Two organisations, one vision

During Logos Hope’s fifth visit to Saint Lucia, the ship’s bookfair is welcoming more visitors every day, including distinguished guests such as the prime minister and the ambassador from Taiwan. However, the ship’s community is very aware that many people on the island cannot make their way to the vessel and are in great need.

Advance preparation team member Amy Joely Sanchez (Ecuador) says, “Logos Hope is always aiming to support organisations that share the same vision: serving the community by sharing God’s love through action. The different programmes of The Salvation Army (TSA) have been a great opportunity to do exactly this.”

While in Castries, ship volunteers have supported the ongoing work of TSA, an international Christian charity, on a daily basis. Small groups of crewmembers have helped preparing around 60 meals a day in the TSA kitchen, as part of the organisation’s social work which includes a feeding programme providing weekday lunches to a shelter for homeless people and people with disabilities. 

Spending a day cooking and distributing food, Rachel Streitenberger (Germany) reflects, “To see the heart and commitment of The Salvation Army workers and their love and care for others was truly encouraging and inspiring. I want to take this experience with me and apply it in my surroundings.”

Another way TSA serves people in Castries is through its thrift store, where second-hand items are donated from the community and can be purchased for very little or no cost. Crewmembers helped to sort huge quantities of clothes and tidy the space. Thrift store worker Maura Descartes says, “I am really thankful for the volunteers’ help. I am usually here on my own, so having so many helping hands was great. They did an excellent job.”

About her day working alongside TSA, Damaris Barena (Mexico) says, “I joined Logos Hope to share God’s love with the least reached. Today I had the opportunity to do exactly this as we focussed on people who are easily overlooked by society.”

Lieutenant Luke Lyons, TSA’s assistant officer in the area, visited the ship's bookfair and says of the partnership with Logos Hope: “Not only is this ship our partner by supporting our social programme, but also in contributing to our education programme. It helps us to give children whose parents cannot afford much a proper education through the literature resources on board.”