Waves #2 - April 2015 by Sømandsmissionen

#2 2. årgang April 2015

NEWS FROM THE DANISH SEAMEN’S MISSION

Sømand om selvværd A sailor’s self-worth

Solceller på sømandshjem

Ingen junglelov hos Gud

Solar cells on the seamens home

God - and the law of the jungle

6 1

Waves Nr. 2, april 2015, 2. årgang Vol. 2, April 2015, 2. Volume Udgives af: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Published by: The Danish Seamen’s Mission Ansvh. redaktør Executive Editor: Generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe Redaktør og journalist Editor: Hanne Baltzer, tlf. 2288 4496 Mail: hab@somandsmissionen.dk Oplag Print run: 3400 Årsabonnement Yearly subscription: 200 Dkr. Layout og tryk Layout and print: Jørgen Thomsen Elbo A/S Forsidebillede: Ingen er født med et højt selvværd. Heller ikke Marc. Coverphoto: No one is born with a high self-worth. Neither is Marc.

Brug os! Contact us! GRØNLAND

International Seamens Club Sverigesgade 1 8000 Aarhus C Tlf. 0045 - 8612 1599 Mail: seamensclub.aarhus@mail.dk www.seamensclubaarhus.dk

Sømandshjemmet Sisimiut/ Holsteinsborg Frederik IX´s Plads 5 3911 Sisimiut Tlf. 00 299 86 41 50 Mail: sisimiut@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

Hotel Aalborg Østerbro 27, 9000 Aalborg Tlf. 0045 -9812 1900 Mail: info@hotel-aalborg.com www.hotel-aalborg.com

Sømandshjemmet Nuuk/Godthåb Marinevej 3, 3900 Nuuk Tlf. 00 299 32 10 29 Mail: nuuk@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

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DANMARK

Hotel Bethel Sømandshjem Nyhavn 22 1051 København K Tlf. 0045 -3313 0370 Mail: info@hotel-bethel.dk www.hotel-bethel.dk Hotel Frederikshavn Sømandshjem Tordenskjoldsgade 15 B 9900 Frederikshavn Tlf. 0045 - 9842 0977 Mail: info@fshotel.dk www.fshotel.dk

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Kontakt sømandsmissionærerne • Finn Løvlund Pedersen, Esbjerg. Tlf.0045 - 2073 3806. • Simon Skovgaard Ambrosen, Marstal. Tlf. 0045 - 2982 2771. • Jørgen Bech Knudsen, Aarhus Tlf. 0045 - 2865 5277. • Jørgen Erik Larsen, Sorø Tlf. 0045 - 2343 0568. • Moses Sloth, Aalborg Tlf. 0045 - 2243 9023 • Leif Rasmussen, Strandby Tlf. 0045 - 2029 3738.

Tip

Om at turde være sig selv Daring to be yourself Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

De fleste sømænd og fiskere er mænd, og de kender det med at ville være hurtigst, bedst og først. De kender måske også til at føle, at de ikke slår til – men det taler man ikke om. Most sailors and fishers are men, and they know the urge to be the best and the fastest. Perhaps they also know the feeling of not being good enough – but this feeling is usually kept inside.

aves har talt med psykolog Ole Rabjerg om selvværd

aves has spoken to psychologist Ole Rabjerg about self-worth

Hvorfor skal manden konkurrere?

Why must men compete?

”I mandens univers hænger oplevelsen af selvværd tæt sammen med, hvorvidt han oplever at kunne lykkes. Manden har et dybt ubesvaret spørgsmål i sig, nemlig “har jeg det, der skal til?”. Eller sagt med andre ord “duer jeg?”. Disse spørgsmål fylder meget, fordi præstation, styrke og mod er centrale faktorer i mandens univers. Det hænger tæt sammen med de særlige karaktertræk, som gælder mange mænd, nemlig mod, styrke, indflydelse og magt – det gælder om at være hurtigst, først eller bedst, både i arbejdet og i fritiden. Derfor bliver det afgørende for manden, om han “har det, der skal til”. Og han bliver sårbar overfor kritik og fejl.”

”In a man’s universe, the feeling of selfworth is deeply connected to the experience of being successful. Most men carry a deep, unanswered question, namely ”do I have what it takes to succeed?”. Or phrased differently: ”am I good enough?”. These questions are important, because concepts such as performance, strength and courage are central in a man’s universe. These are closely connected to the distinct character traits that belong to many men, such as courage, strength, and power – it is about being the fastest, the first and the best, both on and off the job. Therefore, it becomes essential to the man to ”have what it takes”. And this makes him vulnerable to critique and mistakes."

Hvordan vil manden typisk kæmpe? "Kampdelen handler om, at han forsøger at gøre noget i kampen for undgå oplevelsen af “ikke at slå til”. Det kan fx være at arbejde mere, at hævde sig selv på andres bekostning, at være perfektionistisk eller forsøge at forstørre sig selv, fx gennem store biler og den nyeste teknologi.

How do men typically fight?

Det kan også være at begynde at se porno, hvilket ikke får hans selvværd til at vokse. Tværtimod får det ham ind i en negativ spiral, der blot udhuler hans selvværd og fjerner ham psykisk fra hans ægtefælle. Mange mænd er ikke selv klar over, at der nedenunder disse kompenserende strategier ligger et lavt selvværd, fordi det i sig selv er dybt truende for manden at skulle indrømme usikkerhed og manglende mod. Han skal derfor opdage, at han netop viser MOD ved at turde se dette i øjnene.”

"Fighting often involves an active attempt to avoid the feeling of not being good enough. This can be done by working harder, stepping on others to get forward, become perfectionistic, or try to build up self-esteem through material things such as expensive cars, technology etc. It can also be done through an abuse of porn, which will only lower a mans selfworth even more. This addiction often brings a man into a downward spiral that makes him feel hollow and makes it hard to be present with his partner. Many men are not aware that these things are really an attempt to compensate for a more fundamental lack of self-worth, which is often caused by the lack of courage to admit our insecurity. Therefore, it is important that it is a courage to face.”

