Waves #4 - August 2016

#4 3. årgang September 2016

NEWS FROM THE DANISH SEAMEN’S MISSION

Overblikket sidder under jorden Læ er lykke

The overview is underground

Shelter is happiness

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12

Styrket af stormen Strengthened by the storm

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Waves Nr. 4, september 2016, 3. årgang Vol. 4, september 2016. 3. edition 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: 4000 Årsabonnement Yearly subscription: 200 Dkr. Layout og tryk Layout and print: Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S Forside: Fra bunkeren nær Marselisborg Slot i Aarhus styrer Klaus og hans kolleger blandt andet alle søredningsoperationer i Danmark. Her på redningscenteret JRCC - Joint Rescue Coordination Centre - ved de aldrig, hvad dagen bringer.

Cover: From the bunker near Marselisborg Castle in Aarhus Klaus and his colleagues control all sea-rescue operations in Denmark. Here at the rescue center JRCC - Joint Rescue Coordination Centre - they never know what the day will bring.

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Tema: Storm Theme: Storm

Vi er alle i samme båd!

We are all in the same boat! uden varsel. Når nogen dør, en går, en bliver syg, en bliver fyret osv.

Sådan skriver biskop Henning Toft Bro blandt andet i sangen ”Fuglene letter mod vinden” fra 2003. Sangen handler om hav, natur og vand – men også om menneskelivet. Om at vi alle sammen møder storm i vores liv og formes af den. Den er et livsvilkår.

Mød Havard Vatnhamar, der som 16-årig mistede sin arm på et snurrevodsskib i en stiv kuling på Nordsøen og nu vil til OL. 68-årige Johannes Heilmann fra Nuuk der var skipper og nu fisker fra en jolle. Eller lad dig inspirere af artiklen på side 12 om, at det bedste ved storm er at søge læ i tryghed– hos Jesus, der har magt til at stilne stormen og knægte naturkræfterne.

Dette nummer af Waves handler om storme og redningsaktioner, om at søge læ og om at leve med de konsekvenser, som storme kan have. Både i bogstavelig forstand, når de truer menneskeliv, skib, materiel og landskaber, men også når vi uden advarsler rammes af uheld, sygdom, terror og elendighed. Livets storme har ikke en træfsikker meteorolog. De har det med at komme ud af det blå som vilde orkaner

Som mennesker er vi forskellige i stormen. Nogle kæmper, andre sidder mere opgivende og resignerer. De tænker måske: Hvad er dog et menneske i forhold til disse stærke kræfter. De føler en magtesløshed, som den, der kan ramme os alle, når farer truer. Samtidig viser det os, hvor og hos hvem, vi kan finde ro og støtte, hente livsmod og nye kræfter. Uanset, hvem vi er. Det er hos Jesus! •

”Live your life while you have it.

Live it through silences and storms See the birds take off against the wind.

Through headwinds life takes shape.”

So writes Bishop Henning Toft Bro in his song, “The birds take off against the wind” from 2003. The song describes the ocean, nature and sea – but also human existence, and the unavoidable storms of life that we all face and are shaped by.

This edition of Waves deals with storms and rescue missions; with seeking shelter and living with the consequences of the storms we experience. Both in a literal sense, when they threaten our lives, ships, equipment and nature, but also in the non-literal sense, when we are struck by accidents, sickness, terror and misery.

The storms of life cannot be predicted.

They appear out of the blue as wild hurricanes with no warning. When someone dies, is divorced, becomes ill, loses a job, etc.

Encounter Havard Vatnhamar, who lost his arm in a ring net during a rough storm at the North Sea, when he was only 16 years old, and who is now aiming for a spot at the Olympic Games. And meet the 68-years-old Johannes Heilmann from Nuuk, who was a shipmaster but is now fishing from his dinghy. Or go to the article at page 12, claiming that the best part about a storm is that you can run for shelter and safety in the arms of Jesus, who has the power to calm the storm.

All humans react differently in a storm.

Some fight while others tend to give up and resign. They might think: “What is a small human against such strong forces?”

They feel the powerlessness that strikes us all when danger is near. At the same time we get to understand to whom we can run for shelter and support, to renew our strength and power, no matter who we are. That person is Jesus. •

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FOTO: OLE B LARSEN

”Lev dit liv, mens du har det.

Lev det i stilhed og storm!

Se, fuglene letter mod vinden.

I modvind tar´ livet sin form.”

Tema: Storm Theme: Storm

Overblikket sidder under jorden The overview is underground Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

Klaus

Fra bunkeren nær Marselisborg Slot i Aarhus styrer Klaus og hans kolleger blandt andet alle søredningsoperationer i Danmark. Her på redningscenteret JRCC - Joint Rescue Coordination Centre - ved de aldrig, hvad dagen bringer.

From the bunker near Marselisborg Castle in Aarhus, Denmark Klaus and his colleagues manage all water-rescue missions in Denmark. Here at the rescue center JRCC – Joint Rescue Coordination Centre - they never know what the day will bring.

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larmen går i lokalet fyldt med skærme over hovedfærdselsårer til søs, trafikmønstre og aktivitet i danske farvande.

7-mandsholdet slipper kaffekopperne øjeblikkeligt og koncentrerer sig om endnu en søredningsaktion. I et splitsekund gælder det om at være hurtig og få overblikket fra hvert deres ansvarsområde. Intensiteten hænger i luften, der ellers kort tid før var fyldt med hyggelig snak og hverdagsopgaver. To personer er i vanskeligheder et sted i Aarhusbugten, og den ene er i vandet. Selv om det er sommer i Danmark, er vandet ikke specielt varmt, og derfor sender den vagthavende officer i Søværnet med det samme en helikopter afsted og opretter sagen i ODISS- kommunikationssystemet. Redningsstationer, skibe og lignende orienterer sig ikke gennem ODISS, men bliver informeret via andre kommunikationssystemer, fx VHF, telefon og SINE. Sidstnævnte er det kommunikationssystem, beredskaberne i Danmark anvender.

Mens vagthavende vurderer, hvilke ressourcer de skal kaste ind, og afventer flere detaljer, finder hans kolleger via forskelli-

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ge beregningsmoduler og prognoser step for step ud af, hvor de nødstedte er, hvilke skibe der kan hjælpe i nærheden og hvilken lokal redningstjeneste, der skal rykke ud. Fra minut til minut kan situationen ændre sig radikalt, og så må puslespillet samles på ny. I dag går det godt. Inden en halv time er de tre reddet og i god behold.

