FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• CHRISTMAS BOXES: By the time you read this we will have celebrated Thanksgiving to our Lord for His bounty He has bestowed upon us. We will also have started to give out the Christmas boxes to our friends, the seafarers. As of this writing we will have approximately 100 boxes that need to be picked up, filled and returned to the Center. We only have about 400 boxes brought back to us as of this date. I cannot emphasize enough how important that we receive the filled boxes back as soon possible. We do not want to have to tell a seafarer that we do not have the boxes back yet. By the time the seafarer would return it would be into January, 2009. Thank you so much for all that you do....
        ( MORE in our December Issue )
• TERRIFIC TIMING FOR AN UNTOUCHED PEOPLE: On a Saturday a seminar on sharing with seafarers supplied information about Maldivian seafarers. The Maldives are a group of tropical islands formed on a coral reef south of Sri Lanka. The people living on the islands are all Muslims. Any kind of Christian witness or literature is forbidden in the Maldives. The gospels of Luke and Acts have just been translated into the language of the Maldivians called Dhivehi. The Jesus DVD has also just been completed in Dhivehi. The lecturer said...
        ( MORE in our December Issue )
• WE ARE LISTENING! In the September 2008 Mooring Lines, my wife Barbara wrote an article (Slow down & Listen) on a new friend we met from the People’s Republic of China by the name of Jia Guo-Bin. Since then we have met him each time the Y/M ASIA has berthed and have become acquainted with two of his friends, Lu Jing-Cui and Wang Liang-Ping. As Barbara quoted Ezekiel 34:26 - “there have been showers of blessings”. We have spent as much time as...
        ( MORE in our December Issue )
• FAREWELL FRIENDS, GOD BE WITH YOU! It was Monday the 3rd of November, my day to volunteer at the Tacoma Seafarers' Center. Upon arriving at 3:00 PM, I had Seafarers waiting at the Center for me to take them out to the Tacoma Mall. Some days it's extremely busy and some days very slow (rarely). This day was on the slow side for once. Anyway, about 5:00 PM we had a young Seafarer named Anthony Malcampo, the Chief Steward, who came into the Center from the...
        ( MORE in our December Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 82
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 75
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 609
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• CHRISTMAS BOXES: As of this writing, we still have over 700 boxes that need to be picked up and filled. We need to have the boxes back by Thanksgiving. The seafarers so look forward to these gifts. They are so far from home during the Christmas season. We have a unique opportunity to reach out in Christian love to these seafarers, some of whom have never celebrated Christmas or have known what Christmas really means....
        ( MORE in our November Issue )
• WHY DO YOU DO THIS FOR US? I was asked this question by a ship’s Captain one time. This question was regarding our giving service to the seafarers at no charge. It was also in regards to the earlier comment by me, to him, about our volunteers giving of their time with out pay. I explained to him that our Savior, Jesus Christ, had commanded us to love one another as He had/has loved us. I told the Captain that Jesus had also commanded us to disciple the nations. I explained that God has placed a “call” upon our hearts to serve Him. Our service to Him is to...
        ( MORE in our November Issue )
• INVISIBLE SEAFARERS: Many ports around the world have seafarer ministries which are reaching out to the world. One of these ministries is the International Sailor Society. In their publication “Chart & Compass” there is a good explanation of the invisibility of seafarers. “As an inter-denominational Christian charity, the Sailors’ Society has been providing faith-based support for seafarers visiting ports in the UK and overseas for the past 190 years. Among the varied cargoes reaching our shores in 1818 was coffee from Brazil, which was then and remains today, the world’s principal exporter, producing 40 percent of total world output. It’s true; there is an awful lot of...
        ( MORE in our November Issue )
• YOU ARE THE MAN! & MEN STILL CRY: On a recent Wednesday, I was on duty to drive the vans to pick up seafarers when needed. A note on the board asked for a pickup at the Evergreen ship, Ever Urban, to be made at 12:30. I picked up a crew of six men and took them to the Mall and Costco. Their return trip at 3:30 included a short stop at the Center for Pastor Paul to meet and greet the...
        ( MORE in our November Issue )
• LONGING FOR HOME:
        The Seafarer from India: "My father died when I was only...