Ole Rabjerg arbejder i den kirkelige forening Agape, der vil give hjælp og inspiration til livet. •

Ole Rabjerg works in the church-organization Agape, which helps and inspires people to live life more fully. •

Selvværd Self-worth

Det blå liv og overblik ligger i blodet The blue life and overview are in the blood Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

Den 21-årige skipper Martin Kynde var på dansk tv i udsendelsen ”De unge fiskere”. I det daglige arbejder han på at få en rentabel indtægt uden røde tal, og den øvelse kan bølge lidt frem og tilbage. Men det går ok, og forretningen er sund, mener han. The 21-year-old ships master Martin Kynde was part of the Danish TVshow ”The Young Fishermen”. On a daily basis, he works on establishing a proper income with no red numbers, and this is a mixed experience. But at the moment things are alright, and in his own opinion the business is running well.

kipper kigger ud gennem vinduet i styrehuset. Herfra sejler hans verden, og han har overblik og udsyn, mens han tænker på, hvordan virksomheden kører, om forretningen er rentabel og fangsterne ok. 21-årige Martin Kynde har haft fod på eget dæk i otte måneder. Han har halvpart i træskibet L232 – Tove Kynde fra 1973, og han synes stadig, der er masser at lære. Han kan sagtens se sig selv finde inspiration hos de mere erfarne fiskere, og hans kompagnon har fornøden erfaring og er god at sparre med. Skibet er opkaldt efter hans mor, der døde for otte år siden, da Martin var dreng. Nu er han ikke længere ny på havet, og lysten til ”det blå liv” har han måske arvet fra morfar eller oldefar. Størst inspirator har onklen dog været, han var også fisker, og han er forbilledet for den unge skipper fra Thyborøn.

Det frie liv kræver overblik Han er uddannet fra skipperskolen i Skagen, og har altid drømt om at sejle. På spørgsmålet, hvordan det er nu at eje et skib og have fået medarbejdere, siger han: ”Det er spændende at få nye udfordringer, og det er da en stor udfordring den her. Jeg skal jo være møj opmærksom hele tiden, og jeg ved, jeg er ansvarlig for andres sikkerhed. Jo ringere vejr det er, jo mere bøvlet bliver det. Og er det hele havblik, går alt jo meget lettere. Ikke to dage er ens, og det kan jeg godt lide.” Det frie liv på havet stiller også sine krav og fordrer en mand, der kan løse lidt af hvert, og som har hænderne skruet rigtigt på. Han synes, det går fint med at snakke stille og roligt om tingene undervejs. Det har han det bedst med: ”Jeg gør det så godt, jeg kan, og jeg er den af os tre om-

bord, der skal have det bedste overblik. Det lykkes nogenlunde, og jeg får jo mere og mere erfaring – også med nye steder, hvor det er godt at fiske.” Når de ikke fanger noget, kan han blive frustreret, for han lever for at fange fisk, og der er jo mange udgifter for en skipper. Selv er han på fast løn, men er fangsterne dårlige, er der jo ikke mange penge at dele af. Så må kassekreditten måske i aktion.

Torsk giver bedst Det er Martin, der bestemmer på kutteren, men det er også ham, der har ansvar for, at der kommer fisk i lasten. Lige nu fisker de torsk i Østersøen. Tidligere sejlede de efter kuller, torsk eller fx rødspætter i Skagerrak. Hvor meget en dags fangst giver, er naturligvis også afhængig af prisniveauet den pågældende dag: ”Vi kan jo ikke alene fange pighvar og helleflynder”, siger Martin Kynde med et glimt i øjet. På de fisk er prisen altid pænt over middel. Lige nu er drømmen det ældre træskib, fordi det passer godt til hans yndlingsmåde at fiske på. ”Jeg sover da bedst, når jeg har renset fisk i mange timer. Så ved jeg, der er penge nok i kassen. Indtil nu har der været flest gode dage, og vi skal helst have 1500 kg fisk med hjem hver gang", vurderer han. Martin Kynde synes, det var okay at være med i tv-udsendelsen ”De unge fiskere”. En af tv-fotograferne var voldsomt udfordret af den friske blæst i Skagerrak, men så vænnede han sig til bølgernes vippen, fortæller Martin med et grin. •

Det kræver overblik at være skipper, mener Martin Kynde. (foto: TV 2) It demands overview to be a ships master, says Martin Kynde.

artin looks out through the wheelhouse window This is his natural habitat, and he maintains the overview and the outlook, as he considers the current state of his business, whether a sufficient profit is produced, and if the quality of the catch is acceptable. Martin is 21 years old and has been running his own show for eight months. He is the co-owner of the wooden cutter L232 – ”Tove Kynde”, built in 1973, and he knows that he still has a lot to learn. He knows that he must seek inspiration and experience from the older fishermen, and his partner has a good bag of experience that Martin can gain from. This ship is named after his mother who died eight years ago, when Martin was only a boy. Now, Martin is getting familiar with the sea, and his drive for ”the blue life” might be a heritage from his grand- and great grandfather. However, his greatest inspiration is his uncle, who was a fisherman too. He is an important role model for the young man from the town of Thyboroen, on the Danish West coast.

The free life demands overview He received his training at the maritime school in the town of Skagen, and has al-

ways dreamt of life at sea. When asked how it is to suddenly be the owner of a ship and have a crew, he answers: ”It is always exciting to meet new challenges, and this is definitely a major challenge! I must be extremely cautious all the time, and I know that I am responsible for the safety of my crew. The worse the weather, the more to worry about. When the sea is calm, things run more smoothly. No two days are the same, and that is what I really like about it.” The free life at sea is demanding, and it calls for a lot of character, a will and ability to solve problems, and a good set of practical skills. Martin finds it important to calmly solve things along the way. This is how he likes to do it: ”I do my very best, and I am the one onboard who has to have the best overview. This is usually working out, and I constantly gain more experience, also in terms of new locations for fishing.” When there is no catch, it gets frustrating. Martin lives for the catch, and running a ship is not cheap. He recieves a set sallary, but if the nets are empty there is not a lot to go around, and an

overdraft on the account might become necessary.

