Seafarers Appreciate Transportation Service More Than Ever

GoodNews
From The Ministry to Seafarers
April 2007, No. 50
Seafarers Appreciate Transportation Service More Than Ever
by Michelle DePooter and Brenda Dyas
The Port of Montreal covers an area which is
approximately 17 kilometers long. Many of
the docks are located far from the city center
in places that are difficult to access by public
transportation or where the distance makes
it financially impractical by taxi.
In addition to this, Port security has continued
to tighten over the years, making it increasingly
difficult for seafarers to leave their
ships without an authorized escort. As a result,
seafarers appreciate more than ever the
service offered by The Ministry to Seafarers
of transporting them from their ships to the
Center and other destinations in the city...
and back again.
There is also an important, yet little known,
aspect of the ministry’s transportation services
that goes beyond the physical comfort
and convenience of seafarers. The “commute”
from the ships to the Seafarers’ Center
is often a blessing in disguise because it
provides opportunities to focus on individuals
and their needs.
While we are on board the ships, the seafarers
are usually working, so although we are
able to talk with them, they can really only
afford a few minutes break to have a cup of
coffee and chat. Also, on board their ships
the seafarers are always “on”; they are not
able to properly relax.
Seafarers like Solanki and Vinoth appreciate the convenience and camaraderie of the M2S van service.
In the afternoon, when Charlie and I pick up
seafarers, we notice a big difference when
they get into our vans. They visibly relax
and make comments about how nice it is to
get off the ship. They often want to go to a
shopping center before coming to the Seafarers’
Center, so we drop them off in town
and they either make their own way back to
the Center or to their ships.
Sometimes they tell me they just want to
ride around with me where ever I go—they
just want to get off the ship and see something
different!
Many times I will take some extra time and
give them a small tour of Montreal and talk
with them as we drive around. It is an excellent
opportunity to get to know them better,
especially if they are alone. Conversations
can become quite serious in a 15 to 20 minute
van ride, and the men feel comfortable to
open up and share things about their life,
their families, their work, or the problems
they may be having on board their ships.
Often it is the only time to have this type of
conversation. On the ship there are always
other people around, and at the Seafarers’
Center phone calls and email are uppermost
in their minds.
All of us at The Ministry to Seafarers can
tell stories of personal conversations we’ve
been able to have with seafarers while driving
them to and from their ships. It’s part of
our ministry that perhaps goes unrecognized
but is vitally important, and something the
seafarers sincerely look forward to.

,
Thank You 2006 Volunteers!
Volunteers are absolutely vital to our efforts to minister to
the seafarers. Without them it would be impossible to accomplish
all that needs to be done in the daily efforts to care for
both the physical and spiritual needs of seafarers.
We want to recognize and thank all of the volunteers who dedicated
their time, energy and love to serve at the Ministry to
Seafarers in 2006. Thank you, and may God bless you!
Jack Van Geest helps a seafarer total up his tuck shop purchases.
Femmie Wikkerink and Grace Couperus work in the kitchen.
Jenny Boelens and David Rozeboom place phone calls for seafarers.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Peter and Betty Mostert
Jack and Martiny Van Meggelen
Anna and Bernie Berghout
Mel and Jenny Boelens
Jan and Andrea Struyk
Ricki and Jerry DeBoer
Martin and Betty Desrochers
Pat Jones
Neil Bysterbusch
Jack VanGeest
Kees and Dorothy Vanderleek
Mel and Jenny Boelens
Jan and Andrea Struyk
George and Grace Couperus
Costs Increasing
Your generous support helps us to meet
the operational expenses of The Ministry
to Seafarers. Fuel costs are major expenses
that increase every year. Please
consider these increasing costs as you
give this year. Thank you!
