A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Larry Mast is truly considered a hero of the faith, serving on the mission flied for over 59 years, 39 of which have been with Mercy Ships! As a young man, Larry dreamed of a life of outdoor adventure and followed that dream all over the world, sharing the hope of Jesus. Larry is one of the few people to have served on every Mercy Ships vessel and tells us which is his favorite in this episode.
Also in this episode, Larry shares powerful stories of God’s miracles, life lessons and his hopes for the future of Mercy Ships. Larry is sure to inspire you with his life of obedience and adventure as he has served the Lord.
Larry has also written three books: Staying on the Trail Through Trials, Along the Road, and The Road Less Traveled.
Looking for a way to join our mission of bringing hope and healing? Partner with us through a gift, volunteering with us, or by joining us in prayer.
New Mercies Podcast Transcript
Welcome to the New Mercies, a podcast by Mercy Ships, where we’ll take you behind the scenes and on board our incredible hospital ships that are transforming lives all over the world. We invite you to join us each week as we sit down with our crew, patients, volunteers, and partners to hear their stories of life-changing hope and healing.
Larry has been a missionary for 59 years, 39 of those years have been with Mercy Ships, and he has many stories to show for it. Get ready to be blessed, here is my interview with Larry Mast.
Raeanne Newquist:
Well, Larry, welcome to New Mercies. I’m so excited to get to speak with you today, Larry, because I know that you have been in mission work for over 59 years and 39 of those years have been with Mercy Ships. So we’re just really excited to have you, Larry, why don’t you start by telling us what caused you to become a missionary in the first place?
Larry Mast:
I accepted Christ as a 12 year old boy in a small country church and Montana. I went forward one evening during a fiery revival service and accepted Christ as my Savior. I was afraid of dying and going to hell at that point. And someone told me later that I entered the kingdom through the gates of fear and learned to love him later. And that is very true. Okay, fast forward to 1963 I am 19 and a freshman at a Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Why Virginia? I wanted to get as far away from milking cows as I could. I had a 55 Chevy two door hardtop. My brother and I and our friend David from Alberta, and we started heading east. 2000 miles later, we arrived at the college. I remember I had my life planned out for the next seven years. I wanted a career in the great outdoors, getting a degree in forestry. Manning a fire tower during the summer in Glacier National Park made me become a game warden as well. And oh yes, I wanted to be a millionaire by the time I was 30.
Raeanne:
Who doesn’t?
Larry:
Then I met a fellow college student named Dick Heedwell. We had a lot in common, sports and athletics, bodybuilding, interest in motorcycles. Dick and I became close friends. One thing different about us though, was that Dick had a deep love for the Lord. He was passionate about living for Jesus, witnessing, singing in a gospel quartet, sharing his testimony. I began to see that I was missing something in life. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my self-centered approach to life. It was all about me what I wanted to do and become, I didn’t have the joy, happiness and confidence of my friend Dick. I didn’t love Jesus like he did. And I knew I needed to do something about it. One fall evening in November, I was especially burdened, I called my friend in his dorm room, and asked if he would go with me up on the hill behind the college campus. On the hill, we talked and prayed in the falling darkness, and I knew I had to deal with God. For two hours, I wrestled with an inner conviction that I needed to give total control of my life to Jesus, not me. It was a pitch battle in the night. Finally, I begged Dick to sing something in his rich baritone voice, he began to sing, just as I am without one plea, but that I blood was shed for me. Oh whole lamb of God, I come, I come. Something broke within me. I wept. I turned my well-planned life over to Jesus. That night was my call to missions. From then on, I wanted my life to be totally dedicated to Jesus to following a heart after him. My well laid plans lost their appeal. Instead, I would be a missionary. I met my future wife, Helen at this same Virginia Christian College in the fall of 1963. We were married August 8 1964. And two weeks later, we were on a mission station in the far north of Northwest Ontario, Canada, working at a boarding School for Indian children.
Raeanne:
What a beautiful journey that you’ve had. And I love how God has provided comrades and mentors and people who have prayed for you and sung for you along the way to point you to Jesus. Larry, why don’t you tell us — How did you hear about Mercy Ships if you were serving up in Canada? How did you hear about Mercy Ships and get connected?
