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As I reflected on the contents of my letter to you this Lent, I realised that February 2023 also marks my tenth year as Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers. Looking back over the pictures I have taken in that time, some of the most striking are those with the many crew I have met. Like so many migrant workers, I have never ceased to be struck by the enormous sacrifices they make,
for all of us. Perhaps that period of the pandemic, when their difficulties and sufferings were so real and a bit more public, reminded us of the heroism shown in sustaining world trade. We are all so reliant on these incredible people for most of the essential and luxuries of our lives, and yet we are generally so blind to all those efforts.
While there are, of course, positives to seafarers’ lives – and many find fulfilment in them – the sacrifices are very real. Long, long months, perhaps even over a year, on contracts which take you far away from loved ones. Remote from those family and friendship networks which most of us take for granted. Distanced from those intimacies which bring comfort and reassurance. Absent from children, perhaps, whose vital growing years and milestones can be missed. Then there are the inevitable physical challenges and dangers of working in the shipboard environment, often with dangerous cargoes. The pandemic and the Ukraine war have reminded us of the vulnerability of crew to unexpected global crises. These often hit them with particular speed and ferocity. There is much to reflect on as we move into Lent.
If you would like to support the work we do, please click on the button below to donate to this appeal.
DonateEven as I write, restrictions on shore leave continue to bring hardship. The circumstances of the conflict in Ukraine have brought great pain to Ukrainian (and indeed Russian) crew, as well as families caught up in it, displaced from their homes and country. Others, of course, face deep scourges such as abandonment, usually out of sight and out of mind.
Given that sacrificial love lies at the very heart of faith, again and again I have reflected on the extraordinary “Christlike” nature of seafarer lives, though most would never claim such a thing. It is a deep and profound thing – and very humbling to most of us.
Our teams across the world are proud to be working with this truly amazing group of people. It is our absolute focus to support seafarers and their families in the midst of all their challenges – in ports, through our advocacy work, and through our growing range of wider programmes, including our excellent Family Support Networks. There are a myriad different ways in which we bring transformational help, including human connection and compassion. Here is just one little story, from Halifax in Canada, in which small things changed lives in big ways:
If you would like to support the work we do, please click on the button below to donate to this appeal.
DonateThis is a great example of the diverse ways in which we help seafarers and their families, but none of our work is possible without you, our supporters, upon whom we depend. You help us by individual donations and regular giving, you help with legacies and In Memoriam gifts, when sadly a loved one passes away, and via your churches and local communities.
In the long, hard months at sea – your care truly matters. Thank you!
We are currently growing our work, in response to increased need, including investing £750,000 over three years to expand our ship visiting across all our nine regions (including in Halifax). We want to maximise our outreach to crew, most especially during these times when life is very challenging for many of us, but very especially for seafarers.
As we all reflect during Lent, spare a thought for seafarers – now more than ever in need of our in-person care. Through your own sacrifice this Lent, please help us reach our goal in providing this much-needed care, by making a donation to help families like Patrick and his mum. Please do help us in whatever way you can. We thank you for all your support and for your prayers.
In friendship, as ever.
The Revd. Canon Andrew Wright
Secretary General
If you would like to support the work we do, please click on the button below to donate to this appeal.
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