Friend Ships
Latest Update (Dec. 31, 1998)

Operation Hurricane Mitch Update #5

The large landing craft departed early from the little beach community of Mangrove and made the twelve mile trip from the far side of the island into the rolling swells of the open seas. Searching for the opening in the reef, radios cracking, 20 minutes to arrival, the great "Spirit of Grace" was lying in wait for the landing craft in the crystal blue, quiet harbor of the Caribbean on the small island of Guanaja. We hurried to finish the loading of the small fishing boats, pongas and canoes that had come to pick up the last of the precious supplies for the local fishing communities and small villages of Guanaja.

The Captain gave the order to load the 50' launch on the number three hatch. Eric Cutler, our First Officer, had the giant 30 ton jumbo gear swing out over the ocean. As I looked out and measured the deck, I saw the most beautiful sight. The entire deck crew had quickly gathered in a circle, were holding hands and praying for a successful lift, that no one be hurt and no gear damaged. It was so heart warming! Where else would you see a great ship of the ocean with its deck crew praying to the Lord and giving thanks for His wonderful protection? The twin engine landing craft slipped up beside her, the " Spirit of Grace". The cable locked into the four balance lifting positions. Effortlessly, this large landing craft departed the water, swung gracefully through the air and landed ever so lightly on the third hatch, made fast with cables to the deck, and prepared to sail. All gear stowed and locked properly in place, the order came and the Captain asked for the anchor. The bells rang slow ahead and the "Spirit of Grace" put her bow toward La Mosquitia on the mainland coast of Honduras. This was one of the most devastated hurricane areas which had received until then, no assistance. They were the poorest and most impoverished of all Central America. The terrain made them the hardest to reach. The "Bobby Jr.", one of the Caribbean's most beautiful sports fishing yachts, again graciously agreed to be our pilot and to see us through the difficult transit from the ship and its 45 minute trip through the trap filled dangerous and shallow harbor waters, much too shallow for the ship "Grace".

Twenty four hours later, the ship arrived off the coast. No safe harbor for the "Grace", no protection from the ocean sea. Captain Brandenburger chose an anchorage two miles off the coast and dropped anchor in deep water. We could see water breaking over a treacherous reef, between the coast and the open sea. There is also what they call a bar - it's an underwater sand build up and if the waters are just right, you can navigate a shallow craft but if the seas are heavy, it's a death trap. The weather was kind, the water was still, the Captain ordered the crew to splash the landing craft. The crew's excitement grew as they began to load pallet after pallet after pallet of beautiful supplies - beans, corn, rice, sugar, medicine, clothes, water - from the ship's large hold and place them into the landing craft. When it was jam packed with love for the people of the inland villages, there were two boats, with the sports yacht, "Bobby Jr.", leading the way and piloting the landing craft. The craft was loaded, with just enough clearance in the still water, as it sailed for shore, destined to disperse its precious supplies to several locations along the coast.

Some supplies were received at "Lempira" where church volunteers joyfully received the supplies to be organized and prepared them to be distributed. Much of the food delivered here will be taken to a very remote group of people on the Honduran-Nicaraguan border that had received almost no aid, whatsoever. In order to transport these supplies to this remote group, it would require an 8 hour truck and 2 hour boat trip from the coast by missionary Tim Norman and his team. We left the pastors with several copies of the great video, "God's Story", in the warm knowledge that Tim would spread the love of Jesus, wherever and whenever he could. Supplies were delivered by the sports yacht, "Bobby Jr.", to Cauquria, a needy area that had received no aid - the people were so very grateful for what they received!

The next day, the "Spirit of Grace" crew prepared for a productive day of operations when suddenly the weather kicked up a storm and made our work exceedingly difficult. Discharging supplies from the ship into the landing craft at anchor in stormy seas and high winds was a tremendous challenge! With the rough weather and dangerous conditions, trying to land pallets of heavy items such as canned goods and large sacks of beans and corn and lowering them as carefully as we could into the smaller boat in a rolling, angry sea was no easy task - the crew continued to work with diligence, determined to take as many supplies in to the people of La Mosquitia as possible. The landing craft and fishing boat, "Bobby Jr.", bravely fought waves and wind to continue to deliver their supplies and were able to complete several more voyages into land. But many times they were delayed from returning to the ship, caught behind the treacherous sand bars until a break came in the unstable weather. The weather turned hard. The waves rose with tremendous strength as the ship hung on to deliver all the food that she possibly could, fighting for just another hour or two of peace until the weather calmed. But, it wasn't to be. The great ship's anchor dragged along the bottom as she fought to hang on but finally, it was no use. The satellite weather report predicted days more of storm and bad weather. Our landing craft and the sports fishing yacht, "Bobby Jr.", were trapped behind the sand bar, with no way out and two of our crew, Patrick Bergeron and Aaron Coover were with it, left ashore, to stay with local friends of the mission team.

