MESSAGE-IN-A-BOTTLE MAIL OPENS DOOR FOR MESSAGE OF GOD'S LOVE

THEN, MARCH 1996: A medical missionary ship began planning a visit to a tiny Pacific island after receiving an unlikely invitation.

The 1,000-ton Island Mercy prepared to sail to remote Yasawa - in the Fiji islands - thanks to a long-forgotten message in a bottle. The ship's director, David Cowie, had tossed the bottle overboard in July 1994, as the ship left Atafu in the Tokelau island chain, north of Samoa.

Sealed with candle wax, the bottle contained a leaflet describing the work of the Island Mercy - part of Youth With A Mission's international Mercy Ships fleet, which twins practical health care with evangelism in developing countries.

Nearly a year later the bottle was washed up on a Yasawa beach - some 700 miles from where it had been "mailed" - where it was found by a member of a local church, who handed it over to his pastor.

He, in turn, contacted the Island Mercy's home office in Tauranga, New Zealand, prompting plans for a visit. "However we have decided to use air mail correspondence to speed the process up a little," said Cowie.

NOW: The Island Mercy sailed into Yasawa Bay in July last year - to discover that an elderly woman in the village had prayed for years that God would send a "Christian ship" to help her people.

The 300-strong community had no running water, electricity, medical facilities or roads. Children had to walk three hours each way to school in the nearest other village.

During a ten-day stay, crew treated almost 350 dental patients from Yasawa and a neighboring village, and provided a year's medical supplies for the village nurse. Ships' engineers helped repair local fishermen's outboard motors and also installed a water tank as part of a fresh water system donated by a church in California.

Around 100 people attended a special thanksgiving service in the village. "As a result of our visit there was great openness to God's word," said Cowie. "For young men and women to come to the island with no other purpose than to serve the community touched everyone's heart, both Christian and non-Christian alike."

When the Island Mercy left to visit other islands with medical aid, villagers lit small fires along a five-mile stretch of coast to say "thank you". "This amazing sight moved many of the crew members to tears."

Return to: Special 100th Issue Update Index Page

Return to Main YWAM Page, or to YWAM Communications, or to Main News Digest Page