Highlight!

Despite my complaining about the weather and health issues there were lots of positive things about my trip to Europe.&nbspThe absolute highlight was my visit on board the MV Cape Oasis which I visited in the Port of Amsterdam.

Having made contact earlier, with Theo van Zuylekom, a volunteer chaplain in the Port of Amsterdam, we visited the terminal where they unload iron ore together. From experience, I know that coal is dirty but, iron ore is just as bad if not worse. With the weather being dark and rainy it could have been an altogether dismal experience.

As I was the first one to walk the gang way, a security crew member immediately spotted me, and said loudly, " Bread - tomatoes - christmas presents! " He had recognized me from an earlier visit to Roberts Bank and mentioned that there were three other crew members who knew me -- and the captain as well!

I went to the crew messroom and there they were. Though I recognized the names of the ships they had been on in the past, I did not remember names or faces. While I was talking with the crew members one of them called the captain and he immediately came down to greet me. It was a wonderful experience! One of them kept staring at me, after all think of it; tens of thousands of ships, almost two million seafarers worldwide and countless ports around the world - it is amazing! When the captain arrived he immediately instructed the cook to make a special meal for us all. All in all it was a wonderful gathering which Theo enjoyed as well.

I call this a highlight not only because it is very unusual to meet seafarers you know in a port on the other side of the world but, more than that, it highlights the value of the work we do among seafarers. Their appreciation for our work reminded me again of the importance of visiting ships, meeting the crew and letting them know we love them.