Giving Generously, Overcoming Poverty...

Firstly I would like to thank all of you who have responded to our Project Kilo appeal last month. We have seen over $16,000 NZ Dollars come in. Thank you for your generosity and stepping out in faith and courage to believe with us.  With faithful partners like you, we will see our new ship launched soon, which will serve the peoples of the Pacific Islands.

YWAM Medical Ship Australia, serving in some of the most isolated regions of Papua New Guinea with our previous ship, the M/Y Pacific Link, recently came across three villages that even the government of PNG was unaware of.

To date they have served 2,294 patients with optometry, dental and primary health care needs and a further 2,700 receiving health care education and preventative health resources. That is a staggering 4,994 people ministered to in nine (9) clinical days with six (6) villages visited. Thank you to YWAM Medical Ship Australia crew, staff and volunteers, for working so hard serving the Lord and the isolated people of the “Fly River” of PNG.

Our Marine Reach bases in Fiji and the Philippines continue to reach out to those in need daily.  Island Mercy Teams continue their outreach season in the Pacific with a construction outreach in Lautoka, Fiji, followed by medical, ophthalmic and optometry programs in Fiji and Vanuatu.

All of those who serve with Marine Reach are volunteers and do not receive any remuneration for their services; from our CEO to our Ship Captains, crew, doctors, nurses, staff and the non-professional, yet extraordinary, men and women who choose to make a difference in the lives of the peoples of the Pacific Islands…using their own hands, feet and resources. 

Keeping the Fire Stoked!

The 10th of May 2012 marks the 21st year since Princess and I came to New Zealand. We joined the ship ministry, still in its infancy, in Tauranga. I still remember the joy we felt as we basked in the beauty and potential of this nation.  We still do!

Our hope and aspirations remain the same despite the challenges we have faced during the last two decades which have tested our resolve;  however, the joys and triumphs have far surpassed the challenges.  Your partnership with Marine Reach has helped Marine Reach accomplish so much in these 21 years. We look forward to the next 21 years.

Our ‘Island Mercy Teams’ will be scattered abroad from Asia throughout the Pacific Islands this year. Our medical team in the Philippines have done amazing work providing medical relief in the areas of dentistry, primary health care and optometry. They have served over 1500 people to date on the island of Mindoro. Our teams have overcome the extremely hot climate and difficult conditions. I extend my thanks to all who worked so hard to make this outreach possible. Well done faithful servants!

Our discipleship training school staff and students are at present in the Philippines, Thailand, Fiji and Brazil.  We look forward to seeing them all back in New Zealand for debriefing and graduation by the end of May. 

The “Project Kilo” campaign received a tremendous boost last week as pledges and monies received crossed the half a million dollar mark.  Yes, you have read correctly, we have just broken the ½ million dollar mark. This is both significant and encouraging to us and I’m sure to you as well.  We are well on the way to achieving the goal of acquiring a ship for New Zealand. This time last year, we started the “Project Kilo” campaign with zero dollars toward a new ship; together we have come so far.

Never underestimate the “widows mite”.  I believe that a group of people with unity of purpose and faith, journeying together, accomplishes much, but as well leaves a historical marker which will inspire those who will follow on after us.

Thank you for being brave and believing in us and believing with us. Thank you for walking and sailing with us all these years. Soon we will be sailing again perhaps on our new ship…together.

We are engaging the youth of our city to start dreaming again about serving others by volunteering and giving of themselves. We hope to see not hundreds but thousands of people get involved.