Seafarers Appreciate Transportation Service More Than Ever
Seafarers Appreciate Transportation Service More Than Ever
Seafarers Appreciate Transportation Service More Than Ever
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GoodNews<br />
From The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong><br />
April 2007, No. 50<br />
<strong>Seafarers</strong> <strong>Appreciate</strong> <strong>Transportation</strong> <strong>Service</strong> <strong>More</strong> <strong>Than</strong> <strong>Ever</strong><br />
by Michelle DePooter and Brenda Dyas<br />
The Port of Montreal covers an area which is<br />
approximately 17 kilometers long. Many of<br />
the docks are located far from the city center<br />
in places that are difficult to access by public<br />
transportation or where the distance makes<br />
it financially impractical by taxi.<br />
In addition to this, Port security has continued<br />
to tighten over the years, making it increasingly<br />
difficult for seafarers to leave their<br />
ships without an authorized escort. As a result,<br />
seafarers appreciate more than ever the<br />
service offered by The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong><br />
of transporting them from their ships to the<br />
Center and other destinations in the city...<br />
and back again.<br />
There is also an important, yet little known,<br />
aspect of the ministry’s transportation services<br />
that goes beyond the physical comfort<br />
and convenience of seafarers. The “commute”<br />
from the ships to the <strong>Seafarers</strong>’ Center<br />
is often a blessing in disguise because it<br />
provides opportunities to focus on individuals<br />
and their needs.<br />
While we are on board the ships, the seafarers<br />
are usually working, so although we are<br />
able to talk with them, they can really only<br />
afford a few minutes break to have a cup of<br />
coffee and chat. Also, on board their ships<br />
the seafarers are always “on”; they are not<br />
able to properly relax.<br />
<strong>Seafarers</strong> like Solanki and Vinoth appreciate the convenience and camaraderie of the M2S van service.<br />
In the afternoon, when Charlie and I pick up<br />
seafarers, we notice a big difference when<br />
they get into our vans. They visibly relax<br />
and make comments about how nice it is to<br />
get off the ship. They often want to go to a<br />
shopping center before coming to the <strong>Seafarers</strong>’<br />
Center, so we drop them off in town<br />
and they either make their own way back to<br />
the Center or to their ships.<br />
Sometimes they tell me they just want to<br />
ride around with me where ever I go—they<br />
just want to get off the ship and see something<br />
different!<br />
Many times I will take some extra time and<br />
give them a small tour of Montreal and talk<br />
with them as we drive around. It is an excellent<br />
opportunity to get to know them better,<br />
especially if they are alone. Conversations<br />
can become quite serious in a 15 to 20 minute<br />
van ride, and the men feel comfortable to<br />
open up and share things about their life,<br />
their families, their work, or the problems<br />
they may be having on board their ships.<br />
Often it is the only time to have this type of<br />
conversation. On the ship there are always<br />
other people around, and at the <strong>Seafarers</strong>’<br />
Center phone calls and email are uppermost<br />
in their minds.<br />
All of us at The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong> can<br />
tell stories of personal conversations we’ve<br />
been able to have with seafarers while driving<br />
them to and from their ships. It’s part of<br />
our ministry that perhaps goes unrecognized<br />
but is vitally important, and something the<br />
seafarers sincerely look forward to.
,<br />
<strong>Than</strong>k You 2006 Volunteers!<br />
Volunteers are absolutely vital to our efforts to minister to<br />
the seafarers. Without them it would be impossible to accomplish<br />
all that needs to be done in the daily efforts to care for<br />
both the physical and spiritual needs of seafarers.<br />
We want to recognize and thank all of the volunteers who dedicated<br />
their time, energy and love to serve at the Ministry to<br />
<strong>Seafarers</strong> in 2006. <strong>Than</strong>k you, and may God bless you!<br />
Jack Van Geest helps a seafarer total up his tuck shop purchases.<br />
Femmie Wikkerink and Grace Couperus work in the kitchen.<br />
Jenny Boelens and David Rozeboom place phone calls for seafarers.<br />
January<br />
February<br />
March<br />
April<br />
May<br />
June<br />
July<br />
August<br />
September<br />
October<br />
November<br />
December<br />
Peter and Betty Mostert<br />
Jack and Martiny Van Meggelen<br />
Anna and Bernie Berghout<br />
Mel and Jenny Boelens<br />
Jan and Andrea Struyk<br />
Ricki and Jerry DeBoer<br />
Martin and Betty Desrochers<br />
Pat Jones<br />
Neil Bysterbusch<br />
Jack VanGeest<br />
Kees and Dorothy Vanderleek<br />
Mel and Jenny Boelens<br />
Jan and Andrea Struyk<br />
George and Grace Couperus<br />
Costs Increasing<br />
Your generous support helps us to meet<br />
the operational expenses of The Ministry<br />
to <strong>Seafarers</strong>. Fuel costs are major expenses<br />
that increase every year. Please<br />
consider these increasing costs as you<br />
give this year. <strong>Than</strong>k you!<br />
Fuel Costs 2006 2005<br />
January 511.24 179.33<br />
February 472.56 318.02<br />
March 211.24 163.42<br />
April 734.51 239.31<br />
May 474.19 184.42<br />
June 628.19 276.78<br />
July 499.75 400.32<br />
