There are approximately 30 people on the Excel, including eight crew members and 22 fishermen. The boat is about 2,500 square feet, about the same as our house. We have 11 living in our house, and we often think it is crowded. The crowded condition in our home is not a problem because we are a family and get along well. There are small groups of friends on the boat, but most of the people on the ship don’t know each other very well. There are some very nice individuals and some not-so-nice ones, so at times it can be a bit stressful for me. I have never done this kind of fishing before, and several people on the boat have done it frequently. Some of the experienced guys are very gracious in their teaching and explaining to me how to fish for various species of fish, but some are arrogant know-it-alls who make my temperature rise. I have developed six guidelines for these ten days of fishing on this boat, to be a positive influence on the others and to make the trip personally enjoyable for me.

1.      Smile a lot. Several people in the past have said that I have a nice smile, so I am going to use God’s gift to me of nice teeth to connect positively with people.

2.      Honor each person by paying sincere attention to their words as they talk, maintaining eye contact, even if they cuss a lot.

3.      Ask questions about fishing and their personal lives.

4.      Pray for people silently as I listen to them, that God would bless them and bring them to Himself, and help me to love them.

5.      I haven’t caught nearly as many fish as I thought I would on this trip, and I have had numerous seals steal my fish, and I have caught a bunch of junk fish that we throw back. But I am committed to rejoicing always, grumbling about nothing, and rejoicing with those who catch more fish than I do, though that is hard.

6.      Make the trip about growing closer to God rather than about catching fish. Sitting out in the ocean, taking in the beautiful sunsets, has been a great reminder of God’s power, His attributes, and His love for me. The time I have been able to spend praying has been great.