FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK: Port Expansion means we must move! We have been blessed with our location at 1225 Alexander Ave for almost 30 years. The Port of Tacoma owns the land and has been very generous and gracious regarding our lease. However, times are changing and the Port is expanding and building, which means that they must ask us to vacate the property by December 2009. We own the building due to two generous building grants from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). The building is built on a concrete slab which means any attempt to move the building will be extremely difficult and costly. It may not be a feasible option. The Port Officials are trying to find an alternate site for us, but it will be approximately 3 weeks before the plans they have for the maritime industry businesses located in the Port are finalized. At that time we will be able to more readily see if there are indeed any viable options for us. We need to be close to the water where the berthing areas are for the ships so that the ships crews can have walking access to our ministry. Our partner at...
        ( MORE in our August Issue )
• WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JESUS? “What do you think about Jesus?” I asked the Captain as we sipped on some green tea, after a nice Chinese lunch. If you ask that question to someone, listen for their answer. Then you will know what they need to know about Jesus. Then start at that point and tell them some more of what they need to know about Jesus. The Captain said, “I think he is good. We should all be good like him and do good for people. When I go back home, I try to be good to people who need help. I learned from you to be good to people.” I appreciate the Captain’s answer because for one it shows that we at the seafarer mission are seen as good people helping people who need help. This is what Jesus did. So, we are reflecting...
        ( MORE in our August Issue )
• THE SIGN READS: FREE COINS - John 3:16 On a recent Monday afternoon as I arrive at the Seafarers' Center, Betty introduced me to a very young Seafarer who was at Sea for the first time and has just joined the Yang Ming shipping line. His home is in Myanmar (Burma). After a brief visit he walked over to the guest book table where we have imitation silver dollars in many languages which have John 3:16 printed out on one side and on the reverse side is printed, "WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?" He picked up one in his own language, read it, and kept it in his hand. I walked over to him and asked, "Oh, are you a Christian?" His answer was, "NO, I'M A BUDDHST, BUT MY FRIEND ABOARD THE SHIP HAS BEEN TELLING ME ABOUT JESUS AND I'M INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE". Instantly, my mind raced back to the front seat of my car to a booklet entitled, 'Ultimate Questions' given to me by my granddaughter's husband several months ago, but today was the day I remembered to bring...
        ( MORE in our August Issue )
• BECOME PART OF THE CREW - HOW DO YOU KNOW? Tacoma Seafarers’ Center volunteers often bond with the crew and become a part of that ship’s community and welcomed as family; even in just one or two visits. There is a formality when visitors come on board a ship. They are first met by a watchman, then one shows the photo ID badge, then sign in a guest register, then you are given a visitor’s badge, then you may be escorted onto the ship. One ship manned with Chinese crew has been here several times. But, this was the first time in...
        ( MORE in our August Issue )
• THE ISLANDS OF KIRIBATI - WHERE IN THE WORLD? I thought I knew my Geography until I met several crew members from Kiribati while transporting them to the Mall and the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center. I had to ask where are the Kiribati Islands and the crew explained in detail where their homeland was located. I was curious when I arrived back at the Center and looked at our World Map on the wall. Sure enough the islands straddle the Equator Southwest of the Hawaiian Islands and North of American Samoa. Later while looking on the internet, I found...
        ( MORE in our August Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 80
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 78
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 716
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules