Work progress

23 May 2008 Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany] Many things have changed on the Logos Hope in the past months; the progress is impressive. We have inaugurated the new dining room with its carpet and new furniture. Desks have been installed in offices and attached to the wall to prevent them from falling during sailing. We have also received IT equipment to replace old computers. But the most important progress is certainly on deck 4 where the floor is now completed.

deck 6 -The new dining room

deck 4 - The futur book fair

 new computers!!

 

Hope Fest

Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany]The sun has been shining for several weeks over Kiel now and as summer is approaching, it's time to say goodbye. For the farewell event called HopeFest, the Logos Hope opened its doors during a weekend. 2 days to thank God for our stay in Kiel, 2 days to thank the churches and the people who helped us and supported us financially or by donations (like a farmer who we gave us 5 tons of potatoes over 6 months). From Kiel, Lubeck and Hamburg, the visitors could appreciate the cultural diversity of the ship’s company through the booths that represented each group of nationalities. The afternoons were highlighted by biblical dramas, dances and magic shows.

I was so happy to have a glimpse of how the ship's life will be soon: with the decoration and the public, I have the impression of living on a new ship. And that’s really exciting.

German Weather

28 April 2008 Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany] Life on board is quite intense. It goes at full speed and the weather seems to have takn the same path: one day can picture the 4 seasons: sun, rain, snow ... and even sometimes ice! It is difficult to predict what the weather will be like in the afternoon, and we have no choice but learning flexibility. One day, surprised by a ray of sunshine, I decided to go take my meals on the deck and enjoy the nice weather. I didn't have time to begin my salad that white glitter started falling into my plate. A little surprised (and irritated) I looked for the newby who must have been painting on the upper deck ... But there was nobody! It was just the snow that started to fall. Hurry up! Go back to the warm dining room! A few minutes later, it was ice in block that started to fall!

A Ferry ballet

Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany]The summer approaches. Soon the docks of the Port of Kiel will have the prestige of hosting the most prestigious Ferries in Europe. Last week already, I was surprised by the AIDA Bella, this brand new ship with a friendly smile. Imagine that you wake up one morning and you see in front of your window a 15-storey building smiling at you.

As long as two football fields, this new luxury Ferry will host 2 050 passengers and 646 crew members ... suddenly I feel very small on my boat!

And while the ferries' ballet continues, we are getting ready move from dock to dock during the month of May to make way for large damsels.

Mountain climbing

Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany] The job of Telecom engineer on a ship has a few cool aspects. For sure I have the disadvantage of living on my workplace and I'm never away from being asked to solve internet related issues. But this week was rather interesting. I worked on a surveillance camera located under the bridge. These cameras are used to monitor that nobody is climbing the mouring lines and to give you some glimpse of our voyage when we will be sailing from port to port.

I worked a few sunny afternoons, hanging on my ladder to install the camera and protect it from the rain. As you see, even at see we can go mountain climbing.

Helicopter crash

Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany]Haa, America and swing dance, this music makes us instinctively swing ... I admit that when a beginner course started two months ago, I was tempted. Not that I am a dance addict, but pushed by the challenge of being able to do something with my feet, I joined this team of swing learners. For several weeks, I felt rather like a lumberjack moving logs at arm's length, not really elegant, but with practice, I begin to remember steps and finaly make some figures...

That's how I got to learn a figure called the helicopter. If you know the game where you attach a rope to one foot and hop on the other foot, you can imagine what does the helicopter look like by replacing the rope with one of the partners (usually the girl). We were having a calm helicopter tour, the take-off had been smooth, everything was going well when suddenly the engine broke, the blades stop turning and my legs moving. I had to land in emergency ... with (fortunately) more fear than harm.
Well, I think I still have to practice...

PS: My swing partner is OK :o)

IT Office

22 April 2008 Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany]Since February, I work in the IT office. The most important task is to give support for the entire network of computers. If you often curse your computer don’t worry, you are like the 350 crew members who will agree that computers can be very temperamental.

So every day, I work with my team to solve problems from printers, surveillance cameras, network connections and ensure that the work of my mates is as simple as possible. When my eyes get tired of my screen, I lend a hand in the work of the future library. There, I install cables for Internet and configure the network hardware for the cashiers and the info desk... I am sometimes a little frustrated because my job is to provide support for other teams and I do not see the direct impact that it brings to the outfit of the ship. At the same time, the work is really different from what I have done before and I am so glad to discover all these new things.