Der var nemlig tre og ikke to personer, som de første meldinger lød på.

Bunkeren beslutter Alle søredningsoperationer iværksættes, koordineres og udføres altså her under jorden hos redningscenteret JRCC - Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. De ansatte har 12 timers vagter, og stedet er både døgnbemandet og godt bevogtet.

Hvis et skib i dansk farvand kommer i nød, kalder skibet Forsvarets Operationscenter via Lyngby Radio eller udsender nødsignalet Mayday. Og her tager JRCC over, da de står for den samlede sø- og luftredningstjeneste i Danmark.

Klaus er vagtholdsleder på Forsvarets Operationscenter. Han følger søredningsoperationer og en del andet på sine skærme.

Holder fokus på Danmark lige nu – mest til vands, men også til lands og i luften. ”Det er en kæmpe tilfredsstillelse at redde folk. Har vi overdimensioneret ressourcerne, er det en god dag, for hellere som i dag fx sætte både helikopter og båd ind, selv om båden kom først. På de større ting evaluerer vi bagefter, så vi hele tiden kan ”optimere maskinen”. Derfor har vi heller ikke faste vagthold. Nye samarbejdskonstellationer giver færre dårlige rutiner, når vi skal løse opgaven. Vi kan hele tiden blive bedre, og det er heller ikke hver gang, at en redningsoperation forløber perfekt”, understreger han.

I første omgang handler det om at redde mennesker, dernæst kan operationerne fortsætte i lang tid, fx hvis et skib er strandet og skal hives fri, eller der er fare for olieudslip.

Når ballonen går op Klaus kan lide jobbet, fordi han ikke på forhånd behøver bekymre sig om, hvad arbejdsdagen bringer. Samtidig er han begej-

Hvad er søredning?

stret for den intensitet og præstation, der ligger i hver redningsopgave: ”Når ballonen går op – alarmen går, så kører det på de høje nagler, og den mentale øvelse skal man naturligvis kunne. Vi er trænet i at håndtere mange typer af situationer – fra en søredningsopgave til terror og episoder med fx danske soldater på mission i udlandet," siger han.

Som et eksempel på en operation, hvor det var nødvendigt med mange prioriteringer, nævner han Præstø Fjord hændelsen i 2011, hvor 2 lærere og 13 efterskoleelever kæntrede i en dragebåd på Præstø Fjord, og den ene lærer omkom, mens de andre kun overlevede med nød og næppe.

Dengang var der blandt andet koblet 4 helikoptere, 6 redningsbåde, 12 ambulancer, 2 lægebiler og en række hospitaler på. Efterfølgende pågik arbejdet med at lave nye tabeller ud fra nyeste forskning, og man er nu ekstra opmærksomme ved lave vandtemperaturer på, at det faktisk er muligt at genoplive i ret lang tid efter, at hjertet stopper. •

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he alarm goes off in the room filled with screens monitoring the main sea routes in Denmark and all traffic and activity in Danish waters. The crew of seven people let go of their coffee cups and direct their attention at yet another rescue mission. It is crucial to react fast and create a clear overview of each area of responsibility. While seconds ago the room was filled by a quiet conversation, the atmosphere is now intense. Two individuals are in danger somewhere in the Aarhus Bay, and one of them is in the water. Even though it is summer in Denmark, the water is not very warm, and therefore the officer in charge sends a helicopter straight away and opens up a case in the ODISScommunication system. Rescue stations, ships and other vessels do not use ODISS, but receive information through other sources, such as VHF, phone or SINE. The latter is also used by the Danish military.

While the officer in charge decides what needs to be done and awaits more detail, his colleagues are calculating the exact location of the subjects and investigating what ships can step in to help and what local rescue station is available. Any min-

Søredning er eftersøgning af personel på havet, fx personel der er faldet overbord, personel i en redningsflåde fra et sunket skib, personel der er faldet ned fra en bro eller personel i et fartøj, der ikke kan sejle. I sommerhalvåret er der især mange søredningsopgaver, når folk på Vestkysten bliver overrasket af havstrømme og driver for langt væk fra land. Søredning vil ofte være fokuseret på eftersøgningsdelen; det at finde folk. I søredning i Danmark indgår typisk både redningshelikoptere fra Forsvaret, skibe fra Søværnet, Marinehjemmeværnet, Kystredningstjenesten samt civile der er i området.

What is a sea rescue?

A sea rescue is a search-and-rescue of personnel at sea, such as individuals who has fallen overboard, individuals in life rafts, people who have fallen off a bridge or people in dysfunctional vessels. During the summer months there is a long range of sea-rescue missions when tourists at the Danish west coast are surprised by strong currents and are dragged away from shore. Sea rescue is highly focused on the search-stage. Taking part in sea rescue missions in Denmark are both rescue helicopters from the Defense, ships from the Navy, the Home Guard Navy, the Coastguard and civilians in the various areas.

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Tema: Storm Theme: Storm

Vidste du?

Ved udgangen af 1851 var der oprettet 22 redningsstationer mellem Skagen og Blåvand, alle med raketapparater og de 14 af dem med synkefri redningsbåde. Det skete på baggrund af en redningsaktion 12.-13. april 1847, hvor det engelske barkskib ”Vertumnus” strandede ved Harboøre strand. Her blev 4 mænd reddet, mens 13 omkom. De ville kunne være reddet, hvis man havde rådet over tidssvarende redningsudstyr. Strandingen gav stødet til etablering af en organiseret søredningstjeneste i Danmark. Primus motor var kammerråd Christopher Berent Claudi, der selv deltog i redningsaktionen.

Den 26. marts 1852 blev ”Lov angaaende Redningsvæsenet på de danske Kyster” vedtaget, og redningsvæsenet i Danmark var født.

Did you know?

ute the situation can change drastically, and then everything must be reconsidered. Today it goes well. In less than 30 minutes the three subjects have been rescued. They turned out to be three and not two, as first assessed.

The bunker makes the call All maritime rescue missions are initiated, coordinated and carried out here under ground at the JRCC – Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. The employees work twelve hour shifts, and the place is active 24/7 and is highly secure.

If a vessel in Danish waters is in danger, it calls the Danish Defense Operation Centre via radio or sends out the MAYDAY emergency signal. This is where JRCC takes over. They take care of all sea and airborne rescue missions in Denmark.

