As a kid, I used to get excited at the thought of the Kitchener Public Library Bookmobile that would visit my neighborhood periodically. It was great to think a van load of books would come to us without us having to take a trip to the library! Yes, I led a simple life back then.Well, today I caught a glimpse of something that beats the neighborhood Bookmobile and doesn't involve the internet... every four years an ocean-liner, hosted by the Christian ministry of OM Ships International, docks in the port of Bangkok for a month. How great to be able to see what it was all about when it came to Bangkok this time around.
I had heard of these ships that bring books to people around the world but didn't think I would ever have the opportunity to get on board. I had no doubt the ship I saw was the world's largest floating Book Fair judging by the size of the vessel itself. Built in Germany in the early 1970s, the ship now called Logos Hope was launched into service in 2009, big enough to carry over 5,000 titles and house over 400 staff.
The day my friends and I decided to visit was a national holiday in Thailand so the lineups to get on board were long. But once inside, visitors were greeted with videos of the ministry, copious shelves of books for sale, a wall-size Biblical storyboard of The Prodigal Son and then a place to sit and visit in a cafe with entertainment for the kids. (By the way, I teach piano to the three kids in the picture every Saturday morning... great kids with a great desire to learn!)
It was certainly great to be in the company of English books again in this part of the world. Granted, Bangkok has a few English bookstores but not with the selection that the Logos brings with it or at their incredible low cost... and shipping is included (sorry).
Apparently the Logos Hope is leaving for Hong Kong mid-March. If you live in a port city somewhere in the world, I encourage you to check the schedule when they may be coming to your neighborhood and make sure you get on board!
