Father's Day Weekend

On Saturday afternoon I was invited by the Mjan-Mar (Burma) crew for lunch, aboard their ship MV CAPE UNITED. The menu was extremely spicy pork and vegetables. The cook noticed that the 'hot' food had an effect on my facial expressions! "Come for lunch on Sunday and I will serve you traditional Mjan-Mar food that isn't spicy at all'' he said. I believed him, and Sunday after church I joined the crew for lunch. The cook was right, it was tasty and not spicy at all.

After lunch I tried to explain to them that it was Father's Day in Canada. Unfortunately, a soccer game on television had their attention so they weren't all that interested in my conversation.

I did learn that most people in Mjan- Mar are Buddhists. There are very few Christians. However I did have an opportunity to meet two Christians on board this ship. A gift of two 'Jesus DVD's' made them very happy.

The (Burmese) seafarers are very friendly and hospitable people. They are very careful about discussing the living conditions in their country. A military dictatorship has ruled there for several decades and it has one of the worst human rights records in the world. There is apparently forced labor and other serious human abuses on a large scale and no freedom of association or democracy! Please pray for the Mjan-Mar people.

Last Sunday all of our children came home and in the evening we enjoyed a Father's Day dinner. It was a wonderful time of food and fellowship.

I thank God for my family, and I'm reminded of the thousands of fathers who missed this opportunity to spend time with their families because they are at sea.