Operation Blessing is reaching stricken areas through a ship delivering supplies.

Indonesia (MNN) — An ocean-going ferry boat has been transformed into a ship of mercy to reach thousands of tsunami survivors with critical relief supplies.

The Batvia is 200 feet long, 35 feet wide, four stories high and is used to carrying hundreds of passengers in Hong Kong. The ship has been chartered by an Australian couple with a heart for the people of Aceh.

Operation Blessing International is using the ship to reach isolated villages along the west coast of Aceh Province, where thousands of survivors are cut off from aid. The villages are perched on what was a lush shelf between the mountains and the sea. The earthquake crumbled most of the bridges along the one coastal road that connected the seaside villages to main cities, leaving thousands of survivors stranded and without aid.

With the help of Mission Aviation Fellowship’s small aircraft, OB International has been scouting the area to find the critical destinations. The ship will anchor offshore stricken areas and shuttle doctors and supplies to land by smaller boats. They’ll be bringing tons of fresh water, thousands of plastic buckets, food, clothing, medical supplies and other critical relief supplies.

OB International’s mission is to demonstrate God’s love by alleviating suffering and human need. Pray for those providing the relief and receiving it, that God’s love will touch and change the hearts, to meet the spiritual needs of the people.