2008 Olympics and Seafarers

Beyond the fun of watching athletic events, we enjoy a temporary refuge from the reality of our broken and war torn world where, for a few short weeks, differences are set aside for a common purpose.

I began to mull over and reflect on how the Olympics and the Seafarers Mission have a few essential commonalities. Firstly, they bring many nationalities (and all that entails) under one roof. Varied languages, cultures, religions and customs, parade into the stadium with each and every team. Such is the case with each ship that reaches our New England ports.

Further, each individual has an important story of their personal journey.

Olympic coverage often includes these athlete profiles  highlighting any number of heart wrenching accounts; sharing the family sacrifice, hard work, overcoming illness, obstacles etc. Truth be told, we see this at the Seafarers Mission as well. Eliminated, of course, is the world wide audience and grand production. There have been many occasions where I too wished for the resources to present humble yet worthy stories to each of you who take the time to volunteer, offer up a prayer or make a donation to this mission. I confess, too often I fail in relaying just how much the mission means to the beloved of God who, while aboard ship, have few friends and advocates in this world.

After a few practical, though not so trouble-free modifications to the mission early this spring, our Cruise Ship Ministry season is now well underway.

We have switched the location of the store from the fourth down to the first floor and concurrently moved the phone room upstairs.  We have had nearly 30 ship visits in Boston alone since April (with 85 still to come until the end of October) and have welcomed thousands of seafarers. These new locations provide for greatly needed help for the seafarers who come into our Mission, with each of their own stories. But one room that has not changed is our eclectically blended Seafarers Day Room that is home to our galley, internet café and chapel. Here seafarers gather for coffee, rest, internet news and e-mailing and a moments rest from the turmoil of their world in our chapel.

Here I have found many a compelling story told, some heart wrenching, some tearfully cheerful. One such story this summer has been that of an American couple, musician/singers on the cruise ship Norwegian Dream, which comes to home port Boston every Sunday on its weekly cruise to Bermuda. Each week this couple set up their notebook computer in our Internet Café, uses our Wi-Fi connection and run a video stream to her parents’ home in New York. This is how they stay in touch with their 3 children, who are being cared for by Grandparents while mom and dad make a living on the cruise ship. Each week I try to come up and say hi to the kids and wish them well. This week is the oldest daughter’s 18th birthday. They usually stay for a good hour, until their time runs out and they have to return to the ship. Each week they say thanks, each week they say how important this mission is to their shipmates, who come from all over God’s great world to work.

I can’t help but think how important this Mission is to their 3 children, especially an 18 year old daughter who, because of an internet café on the edge of a chapel in a little Mission not far from home yet a world away, can see and hear her hard working parents wish her “Happy Birthday honey! We love you.”  This couple has expressed their heart felt gratitude for the work of the volunteers who staff the mission each week. These next few weeks you will hear stories of Olympic athletes who have made amazing sacrifices in their life to win the prized Gold Medal. Through this story and all the other stories onboard these ships, I have met my own prized families. These are families who have made amazing sacrifices and whose only medal to show for all their labors is the love they proudly have for each other.  

We hope to see you at the Mission!

"It does seem to me like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most necessary" - C. S. Lewis on Faith and Works.