Prepare to board!

20 February 2008 Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany]D-Day!
After 3 weeks of training with the 50 new volunteers, I can see the Logos Hope. The 300 crew members are waving at us from the deck. Hello! Wilkommen! Ola! More than 40 nationalities welcoming us in different ways, but a common smile on their faces. It is an exciting time. I am so touched by their hospitality and their friendship.
The ship is huge and it takes me a while to understand that all stairs don't lead to my cabin (yes, some lead to the engine room ;o). Fortunately Peter, my big brother gives me a tour around the village: here the dining room, there the cabins, the book fair, the infirmary. There is even a school for the 40 kids who lives on board. This tour is useful to discover the different departments of the ship. There are 5 main departments: the galley which is the ship's kitchen, 1000 meals are cooked there every day. Thanks to the Engine department we have electricity and hot water. You'd better enjoy oil if you work there! While the angels from the accommodation department clean the inside of the ship (common areas + laundry), the deckies maintain the outside. They are also in charge of the security and are trained to fight the fire and to evacuate the ship. There is currently no Book Fair department since the ship is not open to the public yet. The last department is the “Project for the outfit phase”, which is in charge of preparing the ship for ministry. The main goal is to get the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, but additional work is required to prepare the book fair for the ministry. I will work in the small IT Department. And I am very glad to be able to serve on board with my skills.