August 522.27 302.09<br />
September 463.66 550.85<br />
October 459.85 528.17<br />
November 534.64 396.83<br />
December 172.08 517.13<br />
Total $5,684.18 $4,056.67<br />
<strong>More</strong> Warm Winter Coats Needed<br />
Winter coats go like hotcakes here at The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong>. There is such a demand for<br />
warm winter outerwear that we can’t keep enough on hand to give to the seafarers. We’re<br />
asking you to please donate any good, used mens’ coats that you no longer need.<br />
There are several ways to get donated clothing to The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong> in Montreal:<br />
a) get them to Classis Eastern Canada or Classis Quinte meetings;<br />
b) send them with the Christmas parcels next November;<br />
c) mail them to PO Box 815, Place D’Armes, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 3J2.<br />
Another thankful seafarer heads back to his ship<br />
in a newly selected winter coat!<br />
Staff member Svetlana Zinkovskaia hangs up<br />
winter coats donated by CRC churches.<br />
+40%
Captain Larry Elliston<br />
by Brenda Dyas<br />
Captain Larry Elliston began his merchant<br />
naval career at the age of 14 when he joined<br />
a training ship for merchant marine officers<br />
in England. There he learned navigation<br />
and seamanship, and embarked on his first<br />
sea voyage in 1957. His dreams of seeing the<br />
world began to come true when the ship made its first stop in Calcutta, India and<br />
stayed for over six weeks! He then traveled on to Colombo, Sri Lanka where the captain<br />
arranged a memorable siteseeing tour to the interior city of Kandy.<br />
Many aspects of the shipping industry have changed over the years since Captain<br />
Elliston first signed on. For example, unlike the lengthy six-week stop made by Larry’s<br />
first ship in Calcutta, today the average stay for a ship in the Port of Montreal<br />
is only three days. Larry remembers a crew of 60 being required for a 10,000 dwt<br />
ship, while today the average crew size is a mere 20.<br />
Larry’s training in navigation taught him how to use mechanical navigational instruments,<br />
such as the sextant, to determine the position of a ship. Today navigation<br />
is done by computers and satellites.<br />
Another huge change in the shipping industry came in the 1970s with containerization,<br />
and Larry remembers its beginnings well. Before the specialized ships were<br />
built, modifications were done to existing ships so that containers could be placed<br />
on board ordinary cargo ships.<br />
In the face of major changes, though, some things remain the same for today’s seafarers—the<br />
emotional hardships of being at sea. It is a lonely, uncomfortable, and<br />
isolated job without the support of family. Larry is fond of quoting an oldtimer who<br />
said, “No man would be a sailor if he could get himself into jail. Being at sea is like<br />
being in jail with the added possibility of being drowned.”<br />
All in all, Captain Elliston is proud of his contributions to helping the world economy,<br />
and enjoyed his time at sea where he carried almost every type of cargo there<br />
is. Recently, he has served seafarers in a variety of capacities at seafarers’ centers<br />
from Halifax to Vancouver.<br />
Today, Larry lives just outside of Montreal. He is a regular volunteer at the Mariners’<br />
House (<strong>Seafarers</strong>’ Center) in Montreal where he helps organize, and encourages<br />
the use of, a library of used books. He firmly believes that seafarers’ centers<br />
and seafarers’ ministries serve a vital need in the world today for a group of people<br />
who are too often overlooked or taken for granted.<br />
Phoning Home<br />
by Brenda Dyas<br />
Phoning home is probably the most anticipated<br />
activity for every seafarer. Spending up to nine<br />
months away from wives, children, parents and<br />
friends is made more bearable when they can talk to<br />
them while in port. It is a nightly occurrence to see<br />
the phone booths packed with anxious seafarers.<br />
That we live in a fast-paced and changing world is<br />
clearly evident at The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong> when<br />
you see how the seafarers phone home today.<br />
Up until the mid-1990’s, seafarers’ phone calls<br />
were placed directly through Bell. The calls were<br />
timed and seafarers were charged approximately<br />
$1.20/minute.<br />
In 1996, the <strong>Seafarers</strong>’ Center in Ft. Lauderdale,<br />
Florida came up with a <strong>Seafarers</strong> Card for placing<br />
long distance calls from any phone in the world.<br />
The card was free, but seafarers purchased time on<br />
the card, usually from $10 to an unlimited amount.<br />
The cost per call was about the same as a direct call,<br />
but had the added convenience of being able to be<br />
used at any port on any phone.<br />
Vendors who frequented the ships began to offer<br />
seafarers the use of a portable phone...although<br />
at exorbitant prices! The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong> allowed<br />
seafarers to use their own portable phones<br />
while in port to avoid the high costs paid to these<br />
vendors. The first portable phones were about the<br />
size of a brief case!<br />
Today, nearly 50% of all seafarers have their own<br />
mobile phones which they can use from any port at<br />
a fraction of the cost they once paid. Today’s phone<br />
cards give much more calling time for the money<br />
(about 2.5 cents/minute) although with a lower<br />
quality connection.