The ship lifted anchor and steamed 167 miles for the island of Roatán and safe harbor. In spite of the rough weather, the crew had finally delivered tons and tons of food and other supplies to people in dire need; hard to reach, often forgotten and overlooked.

The bad weather had passed beyond Roatán. Upon the "Spirit of Grace's" Saturday arrival, she was greeted with calm seas but hard rains. The crew had not had any time off and had been working unbelievable hours for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks before and after we sailed! They immediately went to their stations, tired but full of joy, without a single complaint. They lifted the "Grace's" giant hatches and began to spill more love and food, clothes, medicine and water onto the island docks.

We had not been able to give La Mosquitia the full amount that we had intended. We somehow wanted to send more supplies. We found a way - as soon as some bridges are repaired - to commercially ship several truck loads by ship, then by truck, and finally by canoe to our intended targets.

A few days later, the landing craft and the yacht, "Bobby Jr.", braved the bar that had caged them behind the reef. They made for the open sea. The waves were still strong. The storm had not passed entirely, leaving 167 miles of rough ocean ahead of them. Even as powerful as the landing craft was, the sea's strength overwhelmed her and she was struggling to make headway, running her engines open. So again, the yacht, "Bobby Jr.", with the great heart of Bob McNabb, its owner and captain, threw a tow line and added the power and strength of an additional 1000 horsepower.

Twenty four hours later, through steering rough seas, the crew and boats arrived. We were so excited to see them back! We were busy in the middle of loading the pastors' trucks. Patrick and Aaron, with no rest and without being asked, jumped in the middle of the off-loading and began a full day of hard work, blessing the pastors. This spoke of the heart of the kind of crew that was aboard the great "Spirit of Grace". The Lord seemed to be right there with us every step of the way. With His divine guidance, under the command of Robert Brandenburger, a ship's captain of tremendous expertise, First Mate Eric Cutler, an experienced officer who serves as wonderful inspiration to the crew, along with the seasoned and wise direction of ship's facility manager, Colleen Meza, the crew and mission were in very solid hands!" At the dock in Roatán, for three days and into the late evenings, we loaded truck after truck - everything the islanders could bring. The pastors of their churches brought pick-ups and borrowed flatbed trucks. They came again and again for supplies. On the third day, we still had food and supplies but saw the trucks diminishing. The church leaders told us they were out of room. Their churches were full and their houses were stuffed. One group of pastors told us in Bay Island colloquialism, that they couldn't take, "no mo food if dem pallets of food was pure gold bars, Brother!" So, filling the last of the trucks late at night, I ordered the hatches to be closed. The mission had ended and a great hallelujah went up from the ship and the dock.

We took a quick reflection back on the trip as the day ended, with great peace and joy in our hearts, knowing that the Lord had allowed us to deliver supplies to so many needy people - from the many truckloads of goods to Puerto Cortez, that helped victims of the extreme floods produced by Hurricane Mitch in areas as diverse as Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Yoro, El Progreso, Potrerillos and many other regions, to the tons of tons of supplies discharged at the wind, flood and sea ravaged communities of Bonnaca, Savannah Bight and Mangrove Bight in Guanaja, to the help for the poor communities of Lempira and Cauquira at La Mosquitia, and to meeting the needs of the communities on Roatán, destroyed by the hurricane winds!!

And in addition to the direct relief to individuals, we were able to provide hospital supplies and food to the Bay Islands' only hospital, hospital supplies to the Trujillo Hospital on the mainland and to Roatán clinics that provide services to the poor. We delivered equipment and supplies to establish a free eye clinic and free dental clinic for islanders, beautiful well drilling equipment, tanks and materials for wells to be drilled in poor communities, food for policemen and prisoners - even a police car for the island police (their first with lights and sirens), computers to place in schools and various key locations throughout Roatán, materials to continue construction of the trade school we are building for Bay Islanders, supplies to restock "Friend Ships" volunteer Roatán staff, food for poor communities throughout the island and copies of the great Bible video, "God's Story", to pastors throughout each area that we visited! So very much accomplished in a very short time! It was like a dream! And even more was being accomplished, as we worked in Honduras, through our headquarters in Los Angeles.

