Mission mandate: ‘To promote and provide for the spiritual, physical and mental needs of all seafarers and their families’(Vancouver 2016)
I enjoy laughing to the stories of a number of comedians because they ring true to life and one in particular talks about how people look forward to Spring, that ‘one day’ . He jokes how easy it is to miss Spring when it is snowing outside one day and the next 90F. The change can be quite stark from the dullness of Winter to the vibrant first colours and smells of Spring such as the blossom and forsythia. As spring is a time of new life and we are living through some dark days I want this brief Spring ‘Ship to Shore’ update to highlight some of the good news stories in the work of the Mission and the lives of the seafarers and their families. So thank you for stopping by for a minute or two to catch up and please share the good news. Rev’d Peter Senior Port Chaplain,Mission to Seafarers.
A la carte! Being a Chaplain to the seafarers involves both the spiritual and the temporal and I like to think that they are intertwined it is certainly what motivates me. Cruising the aisles of the local store or the online webpage is done with a heart for the everyday needs of seafarers and their families esp. when they are unable to get off the ship.Big request items include vitamins, toiletries, electronics and I know that most of it goes to the seafarers family and friends and so it feels good to buy items for a baby or a child.The cart in the picture is loaded with items to take to a ship as well as pizzas. The latter we do when requested by a company wanting to do something for the seafarers. I look forward to the day when seafarers can go ashore but for now we fill the cart and go. My many purchases for seafarers remind me that to be a Chaplain is a varied role that requires flexibility and going out of your way to assist.
Former seafarers supporting the Mission- In recent months I have had the good fortune to meet 3 seafarers who have found themselves in Vancouver for education and or a better quality of life. A Filipino who spent 10 years at sea came here in December 2021 is staying with family, studying, working and is volunteering at the Mission only recently washing the minivan. A second Filipino who was part of the deck crew, is married with a new baby and is working at our Roberts Bank Seafarers Centre. The final former seafarer is from India a Chief Engineer who took a one year intensive course in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at UBC and has also volunteered at the Mission. I was honoured to attend the ship design presentation dinner at UBC and see the potential for ship design in the students esp. the use of more eco fuels. The Mission also has role to play in supporting seafarers who come here an extension of our shore work. We are blessed that they have reached out wanting to support and connect with those still working at sea. We wish them well in their endeavours.
The Deutsche Seemannsmission in March 2022 conducted research in the German ports of Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Emden and Hamburg, as well as in the ports of Antwerp (Belgium), Le Havre (France) and New York (USA). A total of 570 seafarers completed the fourteen questions in the questionnaire. The results give perspective on the importance of shore leave and seafarer vaccination. https://marereport.namma.org/index.php/2022/04/27/shore-leave-for-seafarers-in-covid-19-deutsche-seemannsmission-survey/
Comfort my People: Incident that I have with the 3rd officer of JY Atlantic that was here at PCT in Port Moody "On March 16 morning, I received a distressed WeChat message from one of the Chinese seafarers that I met last October. He and his vessel are just experiencing the worst nightmare that could have happened. His vessel was off the east coast of Japan, where Fukushima prefecture is. This is where the 311 earthquake and tsunami happened in 2011. The vessel was right near the ocean floor that recorded a magnitude 7.3 scale of earthquake on March 16. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for the both prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi. I immediately connect and comfort him with the WeChat app. Praise God for His faithfulness that everyone is alright. Praise God also for this opportunity to carry the hope of Jesus to the seafarers. " By Vincent NG Chaplain Mission to Seafarers.
Sign up for the latest issue of the Mission to Seafarers publications ‘the Sea’ using this link https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/the-sea
Parish support for the Mission to Seafarers is vital for our work and the well being of the seafarers such as at the Parish of St. George in Ft. Langley, where there has been a long-standing well-established tradition of interest in, and financial and material support for, the Mission to Seafarers. Chaplains for the M to S have kept St. George parishioners up to date on the work at the ports and to the ships, the needs of seafarers and current challenges. Several years ago St. George cyclists rode in the Cycle for Seafarers events. We have participated in the Christmas at Sea project. We have a skilled parishioner who produces great poster publicity for our toque and cowl knitting appeals. Over the years we produced hundreds of colourful toques and cowls. Parishioners donate wool. Our recent appeal resulted in 97 toques and 66 cowls. St. George's A.C.W. and Outreach Committee make annual financial contributions to the ministry to Seafarers. When the 'covid cloud' disperses, we plan to resume our annual appeal for warm clothing and home-made cookies for the Seafarers who visit the Flying Angels centres at Mission to Seafarers. Ken and Ruth Genges
Seafarers win commitment to mandatory internet access onboard in international law read the article here to learn more. https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/seafarers-win-commitment-mandatory-internet-access-in-international-law
WOMEN AT SEA - Read here the MTS report here https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Mission-to-Seafarers-Women-Seafarers-Report-2022.pdf
Prayer for Seafarers- For all Ukrainian seafarers at sea or on land esp. those left homeless and whose families are far from home. For a sharing of the wealth with seafarers that companies have made in recent years esp. to improve working conditions. For God’s leading in how we at the Mission use the resources we have been blessed with.For a safe and responsible cruise season.The additional stress that restrictions on shore leave continues to cause seafarers and for those who make the decisions to have the courage to put the human before the profit.
Donations to support the seafarers can be made by; Cheque to Mission to Seafarers. Cash. Credit card- under ‘Donate and Tithely on our secured website www.flyingangel.ca or through the Vancouver Foundation. Always received with our gratitude.
Contact information- 401 East Waterfront Road, Vancouver,BC, V6A 4G9, Tel: 604 253 4421. Email: m2svancouver@gmail.com Facebook: @mission2seafarers Twitter: @MtSVancouver