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

Advance preparation team member Amy Joely Sanchez (Ecuador) said, “Logos Hope is always aiming to support organisations that share the same vision: serving the community by sharing God’s love through actions. 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 charitable organization, on a daily basis. Small groups of crewmembers have helped preparing around 60 meals a day in their kitchen, as part of the organisation’s social work, including a feeding programme, that provides lunch from Monday to Friday for homeless people and people with disabilities, living in a shelter.

Spending a day first cooking and then distributing food, Rachel Streitenberger (Germany) commented, “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 the 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 even for nothing. Crewmembers helped to sort the huge amount of clothes and to tidy up the space. Thrift store worker Maura Descartes said, “I am really thankful for the volunteers’ help. I am usually here on my own so having so many hands helping was great. They did an excellent job.”

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

Luke T. Lyons, TSA’s Assistant Officer who oversees the faith-based organisation’s programmes, visited the bookfair and said about 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.”