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