Ships :: Second officer Matt Mullins (Ireland) shares why he's chosen to spend his free time serving on board Logos Hope using his professional qualifications and skills.
Meet Matthew Mullins from Ireland!
Matt is currently serves as a second officer for a cruise ship company and spends his time off sailing with Logos Hope.
Q: How did your journey in the marine industry begin?
“The first time I went on a ship to work was when I was 16. It was on a small cargo ship, just to get an idea of what it was like to work at sea.
Then, when I was 17, I finished high school in Ireland and before even finishing my final exams, I had received a sponsorship offer from a cargo company from Denmark. They paid for my degree and courses and gave me a salary as well. I went there for a three-year course and worked on an oil tanker and three container ships with them.
Even though it was quite a rough environment, I fell in love with the industry.”
Q: How did you come to Logos Hope?
“Well, with [the sponsorship company], everyone always got a job – it was guaranteed. But about halfway through the cadetship, they changed their mind. From then on, they were only going to be hiring [people from] India and the Philippines.
"I did my exams and qualified as an officer, but I couldn’t find a job. It was also COVID-19 times. I was applying, applying, applying and nothing. So, I prayed about it and that’s when God showed me this idea of going to Logos Hope.
I’ve always had it in mind – both my parents were on [OM's previous ship] Doulos – that’s where they met. I grew up with all the stories of Doulos and it was always a dream to do it. I always thought it’d be something in the future… But I realised there was no better time to do it. There was nothing to hold me back.
I sent an email to OM and told them if they needed an officer, I was available. That same day I received a reply: ‘Can you come next week?’"
Q: Where are you currently working and how did you decide to spend your time off serving on Logos Hope?
“I left Logos Hope in December 2021. Since then, I’ve been working... as a third officer and then a second officer. With this career, you’re usually on a rotation. At the moment, I work three months on the ship, and then I get three months off.
"A total of six months per year is a long time to do nothing, so I try to make the most of it. Logos Hope allows me to keep my job. It’s not like I have to give up my career to come here. I’ve found this routine and it works so well.
Even for [those] who have families, you can come here with your family – it’s such a cool opportunity... For me, this is a great 'in between.' I can work normal hours, have a day off every week… I find it’s a good balance.”
Q: How does OM inspire you?
“I love my career, but there’s another side to it where it’s a bit darker. There’s a certain culture, especially on cruise ships…
"As a Christian in that world, it can be a bit exhausting and lonely. When I get off the ship, it feels so refreshing to come here, where I’m still doing my job, but in the complete opposite environment. To come here and be completely saturated for even just a few weeks – it’s as if I was so hungry for something, and I get fed while doing my job that I love."
Q: How would you encourage people who would like to come serve but are afraid of how it might affect their career?
“The job itself is so fulfilling. I think that’s something that we lack in the commercial world. You get paid, and that’s fine, but money doesn’t feed that fulfillment. There’s an emptiness to the job when you carry passengers around and they just party all day or you bring a container from here to there. It doesn’t give you the same reward as being here and seeing people’s lives being changed…
"When you’re doing the job that you always do, but suddenly there’s a meaning behind it, it changes everything.”
Thank you Matt for sharing, and to all our volunteers both past and present who have given their time to see knowledge, help and hope spread further around the world
P.S. Don't forget to check out current openings and programme opportunities to share with those you know! For more click here.