        The Seafarer from the Philippines: "I have a wife and four children and...
        The Seafarer from the Ukraine:(very young): "This is my first trip at Sea and...
        Seafarer from the Philippines: He couldn't afford a Lap Top like......
              ( MORE in our November Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 72
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 70
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 700
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• WELCOME ABOARD: I would like to welcome Caroline Rimbach as a serving volunteer at the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center. Her Father was a LCMS Pastor who has already been called to Glory. Caroline is retired after serving for many years as an assistant to John Spellman, when he was Governor of Washington and in his private Law practice. Caroline said that when she was looking for a place to serve the Lord, she was looking for something different. I think she has found...
        ( MORE in our October Issue )
• A BROKEN WATCH, A LOVING HEART: I was able to leave the Center early on this day and as I picked up my purse to leave, a Filipino Seafarer came over to where Paul and I were standing. He had purchased a watch at the Tacoma Mall earlier in the day and found it wasn't running. Paul checked it out and couldn't find the problem, so the man was disappointed, of course. His ship was sailing at 3:00 AM the next morning. I told him I was just leaving and would be happy to take him back to the Mall to exchange the watch. He gladly accepted the offer and did get it exchanged. On the way back to the Center, he was excited to tell me that he would be going home for Christmas, which is always wonderful news! Our conversation continued as follows...
        ( MORE in our October Issue )
• THEY’RE HERE – CHRISTMAS BOXES ARE IN: It is that time of year when we at the Tacoma Seafarers' Center start preparing to celebrate our savior Jesus Christ’s birthday. We have the empty boxes for you to pick up for your Church or Organization to prepare for the seafarers’ gifts. Of course, you may pick up boxes for your family to prepare for the seafarers also. We start distributing the completed Christmas boxes to the ships that arrive or are in Port the day after Thanksgiving. Please come get your boxes early so that we can be sure to have the boxes ready and at our satellite center the day after Thanksgiving. We really appreciate your support in this wonderful endeavor. For some seafarers, this is the first time they come to know what Christmas is all about....
        ( MORE in our October Issue )
• A GREAT COMMISSION CAPTAIN: What is a Great Commission Christian? A Great Commission Christian is one who keeps their eyes open for those around them who have a spiritual need. And, secondly after finding that needed one has a compassionate heart to tell them or give them something about the good news of Jesus. Ten thousand miles away from Tacoma, we received an email from a Captain whose ship was in Colombo, Sri Lanka. While in port, the Captain visiting some...
        ( MORE in our October Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 80
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 77
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 549
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR TWO YOUTH MINISTER INTERNS: Our Fox Island Alliance Church was blessed by having two High School Seniors, Cal Samuelson and Greg Diamanti (middle & right in picture) as summer Youth Minister Interns. They are both members of Price Chapel, a Christian Alliance Church in Price, Utah. Not only are they on fire for the Lord, but they are very gifted musicians. I invited them to visit the Tacoma Seafarer’s Center on Friday August 8th. We were extremely busy that day and...
        ( MORE in our September Issue )
• WITH EVERY COMPUTER COMES A CD: When you buy a computer, a CD installation disk will come with it. Or if you have your computer optimized a recovery (restore) disk will come with it. A crew without visas wanted some computers and cameras and iPods. When we delivered the computers we made sure every computer came with a CD. They each got a CD with Chinese music to test out their computers’ media player. Each computer also came with the Jesus movie DVD and some with the entire spoken New Testament in Chinese. We don’t just get the computers for them for the sake of...
        ( MORE in our September Issue )
• EACH DAY BRINGS NEW JOY: Last Saturday afternoon while volunteering at the Seafarers' Center, I was overjoyed at three consecutive happenings within about a 15 minute time span. To begin with, a Korean seafarer picked up several Daily Devotion booklets in his language from the resource table. He then came over to show them to me, explaining several times how wonderful they are. He said that he always uses them and then sends one on for his family at home to use. I told him I agreed and that I have enjoyed using them throughout my life as well. It was so heart-warming to know that he has this daily communication with...
