Still being fairly new at this whole ship visiting ministry of Seafarer's Friend, I continually am amazed at how each visit is different. Sometimes it's easy to feel like a phone-card salesmen, but then I am reminded that the service we provide for the crews helps them stay connected with their families thousands of miles away. That alone is a great thing and these crewmen and women are grateful if it just ends here. The visit that day was so much more for three of the crew I met during our lunch together.

Their names were Andrew, Jose and Fino, all Filipinos, asking if we had any gloves at the Center. I told them we did have some gloves and perhaps some more items they may need to make their time on board a little easier. I took them to the Center and one would have thought Andrew, Jose, and Fino had won the lottery. I told them that all the things on the shelves were donated by local churches in the area and they were free to take anything they needed. They only came for gloves but walked away with some shoes, books, hats and other necessities. They were so grateful someone cared about them enough to donate these items.

After spending some time together at the Center, I took them to the store for some shopping needs and then back to their ship. We talked at length about their families and I wanted them to know how honored I was to meet them, and how impressed I was with the way they sacrifice so much to support not only their wives and children, but parents and siblings that are back home and in need. It was also another reminder of how dangerous the life of a seaman can be, after the sinking of a cargo ship off the coast of Vietnam just a few days before my visit, killed three crewmen on board.

Every ship visit is an opportunity to hear the stories of crewmen, and gain new insights into the unique and challenging lives of seafarers; a life of hard work and often danger, far away from home and family. But even better, every ship visit is a chance to love, acknowledge, and honor these men and women with our time and presence, in essence, it's a chance to serve Christ. We invite and encourage you to come on board with our ministry and the mission of Seafarer's Friend. Join us for a ship visit or check out the volunteer opportunities listed on our website www.seafarersfriend.org 

Tim Owen, Port-Chaplain/Branch Manager Portland, ME