Missing Equipment Worked Around

This week, I was in Japan to install a new piece of equipment on a ship. I only had two days to do it and a lot of communication problems. Day one, the ship and parts warehouse were closed. Day two, we could not find our parts shipment in the warehouse. One part was a mounting plate and the other was the equipment. I could not find a mounting plate, but I found a 'random' shipment of the piece of equipment I needed in the warehouse. I found that it was inappropriately shipped 5 months ago for a ship that didn't needed it. However, I still didn't have the mounting plate I need. When I went onto the ship to survey the mounting location, I found that I could not install the equipment horizontally with the mounting plate like normal, because of other things installed in the way. The only possible way to mount the equipment was vertically, which did not require the mounting plate. So, I was able to complete the install with a piece of equipment that was not designated for this ship, but "just so happened to be there". God provided exactly what I needed and worked around the craziness of not having access to the correct shipment of parts that were supposed to be there.

Radar Supplied!

I was supporting a ship remotely this week that had two broken radars and was stuck in the Philippines. We just needed to get one radar operational to get the ship back underway. After some troubleshooting, found out that one of the radars was going to need new mechanical components, but this would be hard to come by quickly. A couple weeks ago, I was fixing a radar in Thailand on a different ship and we had a spare radar that we gutted for electronics components. We left the mechanical pieces on-board. Well, as I was on the phone with the ship in the Philippines, the other ship from Thailand "just happened" to pull in next to it in the Philippines! I helped them connect the dots and they were able to transfer the mechanical pieces to the ship in need to repair the radar and get underway! I couldn't believe how God had that all planned out- exactly what was needed, when and where.

Computer Lock-Up

On my job this week, I returned to a ship I was on two months ago that was having a computer with a USB device that was causing other USB devices to lock-up. I didn't have time to troubleshoot it then, but my intention was to do so this week, if possible. However, the problem occurs randomly. Sometimes with days or weeks in-between lock-ups. So, there is no guarantee I would see the problem this week.

I started work on Sunday and within 2 hours of being on the ship, that computer started throwing the error in question and then locked-up around 10am! I couldn't believe it! It was almost like right on queue as soon as I started looking at it! It was the perfect timing and gave me all afternoon to look at it and experiment with the computer in its locked-up state. I was able to make some changes that I think will improve a situation that has been plaguing the crew for a long time.

Thank you Lord for providing the computer lock-up at just the perfect time when I needed to see it!

Crazy FedEx story

Last week, I finished off a long job in San Diego and needed to ship a box of tools back to VA. I was going to do it Friday afternoon, but got delayed. Then, after having a late lunch with Ozzie and Liz, I was definitely going to do it. But then, I randomly decided we should go see the sunset first on our last day in CA. So, that got me to FedEx after 6pm. 

This week comes around. This afternoon, Monday, a co-worker contacts me who just got to San Diego, wondering if I shipped the tools back. I said, yes, of course. Well, apparently he unexpectedly needs those specialty tools this week, but I figure they are on a truck headed across the US right now, so I say 'sorry'.

Then, I checked the FedEx tracking number and noticed it wasn't picked up yet in San Diego, which I thought was odd/concerning. I called the local FedEx office there and they said I missed the last Ground truck to leave on Friday and the next one would be there around 6pm Monday. Meaning...the tool box was still there in San Diego and we had 3 hours to figure it out! 

The very kind FedEx workers dug through their "mountain" of Ground packages and found our toolbox. My co-worker was able to go up and get it and have everything he needs for this week!

I thought this was an amazing turn of events and wonderful how God worked that out when neither of us had a clue what was going to happen. We were both just doing our jobs, but God provided the perfect circumstance behind the scenes. If I hadn't been delayed on Friday (working hard), I would have shipped it before 6pm Friday. If I hadn't watched the sunset, I would have shipped it before 6pm Friday. If I had picked any other service other than Ground, it would have gone out. If my co-worker hadn't texted me just in time Monday afternoon to 'save' the package, it would have gone out. 

 Also, I was going to send the package to a different co-worker, because I knew the first co-worker would be in San Diego the following week. However, I left a little gift in the box for the first co-worker, so I put his name on the package even though he wouldn't be in the office to receive it. Amazingly, he was in San Diego to receive it instead! If I had gone with my original plan to send it to an alternate co-worker, it would have been much harder to convince FedEx to release the package to somebody whose name is not on the package.

Thank you Lord for working this one out so well!

Japan travel schedule

Funny thing happened today. Last weekend, I had booked a Japan trip and for some reason picked the wrong leave day. Liz later reminded me of the day I was supposed to pick that I had told the customer. I was annoyed I messed it up, but I just left it as is. Today, the customer told me that there is a Japanese holiday and they won't be able to support me working that day. Well...that day just so happened to be the day I was supposed to start working, but since I 'messed up' my booking, I was actually going to start the day after the holiday anyhow. So, both ways, I didn't have to change anything! Funny how God knew all along about the holiday that I wasn't aware of and He lead me in making a 'mistake' to book the perfect time frame for the trip.

Is this thing on?

 Trying to see if this still works. Seems good so far. Been quite awhile; going to see if I can do better this year at posting some praises. :)