        ( MORE in our September Issue )
• A DELIGHTFUL VISITOR: Also, on Saturday, one of our volunteers, Bill Bean, paid a surprise visit and introduced us to his very personable friend, Joshua, from Uganda. Joshua is in this country to get more Seminary training. He lives with Pastors in the village in Uganda. He has five children who mostly have biblical names such as his own. I asked if he had enough Bibles and Christian materials for his ministry. His reply was, "no, we have very little in our village, but we are happy. Everything we eat is grown by ourselves. There are no grocery stores there or anywhere nearby. Joshua was surprised there was such a ministry in the Port of Tacoma as the Seafarers' Center. He plans to...
        ( MORE in our September Issue )
• SLOW DOWN & LISTEN! Do you ever feel just too busy – do you have projects and programs that need attention now? Are you sometimes so involved with your own agenda, schedule and the noise of the world you simply do not hear the small, sweet voice of God? On a recent Sunday my husband, Tom Harris, a volunteer at TSC and I were busy hanging up donated clothes at the Center. We were so busy we almost missed a young man from the People’s Republic of...
        ( MORE in our September Issue )
• GODLY GRANDPARENTS GET THE GOLD: The Olympics were the focal point of the world August for two weeks. Every athlete was going for the gold. We meet many seafarers from the Olympic host country; China. In the morning I gave a Captain a Chinese gospel of John. Later, in the evening, one crew came up to me and asked, “I saw you give the Captain a Bible, can you give me one too?” He said, “My grandparents are Christian and I want to get them a...
        ( MORE in our September Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 99
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 96
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 768
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

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

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK: I am so happy to see that the Lord has blessed us with nice weather here in Tacoma, as I write this article. Sunshine makes me feel good. But there is a SON Shine that is so much better. May that Son Shine fill your hearts with joy as we serve our Glorious Lord! I would like to thank all of our supporters who have so faithfully given of their financial and prayer support over these many years. Some have been called to their Heavenly home, but it seems that the Lord sends somebody to fill the gap. However, as time goes on, the costs in finances and labor increase at an uneven rate. We are in need of more volunteers so as to help ease the work load. If anyone has wanted to be involved in a Global mission opportunity, you have a very unique opportunity right here in...
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• PITIFUL PLIGHT OF POOR SEAFARERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES: Seafarers are a people who are often helpless to help their suffering families. A multitude of hearts bleed with pain when work and distance and...
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• HE KNEW A MOTHER WOULD UNDERSTAND: Last Sunday as I came to the Seafarers' Center there were three Seafarers relaxing and visiting in their native language (Tagalog) while enjoying cookies. As I approached them at the table they switched languages and told me they missed seeing me at their last voyage here, but were told that I was home ill. After visiting for a few minutes, one Seaman called me into the phone room asking about the free clothing hanging there. But more intently, he wanted me to know that after leaving Tacoma he was going to Hong Kong and from there home to the Philippines. Before I could express my joy to him for being able to go home, his words to me were...
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• TRAGIC TYPHOON CAPSIZED PRINCESS: The Filipino ferry boat “Princess of the Stars” turned up side down during a terrible typhoon. Does the statistic of 800 missing mean anything to you? It may not mean anything to you because it is so far away. Your heart may be indifferent and without compassion because it’s only numbers of people you never knew. Or do you have a genuine concern and pray for them? For me, I just block off sad news and think of some- thing different. But, not after I met Noelito this morning on board a ship in Tacoma. Noelito said, “My sister and cousin work on board the Princess of the Stars. I have not heard any news if they survived or not. They are missing.” Suddenly an event thousands of miles away was brought to me face to face. The pain and anxiety on Noel’s face of not knowing about his loved ones and not being able to do anything is a real heartache. Always pray for the victims and the survivors and their families for the Lord’s presence to be with them. Following is one news article and photos...
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• OUR PARTNERS IN THE PHILIPPINES: We partner with a mission in the Philippines to follow-up on each other’s seafaring contacts. The Seamen’s Christian Friend Society in Manila will follow up any contacts we send them. They also have established a Sunday worship time and fellowship for any seafarers on vacation and their families which they call Seamen for Christ Fellowship....
