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Viewpoint from Rev Peter Paine 29/07/2016
 Rev Peter Paine
Port Chaplain
also published in the Great Yarmouth Mercury
British Seafarers Held for over 1,000 days
On 10th July, Churches celebrated “Sea Sunday”, the 160 birthday for the Mission to Seafarers, looking after Seafarers in many ways
On 7th July, 6 British Seafarers who were part of a crew who were protecting fellow seafarers from pirate attack are themselves ‘under attack’. The crew of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio has had their case in the courts of India dragged on for over 1,000 days. Please remember them and their families
 The story of the Good Samaritan shows us how to be a good neighbor to other humans, and how a good dead can also make you feel good inside
In this global world vessels are getting bigger, crews are getting smaller, not a lot of free time ashore before setting sail again for another port. The Mission to Seafarers now has chaplains in 200 ports around the world in 50 countries. We here in Yarmouth have a small Centre where the seafarers come into the Outer Harbour or the river. We are there to help them in many ways from phone calls home, to phone cards and taking them to the supermarkets, and just by speaking to them
 I wish to ask you to please remember The Mission to Seafarers in your prayers, as a fellow member of the Body of Christ and as it carries out this important and life-changing work locally and globally on behalf of this and the wider Church; and, perhaps most importantly of all, I would ask you to please pray for seafarers and their families. They are just like you and me; but because of how they live, we have fuel for our cars and homes, food in our shops and clothes on our backs. So the next time you drive to the nearest petrol station, reach up for a jar of coffee in the supermarket, or put on your shoes to go outside, please spare a thought and a prayer for those whose way of life has made this something we rarely have to think about
Have a wonderful day and love your neighbor as yourself
Rev Peter Paine,
Port Chaplain
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