Klaus is leading his team at the Danish Defense Operation Centre. He follows rescue missions at sea and other activities on his monitor. Currently his focus is mainly on Denmark, mostly the maritime sector, but also on land and overhead.

“It is an amazing feeling to rescue people.

If we are over-prepared it is only a good thing. Better, as we did today, call in both the boat and the helicopter, even though

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the boat was first at the scene. On bigger missions we evaluate afterwards, so we can keep our procedures smooth. We also don’t have regular shifts. New constellations produce fewer bad habits, when we need to solve a challenge. We can always get better, and our operations do not always work out perfectly”, he states. It is first and foremost about saving lives. After that the operation can go on for a long time, as when a ship has gone on the rocks and needs to be pulled free, or if there is a danger of an oil leak.

When the balloon goes up Klaus enjoys his job, because he does not have to worry prematurely about what the day will bring.

At the same time he likes the intensity and the need to perform embedded in every mission: “When the balloon goes up and the alarm goes we are on 100 percent, and that is of course a mental challenge. We are trained to handle many different situations – from on-water rescue missions to terror attacks and helping out Danish soldiers abroad,” he says.

As an example of an operation where making priorities was essential he mentions an incident in Danish waters in 2011,

In late 1851 22 new rescue stations had been established along the Danish west coast, all with rocket apparatus and 14 of them with unsinkable lifeboats. The improvement was initiated after a rescue mission on the 12th and the 13th of April 1847, where the English bark “Vertumnus” stranded in Harboøre at the Danish west coast. Four people were rescued while 13 died. They could have been safe, if the equipment had lived up to modern standards. The incident led to the establishment of an organized maritime rescues service in Denmark. The main catalyst was Christopher Berent Claudi, who also took part in the rescue mission. On the 26th of March 1852 the “law regarding coastguards on Danish shores” was approved, and the Danish Rescue Services were born.

where 2 teachers and 13 boarding school students capsized in a small inlet. One teacher died, while the others only barely made it. The rescue mission included 4 helicopters, 6 rescue boats, 14 ambulances and a range of hospitals. This incidence led to new research which has shown that it is possible to resuscitate in relatively cold water for a longer period if the heart stops. •

Portræt Portrait

Havet er en trofast kollega The ocean is a faithful colleaque Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

-årige Johannes Heilmann er stamkunde på sømandshjemmet i Nuuk.

Her er han kommet i snart 50 år, og i dag er ingen undtagelse. Nu trænger han til en pause fra at rode med motordele. Han taler hurtigt, har meget på hjerte, og mimikken fortæller også om livets op- og nedture.

Han har prøvet meget og har ejet flere kuttere i tidens løb. Han har ladet sig engagere. Han er en fighter. Fra 2013-2016 var han fx formand for fiskere og fangere i Nuuk, men det er han ikke længere efter en del uenigheder. Han vil ikke være bitter, men arbejder videre. ”Man skal vise, hvad man kan”, siger han. Privat er han stolt af sine 17 efterkommere, selv om ingen af dem er fiskere eller fangere. 7 børn (en søn er død) og 11 børnebørn. Jo, der er da sket et og andet, siden han blev født i den gamle gule bygning i Godthåb, det nuværende Nuuk.

Forandringens vinde Selv har Johannes sejlet nærmest altid. I mange år med faderen, der styrede båden, mens Johannes og brødrene fiskede og havde styr på garnene. Det var hans far, der viste ham, hvordan man fanger en hval, skyder et rensdyr, fanger en sæl og styrer et skib. Generationers viden blev fortalt videre, og det var en stor dag, da hans bedstefar fik den første trækutter på 22 fod i 1951.

Som 14-årig kom Johannes på efterskole og siden på Sønderborg Søfartsskole. Han taler udover grønlandsk, dansk og engelsk.

Han er vidende og optaget af verden omkring sig.

Engang ejede han en større rejekutter, som der ikke var så mange af på det tidspunkt i Nuuk. Det var, da rejeeventyret begyndte, og det gav gode penge. Havet har altid været hans trofaste kollega, også nu hvor de store kuttere er skiftet til en jolle. ”Kvoterne bliver hele tiden skåret ned, og det har været en udfordring, fordi vi netop via fangsterne prøvede at skaffe os selv indtægter. De store fiskefabrikker og

FOTO: TORLEIF JOHANNESEN

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Johannes Heilman renser rødfisk i sin jolle efter en fisketur. Lillebroderen kom og hjalp ham, da han var kommet i havn.

Johannes Heilmann cleans redfish in his dinghy after a fishing trip.

His little brother came down and helped, when he came into harbor.

kuttere har udfordret alle mindre fiskere, fordi vi ikke har kunnet det samme med vores udstyr. Da man også fjernede fabriksanlæg fra Nuuk, blev det næsten umuligt, og jeg mistede da også min kutter i 2002.”

Der er også forbud mod at eksportere hvalkød, hvilket Johannes har svært ved at forstå, når der kunne være et marked for det. ”Min tilgang er, at når jeg ved, fisken, hvalen, sælen er der, så er det føde for mennesker. Og det skal vi kunne bruge.”

50 år som hvalfanger Fra 1955-2002 har Johannes selv været hvalfanger og brugte harpunkanonen lige

så hjemmevant som kniv og gaffel. Når han fortæller om det, lyser øjnene op, og engagementet er i top: ”Jeg er opfostret til hvalfangst, og nu drømmer jeg om, at der kunne blive lavet en film om kunsten at fange en hval, hvor fangerne selv viser håndværket. Der er meget dokumentarmateriale tilgængeligt, og jeg vil gerne medvirke", siger han, inden han tilføjer:"For hvordan er det, man fanger en 22 m finhval og får den slæbt med båden, når der er 10 timer hjem, og fangeren skal beregne tidevand og tage hensyn til både is og vejret i øvrigt.?

Netop tidevandet er vigtigt, når hvalen skal parteres. Når den er slæbt ind på land, skal det helst være lavvandet, så fangerne kan partere den. Det tager typisk 10 mand to > døgn at gøre det. Når det så er højvande,

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Portræt Portrait

kan de vende de mange ton hval om.” Fx har Johannes fanget vågehvaler, finhvaler og pukkelhvaler. Sidstnævnte dog kun frem til 1985, inden de igen blev lovlige at jage i 2010. Man kunne få 250.000 kr. for en pukkelhval og noget mindre for vågehvaler.

