To every thing there is a season…

Dear Friends of Sea Hope

First, I apologize for the time between newsletters.  Please forgive me for going so long, but we have been in some unusual times.

During our time in North Carolina between Thanksgiving and Christmas Mary and I both went through a series of medical appointments and I am happy to report we are still in good physical condition.

We returned to Puerto Rico and began preparations for a mission to Haiti.  This was a fairly small load (about 30,000 pounds) and it was delivered safely.  However, the Lord made it very clear that this was the last mission.  In essence every port in Haiti is now closed to us.

Our last crew....

Frank and Mike...the Neuse Baptist Church boys

The big room was normally loaded quite full

A smaller than normal load

The pier really is not well maintained...

Off load in Jacmel

George Kindel stood the midwatch for the last 7 years...he also took care of the engine room, especially the water makers

Mary and Nehemie Aristide

Sue LaFrance driving Sea Hope

Alan Coward making his first trip

My normal position...

Russel Scherlie made all the trips the last 3 years

The food we took to the Aristides served meals in their evangelistic outreach during Mardi Gras

Katy Moore acted as our photographer...so not many pictures of her. She was Mary's right hand woman in the Galley

Mary did all the small jobs..Here she is taping up damaged bags of rice. I might have been captain, but she made Sea Hope run...

Sue LaFrance is just a multi-talented servant. She would drive Sea Hope, work in the Galley, or load or unload...whatever was needed is what she did

We completed our annual haul out for inspection and painting of the bottom the last week of March.  It went well and we returned to Ponce.  This was our last planned trip on Sea Hope.

Mary and I realized in October the Lord was leading us to retire from going to sea and we started seeking His guidance on how to proceed.  I thought we would go down the path of selling Sea Hope but His ways are not our ways.  Instead, He prompted another ministry to approach us about using Sea Hope.  It has always been our desire  that Sea Hope would carry on after us and He has provided the way.   Sea Hope will be donated to this ministry for them to use in their Christ-centric, Gospel-centric outreach.  I am not at liberty at the moment to name the ministry since their board and the Sea Hope board have not given their final approvals, but all appears on track.  Mary and I will be involved for a while to ensure a smooth transition so we can share our knowledge of the vessel to allow the new operators to  get up to speed quickly.

We will be moving back to North Carolina in a few weeks.  We have been in Puerto Rico for almost 5 years and are looking forward to being able to spend more time with our family.  Serving on Sea Hope has been a privilege and a blessing.  I am amazed He would take someone like me and let me see Him do miracle after miracle. 

Thank you to all who have prayed, given, worked on or served with us on Sea Hope.  Only in Heaven will you realize the lives you have touched and the souls that are there because you helped us Cross the Caribbean….

Thank you to all who made Sea Hope work….

Serving HIM Joyfully

Buddy and Mary Puryear