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• FAMILY VISITATIONS: The ministry in Bacolod, Philippines is led by Brother Abraham and here are some of his reports...
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• FAMILY VISITATIONS: In Iloilo, Philippines Brother George reports on his family visitations...
        ( MORE in our July Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 92
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 81
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 717
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• FROM THE DIRECTOR: How do you say thank you to someone who for almost two decades faithfully shows up to freely give of their time to help prepare for the mailing of our newsletter, the Mooring Lines? I have the pleasure and honor of saying “thank you” to two such caring and selfless people. I say thank you to Eleanor Kronlund and Barbara Fisher. Every month they would come to the Tacoma Seafarers' Center to fold and insert an envelope into each of our newsletters. They would then staple the envelope into the newsletter then tape the ends of the newsletter for the Post Office to insert into their machines. They did this every month for the nearly 500 mailings. Of course, there are a couple of other steps that are involved with the mailing process that other people volunteer their time to accomplish; however, I take this time to acknowledge...
  ( MORE in our June Issue )
• DO AND TEACH: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach…” Acts 1:1 Jesus taught essential eternal truths and did many miracles. Luke was led to write an account of what Jesus did and taught before and after His resurrection. The walk of Jesus was equally important as His talk. Seafarers need to hear both of the life of Jesus and His teachings. Pray that we may proclaim faithfully throughout the year the sinless life of Jesus and that He came full of grace and truth. Jesus holds the words of eternal life which the seafarers must hear before they can believe. Pray that we may be...
  ( MORE in our June Issue )
• WHEN ON A CRUISE: My husband, Herb, and I were privileged to take a cruise to Alaska early in May. At home, we are used to being on the serving side of relating to seafarers. That was reversed, of course, on the cruise. But, it was awkward, knowing the great sacrifices that each crew member makes to do his or her work. To a person, foreign seafarers are deeply grateful for their jobs, because they can provide much better for their families than if they remained at home, farming or in another job. But being away from their loved ones for up to twelve months straight has to be very difficult, both for them and those left behind. The schedules of seafarers are extremely difficult (in general, they would not be allowed according to U.S. standards, but are permitted by the foreign flags the ships sail under). There are many, many...
  ( MORE in our June Issue )
• SEAFARERS COMPUTER ROOM: It was pointed out to me last week just how important our computer service is to the seaman. Last Monday, our driver had gone out to a ship to pick up five seamen. One of the seamen did not want to go shopping, he wanted to come to our Center to use the computer. He had never been to the Center before. This was his second trip to the Port of Tacoma; his first time here he was sick so did not leave the ship at all during their time in port. He asked how much it cost to use the internet. I told him we did not charge the seamen for internet use. He was from Samoa. He said it had been a long time since he had any communication with his family, and...
  ( MORE in our June Issue )
• Tacoma Seafarers’ Center looking for:
  • National Geographic magazines Prefer current or recent issues
  • What: reading material for Seafarers
  • When: on-going
  Call Center for delivery coordination: 253-272-0716
        ( MORE in our June Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 75
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 74
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 700
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• PRIVILEGES OF WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS: One of the privileges of working with other volunteers is to see the variety of spiritual gifts in each of us. Sometimes, in appreciating others' bold gifts, I might wonder how God could use me. I find that He usually does it when I'm hardly ‘looking’ and then am surprised. That way, I know it is completely His doing, and can entrust the outcome to Him and His will. I will share a few examples of this. One day, an American seafarer walked in the door. He was between contracts, wanting to use our Internet to apply for jobs. As we chatted with him, we discovered he was a Christian. My husband, Herb, and I offered to briefly pray with him about his need for a job. We were told he came a few days later, looking for us to tell us he had gotten a job the very next day and to thank us for praying with him. Thanks to God! The Captain of the M/V George Washington Bridge came in one evening a few months ago. After his using the phone, we asked him how...
  ( MORE in our May Issue )
• A MOST WELCOME REQUEST: The inquiry came from a Seafarer from India. The request was, "could I please have this book?" The name of the book was," A History of Christianity" by Kenneth Latourette. As I explained to him that these books were donated and are free to the Seafarers, he told me that he has been studying the history of Christianity and this book would be wonderful to have. Then he added that this book was Volume II and would we possibly also have volume I? I told him we didn't, but that I would try to find it before his return trip to Tacoma on May 2nd. I then asked if he was a Christian and his response was...