Sømandshjemmet i Nuuk / The Seamens home in Nuuk.

Når båden kæntrer Årene på havet har udfordret Johannes mange gange. Han ved fra egen krop, at havet kan vise tænder og sende mandskab og materiel til tælling. Fx husker han den 19. november 1961, hvor hans fars båd kæntrede. Det var voldsomt. Årsagen var den billige olie, som den nye motor ikke kunne tåle. Båden kæntrede, selv om det ikke var uvejr. Hans far var under vandet i fem minutter, hang der i selerne fra kedeldragten, men kom endelig op omend meget forkommen. Besætningen kom i jollen, roede ind mod land, og de to stærkeste gik over fjeldet for at hente hjælp. Alle blev reddet.

I 1967 fik Johannes kørekort, som han brugte til at køre taxi på den dengang tre km vej i Godthåb. Da der kom forbud mod at have to slags indtægter – fra fx fiskeri og taxikørsel, valgte han fiskeriet. Dog kunne han ikke forstå, hvorfor foretagsomhed og initiativ skulle straffes.

I 1981 købte han en brugt kutter til at fiske torsk og hellefisk. Senere i 1988 købte han så en rejekutter, som han sejlede hjem over Atlanten. Det tog 14 dage, og undervejs stormede det fælt. Hele 60 timer lå skibet underdrejet, og Johannes måtte bruge al sin erfaring og viden på at nå sikkert videre. ”Der fik jeg for alvor min skippereksamen”, siger han.

Johannes har stået livets storme igennem, og de har påvirket hans professionelle virke - ikke mindst fordi det blandt andet har handlet om at tage med til behandlinger på Rigshospitalet i København, 4200 km væk, og det har givet lange afbræk.

Først med hans kræftsyge kone i 1993, senere med en søn, som døde i 2002. Siden fik en datter bylder i munden flere gange og måtte behandles i Danmark, og sådan var det for flere familiemedlemmer i perioder. Da hans hustru døde af kræft den 23. november 2014, var det nok.

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”Det var hårdt, for vi fik knap 48 år sammen. Vi arvede ingenting efter hende, fordi staten sagde, at hendes pension var indefrosset og aldrig kommer til udbetaling.

Det har fået mig til at kæmpe på ny, fordi det ikke er rimeligt”, siger Johannes stille.

Den lune ret er blevet kold, mens Johannes har talt sig varm. Om lidt går han tilbage til jollen på havnen i Nuuk. Motoren skal samles, før han kan fiske på ny. •

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years old Johannes Heilmann is a regular at the Seamen’s Home in Nuuk. He has been coming here for almost 50 years and today is no different.

He needed a break from working on his old engine. He speaks fast, has a lot to say, and his face speaks of a life marked by ups and downs. He has tried a lot and has owned several cutters during his lifetime. He has always been very active and is a true fighter. From 2013 till 2016 he was chairman for the Fishermen’s Union in Nuuk, but he resigned after some disagreements. He does not want to be bitter.

Instead he continues his work. “You have to show what you can do”, he says. Privately, he is proud of his 17 descendants, even though none of them are fishermen.

7 children, (one son died) and 11 grandchildren. A lot has happened since he was

Johannes Heilmann.

born in the old yellow building in Godthåb, now called Nuuk..

Times Change Johannes has spent most of his life at sea.

For many years he sailed with his father, who steered the boat while Johannes and his brothers were fishing and keeping the yarns in order. It was his father who showed him how to catch a whale, shoot a reindeer, catch a seal and sail a ship.

Knowledge is passed down through generations, and it was a significant day, when

It was rough. The accident was caused by the cheap oil, which the new engine could not handle. The boat went down even though the sea was calm. His father was under water for five minutes, stuck in his boiler suit, but finally got out, completely exhausted. The crew picked him up in the dinghy, sailed to shore and the strongest men walked across the mountain to get help. Everyone was saved.

is a market for it. “As I see it, when I know that the fish, whale or seal is there, it is also food for humans, and we should make use of it.”

50 years as a whaler

his grandfather bought his first wooden cutter in 1951.

When he was 14, Johannes went to boarding school and later he attended Sønderborg Maritime College. Besides Greenlandic he speaks Danish and English. He is knowledgeable and interested in the world around him.

He used to own a large shrimp cutter, which was rarely seen in Nuuk at the time. It was when the shrimp adventure began that he started to earn real money.

The ocean has always been a faithful colleague, also now as the large cutter has been replaced with a smaller dinghy.

“The quotas were constantly tightened, and it has been a challenge as it is our livelihood. The large factories and cutters have been challenging the smaller ones and have outdone our less modern equipment. When a factory closed down in Nuuk, it became almost impossible, and I lost my cutter in 2002.” Also, it is prohibited to export whale meat, which Johannes finds difficult to understand, when there

From 1955 to 2002 Johannes was a whaler and was using the harpoon as confidently as his knife and fork. When he talks about it his eyes shine, and he is truly drawn in: “I grew up with whaling, and now I dream of a movie portraying the art of catching a whale, where the whalers get to put their craft on display. There is already a lot of video material, and I would be happy to participate”, he says, and goes on: “Cause how do you catch a 22 meters long fin whale, attach it to a boat and drag it home on a 10 hour journey with various tides as well as icebergs and changing weather? In fact the tide is essential, when you cut up a whale. When dragged onto shore it needs to be low tide, so the whalers can begin their work. It typically takes ten men two days to finish the work. When the high tide comes, the whalers can turn the whale on to the other side. “Johannes has been catching minke whales, fin whales and humpback whales; the latter only before 1985, before it became legal again in 2010. You could get 30,000 dollars for a humpback whale or a smaller minke whale.

Small memories of great significance The years at sea have often been challenging. Johannes knows from experience that the ocean is dangerous and can defeat any man. He remembers the 19th of November 1961, where his father’s boat went down.

In 1967 Johannes got his driver’s license, which he used to drive a taxi on the 2 miles long road in Godthåb. Later it was made illegal to have more than one source of income, such as fishing and driving a taxi, and he chose fishing. However, he never understood why enterprise and initiative should be punished.

In 1981 Johannes bought a used cutter for fishing codfish and halibut. Later, in 1988, he bought a shrimp cutter which he sailed home over the Atlantic Ocean. It took 14 days, and he went through a rough storm.

