WAVES #1 February 2021

#1 NEWS FROM THE DANISH MISSION TO SEAFARERS

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8. årgang February 2021

Faith travels with us

Helle hjælper søfartselever

Troen sejler med

Inspiration for you

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Helle helps her students

Inspiration til dig

WAVES No. 1. februar 2021. Vol. 8.

Nr. 1. februar 2021. 8. årgang Published by / Udgives af: The Danish Mission to Seafares Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Executive Editor / Ansvh. redaktør: General secretary / Generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe Editor / Redaktør og journalist: Hanne Baltzer, tlf. 0045 -2288 4496 Mail: hab@somandsmissionen.dk Print run / Oplag: 3500 Waves is printed on eco-friendly paper.

Waves er trykt på miljøvenligt papir.

Yearly subscription / Årsabonnement: 200 Dkr. Layout and print / Layout og tryk: Jørn Thomsen Elbo A/S

• Finn Løvlund Phone 0045 - 2073 3806 fl@somandsmissionen.dk Harbors/havne: Esbjerg, Hvide Sande • Simon S. Ambrosen, Marstal.

Phone 0045 - 2982 2771 ssa@somandsmissionen.dk • Jørgen Bech Knudsen Phone 0045 - 2865 5277 jbk@somandsmissionen.dk Harbors/havne: Aarhus, Randers, Kolding, Vejle, Horsens.

• Paul Høeg, Fyn Phone 0045 - 2296 3950 ph@somandsmissionen.dk Harbor/havn: Fredericia, Fyn • Leif Rasmussen Phone 0045 - 2029 3738 lr@somandsmissionen.dk

Cover / Forside: On board Georg Stage, chief officer, Helle Barner Jespersen, teaches the young students how to sail.

På Georg Stage lærer overstyrmand Helle Barner Jespersen de unge at sejle.

DANMARK

Photo / Foto: Niels Jørgensen

Hotel Frederikshavn Sømandshjem Tordenskjoldsgade 15 B 9900 Frederikshavn phone: 0045 - 9842 0977 Mail: info@fshotel.dk www.fshotel.dk

Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Havnepladsen 1, 7100 Vejle Tlf. 0045 – 3393 2543 Telefonerne er åbne mandag - fredag/ Phones open from monday - friday: 9.30-15.00. info@somandsmissionen.dk www.somandsmissionen.dk Facebook: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission Sømandsmissionens gavekonto: Giro 8003300 Bank 9541 8003300 Use MobilePay: 558555 Brug mobilepay: 558555

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SEAMEN’S MISSIONARIES/ SØMANDSMISSIONÆRER

Hotel Bethel Sømandshjem Nyhavn 22, 1051 København K phone: 0045 - 3313 0370 Mail: info@hotel-bethel.dk www.hotel-bethel.dk

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

Harbors/havne: Frederikshavn, Skagen, Hirtshals • Per Jerup phone 0045 - 6113 5383 pj@somandsmissionen.dk Harbors/havne: Aalborg, Limfjorden Grønland • Simon Søvndal phone: +299 56 33 55 sfs@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Sisimiut • Karsten Hald Jacobsen Phone: +299 27 60 10 khj@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Aasiaat • Elisa Mikkelsen phone: + 299 25 18 49 Elisa@soemandshjem.gl Harbor/havn: Nuuk

Sømandscafeen Bredgade 5, 6960 Hvide Sande Sømandshjemmet Aggershøj Møllevejen 50 5960 Marstal phone: 0045 - 2982 2771 Mail: ssa@somandsmissionen.dk International Seamen´s Club Polensgade 3, 8000 Århus C phone: 0045 - 8612 1599 Mail: seamensclub.aarhus@mail.dk www.seamensclubaarhus.dk Sømandsmissionen i Kalundborg The Seamen’s Mission in Kalundborg Editha og Jens Chr. Seeberg phone: 0045 - 5950 1332

GRØNLAND Sømandshjemmet Nuuk Marinevej 3, 3900 Nuuk phone: 00 299 32 10 29 Mail: nuuk@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

Sømandshjemmet Aasiaat Sammiarneq 9, 3950 Aasiaat phone: 00 299 89 27 11 Mail: aasiaat@soemandshjem.gl www.soemandshjem.gl

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

Hotel Avannaa Nuussuattaap Aqq. 2, Ilulissat 3952 Phone: 00 299 944002 Mail: manager@hotelavannaa.com www.soemandshjem.gl

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

CHRISTIAN BENTIN:

My faith is always with me Troen vil jeg altid have med mig

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hristian Bentin sits on a bench in his own kitchen. As he pours a cup of hot coffee, he speaks about his life, a life formed by the presence of God, his family and his trade – fishing. From his house where he lives with his wife Janni he can almost hear the ocean. His five children are all grown up, but they often come by, along with his grandchildren, to visit. Around 20 kilometers from his home his red ships are docked in Rømø Harbor, waiting to go trawling for brown shrimp. Although a trained farmer, open water fishing became Christian’s passion long ago. Through the years, since 1982, he has worked both the fields and the sea.

