Greetings Friends!  

As I sit behind my desk writing this brief note, I find myself smiling.  One never knows what to expect from day to day at Seafarer's Friend.  One day several ships may arrive in port and then we may not see any ships for several days to come.  On occasion someone might stop by our office with a donation of warm clothing or toiletries.  One morning I arrived and found several stacks of magazines outside our door.  On random occasions we may have a few seafarers visit.  Such is life-we need to learn to expect-dare I say even embrace? the unexpected.  In spite of  all the uncertainty, one thing we can be sure of: God is faithful.

I don't think there is any other mailman in the city of Chelsea that is greeted so enthusiastically, than our postman Phil.  Crissy and I anxiously await his arrival every day in anticipation of what the mail may hold.  This week it was bibles.  Last week it was legal documentation notifying the Society has been named the beneficiary of a very large trust.  A few days later, another very large donation check from a local church.  You can only imagine our excitement!  God continues to bless and provide  

(Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.) 

It is only through your continued support that we are able to carry out our mission.  

Thank you for being a Seafarer's Friend.

Blessings,

Meredith

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

~Ship Visitors~

We are currently seeking Volunteer ship visitors to help us carry out our mission to extend the ministry of the churches to meet the unmet spiritual, social, and practical needs of seafarers from around the globe.  We visit roughly 525 ships each year, climbing the gangways bringing everything necessary to make their phones and laptops work so that they can communicate with their loved ones back home, and we bring such things as Bibles, devotionals, reading materials, and personal care items to the crew on board. We also have vans that transport the seafarers locally to shopping malls.  We listen to their stories and try to offer a caring and respectful ear to those who have so little contact with anyone other than their shipmates.

Qualifications:

• Must be a good listener and able to respect other cultures.
• Must be reliable, professional, and available for ship visits from one to two hours in length.
• Must have a good driving record and be willing to drive vans around the Port.
• Must be both willing to follow rules (security procedures, Seafarers' Center paperwork) and open to surprises (such as ship schedules changing, or a seafarer suddenly confiding about a sad situation).
• Must be able to keep seafarers' confidences confidential.
• Must be in good enough health to climb stairs and ladders.
• Must interview with the Director, train with Port Chaplains, and pass a simple background check (at no charge to the volunteer).

Rewards of Volunteering:

• Representing God's unconditional love to seafarers of many faith traditions (or none), many cultures, all ranks. Much of our work doesn't involve talking about God, but we do try to leave seafarers feeling valued.
• Experiencing the hospitality and trust of people from all around the world.
• Encountering challenges creatively.
• Getting to know other volunteers, some of the most dedicated people you'll ever meet.
• Making an impact on the Port community; an exciting part of the global economy not familiar to many.
• Giving something back to the invisible servants of our economy.

If interested, please contact: Crissy Jache, Operations Manager at 617.889.3222 or by email.