Gifts for Seafarers

[Tensaw]

I have posted before that I visit the seafarers on cargo ships. This time of the year my ministry distributes about 400 Christmas bags to the crews. Yesterday was my first delivery for this year. This ship with an all Filipino crew is shipping coal to China, at sea for 2 months. One crew (picture) said that he was at sea for three Christmases and no one ever gave him a gift. The other asked if we could get him a coat because he didn't have any winter clothes. He was so happy to receive his coat. These crews have such a difficult job.

 

[protoolman]

What a rewarding thing to do! Seems like a group of guys that are forgotten otherwise.

 

[blume357]

Coal to China? I thought China had all the coal they needed.. read a while back that they lose an average of 12 coal miners a day in the mines....

but to back up... proud of you doing this...

 

[Watertender]

It's a very fine thing you are doing. Merchant Seaman from other countries don't make a whole lot of money and whatever they do make goes to their family back home. Thank You for being good to them who are so far away from home.

 

[Tensaw]

Coal to China? I thought China had all the coal they needed.. read a while back that they lose an average of 12 coal miners a day in the mines....

but to back up... proud of you doing this...

High quality metalurgy coal.

 

[Tensaw]

What a rewarding thing to do! Seems like a group of guys that are forgotten otherwise.

Yes, they are the forgotten. Most people have no idea what these seafarers go through. Nine months at sea, not only missing holidays but missing births of children, children's graduations, family deaths, and many others. I have made over 700 ship visits and have plenty of stories to tell.