Storm at Sea

Hurricane season, 1981.

The M/V Doulos sails toward Coatzacoalcos in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ten year old son, Stephan, and friend, Jochi, are on deck looking out at the horizon, it’s the same old everyday landscape, the undulating blue-green water sprinkled with a few white caps.

“Wouldn’t it be fun to see a storm?” says one. “We could pray,” suggests the other. Two days later, they are out on the deck at 6 a.m. The wind has picked up and the waves are 20 feet higher than usual, splashing over the deck. “This is fun!” the boys say. 

Later, four adventurous crew members sit on a 6 foot wooden sand-filled box enjoying the view, taking pictures.

“Help!” they scream as the huge wave washes them 100 feet aft.

“Hang on!” 

“My camera’s gone”

“I lost a shoe!”

Then, over the intercom, the captain booms : “Everyone inside. Secure everything that moves.”

The book exhibit had already been stowed before leaving the port of Veracruz. 

Some brave mariner said, “This storm is nothing, only a strong gale.” However, all night long the 300 passenger ship bobs mercilessly about like a cork on the heaving sea under strict orders not to enter the harbor. The next day, still unable to dock, we continue our circles in the open sea. Nearly everyone is experiencing some degree of sea sickness. School children have the day off, a 'storm day'. The shrill bell rings annoyingly on schedule to announce mealtimes, but few make their way to the dining room. Those who do, enjoy an over abundance of food while they hold onto sliding dishes and cutlery.

Like a colony of ants, those who could rouse themselves out of their bunks and were not needed to run the ship, the members of the missionary community make their way up to the main lounge. Most chairs are stacked and secured to the side walls. Young and old lay around trying to enjoy the classic movies playing constantly to entertain and distract. 

Stephan, his six-year-old sister, Leah, and their school age friends, enjoy the freedom of unsupervised play.
Two year old Sam goes down for a nap. What can I do? My stomach is stronger than most, I rarely experience even a touch of seasickness. I cannot imagine sitting in my little bathroom-cum-study-cubicle with books falling around me from the shelves built into the former shower stall. Perhaps I could sit on the floor in the children's room and reinforce the spines of the Ladybird books. I've been wanting to do that for a long time. That's it! Sure, the entire series of small children's books would be sliding around, but as long as I can hang on to one at a time, cut a strip of tape and slowly place it on the binding, it can be done!

No lives were lost, and in my case, no time wasted either. To this day, the sight of aLadybird book conjures up a stormy day at sea.

Almost There

Stephan and Leah welcome baby brother

November 6th, 1978, Samuel Dale was born. Phase One of the waiting was over. But, oh so much work remained before our departure from Omro to Virginia on Thanksgiving Day. How did we do it all? How did I survive surgery, nursing a baby, packing, and travel? There is a phrase that comes to mind from the Old Testament "for he was greatly helped" (2 Chronicles 26:15) I know we were greatly strengthened and  helped in the midst of the chaos.
These photos offer clues. They were taken Thanksgiving Day. We must have spent some time at our dear friends, the McMullins, and a high school friend took Stephan and Leah to play in the snow for a last time before heading for milder climates aboard the M/V Doulos.

Last snow for five years

Travel details have mostly faded. Baby and I flew while Daddy and the other two crammed into an overstuffed Suburban and drove to meet the ship and prepare for my arrival. I spent some time with my parents in Winona Lake, IN, before continuing on to Virginia.
It was not easy getting around the airports alone with a two-week old. People helped me along the way.
And it certainly was no easier for Michael, traveling with two young children, moving all our belongings on board and trying to settle into two small cabins before picking me up at the airport.
Those first days and weeks were difficult.  Would things get better?

Waiting...

Where to begin?
So many memories,
overwhelming almost.
But begin I must.
Why not from the beginning?

So I dug out a letter written October 11, 1978, from our little mobile home on 25 Cameo Lane in Omro, Wisconsin where we settled for over a year after returning from Europe.

W A I T I N G is the word that characterizes the months since I last wrote...

Right now we are waiting for a special blessing--we are expecting a baby in less than four weeks. On November 6th, if not before, Rita will have a Caesarian section.

We have been waiting and praying about joining the Operation Mobilization ship Doulos... but were always told there was no room for families. And yet the Lord never showed us any alternative plans so we just kept waiting. Mike was asked to go to Europe to attend the September conference, help out in the electronics department and talk to the leaders when decisions were being made for the following year.He spent four weeks away from home in London aboard the Doulos and at the end the leaders agreed to accept us.

The M/V Doulos will be in Tidewater, Virginia, November 10-28. We hope to meet her there toward the end, before she leaves for Mexico and South America.

Our time in the US is almost over. As we look back we are overwhelmed. We feel connected now to wonderful people. Two highlights, among the many blessings: the Iowa OM conference in June; and the two-month house-sitting opportunity this summer. It was wonderful to reconnect with OM friends and hear about all the challenges ahead. And the very big air-conditioned house and pond to swim in a welcome change from the hot trailer. We were especially grateful for the confidence of our dear friends who asked us to look after theri new house while they went to their summer home in the northern woods.

Stephan went to summer school two hours in the morning for six weeks to improve his reading. He is now in second grade and and really looks forward to school on the ship. His two front teeth are missing now.

Leah goes to Kindergarten this year and seems to enjoy it. At first she said there was too much noise and she never wanted to get up in the morning, but she loves to learn.

Both Stephan and Leah are looking forward to the baby. The only problem is that one wants a brother and the other a sister.

Waiting on the LORD,

Mike, Rita, Stephan, Leah, and ?