Australia, my new home

the captain had to be part of the operating team. They had stopped the ship to stabilise the rolling and avoid the shuddering of the propeller. After about half an hour the ship continued to plough through the waves again. We had some more rain and really foul weather. The mood on board became rather gloomy, but when we read in the ship's daily news sheet, that another of the BOAC Comet jet planes had plunged into the sea with all lives lost, we thought we were still better off in a ship than in a plane.

In Naples the SKAUBRYN took on board more migrants. They all seemed to come from Italy. Now our ship was truly full to the brim. In the migrant section they filled the cabins to the utmost capacity so that all facilities were stretched to the limit. I was glad then to be in Tourist class.

No passengers were allowed ashore, as the ship had been delayed by the storm. After about three hours we sailed on again, leaving Mt.Vesuvio, the famous volcano in the hazy distance, past the romantic island of Capri with it's sheer rock and the Blue Grotto visible from our ship. The sea became quite calm and it was sunny and warm, a complete change after the storm. After dark we passed the island of Stromboli, another volcano, and many passengers assembled on the top deck to watch our passage through the Straits of Messina. It was full moon and the scenery most beautiful and memorable. Lights of homes and streets were clearly visible, even trees on both sides of the shore, Sicily on our right and the toe of Italy's boot on our left.

As we were sailing due east, the ship's clock was put forward by half an hour, a regular occurrence about every second day from then on.

On Good Friday, I went to a Protestant Service in the main section of the Ship. I was sorry that the Catholic Padre was not conducting the services, as we had become rather friendly together. I got on much better with him than with the Protestant padre, whom I hardly knew.

When we talked to one another again, the Priest asked me how our service went.

"I don't know. Our minister hasn't got the same experience as you. I think he is rather boring."

"But you don't go to church to be entertained, do you?" "Quite right, Padre. I shouldn't be so critical. But when I see you reading the Bible in Chinese, and hear of your experience in China, Christianity becomes more alive for me."

"Well, not everyone can become a missionary to China. But I tell you, since the Communists have expelled all foreign missionaries from China in 1950 and 1951, there is a great need there. I don't know how the churches will manage without the guidance of more experienced priests and ministers. If they become totally cut off from the Mother Church, the work we have done there will have been in vain."

"You mean that the churches won't be able to continue without overseas pastors?"

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