Codfish is the best business On board, Martin is in charge, but this also gives him the responsibility for the catch. At the moment they are fishing for cotfish in the Baltic – earlier they were fishing for haddock, codfish or plaice in the Skagerrak. The profit of a daily catch is, of course, dependent on the current market-price: ”We can not only catch turbot and halibut”, says Martin, with a smile on his lips. Those are some of the most profitable species to catch at the moment. Right now, the dream revolvs around the old, wooden ship, and it suits his preferred method of fishing. ”Naturally, I sleep more calmly after a full day of cleaning fish on the deck. Then I know that there will be enough money in the company account. So far, most days have been good, and our goal is to bring home 1500 Kg every time.” Martin found it an OK experience to be part of the TV-show ”The Young Fishermen”. One of the photographers was heavily challenged by the rough winds of the Skagerrak, but he got used to it along the way, says Martin with a grin on his face.•

Kristendom Christianity

Yes! Ingen junglelov hos Gud Yes! No jungle law with God Tekst: Generalsekretær/Secretary-General Nicolaj Wibe

anmark er et konkurrenceland. Firmaer kæmper om at være bedst, det ene dagblad skal være bedre end det andet, og konkurrencer på TV er nådesløse, når den ene dømmes ude fremfor den anden. Det er nærmest som den gamle junglelov: Den stærkeste vinder, og den svage må dø. Det kan være hårdt at være borger i et konkurrenceland. Danmark er også et gammelt kristent land. Vikingerne var godt nok ikke meget for at overgive sig til kristendommen, fordi de opfattede den som blødsøden, men de gjorde det.

“

Men kristendommen går ikke ind for jungleloven. Det er ikke bare den stærkeste, der har værdi, men det har hvert enkelt menneske. Muskler, uddannelse, hudfarve eller nationalitet - intet af den slags afgør menneskets værdi. Handicap, tung livsbagage eller plettet straffeattest forringer heller ikke menneskets værdi. Af den grund, at mennesket er skabt af Gud, og alt, hvad Gud skaber, er godt. Alt. hvad Gud skaber, er smukt. Hvert eneste menneske er skabt af Gud, og derfor er menneskets værdi ikke afhængig af præstation. Og hvad så? Hvad kan man bruge det til?

”Jogget i spinaten, dummet sig maksimalt eller været den største idiot – stadig at kunne vide sig elsket af Gud, det er kristendom.” 6

Elsket trods bommerter Et lille barn har brug for at vide sig betingelsesløst elsket af sine forældre. Og på det punkt holder vi aldrig op med at være børn. Ethvert menneske har brug for at vide sig betingelsesløst elsket af nogen. Det er det, der får os til at føle os værdifulde. Jogget i spinaten, dummet sig maksimalt eller været den største idiot – stadig at kunne vide sig elsket, det er kristendom.

Gud har sat et helt særligt fingeraftryk på hvert eneste menneske, og hans kærlighed er uden grænser. Du genkender det måske, hvis du selv har børn - og elsker dem højt. Det er det forhold, Gud har til os - og så skal du fordoble det mange gange. Han, som har skabt os, elsker os betingelsesløst, og derfor er din værdi grænseløs stor. Som det fremgår andre steder i dette blad, er sundt selvværd en vigtig ting. Uden sundt selvværd skal der ikke meget til for at vælte os.

Jesus siger til ham, at han ikke skal være så glad for sine bedrifter, men være glad for at være et Guds barn. At præstere noget flot er udmærket, men det er ikke afgørende for, hvad du er værd. Det var det, Jesus lærte fra sig - og stadig gør. Gør dit bedste, men glæd dig allermest over at være uendeligt værdifuld, fordi du er skabt af Gud og elsket af ham. Det betyder så også, at hvis man har præsteret noget elendigt, bliver man ikke et ringere menneske af den grund.

Jesus om selvværd

Tro giver styrke

For Jesus var det vigtigt at fortælle mennesker om et sundt og balanceret selvværd. Der var en situation, hvor en af hans venner kom hjem efter en større bedrift og var helt oppe at køre. Sikkert på grænsen til at være selvfed.

Men hvad så hvis man ikke tror på Gud? Tja, det ændrer jo rent faktisk ikke ved din værdi, men klart, det er da en enorm menneskelig styrke at kunne tro på Gud, når det også medfører, at man oplever sig betingelsesløst elsket og værdifuld i en

grad, som godt kan tage pusten fra en voksen mand. Kan enhver komme til at tro på Gud? Ja, det er faktisk slet ikke så svært, som nogen kan tænke. Gud findes nemlig ikke i troens verden, men i den virkelige verden. Afstanden mellem dig og Gud er umålelig lille. Kaptajnen på et skib kan sige til sin besætning i en trængt situation: ”Tro på mig”. Og så må man tro, at han har styr på skibet. Gud siger det samme. ”Tro på mig”. Og den livserfaring, der kommer ud af at tro, er, at Gud har styr på det. Og hermed er det med selvværd kommet godt i havn, for man vil så sikkert som amen i kirken opleve, at Guds kærlighed ikke er afhængig af menneskets præstation, men af hans egen glæde over at være i nær relation til det menneske, han selv har skabt. • >

Muskler, uddannelse, hudfarve eller nationalitet. Intet af den slags afgør menneskets værdi. Muscles, education, skin-color, or nationality. None of this determines the value of a human being.

Kristendom Christianity

enmark is a competitive nation. Companies compete to be at the top, every newspaper wants to be the best, and the TV is filled with competitive shows, in which competitors must beat those around them. It reminds us of the old jungle law: the weak will die, and only the strongest will survive. Living in a competitive culture can be rough. Denmark is also an old Christian nation. Although the Vikings did not find Christianity very compelling at first, as they deemed it too soft, they accepted it after a while. But Christianity does not support the jungle-law. From a Christian perspective, it is not only the strongest who has value, but every single human being. A handicap, a troubled history, or a spotted criminal record can never degrade your value. This is based on the fact that all humans are created by God, and that all of God’s creation is inherently good. Everything that God creates is beautiful. Every human being is created by God, and therefore, your value can never be based on your ability to perform. And so what, you might think. Why is that any good?