The ship had to lie low for 60 hours, and Johannes need to apply all his experience and knowledge to reach harbor safely.

“There I got my real master’s certificate”, he says.

Johannes has made it through the storms of life, and they have affected him greatly.

Among other things he has had to go to the central hospital in Copenhagen several times, 4200 km from home. First he went in 1993 with his wife who suffered cancer and later with their son who died in 2002.

Later their daughter suffered from abscess and had to receive treatment in Denmark several times. Similar things happened to various members of the family. When his wife died from cancer in November 2014 he had had enough.

“It was tough, as we had been together for 48 years. She left no heritage as the State said that her retired pay was locked and could never be cashed out. “It made me keep on fighting because it wasn’t fair”, Johannes says in a quiet voice. The hot meal has turned cold as Johannes himself is heating up. Soon he will return to his boat in Nuuk Harbor. The engine must be fixed before he can return to work. •

9

Tema: Storm Theme: Storm

Styrket af stormen Strengthened by the storm Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

Havard Vatnhamar er en fighter / Havard Vatnhamar is a fighter.

Ulykken på fiskekutteren var tæt på at koste Havard Vatnhamar livet. Nu stiller han nok op til OL om fire år. For Færøerne.

The accident at the cutter almost cost Harvard Vatnhamar his life. In four years he will be competing at the Olympics.

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et er ikke første gang, men næsten.

16-årige Havard Vatnhamar er på job med sin bror på et snurrevodsskib for at få noget sejltid, inden han vil søge ind på Svendborg Søfartsskole. Der er en stiv kuling på Nordsøen, og de er næsten færdige med at rense fisk her lidt før middag den 12. august 1992. Han skal bare lige gøre det sidste, da det går galt. Tovværk og spuleslange kommer på tværs, han taber fiskene, hører en lyd af gummi, prøver at tage fra med

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venstre hånd, men kommer rundt i spillet ved tovværket. Havard slår nakken og hamrer hagen i dækket et par gange. Han sidder ubehjælpeligt fast og er dødsens, selv om spillet mærkværdigt nok stopper af sig selv.

Smerten er der ikke. Endnu. Men det er lyset: ”Jeg ser en masse lys og for enden af lyset, en der kommer gående imod mig. Jeg opfatter det som Jesus, og det beroliger mig.

Jeg glemmer det aldrig!”

Hjertestop og humor Havard er i livsfare. En kollega fryser fast på stedet i chok, mens hans bror først kommer op lidt senere fra kahytten. Det syn, der møder ham, får ham til at reagere prompte. Han giver Havard kunstigt åndedræt, mens han endelig får kaldt SOS. Et par timer efter kommer redningshelikopteren, men vejret er for dårligt til, at de kan hente ham. I stedet firer de en båre ned, hvor han bliver spændt fast. ”Det var et flot syn at ligge deroppe og se ned på skibet, der blev kylet rundt på bølgerne. Jeg var mest nervøs for, om viren holdt, mens jeg blev hejset op, og”, husker Havard.

Snart husker han ikke mere. På Aalborg Sygehus går kirurger i gang med at operere i mange timer. En del af hans krop er medtaget, og nakken opereres som den første. Siden finder han sig selv i bandager og morfinrus. Han har hævelser mange steder, og han får at vide, at han også får hjertestop. På et tidspunkt sætter de så det meste af højre arm af.

Undervejs holder han sig oppe ved sit positive livssyn og masser af humor. Og så er han ikke i tvivl om, at Gud har omsorg for ham.

Kampen begynder efter ulykken Da han kommer hjem fra hospitalet, længes han derop igen, for der var mere ro end hjemme, og det er svært at blive bevidst om sit nye liv. For hvad skal han nu?

Da han kommer til hægterne, arbejder han lidt på et sømandshjem og på Thyborønfærgen. Han sætter en ære i at tjene sine egne penge, selv om han ikke længere kan holde til et fuldtidsjob. Derfor regner han også med, at kommunen hjælper ham med et flexjob, men sådan er det ikke: ”Ulykken var ingenting sammenlig-

net med kampen for at få et liv bagefter.

Her var kommunen modspiller, og de hørte ikke engang efter Arbejdsskadestyrelsen eller på de ideer, jeg selv havde til mulige job. Sagen endte i retten.”

Senere finder han selv job forskellige steder, blandt andet som bilsælger, inden han begynder på Nr. Nissum Seminarium. For at gøre en både træls og årelang historie kort, finansierer han selv sin læreruddannelse, og siden 1. februar 2015 har han nydt sit flexjob på Finnerup Efterskole.

Her underviser han i matematik, engelsk og idræt, når han da ikke løber halvmaraton med eleverne. Han vil gerne lære dem at tage ansvar for egne handlinger, at nå mål og pakke deres potentiale ud som mennesker. Så de føler sig ok og får opbygget selvværd.

Mærkbar motivation Havard motiveres af motion og bevægelse.

Desuden tager det også fokus fra nogle af de kroniske smerter. Tidligere var det fodbold, nu er det at løbe, cykle og svømme.

Han er som handicappet idrætsudøver blevet Danmarksmester i Paratri Cykling i 2015, og hans næste mål er internationale konkurrencer og eventuelt OL – de internationale paralympiske lege, hvis resultater, helbred og økonomi går op. Det er det største og mest prestigefyldte idrætsstævne for handicappede idrætsudøvere. Havard vil da stille op for Færøerne, da han er derfra. En ny drøm er på vej ud i virkeligheden. ”Jo, min drøm om at komme ud og sejle blev knust i ulykken, men jeg har aldrig været utilfreds med mit liv. Jeg har aldrig bebrejdet Gud den, men engang imellem, hvis jeg har en down-dag, kan jeg godt med et glas rom i hånden åbne for min sårbarhed og tude lidt, mens jeg spørger, "hvorfor mig?” ”Min kristentro er enkel. Det er den, jeg hviler i, når jeg er rastløs og føler mig mangelfuld. Jeg føler mig elsket som den, jeg er, og med alle de fejl, jeg har. Gud kender mig, som jeg er – uden forbehold.

Det giver mig energi, ”siger Havard.

Snart kommer hustru og børn hjem. Hverdagen kommer vrimlende, men selv har han dog viljen til at ville videre. •

I

t is not the first time, but almost. Sixteen year-old Harvard Vatnhamar is working with his brother at a ring net ship in order to spend some time at sea before applying to Svendborg Maritime College. A strong breeze blows at the North Sea and not long before noon at the 12th of August 1992 they are almost done cleaning the fish. He is about to round up, as the accident happens.