Fuel Costs 2006 2005
January 511.24 179.33
February 472.56 318.02
March 211.24 163.42
April 734.51 239.31
May 474.19 184.42
June 628.19 276.78
July 499.75 400.32
August 522.27 302.09
September 463.66 550.85
October 459.85 528.17
November 534.64 396.83
December 172.08 517.13
Total $5,684.18 $4,056.67
More Warm Winter Coats Needed
Winter coats go like hotcakes here at The Ministry to Seafarers. There is such a demand for
warm winter outerwear that we can’t keep enough on hand to give to the seafarers. We’re
asking you to please donate any good, used mens’ coats that you no longer need.
There are several ways to get donated clothing to The Ministry to Seafarers in Montreal:
a) get them to Classis Eastern Canada or Classis Quinte meetings;
b) send them with the Christmas parcels next November;
c) mail them to PO Box 815, Place D’Armes, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 3J2.
Another thankful seafarer heads back to his ship
in a newly selected winter coat!
Staff member Svetlana Zinkovskaia hangs up
winter coats donated by CRC churches.
+40%

Captain Larry Elliston
by Brenda Dyas
Captain Larry Elliston began his merchant
naval career at the age of 14 when he joined
a training ship for merchant marine officers
in England. There he learned navigation
and seamanship, and embarked on his first
sea voyage in 1957. His dreams of seeing the
world began to come true when the ship made its first stop in Calcutta, India and
stayed for over six weeks! He then traveled on to Colombo, Sri Lanka where the captain
arranged a memorable siteseeing tour to the interior city of Kandy.
Many aspects of the shipping industry have changed over the years since Captain
Elliston first signed on. For example, unlike the lengthy six-week stop made by Larry’s
first ship in Calcutta, today the average stay for a ship in the Port of Montreal
is only three days. Larry remembers a crew of 60 being required for a 10,000 dwt
ship, while today the average crew size is a mere 20.
Larry’s training in navigation taught him how to use mechanical navigational instruments,
such as the sextant, to determine the position of a ship. Today navigation
is done by computers and satellites.
Another huge change in the shipping industry came in the 1970s with containerization,
and Larry remembers its beginnings well. Before the specialized ships were
built, modifications were done to existing ships so that containers could be placed
on board ordinary cargo ships.
In the face of major changes, though, some things remain the same for today’s seafarers—the
emotional hardships of being at sea. It is a lonely, uncomfortable, and
isolated job without the support of family. Larry is fond of quoting an oldtimer who
said, “No man would be a sailor if he could get himself into jail. Being at sea is like
being in jail with the added possibility of being drowned.”
All in all, Captain Elliston is proud of his contributions to helping the world economy,
and enjoyed his time at sea where he carried almost every type of cargo there
is. Recently, he has served seafarers in a variety of capacities at seafarers’ centers
from Halifax to Vancouver.
Today, Larry lives just outside of Montreal. He is a regular volunteer at the Mariners’
House (Seafarers’ Center) in Montreal where he helps organize, and encourages
the use of, a library of used books. He firmly believes that seafarers’ centers
and seafarers’ ministries serve a vital need in the world today for a group of people
who are too often overlooked or taken for granted.
Phoning Home
by Brenda Dyas
Phoning home is probably the most anticipated
activity for every seafarer. Spending up to nine
months away from wives, children, parents and
friends is made more bearable when they can talk to
them while in port. It is a nightly occurrence to see
the phone booths packed with anxious seafarers.
That we live in a fast-paced and changing world is
clearly evident at The Ministry to Seafarers when
you see how the seafarers phone home today.
Up until the mid-1990’s, seafarers’ phone calls
were placed directly through Bell. The calls were
timed and seafarers were charged approximately
$1.20/minute.
In 1996, the Seafarers’ Center in Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida came up with a Seafarers Card for placing
long distance calls from any phone in the world.
The card was free, but seafarers purchased time on
the card, usually from $10 to an unlimited amount.
The cost per call was about the same as a direct call,
but had the added convenience of being able to be
used at any port on any phone.