In the heavy fuel tank

05 March 2008 Posted by Martin

[Kiel, Germany] In a few weeks, the ship will make a stopover in dry dock to replace a generator. So right now the 2nd deck is in action station to prepare the place. The Heavy fuel oil tank must be completely emptied and cleaned to carry on the work in safety conditions. Hence, I leave my screen for a moment to give a hand in the engin room.

Let's go for 8 hours of somersaults in oil. I wouldn't stay there for ages, but it's a great fun to spend a day crawling between the tanks, scraping and moping up the oil. Eventually, I get used to the smell, just in time to realize that my nose (and my ear now) are itchy. And this stupid light that fade away now!! Scared of the dark? Me! No! Well, I am not unhappy to leave for a shower!

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.

How to support Martin Boulanger?

15 January 2008 Posted by Martin

OM Ships International is a global, multi-denominational, non-profit organization and all of its efforts are funded by people who see the value of what the organization is doing and want to help support it. The same is true for all the staff and crew and for me.

If you are interested to be a part of what we are doing through a financial gift, you can do so by sending cheque payable to "Operation Mobilisation (S) Ltd" and at the back of the cheque, to designate it to:

Donation for Martin Boulanger (Logos Hope)

Address in Singapore:
Operation Mobilisation (S) Ltd
Chinatown Point Post Office
P O Box 6300
Singapore 910599

OM Singapore will need your name and address in order to send you a receipt.
If you prefer to do a bank transfer, you can download this file that explains how to proceeed.

Thank you very much for your support.

Contact Me

Posted by Martin

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Farewell

11 January 2008 Posted by Martin

Logos Hope

In a few weeks, I will be in Kiel, northern Germany, on board the Logos Hope: a wonderful ship! This ship is wonderful, not because she was designed by genius, but because her mission is outstanding. Logos Hope: "Word of Hope". She will sail in the wake of Logos II to continue the mission that Operation Mobilization is trying to complete for the last 30 years with the library ships: Bringing Knowledge, Help and Hope.

Mission

In each port where she stops, the vessel opens her library to offer 6000 titles (education, health, sports, cooking, spirituality, culture) at an affordable price. Operation Mobilization is also eager to impact the lives of local people. It is undertaken through humanitarian works, (building orphanages, food or medicines distribution, books for schools).

Hope

And bringing Hope. Because there is so much needs. And men are so limited in providing real solutions. I realize that if I want to help someone one day, I can give him food or medical treatments. If I want to him help for his life, I may help to build a school or bring books. But if I want to help him for Eternity, I feel powerless with my two small arms. The only thing I can do is to witness that God loves him with an infinite love and that God can heal the wounded hearts. No matter his past or his situation, God wants to touch his heart as he has done for me.

Disappointment

So, That is the heart of the mission. A few weeks ago, when I was thinking about my departure, I was dreaming of far far away countries, mysterious languages to learn, new cultures to discover... I was really excited. However, I learned that the conversion work on ship had been delayed, and I will finally spend 6 months in Germany to leave Europe in 2009. I was terribly disappointed.
Well, it is true that the German is far from being 100% understandable to me and I am not yet accustomed to sauerkraut for breakfast. But yet it was a difficult moment.

Perseverance

I was far from being as enthusiastic as I am today. But with hindsight, I am glad to have crossed this period, because I had to think about my motivations and I learned perseverance. I had the opportunity to rely on God for all the challenges that I will face. Anyway, these next two years on the ship will be full of ups and downs. And when I will grip at the balustrade, feeding fish with my lunch, I hope I will have the wisdom to remember why I joined this project. I trust that the Lord is preparing my path. And I want to trust him to renew my vision and my motivation during these two years in order to remain teachable and available to serve wherever I go.

Thank you

Honestly, it is a project that is far beyond my imagination And I do not yet realize the impact it will have in my life. But I am happy and proud that you are with me to share this adventure.

Thank you, all of you who support me financially and make this project possible.

Thank you, you who pray for me, as I need the Lord to guide me and teach me every day!

Thank you my friends, your friendship is very precious to me, and even if the seas separate us, I will bring you in memories.

Mart1n