Spotlight on<br />
Volunteers<br />
by Brenda Dyas<br />
Paul, Debbie, Montana and Zak Harman<br />
The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong><br />
Chaplain: Michelle DePooter<br />
Assistant Chaplain: Charlie Smits<br />
Administrator: Brenda Dyas<br />
Copy Editor: Lisa Hoekstra<br />
Place d’Armes Postal Station, Box 815<br />
Montreal, Quebec<br />
Canada H2Y 3J2<br />
Tel.: (514) 844-1476 or (514) 849-3234<br />
Fax: (514) 849-2874<br />
min2seaf@colba.net<br />
www.ministrytoseafarers.org<br />
Psalm 107<br />
23 Some go down to the sea and travel over it in<br />
ships to do business in great waters.<br />
24 They see the works of the Lord and His<br />
wonders in the deep.<br />
25 He commands and raises up the stormy wind,<br />
which lifts up the waves of the sea.<br />
26 Those aboard mount up to the heavens, they go<br />
down again to the deeps; their courage melts<br />
away because of their plight.<br />
27 They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken<br />
man, and all their wisdom comes to nothing.<br />
28 Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and<br />
He brings them out of their distress.<br />
29 He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle<br />
whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still.<br />
30 Then they are glad because of the calm, and He<br />
brings them to their desired haven.<br />
31 Oh, that people would praise the Lord for<br />
His goodness and lovingkindness, and His<br />
wonderful works to the human race!<br />
Paul and Debbie Harman and their children,<br />
Montana (12) and Zak (9), live just west of<br />
the island of Montreal in the tiny agricultural<br />
community of Ste-Marthe. They have<br />
been involved with The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong><br />
for just over three years.<br />
In December 2003, they heard a radio interview<br />
about Christmas parcels for seafarers<br />
in Montreal. Shortly after, they discovered<br />
that their neighbors, Walter and Marie Hobé<br />
(who attend the CRC in Montreal), were busy<br />
preparing “shoe boxes” to deliver to the <strong>Seafarers</strong>’<br />
Center on Christmas Eve. They decided<br />
to prepare some parcels of their own for<br />
the seafarers and join the Christmas Eve celebrations.<br />
A family tradition was born.<br />
A year later, they began devoting some of<br />
their Sunday evenings to volunteering at The<br />
Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong>. It has become a labor<br />
of love for them, and a place where one of<br />
their guiding philosophies of life,<br />
Preach the gospel always.<br />
If necessary, use words...<br />
(St. Francis of Assisi)<br />
has become especially appropriate and powerful<br />
in the multi-cultural environment of<br />
the <strong>Seafarers</strong>’ Center where verbal communication<br />
can often be a challenge.<br />
Paul works as club assistant/driver, and never<br />
tires of being on the road for the seafarers.<br />
Whether it is distributing Bibles to eager<br />
hands, dropping off enthusiastic sea legs at a<br />
skating rink, connecting anxious ears to faraway<br />
loved ones, listening to lonely hearts,<br />
or simply just being cheerful, every day is a<br />
new challenge to be the “face” of God to others<br />
who may not know Him...yet.<br />
Whenever their schedule permits, Debbie,<br />
Montana and Zak look forward to helping<br />
out for the evening as well. Debbie loves to<br />
talk with the seafarers, and help them with<br />
their phone calls or purchases in the tuck<br />
shop. She has a loving heart that’s always on<br />
the lookout for someone needing help.<br />
Montana loves to keep the shelves stocked<br />
and help out at the tuck shop counter; Zak<br />
is usually in demand by the seafarers for a<br />
game of pool or foosball, much to their delight<br />
and entertainment!<br />
It’s amazing to see how the presence of children<br />
in the Center always brings added enjoyment<br />
to the seafarers—many are acutely<br />
missing the children in their own lives whom<br />
they may not have seen for many months.<br />
Paul and Debbie will also tell you that volunteering<br />
at The Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong> is a real<br />
education! There is so much to learn about<br />
the unique world of seafaring.<br />
Their family is a blessing to all of us at The<br />
Ministry to <strong>Seafarers</strong>. Their enthusiasm and<br />
helping hand are much appreciated by staff<br />
and seafarers alike. We are thankful for their<br />
desire and commitment to serve the Lord<br />
through word and deed.