After the death of his parents he inherited the family farm, built in 1829, which his son is now managing – he is the fifth generation of the Bentin family to run the farm.

A blue passion When it comes to fishing there is no such family heritage, although Christian now coowns a ship with his son in law. The fishing adventure began when Christian agreed to help an acquaintance on board a small cutter for a few months, fishing for plaice during the summer and brown shrimp for the rest of the year. Today he owns several trawlers, one is named HW42janni, and Christian is an active part of the industry. In 1984 he received his certificate of competency as master of a fishing vessel which allowed him to sail larger vessels.

HW42janni is equipped with a beam trawl on each side. The beam trawl has roller-ball ground gear that moves gently across the ocean floor behind the trawler as it slowly fills with brown shrimp.

When Christian began fishing, the work on board was strenuous. The crew would lift 50 kilo bags of salt and work in any weather –

and a bag of shrimp weighed 30-35 kilos. The pain in Christians shoulder is a constant reminder of this era. Today, a large portion of the tasks is handled by modern technology, and the bags are not as heavy.

Today, the catch is mostly processed on board. Before reaching harbor, it is both boiled, packed and put on ice.

“Healthwise the job has improved, but the community was stronger back then. We would always talk to other fishermen about our catch, and we would share good tips about rich fishing grounds. That has all changed today. Now you keep your knowledge to yourself,” says Christian.

The freedom of a father of five Back when Christian worked full time he would go out on Sunday evening and return home on Friday morning. This rhythm was constant, and the family could always count on him to be home for the weekend. Sundays were sacred. His first three children were born within three and a half years so there was plenty of life in the house – both when Christian was gone as well as during the week where Janni had to take care of them all. When the children got older, she found a job in the nursing sector.

“To me, fishing was freedom. After some time, I learned to read the moon, the seasons and the water temperature, which are crucial factors in the search for a good catch. The ability to throw out the nets in the right spots was a blessing, and we’ve gotten lucky from time to time,” Christian says. He is convinced that God has always been with him at sea: “I have had plenty of time to contemplate these questions while watching the sun rise and set.

At sea there are no distractions.”

“I will always have my faith. Sometimes I’ve doubted if I was really forgiven – if Jesus

Christian Bentin

really died for me. But I think that is how all Christians feel from time to time. We are offered an unbelievable gift. It sets us free to be who we really are. And all we have to do is accept it.”

It was during a stay at a Christian folk high school that Christian realized that the Christian message included him. Since then, he and his wife have been part of various Christian communities, from Bible study groups to larger congregations. He reads his Bible now and then, but it is a difficult habit to maintain. But every day he reads a short reflection before dinner, which helps him and his wife keep their faith alive. >

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”

Sometimes I’ve doubted if God’s mercy includes me, but I believe it does.

It includes everyone!

No quotas Currently, there are no quotas on brown shrimp, but only 28 cutters are permitted to catch shrimp in Danish waters. There is a 24-meter length limit on the ships, and the nets are not allowed to be more than 10 meters wide. At the moment, each vessel is allowed to catch 300 kilos per day, and the three-dimensional echo sounders are a useful tool in reaching that number.

The common shrimp is found almost everywhere in the Danish waters. It lives on sand bottom in shallow areas. This makes The Wadden Sea on the Danish west coast an ideal location for shrimping. Here, studies have registered up to a hundred brown shrimps per square meter.

The shrimps are sorted into three sizes and shipped to Morocco to be peeled. 21 tons of shrimp provide seven tons of meat. A kilo of unpeeled brown shrimp contains around 600 shrimps. One kilo usually provides 300-330 grams of meat.

The final product is sold in The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, France and Germany, where the tasteful shrimp is in high demand. The shells are sold as animal feed.