Loved despite our failures A small child is deeply dependent on its parents’ unconditional love. And in this regard, we never stop being children. Every human needs to know that someone loves them unconditionally. This is what makes us feel valuable. To know that we are loved, even when we mess everything up and act like idiots – that is the core of Christianity. God has placed a very special fingerprint on every single human, and his love

“

”To know that we are loved, even when we mess everything up and act like idiots – that is the core of Christianity.”

knows no limits. Those of you who have children that you love no matter what will know what this means. This is how God sees us – only, his love is way bigger than what we can understand. He is our creator, he loves us unconditionally, and this is what gives you unlimited value. As you can read in other sections of this magazine, self-worth is an important thing. Without a feeling of self-worth we easily stumble and fall.

What Jesus says about self-worth Jesus often spoke to people about having a healthy and balanced self-worth. At one time, a friend of Jesus came back after one of the greatest events in his life, and he was extremely excited. He was probably close to becoming a bit cocky. Jesus tells him, that he should not be too excited about his own performance, and instead be happy that he is a child of God. To perform well is not a bad thing, but it does not define your value. That is what Jesus taught people during his life, and it is what he is teaching us today. Do your best, but have your joy in the fact that you have unlimited value no matter what, because you are created by a God who loves you. This also means that if you fail in

your performance, you do not loose any of your value.

Faith gives strength But what if you do not believe in God? Well, in fact that does not change your true value at all. However, it is a source of great strength to be able to believe in God. This leads to a knowledge about God’s unconditional love – a love that gives you unlimited value, something that can truly take a grown man’s breath away. Can everyone believe in God? Yes, in fact it is pretty easy. God does not exist in some mental world, but in the real world, this world. There is basically no distance between you and God. In a dangerous situation, the Captain of a ship can tell his crew to ”have faith in him”, and then you have to believe that he is in control of the ship. God says the same thing to us. ”Have faith in me”. And when we choose to have faith in him, we experience that he is in control of our lives. And as we believe in him, we experience that our feeling of self-worth grows, as he shows us that our value is not depending on our performances in life, but on his close presence in the lives of the humans that he loves so deeply. •

Duen får nyt hjerte og er fit for fight The Dove receives a new heart and is fit for fight

ømandsmissionens skib Duen er igennem en længere restaurering, men nu er det klar til at sejle igen. Planen er, at det skal kunne lejes ud i nærmeste fremtid. Den gamle motor og gear samt alle gamle installationer er taget ud af Duen, og dermed er der blevet ryddet godt og grundigt op i alle de gamle rør og kabler. De nye motor- og gearfundamenter er bygget op, og alt under dørken er blevet malet, hvorefter der er støbt beton, som skal kompensere for vægten af den gamle tunge motor. Herefter er der kommet nye lejer i stævnrør og en propelaksel, gear og motor er sat på plads. Der er også blevet lavet ny udstødning til oliefyret samt hovedmotoren, og den store lyddæmper er monteret på udstødningen.

Baggrund Duen hed oprindeligt Speditøren MHV 95 og blev bygget på Svendborg Skibsværft.

Skibet sejlede i Hjemmeværnet, og blev også brugt til søredningsopgaver og miljøovervågning, når ikke det blev lånt/lejet ud til sejlende toldopgaver. ”Speditøren” er det sidste af de eftertragtede marinehjemmeværnsfartøjer, som kom under dansk flag som erhvervsfartøj. Sømandsmissionen købte skibet i 2011 og døbte det "Duen". •

floor has been painted, and a concrete block has been inserted to compensate for the weight of the old motor. New bearings have been installed in the steam pipe, and a propeller, gear and motor have been installed. Both the oil-fired burner and the main engine have been given new exhaust sets, and the large silencer has been mounted.

Background

he Dove, the Seamen’s Mission’s ship, has gone through a thorough restoration, and soon it will be ready to reenter the water. The plan is to start renting it out within the near future. The old motor and gears, as well as all the old installations, have been removed from the ship, and all the old pipes and wires have been examined and renewed. The new motor and the gear-foundation have been installed, everything beneath the

The ship’s original name was "Speditoeren" (The Forwarder) MHV 95 and she was built at Svendborg Shipyard. The ship was owned by the Danish National Defense, and was used for rescue missions and environmental surveillance, and was also rented out for maritime toll work. "Speditoeren" is the last of the coveted National Marine Vessels. It was converted into a private trade vessel under the name "Duen" (The Dove), and was purchased by the Seamen’s Mission in 2011. •

Sømandsmissionens skib er næsten som nyt. The Seamen´s ship has gon through restoration. (fotos: Jesper Madsen)

Job

Feriejob i Nuuk A holiday-job in Nuuk Tekst og billeder/pictures: Sømandsmissionær/ Seamen’s Missionary Torleif Johannesen, Færøerne

Bestyrerparret Vera og Jesper Kjeldmann skulle til Danmark på kursus - ferieafløserne kom fra Færøerne. The managing couple Vera and Jesper Kjeldmann had to join a conference in Denmark, and when we were asked to replace them, we said yes.

Jesper Kjeldmann and Karl Lyberth, Fisheries Minister.

a vi ankom til Nuuk, var temperaturen minus seks grader, og der var megen sne. På trods af kulden var modtagelsen både varm og god. Sømandshjemmet har nemlig gode og pålidelige medarbejdere, som ved, hvad de skal gøre, og gør det, de skal. Vi havde ikke faste vagter, men havde dog ansvaret for arbejdet. Min kone, Kristianna, arbejdede delvis på kontoret og hjalp ellers til med opvask og rengøring af værelser. Jeg mødte hver morgen lidt før klokken syv for at hilse på medarbejderne. Min hovedopgave var at have ansvaret, hjælpe til efter behov og være en slags missionær.