Larry:
Well, we had served in Canada and then we came back to the states and worked in a Christian school and several other things before going to Alaska. And between 1964 and 1984. We work with several different missions, from Canada to Alaska to Yemen, in the Middle East. And in Yemen, we served with a medical mission called Red Sea Team. I learned a few Arabic words. One was mu pandas, which was my title was Arabic for engineer, or someone who could fix about anything to keep the mission station generator running. Plus two Land Rovers built an improved the base facilities. I also picked up three serious diseases, hepatitis, malaria and dysentery all at the same time. So in 1983, my wife and two sons were back in Montana on medical leave. When we heard about Mercy Ships, Don Stephens’ parents, Paul and Jean Stevens, lived in our community, and we attended the same church and became good friends, Paul and Jean encouraged us to consider Mercy Ships, when we were well enough to return to the mission field. Whenever Don and Dion visited his parents, Don would share about Mercy Ships at church. It sounded like something our whole family would enjoy, including our two mid teen sons. We signed up in 1984 and went to the Anastasis in Oahu, Hawaii.
Raeanne:
Wow. So that was your initiation into Mercy Ships, which is pretty exciting to start off in Hawaii. So you were on the Anastasis at that time, and we recently spoke with Diane Rickard, were you on board with her as well?
Larry:
Yes, yes.
Raeanne:
Oh, how neat. So why don’t you tell us? What was maybe a highlight from those early days with Mercy Ships?
Larry:
Well, I would like to share a story from our time after our discipleship training school on board the ship. We went to the Philippines, and Hong Kong and then into China. And I would like to share a story from a book I have written about our time in China carrying Bibles. In the fall of 1984, Helen and I attended Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School on the Anastasis. And then we went, as I said, to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong, most of our team traveled by passenger train to Canton, China. I had the flu, so our family was delayed a week. Nearly everyone in the group carried a backpack filled with Bibles, or Bible study books. When the team arrived in Canton, they checked into a hotel and stored the backpacks in hotel lockers. Later part of my job was getting those backpacks into the hands of Chinese Christians. When I recovered from the flu, our family prepared for the trip into China. We were told before we boarded the train in Hong Kong that two Christian, Chinese men would be in our railroad car. We were advised not to try to identify them. But when we exited the train in Canton, the men would approach us with these words. Those backpacks look very heavy, may we carry them for you. We were told to accept their help, and that’s exactly the way it happened. The two men took the heavy backpacks filled with Bibles, and was grateful smiles melted into the train station crowd.
Later at our hotel restaurant, we ate a pre-arranged meal with two Chinese Christian couples. We arrived with one backpack full of Bibles and placed it casually at our feet as we sat down. During the meal we heard stories of their lives and struggles. Tales of torture were served up along with delicious Chinese food. One man said that while in jail, he chewed on his leather belt because he was so hungry. Looking into the eyes of these brothers and sisters was one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever known. Scars from torture were obvious on their faces. When the meal ended, I pushed the backpack further under the table with my foot. Then we stood said our goodbyes and left.
The rest of the Bible drop off took place in various discreet and clandestine ways, some of them late at night. On a Wednesday at 1am, I was told to pick up a backpack from the hotel, across the lobby and meet a man on the steps outside, wearing a red scarf. Give him the backpack. And another time I was instructed to take a backpack, get in a waiting taxi outside the hotel and ride. At the next stop, a man will get in the backseat with you let him have your backpack.
The last one was the most memorable. I was to carry a backpack out of the hotel lobby at 10pm and down a certain street. I was told a man would follow me. When we were out of the street lights I should give the backpack to him. I walked down the street. I could hear footsteps behind me. It got darker. Without turning around I asked Is this far enough? No Keep walking, a voice answered. Finally, far beyond the gleam from the last street lamp, I asked him again, far enough? Yes, he said, in near total darkness, we shook hands. And I gave him the backpack. With a brief thank you he took the Bibles and disappeared into the night, I retraced my steps to the hotel. Although my life was never in danger while delivering Bibles, the lives of the Chinese Christians receiving them were very much at risk, I would only be deported. They can be put in jail or executed. Knowing this I took my part very seriously. I knew Helen and our sons were praying upstairs in the hotel. It’s possible that today you feel like you’re walking into the darkness. Remember that the Lord is walking right there behind you. Isaiah 3021 says, “you will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walk in it.” Whatever the circumstances you’re facing, don’t be discouraged or give up. Just keep walking.