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Blessings and anxiety Several times, when unforeseen events have surprised him at sea, Christian has felt his heart in his throat and turned to prayer: “If I have ever been afraid? Yes, what fisherman hasn’t? The first time I was scared was when the one of the large jib booms broke off while the waves came crashing right into the cockpit during a storm. Luckily, the engine kept running and we made it home.”

The second time, Christian and his crew had brought along a couple of German tourists. Christian was boiling shrimp while enjoying the view, and his colleague was asleep in the galley. But the situation turned out to be silence before the storm. “Suddenly a ship approached us on its way to one of the larger fishing grounds. It was running on auto pilot, but it didn’t draw aside as it was supposed to.

Instead, the ship came straight at us. I sent out several emergency signals but without luck. I realized that without a fast reaction we would collide. With little time to think I decided to put the ship in reverse. The situation was critical, and the other vessel kept its course. In the very last moment – just fifty

meters before collision, the other ship turned and passed us by. My knees were shaking under me. It never came that close again. I knew that a mighty hand had kept us safe, and I gave thanks to God. If we had died that day, I only hope that God was ready to receive me.”

“We are in God’s hands, no matter what.

This is what my experience tells me. And I feel blessed by this fact, even though I had to go ashore in 2013 because my shoulder gave in. Today, I do my work from here.”

Christian’s life is a reminder that our lives can change in the blink of an eye due to drastic, unforeseen events. Christian has seen this happen several times: “When such situations arise, it is important to be at peace with God – to know in your own heart that your faith is in him,” he says.

In 2018, Christian’s father died, and in 2020 he lost his 93-year-old mother. They both left with a firm belief that they were going to see each other again. Christian carries the same eternal hope in his heart, and along with his daily prayers it carries him through life, whether at home or at sea. •

Janni & Christian

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hristian Bentin sidder på slagbænken i det hyggelige køkken. Mens han skænker en kop sort kaffe, fortæller han om et liv fyldt med Gud, familie og fiskeri. Han kan næsten dufte havet fra huset, hvor han bor sammen med hustruen Janni. De fem børn er flyttet hjemmefra nu, men ofte er flere af dem på besøg med børnebørnene.

Små 20 km. derfra ligger hans røde skibe i Rømø havn, når de da ikke er ude og trawle efter hesterejer. Havfiskeriet blev hans passion, selvom han først blev uddannet landmand. I alle årene - siden 1982 - har han passet både marker og hav. Efter forældrenes død har han også overtaget den gamle slægtsgård fra 1829, som sønnen nu har fået smag for – han er 5. generation af Bentin-slægten, der går i gang med landbruget.

Blå passion Samme historik er der ikke, når det gælder fiskeriet, selvom han nu ejer et skib sammen med svigersønnen. Det begyndte med, at Christian skulle hjælpe en bekendt nogle måneder på en lille kutter, hvor de om sommeren fangede rødspætter ved Hvide Sande og

resten af året hesterejer, når der var sæson for det. Nu er han ejer/medejer af trawlere, fx HW42janni og aktiv i erhvervet. I 1984 blev han uddannet fiskeskipper af tredje grad og kunne dermed sejle større skibe.

HW42janni har bomtrawl på begge sider.

Bomtrawlet har rullerækker under, der trækkes hen over havbunden efter trawleren, mens det fyldes med forhåbentlig flest hesterejer.

Tidligere var der mange virkelig hårde arbejdsdage ombord. Fiskerne løftede hyppigt 50 kg. poser med salt i alt slags vejr og en rejepose vejede 30-35 kg dengang, hvilket smerterne i Christians skuldre dagligt minder ham om nu. I dag er en del af arbejdsprocessen automatiseret, og poserne er langt lettere.

Rejerne behandles allerede om bord på de fleste skibe, hvor de både koges, pakkes og køles ned. ”Helbredsmæssigt er det bedre nu, men sammenholdet mellem fiskerne var bedre i ”gamle dage”. Sammen med andre fiskere kunne vi snakke om, hvad vi fangede. Vi kunne også godt give hinanden tip om gode fiskepladser. Det er total ændret nu. Man holder sin viden for sig selv,” mener han.

