New England Seafarers Mission

We don't get down to volunteer for NESM as often as we should, though we have been doing it for years. People who make their living on the sea have very hard lives: their rights are often very uncertain, being caught between countries and jurisdictions. The work as much a 100 hours/week, are away from home 8-10 months, and the smallest suspicion of an infraction can get them fired. They come from poor countries where the idea of putting up with an enormous amount of abuse in order to make a living is normal.  Indonesia, India, Philippines, SE Europe, Namibia.  So however exciting the idea of working on a cruise ship might sound, and however chummy it might sound as a mission, the reality is tough.

We were down this week, logging packages for workers who try to anticipate when delivery will come to which port. When we started thirty years ago, this service didn't exist, but now they can order online and pick up onshore.

If they can find a safe place to have it delivered. That's not automatic.

There are other services Seafarers provides, including to the merchant mariners, but I'll let Steve tell you that. It all looks so simple, until you try to do it.

So this one is on Black Falcon Ave, right on one of the major docks in Boston. This summer they started a podcast, Coffee With the Port Chaplain, which lays it out very simply in short episodes. I didn't have high expectations from nonprofessionals, but Steve is quite good.  He lets the story tell the story. Ten minutes, and then I thought I'd try one more. And then one more, and then up to the dozen that are out now. When we went on a cruise in 2014, we were very aware of what was being done for us by people doing thankless work. God bless them.  They each support a half-dozen people back home.

It has been a denominational ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church for almost 150 years. Unlike the Midwestern Swedes who were farmers who arrived 150 years ago, the East Coast Swedes were mostly mariners, or millworkers who still had relatives working on the sea, so it was a natural for them. 

If you live near Boston, come see them. It's as close to bringing light to dark places ans most Americans are ever going to get. Full Disclosure:  I think my wife and I are are going to be on a future podcast. So a chance to hear my voice, if that tickles you.