  ( MORE in our May Issue )
• FRIENDS FOREVER: As Gene so aptly pointed out in his article in the April 2008 Mooring Lines, we as volunteers have an opportunity to develop life long friendships with crew members that pass through the doors of the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center. It’s usually their decision to keep in contact and what a blessing I have had to hear regularly from crew members listed in this article. I hear of new ship assignments, children being born, requesting prayer for their family members and always how much they appreciated the help from our Center. Some of the other volunteers (Maynard for sure) will recognize some of these names...
  ( MORE in our May Issue )
• Tacoma Seafarers’ Center looking for:
  • National Geographic magazines Prefer current or recent issues
  • What: reading material for Seafarers
  • When: on-going
  Call Center for delivery coordination: 253-272-0716
        ( MORE in our May Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 79
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 79
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 614
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• A PICTURE IS WORTH ANOTHER PICTURE: Two years ago I visited the training school for seafarers in Keelung, Taiwan. The purpose was to go to the graduation ceremony of 12 cadets (6 men, 6 women) who came to Tacoma on Evergreen ships. From time to time, I show the pictures of the graduates to young seamen from Taiwan. They are always glad to see a surprise picture of their friends. One said, “That’s my cousin.” Another exclaimed, “That’s my sister!” I shockingly asked, “Really?” He said, “No, but she is like a...
  ( MORE in our April Issue )
• WHAT HAPPENS TO WHAT WE GIVE? Our ministry gives out a lot of literature in many languages. But, what happens to it after we give it? One gift we have been giving at the beginning of the year is a 2008 Scripture calendar in many languages. We gave some calendars to a Chinese crew. A couple of days later I went to the ship. Several invited me to come to the First Engineer’s room to visit before going out for shopping. In his room, the calendar we gave him was hanging on the wall. For the month of February the key word on the calendar was “blessing”. Also, on the calendar was a Bible verse. They then began to translate to me each word from...
  ( MORE in our April Issue )
• FRIENDSHIP: One of the wonderful things about serving the Lord at the Tacoma Seafarers' Center is the seafarers we serve and the opportunity to develop friendships. I would like to tell you about a friend I have made with one of the Captains of the Evergreen Shipping Lines. I first made my acquaintance with Captain Lu King Kong approximately 5 or 6 six years ago. He is a good Christian man who truly loves the Lord. He also believes that we are to take good care of our bodies, because it is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Several years ago he came to our Center and...
  ( MORE in our April Issue )
• CORRESPONDENCE: I would like to share with you a couple of exchanges of emails between Capt. Lu and myself. This man is truly a good friend and I am humbled and honored to be able to say we are friends...
  ( MORE in our April Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 79
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 79
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 614
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• ARABIC BIBLES FOR A BELIEVER AND A SEEKER: Amazingly we had two ships with Egyptians come into Port within one month. We have not seen that many Egyptians since the Wise Men warned Joseph and Mary of Herod’s plot and an angel guided them to go to Egypt. On the first ship one Muslim asked me, “Are you a Christian?” This was a couple days after my first visit to the ship when one came into the room with a really long knife. Should I respond “Yes.” or give a political answer? He already knew the answer. I asked him, “Do you know what Christmas is about?” He responded, “Of course, we respect Isa (Jesus). We are taught to respect him.” I just happened to have an Arabic Bible in my bag. “Can you read this?” “Yes.” “Would you like to have it?” The Egyptian next to him immediately reached out for the Bible. He took it and...