Vendors who frequented the ships began to offer
seafarers the use of a portable phone...although
at exorbitant prices! The Ministry to Seafarers allowed
seafarers to use their own portable phones
while in port to avoid the high costs paid to these
vendors. The first portable phones were about the
size of a brief case!
Today, nearly 50% of all seafarers have their own
mobile phones which they can use from any port at
a fraction of the cost they once paid. Today’s phone
cards give much more calling time for the money
(about 2.5 cents/minute) although with a lower
quality connection.

Spotlight on
Volunteers
by Brenda Dyas
Paul, Debbie, Montana and Zak Harman
The Ministry to Seafarers
Chaplain: Michelle DePooter
Assistant Chaplain: Charlie Smits
Administrator: Brenda Dyas
Copy Editor: Lisa Hoekstra
Place d’Armes Postal Station, Box 815
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H2Y 3J2
Tel.: (514) 844-1476 or (514) 849-3234
Fax: (514) 849-2874
min2seaf@colba.net
www.ministrytoseafarers.org
Psalm 107
23 Some go down to the sea and travel over it in
ships to do business in great waters.
24 They see the works of the Lord and His
wonders in the deep.
25 He commands and raises up the stormy wind,
which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 Those aboard mount up to the heavens, they go
down again to the deeps; their courage melts
away because of their plight.
27 They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken
man, and all their wisdom comes to nothing.
28 Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and
He brings them out of their distress.
29 He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle
whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still.
30 Then they are glad because of the calm, and He
brings them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that people would praise the Lord for
His goodness and lovingkindness, and His
wonderful works to the human race!
Paul and Debbie Harman and their children,
Montana (12) and Zak (9), live just west of
the island of Montreal in the tiny agricultural
community of Ste-Marthe. They have
been involved with The Ministry to Seafarers
for just over three years.
In December 2003, they heard a radio interview
about Christmas parcels for seafarers
in Montreal. Shortly after, they discovered
that their neighbors, Walter and Marie Hobé
(who attend the CRC in Montreal), were busy
preparing “shoe boxes” to deliver to the Seafarers’
Center on Christmas Eve. They decided
to prepare some parcels of their own for
the seafarers and join the Christmas Eve celebrations.
A family tradition was born.
A year later, they began devoting some of
their Sunday evenings to volunteering at The
Ministry to Seafarers. It has become a labor
of love for them, and a place where one of
their guiding philosophies of life,
Preach the gospel always.
If necessary, use words...
(St. Francis of Assisi)
has become especially appropriate and powerful
in the multi-cultural environment of
the Seafarers’ Center where verbal communication
can often be a challenge.
Paul works as club assistant/driver, and never
tires of being on the road for the seafarers.
Whether it is distributing Bibles to eager
hands, dropping off enthusiastic sea legs at a
skating rink, connecting anxious ears to faraway
loved ones, listening to lonely hearts,
or simply just being cheerful, every day is a
new challenge to be the “face” of God to others
who may not know Him...yet.
Whenever their schedule permits, Debbie,
Montana and Zak look forward to helping
out for the evening as well. Debbie loves to
talk with the seafarers, and help them with
their phone calls or purchases in the tuck
shop. She has a loving heart that’s always on
the lookout for someone needing help.
Montana loves to keep the shelves stocked
and help out at the tuck shop counter; Zak
is usually in demand by the seafarers for a
game of pool or foosball, much to their delight
and entertainment!
It’s amazing to see how the presence of children
in the Center always brings added enjoyment
to the seafarers—many are acutely
missing the children in their own lives whom
they may not have seen for many months.
Paul and Debbie will also tell you that volunteering
at The Ministry to Seafarers is a real
education! There is so much to learn about
the unique world of seafaring.
Their family is a blessing to all of us at The
Ministry to Seafarers. Their enthusiasm and
helping hand are much appreciated by staff
and seafarers alike. We are thankful for their
desire and commitment to serve the Lord
through word and deed.