A rope gets entangled with the wash-deck hose, he drops the fish, hears a sound of rubber, tries to avert with his left hand but gets entangled in the capstan. Havard hits the back of his head and his chin. He is completely stuck and completely helpless, although the capstan surprisingly has stopped.

He does not feel the pain yet, but he sees a light: “I see a strong light and at the end of the light a person comes walking toward me. I think it is Jesus. It makes me more calm. And I will never forget that moment.”

Heart failure and humor Havard is in great danger. A colleague is paralyzed by shock, and it takes a while before his brother ascends from the cabin.

The terrible sight makes him react instantly. He gives him artificial respiration, and sends out the SOS signal. A few hours later the rescue helicopter arrives. But the weather is too poor for them to pick him up. Instead they send down a stretcher, where he is securely fastened.

“It was beautiful to be up there looking down at the ship as it was tossed around by the waves. I was mostly nervous about the wire breaking”, tells Havard.

From there his memory fails. At the hospital in Aalborg the surgeons begin an extensive surgery. A large part of his body is injured, and they operate on his neck first.

Later he awakes to find himself bruised, covered in bandages and numbed by the morphine. He is told that he has had a stroke. Later they are forced to amputate most of his right arm.

Havard clings to his positive view on life and his good humor. He is sure that God cares for him

The struggle begins after the accident After he arrives home he longs to go back to the hospital. It was a calmer place to

be, and it is hard to grasp his new situation. What will happen now? As he slowly recovers, he starts working at a seamen’s home and at a small ferry. It is important for him to earn his own living, even though he cannot handle a full time job.

He expects the municipality to help him get a part-time job, but it does not work like that: “The accident was nothing compared to the struggle to build a life afterwards. Here the municipality was an opponent who did not listen to the public guidelines or my own suggestions. The case went to court.”

Later he finds various jobs on his own.

First as a car salesman before starting an education as teacher. To make a sad and long story short, he paid for his own degree, and since February 2015 he has enjoyed his part time job at a boarding school. Here he teaches math, English and recreation, when he is not doing half-marathons with his students. He wants them to learn to take responsibility for their own actions, reach goals and unfold their potential, so they feel confident and build up self-esteem.

A strong motivation Havard is motivated by physical activity, which also partly take focus from his pain.

It used to be football, now it is running, cycling and swimming. In 2015 he won the Danish para-championships in cycling, and his next goal is international competitions or maybe the Paralympics in 2020. It is the largest and most prestigious competitions for disabled athletes. Havard will be competing for the Faroe Islands, where he is born. A new dream is about to come true.

But it depends of helse, money and results.

“Yes, my dream of sailing was broken by the accident, but I have never been dissatisfied. I never blamed God, but when I have a bad day it happens that I let out a few tears and ask him “why me?”.

My Christian faith is simple. I rest in it when I feel restless and faulty. I feel loved as who I am, with all my flaws. God knows me as I am - with no restraints. It gives me energy”, says Havard. Soon his wife and children will be home. Everyday life awaits, but Havard has the will to carry on. •

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Tema: Storm Theme: Storm

Det bedste ved storm er at finde læ The best thing about a storm is to find shelter Tekst: Generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe / General secretary Nicolaj Wibe

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i var på vandring i de norske fjelde, og stormen kom ret pludseligt. Efter teltet var rejst, og vi var kravlet ned i de tørre soveposer, var stormen blevet endnu værre. Men vi havde det hyggeligt og godt derinde i teltet. Det bedste ved storm er at finde læ.

Jeg er vokset op på Bornholm, og når stormen rasede, var læsiden af øen opholdssted for mange skibe. Mange af dem havde last, som ikke måtte forskubbe sig, så læ fra Bornholm har givet mange søfolk tryghed i storm.

For et par år siden besøgte jeg en kroatisk ø. Et stort uvejr var under opsejling. Luften stod stille, mens de tordenmørke skyer trak op. Jeg holdt øje med en lille sejlbåd, som langsomt nærmede sig havn. Det var et tydeligt kapløb med tiden. Ville de nå ind, inden uvejret brød løs? De nåede

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det ikke, og da de endelig nåede i havn, gik vi ned for at hjælpe dem til kajs. Jeg lagde mærke til deres blikke. De var bange. Stormen havde været frygtelig derude, og den havnemole, der for lidt siden havde set fredfyldt ud, var blevet forvandlet til noget, der kunne knuse deres skib.

Storm er et livsvilkår Ifølge Bibelen er Jesus ikke bange for storm. I en beretning, hvor han og hans venner er ude at sejle, ligger han og sover midt under en storm, som angiveligt kunne få skibet til at synke. Besætningen vækker ham og siger: "Herre, frels os! Vi går under." Jesus rejser sig og truer ad stormen, og det bliver med ét blikstille.

Det bedste ved storm er at finde læ!

Storm kan være så meget. Jeg kender flere, som i dette øjeblik oplever storm i deres

liv. Bekymrende sygdom. Barnløshed. Ufred med naboer. Dødsfald. Der findes intet menneskeliv, hvor storm ikke rammer i ny og næ. Og så er det godt at finde læ. Der er læsere af dette Waves, som lige nu sidder midt i en livs-storm, og du længes efter læ.

At søge læ Det er fristende her at skrive noget, som kan lyde flot, men alligevel være svært at tro på og tage imod. Nemlig dette, at midt i en storm – på havet eller i sit liv – kan man finde læ ved at folde sine hænder og bede til Gud. Men jeg bliver nødt til at skrive det, for det er sandt. Der er en ufattelig fred at finde i det at ”søge læ” hos Gud. Jeg har netop været på besøg hos Den Indre Sjømannsmisjon i Norge (søsterorganisation til os der udgiver Waves), og

mødte der det igen og igen. Mennesker, der havde været i tung nød, som fandt læ hos Gud. Ikke altid på den måde, at det, der skabte storm i deres liv, forsvandt, men på den måde, at de midt i stormen alligevel kunne stå oprejst og føle sig støttet af Gud.

3 minutter og en ændret kurs Der findes intet menneskeliv uden storm.

