What level of opposition can you dare!

Several years ago a man named Mel Fisher stumbled on a piece of information that changed the course of his life. He was a chicken farmer from the Midwest who looked absolutely ordinary. He got hold of the information that a Spanish ship, the atocha sank in a storm more than 350 years ago.

Mel fisher also had evidence that the treasure on that one vessel was worth several millions of dollars.Armed with this information, Mel decided to search for this great treasure.

He was aware that the ocean is expansive and that the vessel could have gone down anywhere over hundreds of square miles away from his standing point.
With his little boats and a crew that he could only afford to pay fifty dollars a week, he spent years searching for the lost vessel.

He went through series of disappointments, disasters and setbacks. He had very little encouragement from people outside his immediate family members but he was determined to find the lost ship. He invested all that he owned on this one project. He didn’t have a plan B if he failed.

He had determination, patience and courage. One of Mel Fisher greatest trials came after one of the team’s most encouraging finds. They recovered a silver bar that matched the bill of lading from the Atocha. Their excitement was obviously great, but it seemed that the entire world rose up against them. The government stepped in to confiscate what Mel Fisher’s crew had found and further ruled that any other discovery by Mel belong to the government.

What a great blow after so many years of struggles in the great ocean. He had spent several millions of dollars mostly borrowed. This man refused to give up despite the challenges. He kept searching. He also resolved to fight the government in court. Mel fisher’s challenges rose. He had the expansive ocean to contend with.
The government confiscated his little discovery and he had a debt of several millions of dollars hanging on his neck. Then one day his first son found some ancient Spanish cannons. They checked the serial numbers and verified that they were not far from the lost vessels. The team was ecstatic. Their joy was however short lived because two nights later, the sea struck killing his first son and wife. The team was devastated but still they refused to give up.

Finally an encouraging victory did come. After years of bitter fighting in the courts, Mel Fisher won his case. He had to go all the way to the U.S Supreme Court, which gave a five to four decision in his favour. In spite of his victory in court, Mel Fisher still had nothing to show for his years of hard work. This man refused to give up. He continued with his team day after day.

After spending nearly twelve millions dollars Mel fisher’s barely had enough money to meet his payroll for two more weeks. Everyone knew that the end was certainly near. Then to the astonishment of people all over the world, the announcement came with voices cracked over the radio from his little boat, Mel Fisher and his team had found the Atocha, the lost ocean vessel.

With it they found mountains of silver, gold bars, precious jewels, silver and gold plates all valued at more than $400m. What may have been the biggest treasure hunt in history resulted in one of the greatest discoveries. I am sure, the morale of the story is clear to you. Don’t give up. I know you have been on that business for many years without much progress, don’t give up, your breakthrough is around the corner.

I know there is so much opposition on your way to the top, don’t give up, that’s not the end, its only a bend. I know you’ve been working hard at making your marriage work but things are getting worse, don’t give up, if you hold on, you will hold it. I leave a word of encouragement for you today, the storm is over. The roaring has seized remember, when the cloud is thickest, its about to rain, darkness is darkest because it would soon be morning. It’s a new day for you.
Remember, the cloud may be thick and darkness gross, God is with you. Arise shine because your light has come. If you hold on, you will hold it.