8.30.2012

The Stewarts Sail Away...


Ok…ok…so, we aren’t actually sailing away.  But, tomorrow is our LAST DAY serving with OM Ships International.  During these past years, we have really learned a lot about ourselves, each other, God, ministry, people and so much more!  Although we are leaving THIS ministry, we are not leaving God’s mission field.  We head out Monday for our cross country road trip and will be back for Nick ‘s first day in his new job on October 1st!!!  

Our Highlights with OM Ships International
2008...We attended Outbound and were accepted to join Operation Mobilization.
2009...Nick worked as Internet Sales Manager until we moved to the Logos Hope.  We attended the GO conference in Holland, followed by Pre-Ship Training and Basic-Ship Training.  While on the Logos Hope, we visited Scarborough, Tobago, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Castries and Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, Bridgetown, Barbados, Georgetown, Guyana and Curacao.  Nick worked in the book hold, while I taught in the school.   
2010...We visited Curacao, Aruba and Jamaica.  While on the Logos Hope, we were given tons of experience in sharing our testimonies, leadership training, being extremely flexible, seeing and working on our weaknesses, public speaking, building friendships with international strangers, learning to use our strengths and gifts, face-painting and much more!  The Logos Hope celebrated 1 year of ministry and welcomed it's 1 millionth visitor!  However, back in Florence, where Nick was later the Internet Sales Manager, the OM Bookstore packed and shipped 48, 072 orders!  
2011...We moved the warehouse from Pamplico Highway to the OM Ships Ministry Center on Saint Andrews Road.  I (Emily) began serving full-time in Internet Sales, Inventory and Finance and Nick transitioned from Internet Sales Manager to Wholesale Coordinator.  He was able to travel to three book shows in Atlanta, Boston and Chicago!  In addition to all of our hard workers, we had three steppers (someone who serves with OM Ships for 3 months) come to Florence.  Sharon from Holland, Carola from Peru and Gerline from Holland!  Onboard, the Logos Hope welcomed 1 million visitors during 2011 and in the Ministry Center, we packed and shipped 59,376 orders in Internet Sales, compared to 2010’s 48,072 orders! 
2012...With Nick, I was able to go to a book show in Atlanta.  At the Ministry Center we had more steppers (Lydia from Holland and Lena from Germany) and a whole team of workers from the Logos Hope, while the ship was in dry dock.  After much discussion and prayer, we decided that we would not recommit with OM Ships, but would end our commitment in August 2012, as 
planned...so here we are!!!

 OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES... 

8.19.2012

Almost there...


We only have 11 work days left with OM Ships!  We finish up here on Friday, August 31st and take off on our USA road-trip on Monday, September 3rd!  We will be back in FlorenceSC on Saturday, September 29th and Nick will start his new job on Monday, October 1st!  We are excited to tell you that Nick has decided to work for my dad, Wick, and we will continue living in FlorenceSC.  My dad has a construction company, so Nick will be mostly checking on job sites and sub-contractors, while learning everything that he can from my dad.  He can’t wait for his first day on the job, especially since working in construction has always been one of Nick’s top three dream jobs!  I, on the other hand, am still not sure what I am going to be doing.  I have a couple of ideas of what I would enjoy, so we will see what happens!

Road Trip (okay...so we were a little overly excited when we started planning...here is the updated version)

September 3rd-29th
3rd...Atlanta, GA with Aunt Vicki!!!
4th-7th...Houston, TX with Jeff and Holly Hoffart!!!
8th...Driving Day
9th...Phoenix, AZ with Kira, my OM Ships Finance Team boss!!!10th-12th...Camping in the Grand Canyon!!!
12th-16th...Palmdale, CA with Herbie and Wynn May (family)!!!
17th-19th...Camping in Yosemite!!!
19th...Driving Day20th-22nd...Camping in the Redwoods!!!
22nd...Driving Day
23rd-25th...Yellowstone (staying in a hotel for fear of Grizzlies!!!)25th-27th...Buena Vista, CO with Ben Temple!!!
27th-29th...Driving Days