YWAM Ships

Hobart, Tasmania seems a bit like the final frontier of Australia. After a 12 hour ferry ride or a one hour flight from Melbourne, you arrive in the hilly south region of Tasmania, one of the last stops on the YWAM Australia and PNG South Ship Tour. The city of Hobart is nestled in Sullivans Cove at the foot of Mount Wellington, which towers over the city below. Smoke rises from homes along the coast, thanks to the chilly early autumn weather.

The Pacific Link currently sits at Macquarie Wharf, where it has been open for public inspection since Thursday of last week. YWAM volunteers huddle in groups around the ship, trying to find warmth in the afternoon sun that peeks through the clouds.

Kara Medlock, one of the volunteers that runs tours of the Ship, has just finished a tour and is still reeling from the experience. She smiles as she starts to recall the story of a mother and her children who recently visited the ship.

After hearing about the Pacific Link from a local paper, the mother and her two sons and daughter travelled down to Macquarie Wharf, eager to see what the ship had to offer. “They were full of smiles and soaking up everything that they were learning,” recalls Kara of the families’ excitement. They climbed aboard the Link, chattering with one another excitedly as they were shown through the vessel.

During the tour, Kara noticed the mother starting to get emotional. In the middle of the tour, she pulled Kara aside. “It’s wonderful that you have this available for young people,” she started, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s just that I wish there was something I could do.” She hesitated, looking for the right words. “I’ve always felt that I was meant to go into villages and help people, but how?”

Kara smiled and gently explained that there was, in fact, a lot she could do. Her sons had been heavily impacted during the tour and had a great desire to help others.

“Maybe you could all volunteer together,” Kara suggested. The mother’s face brightened as she exclaimed, “Really?” Kara nodded and handed her an information pack.

Finally, the tour group was able to view the DVD at the end of the tour, which highlights the needs of both young Aussies and people in PNG. “People were starting to get really emotional,” remembers Kara. She noticed in particular one man who started weeping after the film. She learned later that he was a doctor who eagerly asked at the end, “What can I do in two weeks?”

People from the group shuffled out of the ship’s lounge and one of the young sons came up to Kara. “So, I’m going to do YWAM. What do I do next?” he asked, matter of factly. Kara laughs now as she recalled his enthusiasm. She handed him an information pack and in seeing what their brother was receiving, his younger siblings started voicing their own interests.

“Almost everyone in that tour group requested information on volunteering.” Kara recalls. “They just got it.”

The small family walked away on Friday afternoon, eager to use their newfound information and put their compassion into practice. They even attended the youth event that night, trying to soak up all the information they could. Kara now sits in the galley of the ship and sighs at the memory. “Just a few more people who have been inspired to make a difference,” she concludes.

Thanks to people like Kara and the teams of the YWAM Pacific Link, more people are being inspired every day. Today marks the end of tours in Hobart, so make sure to come visit the Pacific Link!

By Sara Verwymeren