I got this e-mail from the base director at Reef to Outback in Townsvillle, Australia. We had been talking for years about birthing a ship ministry out of YWAM Australia, and it is very close to coming together. You can read some of the latest developments below:

Recently I had an historic trip to Papua New Guinea, Mike Reynolds (who seems to refuse retirement, even after his official retirement as the Speaker for the Legislative Assembly of Queensland commenced late last month) returned to Port Moresby earlier this week, accompanied by representatives from the YWAM Australia & PNG Ship Tour, Rebekah Hoover and Hannah Peart.

The trip, which served to strengthen both the recent twinning relationship between the PNG National Parliament and the Queensland National Parliament and the Sister City relationship between Townsville and Port Moresby, was very successful.

The catalyst for the trip, a humanitarian aid venture presented by YWAM, was well-received by members of PNG’s Parliament including the Honourable Francis Marus MP, Deputy Speaker and the Honourable Thompson Harokaqveh MP, Assistant Speaker.

YWAM plans to bring a medical ship into Australia in 2010 then onto Papua New Guinea for the next 5-10 years to help strengthen health care service delivery in some of the nation’s neediest regions. The visit was a timely one and the strategy was endorsed by PNG Secretary for Health, Dr. Clement Malau who indicated that the strategy laid out by YWAM could provide tangible benefits to PNG Nationals.

The our YWAM group also met with Australian High Commissioner, Mr Chris Moraitis and had the opportunity to present the medical ship project, which they believed would have a profound effect in some of the more isolated and rural areas of PNG which are in need of some very real health benefits.

The recent agreement between the two Prime Ministers, the Honourable Kevin Rudd and the Honourable Sir Michael Somare provided a platform for further cooperation and collaboration with churches, government and NGOs.

Strategic meetings were also held with the Right Reverend Samson Lowa, Moderator for the United Church, Minister Dame Carol Kidu, MP, Governor Havila Kova, from the Gulf Province; and Mr Lawrence Stephens of the PNG Sustainable Development Fund also confirmed the timeliness and potential for success of this project.