Off we go.

I'm sat at home writing on my home computer, knowing its the last thing I will type on here for a long time. Because tonight im off, flying out to the Gulf to join my ship.

The last few days at home are probably the worst days of the entire going away process and the last few hours waiting to leave are always the most painful and slow. This has been made worse by the fact I have been stuck on a camp 150 miles from home.

Over the past week I have had to say hard good byes to friends down at the Army where I went to my last meeting, probably for quite a few months. (Although hopefully I might be able to get to a Corps when away) I have also had to say goodbye to my family and worst of all my girlfriend.

Don't get me wrong i'm not moaning about how bad or hard my life is! ( Although it can be hard!) Often the excitment of going away to sea and the adventures you have outweigh the pain of leaving friends and family. But this time it just does not feel this way.

So how does a Salvationist deal with this kind of seperation? Well I guess one of the main things that helps me to cope is that I know God wants me on my ship. He wants me to be there as the only Christian (although I expect he would like a few more!) to show the lads who work with me there is another way, they dont have to drink every night to cope with the hardships. To be a good influance to them, to show them you can live a good Christian life and still serve in the Forces. And I feel most of all to be there with them and pray for them and with them when times get hard.

No pressure then! I see it as a great challange going away and trying to live in such a way that Christ's light shines out through me. Its a challange, its hard and sometimes it seems impossible. Quite often I feel I get more wrong than right. But the fact remains im there doing it, and God is with me.

I will post again at some point next week once I am on my ship. I hope you enjoy reading my little Blog.

The Sailing Salvationist. :)