Danie is still catching his breath after climbing the stepladder to the deck of the ship when the young man joins him. No one knows whether the young man’s quick and eager reaction is due to the jacket with the embroidered Cross, or the loud announcement that someone from the ‘mission’ is on board.

‘I miss my family’ are his opening words, without any introduction. Those are his only words, fired like a gun salvo into nothing. There is nothing else. There is no context or explanation. It is an emergency call.  It is raw. It is as if he has kept it inside, silently and heavy, like a glowing coal that threatens to destroy him for months. It is as if he cannot endure it for one second more. The four words unmistakably expose his dejection and brokenness. 

Danie’s practiced ear needs no context. ‘I miss my family’ says everything. What could be worse? Put it in the context of working at sea and the story writes itself...

Danie thinks the young man is only about seventeen, eighteen years old. He has just grown out of complete childhood, but only just. As they find a quiet spot, Danie’s suspicions are confirmed. It is the first ship that Carlos works on. It is the first time away from home. Home is far away and it is a long time to be separated from friends, family and all familiar things. It is overwhelming. Each day the longing etches deeper. 

That is why the CSO is here - for Carlos and other men like him. Each Carlos that we meet in the harbours needs someone to listen, to pray with them. They need to hear that God holds them closely in His hand. It is for each of these men that the CSO exists. 

Carlos and Danie talk for a long time - about longing and belonging, about breathing deeply and also about the God that transcends all. Eventually Carlos finds a little more courage and straightens his shoulders. He returns to the inner workings of the ship holding a Tagalog Bible that Danie could offer.   

Let us not pretend, for a moment, that we are saviours. What is true, is that sometimes, we are in a God Moment at the right place at the right time to help the men working at sea to breathe once more. Another breath is everything. A single breath is often all that we need for life.  

Your donation allows us to care for each Carlos working at sea, every day. Thank you so much for that.