Andagten helliger dagen Sømandshjemmet bliver godt besøgt. Det har 41 soveværelser, og de fleste har udsigt over havnen. Restauranten, som har plads til 70 personer, er åben fra 5.30 til 21.00 og emmer af liv. Dagligt spiser mellem 200 og 250 folk her, og nogle kommer flere gange om dagen. Dette gør, at man møder mange mennesker. Det giver også en god anledning til dybere snakke - også om Gud. Bestyrerparret er ligesom billedet udadtil, og

Sammen med medarbejderne nyder Kristianna (th) en velfortjent pause i arbejdet Kristianna (to the right) enjoys a welldeserved break with her colleagues

har derfor som en af sine opgaver at skabe en positiv og venlig atmosfære både for medarbejdere og gæster. Så det bestræbte vi os på. Af og til er der bibeltimer, men der er andagt hver morgen fra mandag til fredag klokken 9.45-10.00 i dagligstuen. Til andagten kommer de medarbejdere, der har mulighed for det, og af og til nogle af gæsterne. En sang lyder således: “En liden stund hos Jesus, o, hvor den glatter ud og giver hele livet et helt nyt lys fra Gud”. Hvor er det sandt. Sang, bibelord og bøn om morgenen løfter dagen op på en højere plan, sætter kursen og giver Guds velsignelse og visdom over dagen og livet.

Snakke med indhold Både rejetrawlere, containerskibe og andre skibe kom i havn, mens vi var der. Det var dejligt at komme ombord og mærke, at modtagelsen var god, og at de var glade for besøget - også når der ikke var tid til så megen snak. De fik Ny Testamente, kristen literatur og en dvd med kristen sang og musik. Jeg havde også andagter ombord på to af rejetrawlerne, besøgte jollefiskerne, og fik flere gode snakke med dem. Vi er meget taknemmelige for dagene i Nuuk. Vi føler os beriget, har fået nye venner og bekendte og føler, at Grønland har fået en større plads i vores hjerte. Vi vil huske grønlænderne i vores aftenbøn. •

s we arrived in Nuuk, the temperature was below zero, and the land was covered in snow. Despite the cold, our reception was warm and loving, thanks to the caring and trustworthy employees of the Seamen’s Home. We quickly experienced their professional and compassioned approach to their job. We both had a loose schedule, but we had the over-all responsibility. My wife, Kris-

tianna, worked part time at the office, and took care of practical matters. I came in every day at 7 am to check in with everyone. My job was to manage the general responsibilities, help out with urgent matters, and do a bit of missionary work.

Sømandshjemmet i Aasiaat overvejer Greenkey-ordningen. The Seamen’s Home in Aasiaat considers joining the Greenkey program.

The daily reflection sets the frame The Seamen’s Home is well visited. It contains 41 bedrooms, and most of them provide a view to the local harbor. The restaurant can seat 70 guests, and is open from 5.30 am till 9 pm, and is always full of life. Between 200 and 250 visitors eat here every day, and some come here more than once a day. This means that the employees encounter a lot of people, which is also a good occasion for a more profound talk – also concerning the question of faith. The managing couple is the public face of the Home, and one of their tasks is to create a positive and friendly atmosphere among guests as well as employees. So that is what we are trying to do. Now and then we host a Bible lecture, and on all weekday mornings we have a short time of reflection between 9.45 and 10 am in the living room. The employees participate when possible, and now and then a few guests drop in as well. One of the common songs goes like this: “A moment in the presence of Jesus, O’ how it comforts and gives to life a new light from God”. And how true that really is. Song, Scripture passages, and prayer in the morning can bring the day to a new level, set the course, and bring God’s blessing and wisdom into our days and lives.

Talks with content Everything from shrimp cutters to tankers entered the harbor during our time in Nuuk. It was great to get on board and feel the warm welcome and see how people enjoyed the visits – even when there was not a lot of time for talk. They received the New Testament, Christian literature, and a DVD with Christian songs and music. I also held small reflections and read from the Bible on two of the shrimp cutters, and had many good talks with the local dinghy-fishers. We are very thankful for our time in Nuuk. We feel enriched, we have met new friends and relations, and we feel that Greenland has taken a large place in our hearts. We will remember the Greenlandic people in our evening prayers. •

Solceller på sømandshjemmet Solar cells on the Seamen’s Home Tekst: Bestyrer/manager Johannes Jensen

Når året er gået, er det spændende om vores beregninger holder, for vi har lange vintermåneder, uden solen kommer frem. Derimod skal midnatssolen hjælpe til med en øget produktion om sommeren. I receptionsområdet er der installeret en skærm, så alle kan følge med i den aktuelle produktion.

When the year has passed, it will be exciting to see if our calculations are correct, as Greenland has a very long winter, with almost no sunlight. Instead, we depend on the midnight sun to increase the production during the summer. In the reception we have a monitor, so that everyone can follow the production on a daily basis.

Gavner miljøet

Helps the environment

Anlæget på 18.795 KWh sparer årligt miljøet for over 11 tons CO2, så på sigt skulle det gerne blive en god investering for sømandshjemmet og til gavn for den sårbare, grønlandske natur. På sømandshjemmet har vi igennem længere tid tænkt i energioptimering. Alle lamper er så vidt muligt skiftet til LED, oliekedlerne er udskiftet til mere energivenlige, og i alle arbejdsprocesser prøver vi at tænke energirigtigt.

The 18.795 kWh system can save up to 11 tons CO2 every year, and so in the long run it should be a good investment for the Seamen’s Home, as well as a benefit for Greenland’s fragile nature. At the Seamen’s Home, we have cared about optimizing our energy consumption for a long time. All light bolts have been replaced with LED lights, the oil-fired burners have been replaced with less pollutant ones, and we try to bring environmental considerations into all aspects of our work.

olen skinner fra en skyfri himmel i Aasiaat, men så snart man er i det fri, finder man hurtigt ud af, at det er kulden, som har magten. Dette gør dog intet – tværtimod, for sømandshjemmet har nemlig installeret et stort solcelleanlæg. Det er et af de største af slagsen i Grønland, og solcellerne producerer faktisk mere strøm, jo koldere det er.

I øjeblikket overvejer vi, om vi skal gå med i ordningen Greenkey, så sømandshjemmet kan få bevis for en miljørigtig tilgang til tingene. Green Key er turismens internationale miljømærke, som findes i mere en 40 lande. •

he sun shines from a spotless sky in Aasiaat, but as soon as you come outside, you realize that the cold is still in charge. However, that does not matter. To the contrary, as the Seamen’s Home has just put its new, large solar cell system to use. It is one of the largest in Greenland, and actually it produces more power the colder it is.