Raeanne:
Wow, that is a powerful, powerful story. I think that we don’t really know what it’s like to be persecuted for our faith in the west and can’t even imagine what it’s like to have to meet people in the dark in secret to exchange Bibles in a backpack. And like you said, they’re risking their lives to get these treasured books of hope. And what a privilege that you had to carry that hope and give it to those people. Wow. That’s incredible. Larry, thank you for sharing that. God protected you in the midst of those exchanges. And I’m sure that throughout your time, you’ve really seen God provide in many ways. Can you tell us maybe about a time that you saw God’s extravagant provision for you?
Larry:
Yes, I would like to share a story from the Anastasis in Hawaii in 1985. Many on board we’re working hard on the ships newest sprinkler system. We put in nearly four miles of inch and a half pipe on five decks throughout the ship. We were finishing in late summer of 1985 and it was hot in Hawaii. It was hot on the ship. We had no air conditioning, and we were all ready for the sail to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, but we needed fuel. As I recall, we delayed on account of this. And one Tuesday evening at our community meeting, Rosalie Petter, ship Academy principal, suggested we change the words of one of our favorite worship songs. The original song was Lord, you are more precious than silver. Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds. And nothing we desire compares with you. Rosalie changed the words and we sang it this way at the community meeting. Lord, you are more precious than sailing. Lord, you are more costly than fuel. Lord, You are more beautiful than Canada. And nothing we desire compared with you. My apologies to any Canadians hearing this for you do have a beautiful country. I don’t remember just how soon after this, the Anastasis has sailed. But I believe that revised song that night was an expression of our faith in a good God who knows our every need and answers and his timing?
Raeanne:
Yes, yes. That is very true. I can’t imagine all the different positions that you’ve held over the years with Mercy Ships. So tell us a little bit about the roles that you’ve held that you’ve traveled all over the world doing? And maybe what were some of your favorite jobs that you’ve had on board,
Larry:
Helping construct the first hospital ward on board the Anastasis as we sailed down the west coast of the United States heading for Mexico in 1987. That included the eye clinic where Dr. Bob Dyer would do eye surgeries. But my all-time favorite onboard project over the years on all the ships was the fistula ward on the Anastasis. I was asked to create it out of the old ship boutique and laundry area and several cabins adjoining it. I did most of it alone, which meant I had to personally work with different departments when I ran across issues that needed additional permissions. Dr. Gary Parker helped me a lot during times like these and he kept the project on course, my heart went out to these ladies — outcast, ostracized, rejected in their villages, so every hammer blow was done knowing it was providing a place on board ship for their healing and acceptance back into society.
One fun job on the Good Samaritan while in Tampa, Florida, was building secure and strong frames to hold racing canoes bound for the 1991 Pan American Olympics in Cuba. My father in law from Sarasota, Florida joined me on this fun job. I also enjoyed projects on the shore when I was in developing countries. And I would like to read a story from one of those projects.
This story is from Jamaica. The ship was docked in Port Antonio on the north coast of the island. As project’s leader, I had two teams that work ashore. I stayed on board ship during this time, and coordinated details from there. With occasional visits to the field. I had two very capable foremen overseeing the jobs and rested easy with that. One afternoon I decided to visit the closest job site. I arrived at the team house about 5pm and was met by the construction foreman. His first words to me were: Hey, I’m sure glad to see you, I just ran over a little boy. Rich told me the story. He had left the job site and drove slowly through the small village. People, dogs and donkeys crowded the narrow road. In his rearview mirror, he glimpsed the boy about 10 years old, crawled out from under the 16 foot trailer. Rich stopped and ran back as a crowd quickly gathered. The crying boy stood up but appeared in much pain. Oh, he shouted tears streaming down his face. The Jamaicans nearby began to blame Rich, Whitey. It’s your fault. Then someone from the crowd said no, it’s not the white man’s fault. I saw it happen. The boy tried to jump on the pickup bumper fell off and went under the trailer. This news turned the crowds anger in another direction. And the bad boy, bad boy, Rich walked over to the boy, gently gathered him up in his arms and said, No, he’s not a bad boy. He’s just a little boy doing what little boys do. That calmed the crowd considerably and they quietly dispersed. The boy hobbled off with his friends and disappeared around the corner. In the team house Rich and I talked it over and decided to go back to the village and see what more could be done. We finally located the youngster and later that evening in a doctor’s office. X ray showed no broken bones only multiple scrapes and bruises. We found out he was one of nine children who belonged to an unmarried woman who live in the village. Through this accident, a local pastor, a friend of ours followed up on his recovery. The pastor also shared Jesus with the family and help with their physical needs. Three lessons come to mind from this incident. Don’t blame people and call them when something bad happens to you. You may not know all the details, show compassion and lift people up when they’re down. Do to others as you want them to do to you. And remember Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love Him.