  ( MORE in our March Issue )
• SPECIAL MOMENTS: After Tuesday morning Bible class for the Staff, I lingered there a moment to take care of a few things before going home. While lingering, in walked a very young Seafarer from Germany with a warm, winning smile. With a Snickers candy bar in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, he sat across the table from me and we had a wonderful chat while he waited for his friend to come over. He is a Christian, reads his German bible regularly on the ship, and his fiancé is also a Christian. Such good news! I spoke with him about his daily walk with the Lord and gave him a copy of "The Purpose Driven Life" as I felt he would benefit from this. Just yesterday a young Ukrainian Seafarer enjoyed using his laptop to contact his family. He explained to me that his friend, 'Peter', was going to pick him up at 9:00 PM. When Peter walked in I saw that he was the Ukrainian Pastor whom I had met several times before. He lives in the area and...
  ( MORE in our March Issue )
• HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUST TO YOU? For one Filipino seaman trust is cherished deeply. His ship came in for just one hour alongside and it was discovered that they could not load the ship because of a gantry. But, I delivered our cell phone to the ship and gave some phone cards. The ship moved out to anchor to fix its problem. It stayed there at anchor for about 10 days. But, the crew kept wanting more phone cards, so the seaman kept calling to my cell phone and asked for more cards. I did not swim out to anchor to give them phone cards, but I scratched off the pin numbers and gave them over the phone. We did this for 10 days without reimbursement. We had to trust that the ship would not sail away with our phone and phone card money. But, was it worth the risk? Well, we got back the phone and reimbursement, and a letter that brought us a lot of blessings. Here is his letter...
  ( MORE in our March Issue )
• FROM THE DIRECTOR: I am writing from a speech given by Lord Curzon, as he retired as Viceroy of India in 1905 (1898- 1905). The speech is edited to fit the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center. A hundred times at the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center I have said to myself, ‘Oh that to every Volunteer at this Center, as they end their work, might be truthfully applied the phrase, “Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity.”’ No person has, I believe, ever served the ministry at the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center faithfully of whom that could not be said. All other triumphs are tinsel and sham. Perhaps there are few of us who make anything but a poor approximation to that ideal. But let it be our ideal all the same. To fight for the right, to abhor the imperfect, the unjust or the mean, to swerve neither to the right or to the left, to care nothing for flattery or applause or odium or abuse – it is so easy to have any of them at the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center – never to let your enthusiasm be soured or your courage grow dim, but to remember that the Almighty has placed your hand on the greatest of His ploughs, in whose furrow the volunteers of the future are germinating and...
  ( MORE in our March Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 85
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 82
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 618
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• WHAT WILL MAKE ’08 GREAT? Greet our Guests and Give our Gospel. This is what we want to do every day with our seafaring guests. We want to make friends with seafarers from around the globe and give them good news about Jesus. This will make for a great ’08. You can go around the world in 80 days and touch lives wherever you go. You can fly non-stop from the USA and be in another country in 8 hours to share the gospel. But, where in 2008 can you touch lives from 8 nations in 8 hours? Answer: Port of Tacoma. Five weeks prior, a ship caught me by surprise. I found a seafarer from China on a ship from...
  ( MORE in our February Issue )
• “MOTHER, HOW MUCH IS THIS SWEATER?” In our phone room at the Center we have a clothes rack on one wall where we hang donated used clothing for the Seafarers. Right now our rack is nearly bare, but hanging there right in front was a beautiful warm V-neck sweater which had been donated by a volunteer the previous night. A Seafarer had made a phone call home and spotted the sweater. As he came from the phone room he asked me, "mother, how much is this sweater? My jacket is very thin and...
  ( MORE in our February Issue )
• WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN? I worked many years in Mexico. In learning languages there, the native speakers had to be very imaginative and patient with me. Shall we say I gave them much to chuckle about! Last week, my husband, Herb, and I were on the other side with a crew member of the M/V Ever Utile. He called on the part of the Captain who had been taken by Tom Harris, one of our drivers, to a department store and had arranged to be picked up at the Mall about 1/2 mile away. The Captain had gotten only part way there, to a store where all items cost only a dollar when...
  ( MORE in our February Issue )
• A FAITHFUL SERVANT At about 6:00 p.m. on the evening of December 18, 2007, I got a desperate call from the M/V Pegasas Highway telling me they were sailing the next morning at 0300. They were sailing for 12 days to Japan and were in need of food for the ship. Their normal source to get food had not come and so in desperation, they called the Seafarers' Center for help. Our driver, Ken Miller, was out on a run so I contacted him and he said he could pick some crew members up and take them to Costco. I relayed the information to the ship that our driver would be at the ship at 6:30. I said they should only take two men so there would be more room for...