At the moment, we are considering joining the Greenkey program, so that the Seamen’s Home can get an official recognition for its environmental profile. Green Key is an eco-label awarded to the turism. •

Portræt Portrait

Sømand i orkanens øje A sailor in the eye of the storm Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

Marc knokler sig til både selvværd og en plads bag roret, selvom mange havde dømt ham ude. Han er stædig og stabil. Marc is fighting, for his selfworth as well as his spot behind the rudder despite the outside criticism. He is stubborn and stable.

en 17. december 2010 fik Marc André le Sage De Fontenay den største julegave nogensinde. Det var, mens han sejlede som ubefaren skibsassistent for Scanlines, at hans drøm gik i opfyldelse, da han blev ansat som aspirant hos Torm fra den 19. januar 2011– et job som sejlede ham rundt i verden og bød på oplevelser i Bangladesh, Adenbugtens piratfarvand og Rusland. Endelig fik han uddannelseskontrakten halet ombord. Det utrolige var sket. Og han skiftede den danske færge ud med et 183 meter stort tankskib, hvor der var masser af udenlandske kolleger. Det var specielt at komme ombord og føle stemningen:

seks forskellige folkeskoler og var forbi et par efterskoler. Næsten alle steder blev han bedt om at klappe i, tage sig sammen, og lave sine lektier. På en af efterskolerne gik det lidt bedre, og han fandt ud af, at personligheden ikke kun ligger i at være bogligt dygtig. Alligevel følte han, at der stod skrevet DUM i panden på ham, og han opførte sig dårligt og voldsomt. Han mistede modet og troen på sig selv.

”Alt var nyt, engelsk var arbejdssprog, og jeg følte mig godt hjemme, for der var et fint sammenhold ombord - rigtigt sømandsliv, ” griner Marc, som knoklede løs det bedste, han kunne. Han levede. Igen.

”Jeg ville jo lege med de andre, men det var frygteligt, for jeg kunne ikke finde ud af det. I årevis havde jeg bare dukket nakken, fordi de sagde, jeg var dum”, fortæller Marc stille. Først da han som voksen kom til Marstal Navigationsskole og blev overtalt til at tage en test, fik han en forklaring. Han var ikke dum, men ordblind. Og et nyt livskapitel kunne begynde.

Selvværd staves med s

Flidspræmie gav skulderklap

Forud var gået en lang overlevelsestur fra barndommen på Stevns, hvor han gik på

Nu er han uddannet sætteskipper, og eksamenerne har bestemt været en udfor-

dring, der har kostet blod, sved og stress. Heldigvis har først søfartsskolen og nu navigationsskolen stillet op på professionel vis og hjulpet ham. Det er han taknemlig over. Marc er typen, der tænker sig om, før han stiller et spørgsmål, så det ikke lyder dumt. Omvendt er han yderst velformuleret og ikke bange for at komme med sin holdning. Han har været formand for elevrådet, og efter sidste eksamen som sætteskipper i december 2014 fik han skolens flidspræmie for at have ydet sit ypperste og kæmpet særligt hårdt. ”Et fedt klap på skulderen, der gør mig glad og stolt”, siger han i dag. Lige nu går han på Marstal Navigationsskole, hvor han læser til skibsfører måske bliver han valgt til kaptajn en dag. Efter endt skolegang har Torm lovet ham yderligere 12 måneders sejltid. Allerhelst vil han sejle med produkttankskibe, hvor lastens indhold fordrer dygtig faglighed – fx at sejle med stearin

Marc i Rusland. Marc in Russia.

eller palmeolie, som skal holdes flydende undervejs.

Sejler på orkaner Som bølger der svømmer ind i et konstant flow, fortæller Marc glad og gerne om et par oplevelser til søs. ”Det værste vejr, jeg har prøvet, var mødet med hele to orkaner på en vintertur fra Rusland til USA. Vi gyngede rundt i en stor suppedas, og i fire døgn kunne vi kun sejle med en fart på 1-2 knob, mens alt væltede rundt. Jeg synes, det var super fedt! Du er ikke i tvivl om, at du er i live, og at det hele sejler. Naturens kræfter folder sig ud – og vejret kan vi ikke styre. I sådan et vejr føler man virkelig, hvor små vi mennesker er. Alle var anspændte, men jeg troede på, at det gik. Det er jo netop i de situationer, nuet kræver sin sømand, så vi rammer bølgerne på den gode måde”, siger han med et glimt i øjet. Så var der turen til Rusland med en atomisbryder. Den krævede bestemt tålmodige sømænd, da alle formaliteter skulle fikses. Tankskibet sejlede med naphta, der er et biprodukt fra olieproduktionen, som nu bruges i planteindustrien. Siden har han været i piratfarvand gennem Adenbugten med vagter om bord, og bedt om at påmønstre i Bangladesh, hvor han oplevede et fattigt land på første parket. Han har aldrig siden købt tøj syet i Bangladesh. Det var ekstreme dage i heden, og Marc fik i den grad et kulturmøde, der printede sig ind på nethinden. ”Da jeg sagde ja til at blive sømand, vidste jeg, at jeg kunne komme til at sejle i områder med fx pirater. Men man kan jo ikke pludselig droppe ud af den grund. Så er man nødt til at acceptere, at det er sådan, det er. Jeg kan da godt blive nervøs, så hjertet hopper, hvis jeg ser noget på radaren, der ikke bør være der, men samtidig ved jeg, hvor ofte vi øver sikkerhed om bord. Det betyder

noget. Det gør mig rolig, og jeg bestræber mig på at leve i nuet. Der hvor jeg er. ” ”Som sømand er det vigtigste at have baglandet i orden. Hvis man tager hjemmefra i ro, bliver det en god tur. Tager man afsted med problemer, er det en meget lang tur, og så er det svært at slappe af. Vi har jo nok af tid til at tænke! Især hvis man så også er på et skib uden internet. Så er det næsten som at være i et flydende lukket fængsel. Det bedste er bestemt at komme hjem efter tre måneders dont – til tre måneders ferie!”