Nogle storme er værre end andre. Næste gang du oplever en storm, vil jeg anbefale dig, at du finder et sted, hvor du kan være 100 % alene. Fold dine hænder og bed til Gud. Bed i mindst 3 minutter. Gør det igennem hele den periode stormen raser.

Jeg vil ikke fortælle dig, hvad den bøn kommer til at gøre ved dig. For jeg aner det ikke. Men han som kan få en storm på havet til at lægge sig, ved nok, hvad han skal gøre. For bønnen rører Guds hjerte.

To danske søfolk fortæller denne beretning (frit gengivet og meget forkortet): ”Det var nat, og kaptajnen gik ned og lagde sig. Styrmanden tog vagten på broen.

De sejlede syd for Grønland og havde fået melding om isbjerge. Efter nogle fredelige timer på broen så styrmanden en skygge bag sig. Det lignede kaptajnen, men han var hurtigt væk.

Efter en tid vender styrmanden sig om og ser en besked ligge på kortbordet. En besked om at styre i en bestemt retning.

Styrmanden tænkte, at det var kaptajnen,

der havde lagt den der, og ændrede kurs.

Men det var en kurs direkte ind i det område, hvor der havde været melding om isbjerge. Der blev sejlet med stor forsigtighed. Med ét ser styrmanden tre ”prikker” på kanten af et isbjerg. Han sejler med stærkt nedsat fart nærmere og kan i sin kikkert se, at det er tre mænd. Besætningen purres, og de får de tre forkomne mænd ombord. Deres skib var gået ned, og de var eneste overlevende.

Kaptajnen spørger styrmanden, hvad i alverden der havde fået ham til at ændre kurs! Styrmanden fortæller om beskeden på kortbordet, og det viser sig, at den ikke var lagt af kaptajnen.

En af de tre overlevende mænd fortæller, hvad der er sket. Han havde råbt til Gud derude på isbjerget. Råbt om redning.

Guds svar var at sende besked til styrmanden. Skyggen må have været en engel.

Dem er der nemlig så mange af.

Det bedste ved en storm er at finde læ! •

W

e were hiking in the mountains in Norway as a storm surprised us. After having found shelter in our tents, the storm grew stronger. But inside the tent we felt safe. The best part of a storm is finding shelter.

I grew up at a small island (Bornholm), and when the storm came the ships went to the sheltered side of the island. Many

carried cargo that had to be protected, and the island has provided safe shelter for many sailors.

A few years ago I visited an island in Croatia. A strong storm was approaching, and the air stood still while the dark clouds moved closer. I had my eyes on a small sailing boat, which was slowly approaching the harbor. It was a race against time.

Would they make it before the storm broke loose? The boat got caught in the storm, and when they finally made it to the harbor, we went down to give them a hand. I noticed their eyes. They were scared. The storm had been terrible, and the pier that used to look so peaceful had turned into an enemy that could crush their ship.

Life has its storms According to the Bible Jesus does not fear the storm. In one account Jesus and his friends are out sailing, and Jesus goes to sleep in the middle of a storm which could cause the boat to sink. The crew wakes him up and says: “Lord, save us! We are sinking.” Jesus stands up and commands the storm to be still. The best part of a storm is finding shelter!

Storms can be very different. I know several people who experience storms in their lives; serious illness, childlessness, conflict with neighbors, sudden death.

Everyone experiences storms now and >

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Tema: Storm Theme: Storm

then, and then it is good to seek shelter. Some of you readers of this magazine are experiencing a storm this very moment, and you long for shelter.

Seeking Shelter At this point it is tempting to write something that sounds amazing but is actually difficult to believe and take in; namely that in the middle of the storm – at sea or in life – you can find shelter by clasping your hands together and praying to God. But I have to write it because it is true. Seeking shelter in God can bring a tremendous peace.

I recently visited the Seamen’s Mission in Norway, our sister organization, and I found this to be true again and again; people who have been in deep despair but who found shelter in God. Not because all their troubles disappeared, but in the sense that in the middle of their storms they found the power to stand tall and felt strengthened by God.

Fakta Storm er, når det blæser 25 meter i sekundet, mens en orkan blæser med 32 meter i sekundet.

Mange bruger enheden meter pr. sekund, men hvis du vil have antal kilometer i timen, skal du gange med 3,6.

Dermed svarer orkanstyrke til vindhastigheder på 115 km/t.

Danmark bliver ikke ramt af så voldsomme orkaner som områderne i det sydøstlige USA og Mellemamerika. Storme i vores område kaldes for ekstratropiske storme, og de er skabt af temperaturforskelle mellem Arktis og sydligt liggende områder. De kommer slet ikke op på de samme voldsomme vindstyrker, eller giver de samme mængder af nedbør som tropiske orkaner. Den værste og kraftigste storm, man har kendskab til på danske breddegrader, var dog stormen 3. december 1999. Den slog syv mennesker ihjel og gav skader for op mod 17 mia. kr.

3 minutes and a change of course There are no lives without storms. Some storms are worse than others. When you experience a storm my advice is that you find a place where you can be alone. Clasp your hands together and pray to God. Pray for at least three minutes. Do it throughout the whole storm.

I will not tell you what the prayer will do to you, because I do not know. But he who could calm the sea will know what to do, and your prayer will touch his heart.

Two Danish sailors tell this story (a free and shortened retelling) “It was night and the captain went down to sleep. The first mate took the shift at the bridge. They were sailing south of Greenland and had received reports about oncoming icebergs. After a few peaceful hours at the bridge the first mate saw a shadow behind him. It looked like the captain, but it disappeared quickly. After a while the first mate turns around and finds a message on the navigation table; a message to steer in a new direction. The first mate thinks that it must be the captain who left it there and changes the course. But now the ship goes directly in the direction of the icebergs. He sails with great caution. Suddenly he sees three “dots” at the edge of an iceberg. He slowly approaches and through his binoculars he sees three men. The mate awakes the crew and the three men are brought onboard. Their ship had gone down and they were the only survivors.

The captain asks the first mate what had made him change the course. He tells him about the note on the table, and it becomes clear that the captain knows nothing about it. Later on one of the three survivors tells his story. He had been shouting to God from the iceberg; shouting for help. Gods answer was a note to the first mate. The shadow must have been an angel.

The best part of a storm is finding shelter! •

14

Facts A storm is when the wind force is above 25 meters pr. second, while a hurricane demands 32 meters pr. second.

The unit “meters pr. second” is commonly used, and if you want the wind strength in kilometers pr. hour, you multiply with 3.6. A hurricane blows at 115 km/h.

