The reception is cool. The guard is a large man, uncommunicative and does things according to the book. He follows a detailed interrogation process to determine the exact reason for Danie's visit. Danie has a Bible in his hand and explains, but it makes no impression. The guard decided to get permission for the visit from a higher authority. He babbles an incomprehensible message for transmission over the crackling two-way radio. He motions, sternly, that Danie has to wait. 

While waiting with Job's patience, for approval, the crew scrambles across the deck with meaning. They are all from the Ukraine. Danie says that even in their diligence and in the way they conduct their daily work, the wounds of a destructive war is visible. Each face reflects, unmistakably, the stress. War is not limited to the areas between borders, it continues, unabatedly on deck, where they are working. The frustration, anger and insecurity are carried within and are aggravated by each new media report. 

Radios sound with conversations and the chances for a visit on board shrink as Danie waits. Only when he is really feeling convinced of a failed visit, the steel door in front of him swings open. A young man, also of large stature, rubs shoulders with the door frame as he scrambles to get to his next point of work. Apart from the large stature, the first other thing one notices, is the prominent cross swinging from a heavy chain around his neck. For a moment, while he is still running, their eyes meet, but it is the familiarity of the book in Danie's hands that fires the light in the young man's eyes and causes him to pause for a moment. The large cross on the chain and the cross on the Bible in Danie's hand form a symbiotic common denominator. 

"Aleksander", he introduces himself. Without a word from Danie it is clear that Aleksander understands the reason for Danie's visit. Immediately Aleksander says something to the radio and moments later Danie enters the ship in his company. The timing is perfect. In the dining area the men arrive, one by one for lunch. Aleksander talks and explains. He introduces Danie and the others approach with a friendlier attitude. 

It does not take long for the discussion to turn to the sombre topic of war. With Aleksander in their midst the discussion flows easily from war to faith. It is not only at home that things are broken and in tatters. There is a deep longing to find God in all the chaos. Throughout their stories one hears the refrain, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken us?'.

Two crosses opened the steel door of the ship for Danie, but the story does not end at the Cross. There is also the promise of Ascension, the message of hope and comfort - with the assurance that we are not orphans that have been left behind. For each man from the Ukraine, God remains present and there through the Spirit. That is why we can lift our eyes up to the heavens and know where our help will come from. Upon leaving, Aleksander confirms the importance for each on board to hear this again. Even the guard on deck greets Danie politely and friendly as he leaves. 

Every donation brings the message of the Cross, but also the promise of Ascension - that we are not orphans left behind. We thank you for that. We also hope that you will experience the presence of God in your life in this special time.