Leder med potentiale Marc kan lide at have mange bolde i luften. Da han var leder på et betonværk, før han startede uddannelse, havde han 12 mand under sig, og det husker han som en god tid, selvom de knoklede konstant. Han kan motivere og være positiv. ”Jeg kan godt lide at få andre til at yde deres bedste. At skabe en god stemning – og så vil jeg gerne hjælpe dem, der måske er udfordret på forskellig vis. Fra egen krop ved jeg, hvor dum man kan føle sig, når kun ens mor kan se, hvor god man er”. Han smiler, kigger væk, og tankerne går tilbage til det utal af situationer, hvor han følte sig uden værdi. Som ringe i vandet, der breder sig, samler han på gode oplevelser. De er der. Nu. ”Det er jo helt tosset, at ingen i skolen opdagede, at jeg var ordblind. Der gør mig både ærgerlig og trist, at jeg først som 28-årig fik meldingen. Der er nogle spildte år og oplevelser, jeg kunne have været foruden. Dog er jeg nu lettet over, at jeg ved, hvorfor jeg skal arbejde mere end andre for at opnå de samme resultater. Resten af livet vil jeg nok skulle arbejde på at få mere selvværd. På at føle mig god nok.” •

he 17’th of December 2010, Marc André le Sage De Fontenay received the best Christmas present ever. Marc’s dream came true at a time when he was sailing as an inexperienced ship’s assistant for Scanlines. He was hired as probationer in the company Torm, starting January 19th, 2011 – a job that would take Marc all across the world and lead to great experiences in places such as Bangladesh, the piracy-infected Aden Bay, and Russia. Finally, the trainee-contract was brought home. The unbelievable had happened. And he exchanged the Danish ferry for a 183 meter tanker, with plenty of international colleagues. Getting on board and feeling the tension for the first time was an exciting experience: ”Everything was so new, English was the common language, and the good atmosphere onboard made me feel at home from the outset – the real, maritime life.” Says Marc as he laughs. On board he worked harder than ever. He was alive. Once again.

Self-worth begins with an S Behind him was a long survival process, from the childhood at Stevns, south of Copenhagen, where he went to six different public schools, as well as a few boarding schools, to end the journey. Almost everywhere he was told to be quiet, get himself together, and do his homework. At one of the boarding schools, things were a little brighter, and he discovered that your academic abilities did not have to define your worth. However, he still felt that people around him thought of him as stupid, and this made him respond aggressively. Finally, he lost his faith in himself. ”I just wanted to hang out with the others, but it was terrible, cause I didn’t know > how to do it. For years I had merely kept

my head down, because those around me told me I was stupid”, says Marc quietly. Not until he arrived at the Marstal School of Navigation, where he was convinced to take a test, did he discover that he was not stupid, he was merely dyslexis. From there, a new chapter in life could begin.

A diligence-award provided encouragement Now Marc is a trained home-trade master. The exams have all been a great challenge, and have cost him blood, sweat and stress. Luckily, both the Sea Training School and the Navigation School have treated him professionally and helped him through, and for this he is very thankful. Marc is the type of person who thinks twice before he asks a question, just to make sure it does not sound stupid. However, he is extremely articulate and is not afraid to make his opinion known. He has been the head of the student council, and after his last exam to become a hometrade master, he received the school’s diligence-award for having done his very best and worked harder than most. ”It was a great pad on the shoulder, and it makes me both happy and proud”, he says. At the moment, he is attending the Navigation School in Marstal, where he studies to become a shipmaster – maybe, some day, he will be chosen as captain. When he graduates, Torm has promised him twelve more months at sea. Most of all, he wants to work at a product-tanker, where the nature of the cargo demands extra professionalism – such as sailing with stearin or palm oil, which must be kept liquid during transportation. Marc sees that as an exciting challenge.

Sailing through storms Like waves washing up in a constant flow, Marc goes on talking about his experiences at sea. ”The worst weather I’ve experienced was when we headed in to two fullblown storms during a winter trip from Russia to America. We were thrown around in a big mess of waves, and for four days we could only move at 1-2 knots, while everything on the ship was chaos. I

thought it was great! You have no doubt you are alive, and everything is super intense. Nature unfolds on its own terms, and we can’t control the weather. In this kind of weather you experience how small we humans really are. Everything was tense, but I felt certain we would make it. It is exactly in these situations that you have to show your worth, and help make sure we hit the waves in the best way possible”, says Marc with a glimpse in his eye. I also joined a trip to Russia on an atom icebreaker. This really demanded patience, as all formalities had to be in order. The ship was transporting naphtha, which is a byproduct from oil production that is used in the vegetation-industry. Since then, Marc has sailed through the pirate-waters of the Aden Bay, with guards onboard, and has signed on in Bangladesh, where he witnessed a nation in true poverty, first hand. Since then, he has avoided all clothes that is sewn in Bangladesh. Those were days of extreme heat, and for Marc it was a cultural experience that he will never forget. ”When I agreed to become a sailor, I knew that I might have to sail through areas that are infamous for piracy. But to me this is no reason to quit. Instead, you have to accept the reality of things. It happens that I become nervous, and my heart skips a beat if I see something unexpected on the radar, that should not be there. But at the same time I know that our security is solid. This makes me calm, and I try to live in the moment, and not worry too much.” ”As a sailor, it is important to have support from back home. If you leave land in peace, it will be a good trip. If you leave in

the midst of problems, it becomes a very long trip, and it makes it hard to stay focused. Out there we have plenty of time to think! Especially if you are on a ship with no internet. Then it almost feels like being in a floating prison. The best thing is definitely to return home after three months of work – for three months of vacation!”