Raeanne:
Such a great story, Larry and great lessons to learn. Larry, I think are maybe one of the only people who has served on every Mercy Ships vessel. Is that true?
Larry:
Yes, that is true.
Raeanne:
And I understand that you recently worked on our brand new ship the Global Mercy. So that rounds you out that you have worked on every vessel that we’ve had. Do you have a favorite ship?
Larry:
I’ve thought a lot about this question and my answer is my favorite ship was the one I was working on at the time! from the Pacific Ruby in Tauranga, New Zealand and the Anastasis, Good Samaritan, the Caribbean Mercy, the Africa Mercy to the Global Mercy in Antwerp, Belgium. I was so engrossed and immersed in the project I was doing that I loved that job on that particular ship as much as possible. So they were all my favorites.
Raeanne:
I think that’s probably a wise, safe answer for sure. Larry, I know in the beginning, you mentioned that you wanted a life of outdoor adventure. And it sounds like you have far exceeded that by traveling all over the world, getting to be an ambassador for Christ, getting to use your hands and build things, and really be a catalyst of hope for many, many people. And I know throughout this time, you have seen so many incredible things happen. Mercy Ships just celebrated 45 years of service. And really, you’ve been with them for almost all those 45 years. Larry, what are your hopes for the future of Mercy Ships?
Larry:
Well, in addition to providing hope, and healing, which we do so well, and will undoubtedly continue into the future. I have one additional hope and suggestion, may we never get so big that we lose our sense of family. Yes, we are large and getting larger, some people work virtually, and we may never meet them. At community meetings here at the ISC in Texas, I look around the room sometimes and see more strangers than I do acquaintances. It takes time and effort to meet new people to get out of our comfort zones or department and mix with others we don’t know, I hope we will always make a concerted effort to meet new people to be friendly to ask questions to care. We are part of the family a unique Mercy Ship family. And that is my hope for the future.
Raeanne:
Yes, I agree with you. I think that there is something so special about this organization, and it just gets under your skin mostly because of the people and the community that is built. And yes, it is a beautiful thing. I hope the same thing that we continue to be a wonderful, beautiful family together. Larry, you have mentioned that you have written some books, can you just tell us the title of those books. And I’ll also include those titles in the show notes. But if anyone would like to find those, what are the names of your books,
Larry:
The first one is Staying on the Trail Through Trials, and that is an account of my cancer journey back I think 10 or 12 years ago. And it’s not just about cancer, it’s about going through difficult times. And some things I learned and some things I can pass on to other people. And the second one is called Along the Road and it’s just a bunch of stories, small stories, some of them are, some of them will make you laugh, some of them will make you cry. But there’s stories of our life journey, some stories from Mercy Ships and other organizations where we work, and just life stories. And the third one is called The Road Less Traveled. And it starts out as the introduction is to my friend in Montana who was dying of cancer. And I wrote a letter to him, asking him he was an atheist. And I’d climbed many mountains with him for 40 years and I was just urging him to take the right path when it came time for him to leave his life. And his wife, let me use the my letter to him as an introduction to my story. And then the rest of the he did come to the Lord his last few days he did toward his heart to the Lord. And then there are stories and some poems. And my last one is what I like the best.
Raeanne:
Larry, I know you are an incredible writer, you actually write for Mercy Ships for our Mercy Minutes, and telling all these incredible stories from the 39 years that you’ve spent with Mercy Ships. Larry, I have to tell you, it has been an absolute privilege to speak with you and to hear your stories today. I feel like I’ve been in the presence of a saint of a faithful godly man who has said yes to the Lord time and time again. And it’s been an absolute honor. So thank you for sharing with us today.
Larry:
Thank you Raeanne. God bless you.
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