  ( MORE in our February Issue )
• A VISIT BY A “VIKING GOLIATH” During the first week of December 2007, the World’s Largest Auto Ship was welcomed to the Port of Tacoma. The Wallenius Lines, M.V. Fidelio was christened in Yokohama, Japan on September 20, 2007 and it’s maiden voyage started in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 30. According to a News Release from the port media relations – “typical auto ships visiting the Port of Tacoma are 3,000 to 4,000 CEUs (car equivalent unit) in size, the Fidelio is 8,000 CEUs - the largest in the industry.” A few Vessel Facts on this “Goliath” - length 747.4 feet, beam 105.8 feet and thirteen (13) car decks. The crew members (Swedish-Filipino) used our facility during their stay to call relatives, send e-mails and relax at the Center. We also had the honor to...
  ( MORE in our February Issue )
• YOUR PRAYERS WILL WATER THE SEEDS PLANTED HERE AT THE SEAFARERS' CENTER - 1 COR. 3:6 Last Saturday a young Seafarer from India visited our Center. His friendly smile was very familiar as I had enjoyed several conversations with him on previous visits. After spending some time on the Internet, he came out to where I was standing and asked how I was doing and also how my daughter and granddaughter were doing. He had met them last summer. He remembered what we had talked about on his last visit (what life was like in Montana where I grew up, my granddaughter's wedding last spring, etc.). The conversation continued...
  ( MORE in our February Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 72
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 73
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 655
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:

• CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: We distributed your gifts around the world (not in one night). Thank you for your generosity to be able to give over 1400 Christmas packages to seafarers from over 20 nations of the world. We gave to grateful men and women from: Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Poland, Greece, Romania, Germany, Egypt, England, Italy, India, China, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Turkey, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Ukraine and the Philippines. Seafarers from all religions gladly received your gifts, including Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Free Thinkers (no religion, no commitments)...
  ( MORE in our January Issue )
• CHRISTMAS IN: Egypt... What do Christmas and Egypt have in common? That’s right, Jesus and his parents went there to live some time after his birth. Something else too … we were able to deliver gifts to seafarers from this country from whom the Lord delivered the Israelites several thousand years ago. We were unsure of what the response would be from these seafarers to Christmas gifts since; they are all Muslims and there has been a sad history between them and those who called themselves Christians. To add to our fears and...
  ( MORE in our January Issue )
• CHRISTMAS IN: Russia...O CHRISTMAS TREE! O CHRISTMAS TREE! Most of us know the lyrics of this traditional German Carol and I remember singing this carol at school Christmas Pageants. Yes – for sure a few years ago!! Why do I write about this particular Christmas Carol, the following explains: On Friday, November 23rd, I took Christmas boxes to the M/V MERLIN moored at the grain elevator at TEMCO. The Captain and crew were all from the Ukraine. Only five of the crew had shore passes and the rest were detained on the ship. The Captain spoke very good English and...
  ( MORE in our January Issue )
• LETTER FROM EURASIAN CHARIOT: December 26, 2007, Good day! Pls pass our msg to Tacoma Seafarer’s Center that in behalf of my crew we would like to extend our Yuletide greetings and million of thanks to their nice gifts to us. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! Best Regards, Master and Crew of MV Eurasian Chariot...
  ( MORE in our January Issue )
• A COMPASSIONATE MAN: Pictured is one whom we know at the Tacoma Seafarers’ Center as John. He is usually the Security Guard on duty at TEMCO, but is also assigned at other terminals in the Port of Tacoma. John is our eyes and ears, at whatever terminal he may be designated to work. John is the one we hear from whenever he finds out that the crew members need transportation, phone cards or any other needs they require during...
  ( MORE in our January Issue )
• SHIPS IN PORT: 79
  
• NO. OF VISITS: 79
  
• SEAFARERS RECEIVING MINISTRY: 614
• Bible and "Jesus" Video Distribution Update
• Waterfront Statistics
• Meeting Schedules