Some highlights from last month….

In the picture you see me with officers of the ZIM USA which sails from Haifa, Israel. The officers you see are Israeli's. It is a rather sad picture because this is the last visit this shipping line will be making to Delta Port. Container traffic has (temporarily I hope) collapsed. It is a sad farewell because I have come to know many of the sailors and I’ve built some excellent friendships over the last 5 years with these men.

On the MV "Oriental Sun' I met a young Korean captain who doesn't believe in God- period! I asked him why? He replied: “Churches and Buddhist temples are always asking for money!” Doesn't that sound familiar? I started talking with him about God in the context of creation etc. Unfortunately he was called away because of a visit by the agent.

The crew was from Myanmar. I had just read that day in Christianity Today that the government of that country wants to forbid the churches in the capital to worship. (religious persecution) I gave some of the sailors a Jesus DVD, which they first refused to accept because they thought that they had to pay for them. Realizing that it was a gift they gladly accepted it. It is my prayer that God will do mighty things in that country.

On the MV "Corona Lion" I met a Philippine sailor who said that he was going home to Japan after 15 months on board the ship. I asked him why so long? He told me that he was afraid of not getting a new contract. I have talked to other seafarers who have had their contracts extended. There is a lot of fear and uncertainty among seafarers due to this economic crisis.

I attended the CRCWM Seminar in Abbotsford. Excellent seminar. Good workshops and I again met a lot of familiar faces.

This last month I attended both Classes meetings. The BCSE Classis was at a retreat centre in Princeton. It was still winter up there. During the night it froze - 29 C!! Although I didn't like the drive it was very worthwhile and productive to be with the delegates and to interact with them. At both Classes I gave a short verbal report.

Last Sunday I preached in the Chilliwack CRC (Cornerstone). I will be preaching this month in the Ladner and Kelowna CRC. As part of a two Sunday program, Roelien VanGeeman, Peter Yzerman and I will give a 'workshop' for youth in the Fleetwood CRC.

"No one buys their cargo anymore" Rev. 18:11

'Annus horibilis' ( Latin for year of disaster ) We live in 'extra ordinary times' because of the unprecedented economic situation in our world today and how it has affected the world of shipping! Last year at this time they couldn't build ships fast enough and there was always a shortage of railroad cars to transport containers from the Port of Vancouver to eastern Canada.

The pictures of the two container ships shows the difference between last year and now!

How things have changed since the month of October of last year. As the credit crunch bites around the world, declining trade volumes have resulted in a dramatic fall in demand for shipping goods. An increasing number of ships are being laid up as trade slows. You can read my other article with a picture of the Port of Singapore congested with vessels. The downturn has come just as a whole generation of new ships, ordered during the latest boom time, have created the 'perfect storm' in the world of shipping!

We do not know what the future holds, only God knows, but industry insiders predict a lot of shipping companies going into bankruptcy which means that we may see again ships being abandoned by owners in ports around the world with the result that crews will be 'stranded' on board the ship with no money to buy food and no money to buy an airline ticket to fly home.

And so, in good times and now in bad times we have to be more than ever prepared to communicate to seafarers the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in word and deed"

Singapore congestion

A shipping agent sent me these pictures recently. He took the photo from the air! Hundreds of ships are anchored in ports like Singapore and Hong Kong due to the economic crisis.