asked if I would be willing to oversee the operation.  That was a big stretch for me.  I told him I did not have any experience with a ship that big but I was willing.  

I showed up at the 8 am campus meeting and we started with stretching.  Physical stretching, then the leader related it to Spiritual stretching.  I was feeling very stretched.  about half way through the meeting I got a text from Jeremy that he had another Captain to oversee the operation and I should call the Captain at 9 am.   I shared with the group how God had stretched me and taken care of me.

It got even better.  When I called the Captain he said the Tug Company wanted to do the job this morning and they would provide the line handlers.  So it ended up Craig and I just drove down to the pier and watched them take care of the whole operation.  

I felt like I passed the test. Like Abraham, God was testing me to see if I would be obedient, when I said yes, God took care of the whole situation.  I’m looking forward to seeing what God does next.

Blessings,

Ann

July 11

I am staying on the YWAM PNG.  It is really nice.  I have my own room with my own bathroom and shower and hot water!  and the toilet works every time..  

When I got back to the ship I went up to the Sun deck which I had all to myself  with a beautiful view of the ocean outside the harbor.  I had a good time with the Lord.  I cried and cried and processed so much hurt and pain and grief.  In the end God brought me to Isaiah 61.    I usually think of that as God is sending me to heal others, but today I gave God my broken heart and received healing.  I really received v. 7 they will inherit a double portion and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Not much is happening with the Pacific Link that we can see, but I know God is up to something big.  On Friday morning during Worship Robyn called up the People from YWAM Ships Kona (me, Craig, Sonja and Micheal Geitz) and everyone prayed over us.  It was super encouraging.  So many words and pictures spoken over us.