Thanks so much for continuing with me along my adventure aboard the Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise  ships, from March 7th to April 4th, 2020. This is a continuation of the lessons learned and of God’s  interventions, His revelations, His sustaining power, as well as the miracles He performed during my  voyage.  

In the previous LIFE study, “Unclean, Unclean,” I shared how the port at Puntas Arenas, Chile, denied our  request to disembark in their country. We could restock our food supply, but we had no clear direction  as to where we would sail or who would allow us entry, nor did we have a clear timeframe of how much  longer we would be on the boat.  

While disheartening, we still had free reign on the ship — the food, the shows, the spa, the gym —until  we didn’t. I still remember the moment vividly. We were having lunch, seated by the window, looking  out at the breaking of the waves. We had just solidified our dinner plans at the Steakhouse with another  couple we’d met, and we were looking forward to a much-needed spa treatment. And then we heard  these words: “Good afternoon. This is your captain speaking. I’m afraid I have some bad news. As of this  morning, 136 persons have reported COVID-like symptoms. And so, for the safety of everyone, we will  be initiating a mandatory quarantine, which means everyone will need to report back to your  staterooms and remain there until further notice.” They were “battening down the hatches” in  preparation for the COVID storm to come.  

That very day we should have been completing our cruise full of tales of the breathtaking vistas and  encounters with the Gentoo penguins, the Weddel seals and the majestic blue whales. Instead, the day  that should have been marked by wonders and nostalgia became the beginning of 14 days in  quarantine.  

We only had 30 minutes to get prepared. The hard part was not knowing for what exactly we were  preparing. So we ran to the gift shop because we were already low on toiletries. We spent $60 on  deodorant (I thought this was important at the time. If we were going to be this close for who knew how  long, it’d help if we didn’t “stinketh”). We got some Dramamine because Derrick’s motion sickness  patches had run out. And we got a few snacks because we had no idea how or what we’d be eating.  Then we took a walk around the upper deck, savoring the sunshine and the fresh air. And we prayed.  

I can’t even describe the shock. This was to be our last meal outside of our room. No more gatherings  with our new friends. No more walks around the upper deck. No more shows, spa treatments, shopping,  Tango dance lessons, sunshine or fresh air.  

We were confined to our 183 square foot interior room, minus a window or balcony. What seemed like  an adequate amount of space for the amount of time we were planning to spend in the room now  suddenly felt like a prison cell. This 13×14 shoebox was to become our home, for better or worse.  

To Be Continued…