Port: Nanaimo C dock
Crew: 21 Chinese
Names of Ship Missionaries: Gerard Guimbatan, Bill Crofton (guest), Grant Sandeman-Allen
Result: 3 watched the gospel video
Items taken on & given out: 22 ball caps, 22 Canada pins, 3 Chinese-English New Testaments, 22 gifts, 4 Psalms/Gospel of John in Chinese
This visit is a real victory. The last time this ship was here the deck security officer denied Gary and Gina access to the ship saying that “they didn’t want a visit or the gifts.” Gary suggested I email the captain this time to see if we can visit them and the captain invited us to come visit them any day we wanted.
Bill Crofton and I were welcomed onto the ship by a very young Third officer (only 26 years old) and he took us to the crew mess where 3 seafarers soon came in to eat dinner. I set out the ball caps and pins and soon the 3/O made an announcement over the P/A for all available crew to join us. A steady stream of crew then came in to meet us and get a hat and pin and this gave us an opportunity to begin talking with them. Gerard joined us as well and he brought a lot of Chinese tracts. A few of them, including the Chief Cook, Chief Engineer, Oiler, and one other settled down to visit with us.
After all the buzz settled down we were sharing photos of children and grand children amongst us. Gerard and Bill were working with Chief Cook to make a poster to put up, and I was using my translator app to communicate with them. We then showed them the gospel message in Mandarin on my iPad and they all watched attentively. Afterwards they said that it was a good message and they didn’t have any questions. We gave them each a gift bag and they were very happy and thankful to receive them.
After we left the ship we went over to the Mount Rainier which was tied up on the other side of the dock. We met 3 East Indian seafarers returning from town and began to talk with them. Just then Gary and Gina finished and joined us on the dock. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit I asked if they were Hindu and they said “yes.” I have done some research on how to reach Hindus and so I shared the gospel with them, focusing on freedom from the reincarnation cycle and lack of peace and assurance that Hindus have. Gary added to it and Bill shared about assurance of seeing family members in heaven as well. We took pictures and headed home after a great visit.
Praise God for His victory over evil and getting us on this ship. Most of the crew are new on this ship so we’ll see them again in a month or so. Pease pray that they will read the materials in their gift bags and that the Holy Spirit will minister to them while they are on their voyage.
Report submitted by: Grant