Denmark does not experience as strong hurricanes as in parts of the southern USA and Central America. Storms in our area are known as extra-tropical storms and are generated by the difference in temperature between the Arctic and the southern regions. However, they never reach the same strength or produce the same amount of rainfall as tropical hurricanes. The worst and most powerful storm measured at our latitude was “the December Storm” on December 3. 1999. It killed seven people and produced damage for around 17 billion Danish kroner (2.5 billion dollars).

Gud giver tryghed God brings comfort Tekst: Sømandsmissionær Jørgen Knudsen / Seamen’s missionary Jørgen Knudsen

der en anden, der kan og vil gøre det. Det er Gud.

En rolig sjæl Gud kan give tryghed der, hvor ingen andre formår at give det. Det er ikke sikkert, han fjerner det, der giver utryghed. Det er ikke sikkert, vi får de svar, vi søger, men han giver sjælen ro, han giver os en indre ro.

Han giver en klippegrund, som jeg kan stå på midt i alt det, der gør mig utryg.

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ryghed eftersøges overalt, for det er frygteligt at være utryg – fyldt af angst og uro. Derfor søger vi efter tryghed. Måske ved at sørge for at have styr på alting, eller ved at søge sammen med én eller nogle, som, jeg ved, vil give mig tryghed.

Der findes dog en utryghed, som vi mennesker ikke kan hjælpe hinanden ud af.

Den kommer, når sygdom, død, smerte og meningsløshed rammer vores liv. Denne utryghed kan vi ikke fjerne, men det er

Hvordan får vi del i denne tryghed, som ikke er en følelse, som ikke kan ses, men som nærmere er en vished, en tro? Jo, vi får del i trygheden hos Gud gennem tro på Jesus. ”Jeg er vejen og sandheden og livet; ingen kommer til Faderen uden ved mig.” Det siger Jesus i Johannesevangeliet kapitel 14 vers 6. Tro på Jesus! Hold fast i, at han er Guds søn og verdens frelser. Det er indgangen til at få trygheden hos Gud og et evigt liv. •

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e search for safety everywhere, because it is terrible to feel unsafe – filled by anxiety and distress. Therefore we search for comfort. Perhaps by making sure that we

control our lives or by staying close to those people who make us feel safe. But there is a feeling of insecurity that no human being can rescue us from. It comes when we are struck by illness, death, pain and meaninglessness. We cannot remove this unsafety, but there is someone else who is able to, and who wants to do it, and that is God.

A calm soul God can bring us comfort when nothing else can. He does not promise to remove the challenges. We cannot be sure that he will give us the answer we hope for, but he will bring peace to our souls and minds.

He gives me a firm foundation to stand on through my trials.

How do we get to take part in this safety, which is more than just a feeling that cannot be grasped, but is a certainty, a faith?

The answer is that God gives us that safety through faith in Jesus.

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus says that in the Gospel of John chapter 14 verse 6. Believe in Jesus! Have faith that he is the son of God and the world’s savior. That is the way to finding comfort in God and eternal life. •

Ny bog fra Sømandsmissionen New book in danish from the Seamen’s Mission

P

ris 195 kr. Bestil bogen på tlf. 3393 2543.

Du kan også sende en mail info@somandsmissionen.dk ”Hvor Himmel og hav mødes” er en bog om sømandsmissionær Jørgen Erik Larsen skrevet af Benny Grarup. Bogen handler om en mand og hans hustru, der i over 40 år har kæmpet og stridt uden skelen til klokken og altid med ærmerne smøget op. •

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new book in danish from the Seamen’s Mission. Price 195 Dkr. Call at 0045 3393 2543 to order. ”Where the Sky Meets Sea” is the story of seamen’s missionary Jørgen Erik Larsen, written by Benny Grarup. The book is about a man and his wife, who have been fighting together for more than 40 years, giving all they have. •

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Returadresse: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Havnepladsen 1 7100 Vejle Denmark

Amazing Grace Tekst: Hanne Baltzer

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mazing Grace” er en gospelsang skrevet af den engelske slavehandler og præst John Newton i 1773 og offentliggjort i 1779. Inspirationen var en stormfuld nat til søs.

Teksten har et tydeligt budskab om, at tilgivelse og forsoning er muligt for alle.

Uanset hvilke synder, man måtte have begået, kan sjælen blive frelst gennem Guds tilgivelse. Newton menes at have skrevet teksten ud fra egne, personlige erfaringer.

Som ung blev han tvangsudskrevet til Royal Navy og deltog blandt andet i slavehandel. I en stormfuld og forfærdelig nat til søs blev han så bange, at han bad Gud om hjælp og barmhjertighed. Det havde han aldrig gjort før. Efter nogen år forlod han slavehandelen, og begyndte i stedet at læse teologi.

Han blev ordineret som præst i Church of England i 1764 og blev sjælesørger i en kirke i Buckinghamshire, hvor han også begyndte at skrive salmer og hymner sammen med poeten William Cowper. ”Amazing Grace” blev skrevet til en ceremoni nytårsdag 1773. I USA blev sangen populær under den bølge af religiøs vækkelse, som kom i begyndelsen af 1800-tallet. Sangen har siden haft stor udbredelse, og siden 1960’erne er den blevet indspillet adskillige gange. •

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T

he gospel song ”Amazing Grace” was written by the English slave trader and priest John Newton i 1773 and was first performed publicly in 1779. It was inspired by a stormy night at sea.

The text carries a clear message saying that forgiveness and reunion is possible for everyone. No matter what sins you have committed, your soul can be saved

by God’s grace. It is believed that the song is based on Newton’s own experience. As a young man he was forced into the Royal Navy where he took part in the slave trade. During a stormy night at sea he was so scared that he prayed God for help and mercy. He had never done that before. After a few years he left the slave trade and began to study theology.

He was ordained as pastor in the Church of England in 1764 and was hired as spiritual adviser in a church in Buckinghamshire, where he also began to compose hymns together with the poet William Cowper. “Amazing Grace” was written for a ceremony on New Year’s Day in 1773. The song became popular in America during the wave of awakening that took place in the early 19’th century.

Today, the song is known internationally, and since the 1960’s it has been recorded several times. •

Amazing grace! – how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now I am found, Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Twas grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease; I shall possess, within the vail, A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call’d me here below, Will be forever mine.