"Caribbean Mercy", a YWAM medical relief ship berthed in San Diego California and destined for Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua, with a capacity to carry 8-20 foot containers of supplies, was short of food supplies and called to request a love gift for the hurricane victims of Nicaragua.

Our warehouse crew in Los Angeles swung into action and gathered truckloads of goods, consisting of rice, beans, canned food, cereal, oils, sauces, pasta and juices. "Operation Blessing" from the 700 club sent trucks in to pick up the food. This was a "Friend Ships" joint effort with "Operation Blessing" and YWAM's good ship, "Caribbean Mercy". The ship departed and sailed the Pacific waters from San Diego with her belly full. We look forward to and expect to hear great reports of these supplies to Corinto, Nicaragua, a place dear to our hearts!

On December 23rd, "Spirit of Grace", her crew tired but satisfied with a job well done, turned loose her lines and sailed for the Port of Galveston. On December 25th we found our ship hundreds of miles from any shore, deep in the middle of the Gulf waters of Mexico and longing to be home with our families, but we had a good warm feeling down in our spirits that literally hundreds of thousands of people had something to eat Christmas Day because of this mission.

With each crew member will long remain the precious memory of the thousands of wonderful people who joined together with us to reach out from their hearts and lend a helping hand to the hurting people of Central America. With us will remain the memory of a very special Christmas in 1998, when the Lord allowed us to be part of giving over eight million dollars worth of Christmas gifts to those in desperate need.

It is so magnificent to think of each package of food, water, clothing, tools, medicine and building materials that were packed onto the great ship "Spirit of Grace"! It is fantastic to remember all the individuals and organizations who joined with Friend Ships and Christian Alliance to gather supplies, package them, load them aboard ship, sail them across the seas, and finally place them into the hands of people in need. Tremendous was the support of the Ports of Houston and Galveston, and great was the generosity of Shell Oil Company who provided fuel and the hundreds of corporations who gave supplies and the thousands of individuals and churches who provided supplies, funds and labor!

This was like the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan in which a man, injured by thieves, was left alone and badly beaten at the side of the road. Some men passed him by on the other side of the road but one man stopped to help. The Bible tells us that this is what it means to, "Love our neighbor as ourselves". Thank you, Friends, for working with us to rise to the occasion of a modern day opportunity to fulfill this great command!

"Spirit of Grace" arrived back to Pier 10 in Galveston on December 29th at 1800 hours. The crew will take a much needed three days off and then they will begin loading supplies again as the blessings of God roll on! Next stop for "Spirit of Grace" is North Korea!

Captain Retires

Captain Brandenburger who has graciously served our ministry, ships and crew, acting as a loving father, in full honor and with complete respect for our ministry and it's mission, has announced his retirement. We are tremendously appreciative of the hours, weeks and months that Captain Brandenburger has given to the Lord and to this ministry. We realize how hard it will be to fill the shoes of a man unusually gifted with the Spirit of the Lord, a Captain who instilled confidence in each crew member, who positively challenged them to reach beyond what they thought they could achieve. He studied the needs of a uniquely purposed ship and was able to master and accomplish the great ship "Grace's" needs and the needs and goals of the ministry. He worked in harmony with the directors of the ship to produce vast advantage for the mission, to advance the kingdom and yield great blessings from the Lord. While navigating hazardous waters and maneuvering this great ship as if it was a Formula 1 race car. One night while hundreds of people were dockside working until late hours, and were hungry, he jumped into the galley and started inventing new ways of cooking. He worked hard into the evening preparing food for crew members and guests alike. Captain Brandenburger was a great master, truly God's Captain aboard God's ship. We thank him dearly and ask God's blessing on each and every step in his life and that of his family. May his cup runneth over.

Pray with us please, with all of your heart that God could send another man such as Captain Brandenburger, a very special man, to master a very special ship; a Captain who can set aside his status or symbols to be God's servant as well as His Captain, one who can work with the task God has set us to do. This will take a very, very Godly and exceptional man, a man of great courage, and most of all, a great servant of God. We know he is out there. Pray that he will answer his call and report to his post.

Final Unloading Report December 31st, 1998

Unloading Report December 13-15th

Unloading Report December 6-12th

Unloading Report December 5th

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