A leader with potential Marc likes having several projects running at once. When he was a leader at a concrete factory, before starting his training, he had twelve workers below him. He looks back at this time with joy, even though it was always hard work. He knows how to motivate others, and be positive. ”I like to try and make others do their best - to create a good atmosphere. And I really enjoy helping those around me who have specific challenges. I know from my own experience how stupid you can feel when only your mother tells you that you have talent.” He smiles, but his eyes reveal his thoughtfulness, as his mind returns to the many situations in which he felt worthless. With the pile constantly growing, Marc now collects good experiences: something that did not exist in the past. ”It is crazy that no one at school could see that I was dyslexic. It makes me both annoyed and sad that I had to turn 28 before I found out. Those were some years and experiences that I could definitely have lived without. Today I am relieved to know the reason why I have to work harder than others to reach the same results. I’ll probably have to work on my self-worth for the rest of my life; work to feel good enough.” •

Noter Notes

Sømand i ledelsen A sailor in the executive committee Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

38-årige Jonas Muff Kofoed er nyt medlem af Sømandsmissionens hovedbestyrelse. Han er uddannet maskinmester og arbejder for Mærsk Tankers som maskinchef. Privat bor han i Odense sammen med hustruen Hanne og tre børn. Her er de ofte at se i kirkelig sammenhæng.

Styrket sikkerhed FN’s internationale søfartsorganisation, IMO, gør det nu obligatorisk at veje lastede containere, før de transporteres til søs. Det vil styrke sikkerheden og forhindre forurening af havmiljøet. Reglerne træder i kraft den 1. juli 2016.

Vokseværk i Handelsflåden Handelsflåden under dansk flag er tæt på 16 mio ton dødvægt og har aldrig været større. Det viser nye tal fra Danmarks Rederiforening. I sidste kvartal 2014 var der 644 danskflagede handelsskibe med en samlet kapacitet på 15,85 millioner ton dødvægt. Det samlede tal for den danskkontrollerede flåde er omkring 1800 skibe. (Kilde: Dansk Rederiforening)

Lige nu er Sømandsmissionen i gang med en strategiproces, som han ser frem sig til at blive en del af, for med sin konkrete erfaring kan han pege på ting, som sømænd og fiskere efterspørger. Jo, den erfarne sømand glæder sig: ”Jeg går ind i dette spændende arbejde med forventning om at kunne bidrage med min erfaring og direkte føling med miljøet. Der er sket meget igennem de sidste år. Behovet for fiskere og søfolk er et andet. Dette behov håber jeg at kunne være med til at afdække, så der skabes god forbindelse med det maritime miljø og Sømandsmissionen, så søfolk og fiskere møder det kristne budskab.” •

38 year old Jonas Muff Kofoed is the latest member of the Seamen’s Mission’s executive committee. Jonas is a trained machine engineer and works for Maersk Tankers as chief engineer. Privately he lives in Odense with his wife Hanne and their three children, where they are engaged in the local church. At the moment, the Seamen’s Mission is in the middle of a strategy process. Jonas looks forward to taking part in it, and to use his concrete experience of the needs and requirements of those working in the maritime industries. Jonas is looking forward to getting started: ”I’m entering this exciting task with the expectation that I can contribute trough my professional experience and my direct contact with the maritime environment. A lot has changed in the past few years, and the needs among fishermen and sailors have changed. I hope I can be part of creating an updated overview of those needs, and through that, create good connections between the maritime world and the Seamen’s Mission, so that sailors and fishermen can encounter the Christian message.” •

Improved safety The UN’s international maritime organization IMO now makes it obligatory to weigh all loaded containers, before they are transported by ship. This will improve safety and prevent maritime pollution. The rules are put into force from the 1. of July, 2016.

Growth in the merchant navy New numbers from the Danish Shipowner’s Association show that the Danish merchant navy has never been bigger: it is coming close to a total of 16 mio. t. In the last quater of 2014 it counted 644 Danish merchant ships with a complete capacity of 15,85 million t. In dead weight. The complete number of ships in the Danish mechant navy is 1800. (Source: The Danish Shipowner’s Association)

Returadresse: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Havnepladsen 1 7100 Vejle

Erstat negative tanker med tro Replace your negative thoughts with faith Tekst: Sømandsmissionær/Seamen’s missionary Jørgen Knudsen

er er meget, der kan få os til at tænke negativt om os selv. Vores selvværd kan nemt blive dårligt. Vi synes måske ikke, vi slår til som forældre eller som ægtefælle. Der er måske noget på vores arbejde, som vi ikke synes, vi gør godt nok. Vi bliver måske endda skældt ud for ting, som vi har gjort forkert og ting, som vi ikke har fået gjort. Eller vi må bare erkende, at vi gør ting og tænker tanker om andre, som, vi inderst inde synes, er forkert. Jo, der er en del, som kan ødelægge vores eget syn på os selv. Men vi er meget værd! Der er nemlig én, der elsker os, på trods af alt det forkerte vi går og gør. Gud elsker dig, som den du er og ikke for det, du gør. Vi gør rigtig meget dårligt som mennesker, og alt det skiller os faktisk fra Gud. Gud kan nemlig ikke have fællesskab med os, være sammen med os, fordi vi handler imod det, han har sagt. Men Gud elsker os alligevel. Derfor sendte han sin søn Jesus ned på jorden – ikke for at dømme, men for at frelse os og dermed genetablere forholdet mellem ham og os. Jesus døde på korset for dig og mig – og for alle mennesker gennem generationer.

Hvis vi tror det, og tror på Gud som skaberen af alt, må vi få evigt liv. Derfor er Bibelens budskab klart: Du er så værdifuld, at Gud gerne vil være sammen med dig altid. Det bliver virkelighed, når du tror på Jesus! •

here are many things in life that can make us think less of ourselves. Our self-worth can easily be destroyed. Perhaps we do not feel successful as parents or spouses. Or maybe something at work makes us feel unworthy. We might even have people around us telling us that we should do better, and that we ought to put in more effort. And sometimes we have to admit that our hidden thoughts of those around us are wrong and destructive. There are indeed many things that can ruin our feeling of self-worth and value. But we have true value! Because there is someone who loves us, despite of all our wrongs. God loves you for who you are, not for what you do. As humans, we do a lot of bad things, and in fact these things separate us from God. God can not have communion with us, be

with us, when we go against the things that he has told us. But God loves us anyway. Therefore he sent his son Jesus to the Earth – not to judge us, but to save us and restore the relationship between him and us. Jesus died on the cross for you and me – and for all people through generations. If we believe that and trust in God as the creator of everything, we have eternal life. The word of the Bible is clear: You are so valuable that God wants to be with you always. That’s your reality, when you believe in Jesus! •