Every summer, the North American Mission Board identifies cities in the United States with a significant need for the gospel. Miami is one of those cities, and several years ago our home church sent us on mission there.
Because these are family mission trips, everyone participates, including the children. We spent the week helping with a sports camp for kids and assisting a local church plant in various ways.
Near the end of our trip, we had an evening off. Several families decided to go deep-sea fishing on a charter boat. Everyone had a fishing rod, while the boat’s mates helped bait hooks, reel in fish and untangle lines — something that happened to me more times than I care to admit.
As we left the dock, the sun began to set. I was looking forward to a beautiful ride with the Miami skyline behind us and the endless ocean ahead.
Then a mate named Marty began talking with me and another mom. He told us about his years working on charter boats and the adventures that had taken him from Alaska to the Caribbean.