NO, not that too!

On Saturday evening, Helge told me that he will probably only be here until the end of April. His best friend is also working on a project and urgently needs help. Helge is a qualified boat builder and has been working on board with me on a freelance basis for the last few years, helping with the planning and practical aspects of the conversion. Without his experience and knowledge, the project would not have been possible - despite all the help from friends.

I had planned to continue building until the summer and then move in and thought that was realistic. There are still a few fixtures missing in the bedrooms and kitchens, cork flooring, emergency pumps, two doors, skylights and ceiling panelling in the seminar room and entrance area and the complete fit-out of the wheelhouse/office. And wooden floors on deck. Not that much, but more than the two of us - Helge and I - could manage in four weeks. I was shocked, wanted to cry, but even the tears got stuck in my throat.

During the night, I slept restlessly and dreamt that I was travelling by bike and suddenly couldn't go any further because a tide with small icebergs floating in it was blocking my path. That's what it feels like right now. In the dream, someone gave me the somewhat cryptic advice that I should not measure, but calculate (I take this as an impulse not to measure the far too short time, but to calculate with God's unlimited possibilities).

In the morning, I did what I always do in a crisis: I first sorted my heart and poured it out to my God. And I asked myself what the worst-case scenario would be for me.

Result - the worst and best scenarios

Worst of all would be for me to move to the ship in the summer to save double the rent and then in the autumn, when Helge is free again - to have another building site on board for weeks or months while I'm already living and working there. That would be a nightmare. I long sooooo much to be finished. And to finish the project.

Second worst would be if the move-in was delayed further, but I could then move onto a finished ship later than planned.

Most beautiful would be to get a lot of help in the next 6 - 10 weeks until the end of May, so that the ship is actually finished by the end of May and I can move in in June. I will increase my working hours on board myself: So far I've been here on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays. Now I also want to come on Friday afternoons.

YES, it could work like this

Prayer

Count on God's help. You can pray with me....

• that Helge can stay as long as it's good for him and me.
• that in the next few weeks very many helpers come on board - especially those who have manual experience and can work independently.
• that I can move in in June (10 June) and that the ship will then be ready (no more big building sites)
• that I maintain serenity and peace... Tonight I dreamt that we were singing in Swiss German at a conference: „Lean on me“ and someone offered me their strong back to lean on. A consolation.

Give

• You can support me financially for the final phase - that would enable me to buy materials and, if necessary, place orders with external companies to speed up the process. I still need a few thousand euros for wood, doors, flooring and paint. But I am really happy about every euro (5 euros = a small pot of paint). Feel free to ask me for my account number - Paypal is in crisis at the moment.
• A loan could also help with the final spurt.

Help

• If you can come on board for one, two or more days and help, that would be a great help. You can spend the night comfortably on the ship and even take a hot shower!
• If you know people who like crafts, tell them about the project and invite them to come along.
• If you live in Berlin or the surrounding area, it's also a help if you only come for two or three hours. As I said, I'm usually on board on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and Saturdays, Helge Mon - Sat all day.

Image: Drawers for a wall cabinet. Made to measure, because a ship is narrower at the bottom than at the top and narrower at the front than further back: