Annual Trip to Montreal Seafarer Centre - December 1st

Christmas time brings around another tradition at Calvin.... the making of parcels for the seafarers that come through the Montreal Seafarer Centre.  

We begin at the end of November by putting the word out, and parcels come in slowly at times. 

I have brought the parcels to Montreal for the past several years, along with any young people who might want to come with me.  I think it's important that our youth see what goes on at the Montreal Seafarer Centre so that they have a picture in their minds of this place as we make our parcels each year. 

So, on Sunday, December 1st, we packed my van with parcels full of small gifts for seafarers.  

We were a bit concerned this year that we wouldn't have many parcels to bring, but on the final Sunday, 
at least 30 boxes came in. 

We ended up loading 71 parcels, 
up from the 66 from last year....wonderful.  : )  

The parcels just kept coming.  : )

This year I took Eric, Joey, Caralynn, Samantha, and Carraugh.   

I wanted to get a picture of all the parcels in the back of the van, but Caralynn decided she wanted to be the centre of the picture instead, I guess. : ) 

The parcels all packed and ready to go.  

We headed off on a snowy afternoon, at around 3 pm.  
Samantha and Carraugh took the back seat.  

Looks like Caralynn is ready to take a nap. : )

Joey just got a new scientific calculator.
He spent most of the time trying to figure it out. : ) 

I like driving this trip every year...
I get to go with different people each time. 
It was great talking with Eric.  

Eric took his camera along, which was GREAT. 
He took LOTS of pictures.  : ) 

Driving down the 417 with the snow gently falling.  

To pass the time, reading a book.  

The snow kept falling....

...but it was gentle and beautiful.  
The roads weren't too slippery either, thankfully.  

Eric liked taking lots of pictures....like me.

The Ontario/Quebec border.  

Our traditional stop at the Tim Horton's. 
Joey barely took time to look up from his new toy.  : ) 

Eventually we arrived in Montreal, and this time I didn't even get lost. : ) 
Montreal is wonderful this time of year. 

Lots of beautiful snow falling.  

Safe and sound at the Seafarer Centre. 
Everyone OUT!  

Time to unload the van. 

The load usually shifts, and every year opening the van door requires some help.  

Time to unload.

Great job Joey, but you can lose the Tim's drink.  : ) 

Samantha stacked parcels to the point where 
she could barely see. 

Even your's truly pitched in.  : ) 

Slowly the parcels emptied out of the van.  

Caralynn....can you see anything? : ) 

The last of the parcels to come out of the van. 
Nice work Joey.  

Stacking them into the back of the centre.  

Parcels keep coming in,
and keep going out.  
We just replaced 70 parcels that had gone out.  

The different time zones represented.  

The group getting settled in.  

Each year someone talks a bit about the Seafarer Centre and we learn about what goes on here. 

Michelle, Chaplain at the Seafarer Centre, sat down with us to share what goes on and why. 

The chapel where evening services happen. 

The wall of money.  

Always a cool thing to see. 

Michelle talks about the wall.... 

...and shows us on the map where we are,
 and where the ships are located.  

After the tour, time to eat. 

The computer centre...not used as much as many seafarers have their own laptops now.  

Phone booths for calling home. 
Also not used as often as there is SKYPE now. 
Hmmmm...who is Samantha trying to call?

Who is Caralynn trying to call?  

Oh I see, they are calling each other.  : ) 

A touching poem about the hazards of being at sea.
 

Joey found the computers...
so much for supper.  : ) 

Eventually the others found the computers too. 

Michelle and I catching up.  

Various knots used by seafarers.  

Eventually it was time to go home again.  

A great way to show how both the Seafarer Centre, and you at Calvin, and we who went to Montreal, are a blessing to the seafarers who....

....walk through these doors... 

....and are picked up by this vehicle.  

Speaking of vehicles...before leaving I needed to top up the washer fluid...and Eric seemed to think this was a worthy picture to take.  : ) 

Thanks to all from Calvin who took the time to make a parcel or two for the seafarers. 
You are a blessing, and who knows how God will use your gift to touch the life, and soul, of a seafarer this year.