SailorAnn: October 2016

Captain Ann Featured on YWAM Ships Kona Facebook Page

"I'm a Newbie. A youth in YWAM.”
Captain Ann Ford has been with YWAM since completing her DTS in 2014. She’ll be leading the School of Navigation and Seamanship (SONS) starting at the end of this week.
SONS teaches seamanship skills though sailing, navigation and how to be a watchstander. Students will learn everything they need to know to get their captain's license and they’ll get some sea time as well.
This will be Ann’s 3rd time leading this school.
At a young age, Ann was sailing by herself. She would, eventually, serve on the Coast Guard and spend a year sailing around the tropics. She has a 100 ton motor captain’s license.
Even though she can captain a motorized vessel, she prefers a sailing ship. “I love the freedom to move on the water with just the wind.”
Besides leading SONS, Ann switches between being on a ship and fleet support. Fleet support takes care of the needs of our 3 ships. They send crews, coordinate outreach teams and get them parts/supplies.
When asked if she could be doing anything she wanted, she replied: “I’m living it right now. Being able to sail and serve God at the same time.”

Pacific Link Outreach in Madang Complete

Madang Outreach Completed With Thousands Served The m/v PACIFIC LINK and its team of volunteers visited 94 villages throughout Bogia, Sumkar, Madang and Rai Coast districts over the course of eight months. More than 48,000 health care and training services were delivered by the YWAM Ships Kona vessel, valued at over 4.6 million Kina (or $1.45 million USD). YWAM Ships Kona director Brett Curtis said that the first voyage to Madang was transformational for so many people. “Thousands of lives have been impacted over the last eight months, including one family that had three blind from cataracts. Each of them regained their sight with a 40-minute operation dramatically improving the future for their entire family,” Curtis said. “It is easy to forget how much we rely on our vision until we meet someone who has lost it and the complexities it brings to the entire family. It was wonderful to witness their new lease on life and to hear how our crew befriended them explaining God had not forgotten them.” Curtis said none of these results would have been possible without people sacrificing their resources and time for the people of Papua New Guinea — both locals and those traveling long distances to participate in the work. “We are very grateful for the volunteers who joined us from around the world, our generous donors and Madang provincial health officials for partnering with us in making this voyage such a success,” Curtis said. Other field activities delivered include over 5803 immunizations, 1294 dentistry procedures and public health teaching delivered to 5,293 people. Madang Province director of health Markus Kachau said that the collaboration with YWAM Ships has strengthened health care delivery in Madang. “Our partnership with YWAM has been a great support in helping to achieve the objectives outlined in our health plan,” Kachau said.

Final week and receptions on Board the Pacific Link.

Medical ship in the news.

Women's prayer ministry blessed the ship.

Provincial health officials.

Appreciation from the chief engineer.

Engineers at the Maritime College.

Reception with all of the different groups that worked at the port and helped us. They were so excited to see the out reach video and know how much they had helped serve their people by supporting us at the port.

Robbert was a great help to me as the purser on the ship. During the receptions he shared about observing cataract surgeries and talking to people who could see for the first time in years.