Waves of Change – Ship tour update
March 30th, 2010 by Sara VerwymerenWaves of Change in Adelaide
By Sara Verwymeren
A mother sits at home, catching every few words from the local news that blips in the background as she mills about on her computer. Suddenly, a phrase catches her attention and she turns to the television. The news has highlighted a medical ship, docked in Port Adelaide that will be helping the people of Papua New Guinea later this year.
Glued to the television, she calls excitedly to her son to come and watch. Her son, for some reason, has been enthralled with PNG for years. He has always wished for an opportunity to visit but has never known how. They immediately make plans to visit the ship that weekend.
Anna Sutherland, a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) volunteer who lives on the ship, spotted the mother and son from under the marquee in Port Adelaide, smiling bright as the two approached. Their eyes flickered with recognition and they hurried to the tent.
“Oh, we found it!” exclaimed the mother in relief. She turned to Anna and her excitement grew. “Oh! And you’re the girl from the news!”
She began to tell Anna about the son and his love for Papua New Guinea and how they were determined to see the ship, traveling an hour from their home to the port. Anna, encouraged by their enthusiasm, promptly admitted them to a guided tour and away they went.
Thirty minutes later, the mother and son bounced down the gangway, the mother’s eyes teary with emotion. They poured out their excitement to Anna, thanking her for the opportunity to tour the ship. Anna learned that the son was overjoyed to find out that he could actually make a difference in PNG before he turned 18.
The mother, mid conversation, turned to Anna as her son looked through the volunteer material.
“I don’t know how much qualification you need for volunteers,” she thought out loud. “But, I’m a qualified nurse, and – well, I’m no young person. Can I go?”
Anna laughed and told her of course. Wary of her enthusiasm, her son turned to her and made her promise she would “give him some space” to pursue his dream of visiting PNG. His mother promised and continued to gush in excitement. She would allow the boy space, of course, and would watch from a distance.
With outreach and volunteer information in hand, Anna bid the small family goodbye, unable to stifle a wide grin. What could be in store for a 17 year old with a life long dream for the very nation we’re helping? She thought. She didn’t know. But what she did know was that thanks to the Pacific Link and an interview on the local news, a young boy and his mother would be changed forever.