Short Stories

It is time to take the Vaka Hop’e out of the water for some TLC and some rest. I’m leaving the Solomon Islands in October, but there’s a massive shift within YWAM Solomons in September, and everything needs to be finished by then. To help us take the boat up, Matthew from Australia has come […]

We’re about to take the Vaka Hop’e out of the water after 6 months of service. I have felt depressed over the last couple of weeks and I think my mood reflects the mood of the Vaka Hop’e. For the past few weeks, she has been sitting in the water, nobody sailing her or taking […]

After one month in and around Munda, it was time to set sail for Honiara. The reason being that the main base of YWAM is there, and we wanted to celebrate and invite people into the vision of the Vaka Hop’e. Mark and Mary with their 4 children had just returned from a furlough in […]

It feels so good to enter the safe harbor at Taro after battling howling wind and massive waves in pitch darkness for the last few hours. I am shaking with adrenalin and from the cold of the rain and the wind. But we’re so happy to be here! Not only have we arrived in the […]

We had a detour to Kimbe in West New Britain to meet with a boat builder who has shown a big interest in our voyage. It was so cool to meet someone passionate about building boats and with tons of experience. While in Kimbe, we discovered the area is famous for fishing and the shops […]

The winds have turned against us, and with it the currents too. I wrote about our sail out of Madang in Winds are changing, where we were fighting the conditions at the cost of our fuel reserve. Using our last drops of fuel, we barely make it to Unea Island, not sure if we would […]

This voyage was always a race against time. The right weather window to sail to the Solomon Islands ends in May, that’s what they say. The northwest monsoon gives way for the southeast monsoon in the southern hemisphere sometime between April and May. March to April is the transition period where light winds are prevalent. […]

Usually, introducing yourself as a missionary in Papua New Guinea gives you good standing with the people. The history of missionaries introducing the gospel to the people of PNG is recent and powerful. They also brought the modern world through services such as schools, medical clinics and infrastructure, good things that benefited the people. Also, […]

I am tired of writing about thiefs in Papua New Guinea, because this is such a beautiful country with such beautiful people. But this robbery was the worst one yet. Not only did they steal from us but I was also attacked by one of the thiefs with a deadly weapon. I wasn’t hurt but […]

YWAM Madang has been pioneered by YWAM Ships Kona as a base for Bible translation and as a base for YWAM Liberty. They have been able to lease a wharf from the Lutheran church in the middle of town, and it comes with a warehouse that they are currently converting and using as living space. […]