Frihed hos far til fem Da Christian fiskede på fuldtid, tog han afsted søndag aften og kom hjem fredag formiddag. Sådan var det altid, og familien kunne regne med, at de havde ham hjemme i weekenden. Søndag var fridag. De ældste tre børn kom indenfor tre et halvt år, så der var liv og glade dage – både når Christian var hjemme og til daglig, hvor hustruen Janni havde nok at se til. Da børnene voksede til, fik hun arbejde indenfor plejesektoren. ”At fiske var for mig frihed. Efterhånden fik jeg jo noget erfaring med måne, årstid og vandtemperaturer. Det har betydning for, hvor vi kan finde fangsten. Det var en velsignelse at kunne smide net lige der, hvor det var godt. Vi har været heldige somme tider,” >

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Jeg har da tvivlet på, om frelsen virkelig gælder mig, men jeg tror på det. Den er for alle!

husker Christian. Han tror på, at Gud også tager med på havet: ”Jeg har haft masser af tid til at tænke over det, mens jeg nød flotte solopgange og solnedgange. Der er dejligt ude på havet.” ”Kristentroen vil altid være hos mig. Jeg har da tvivlet på, om frelsen virkelig gælder mig. At Jesus også døde for mig, men jeg tror, at alle kristne tvivler af og til. Frelsen er en enorm gave, der tilbydes os. Den sætter os fri til at være de mennesker, vi er. Og vi skal bare sige ja tak!”

Det var under et højskoleophold i Hillerød, at Christian fandt ud af, at det med kristentroen også gjaldt ham. Siden har ægteparret kommet til studiegrupper og i missionshuset.

Han læser af og til i sin bibel, men det kan være svært at få det gjort kontinuerligt. En husandagtskalender hjælper til daglig med at få inspiration til liv og tro, når han læser dagens tekst ved middagsmaden.

Velsignelser og angst Flere gange har Christian mærket hjertet helt oppe i halsen og sendt bønner til Gud, fordi uforudsete hændelser overtog øjeblikket: ”Om jeg har været bange? Jo, hvilken fisker har ikke det? Første gang var, da en af de store udlæggere knækkede i de fire meter høje bølger, som slog ind over skibet og bl.a.

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sendte vand ind i styrehuset. Heldigvis blev motoren ved med at fungere, og vi kunne sejle hjem.”

Anden gang havde de et par tyske turister med ude at sejle. Christian var i gang med at koge rejer, mens han nød udsigten mod totalt havblik, og hans medarbejder sov i kabyssen.

Det viste sig at være stilhed før storm: ”Så kom der et skib, som skulle ud til en af de store fiskepladser. Skipper havde sat autopilot på, men han drejede ikke, selv om han skulle, og han kom direkte imod os. Jeg kaldte flere gange nødsignal uden held. Jeg kunne se, at skete der ikke en ændring, ville han sejle mig ned. Til sidst bakkede jeg – det var kritisk … men det andet skib sejlede fortsat fremad. I absolut sidste sekund – 50 meter før det ramte os - drejede det andet skib.

Mine knæ rystede under mig. Det er det tætteste, jeg har været på at blive sejlet ned. Der var en stor, beskærmende hånd omkring os der, og jeg takkede Gud. Var jeg omkommet dengang, håber jeg bare, at Gud var klar til at tage imod mig.” ”Vi er i Guds hænder uanset, hvad der sker os. Det har jeg oplevet gennem hele livet. Og det føler jeg mig velsignet af, selv om jeg måtte gå i land i 2013, fordi skulderen ikke ville være med mere i den aktive hverdag til søs. Jeg arbejder fra land nu.”

Han er optaget af at fortælle, at ens tilværelse i løbet af et splitsekund kan se anderledes ud, fordi der pludseligt kan ske noget drastisk, hvilket han også selv har været vidne til flere gange: ”Der er det vigtigt at have sin sag med Gud i orden – at man ved med sig selv, om man tror på Gud,” forklarer han.

Christians far døde i 2018 og hans 93-årige mor i 2020. For dem begge gjaldt det, at de døde i troen på, at de skulle ses igen i Himlen. Det evighedshåb har Christian også. Kristentroen bærer hverdagen. Uanset om han er hjemme eller på havet. •

Ingen kvoter Der er ingen kvoter på hesterejer, men 28 kuttere har tilladelse til at fiske hesterejer i Danmark. Der er en max grænse på skibenes længde på 24 meter og nettets bredde på 10 meter. For tiden må de fange 300 kg i døgnet, og hertil er trawlerens tredimensionerede ekkolod en god hjælp.

Hesterejen findes næsten overalt i de danske farvande. Den lever på sandbund på lavt vand. Det gør Vadehavet til et godt sted for hesterejer, og der kan være rigtig mange. Man har talt op til 100 pr m2.

Rejerne sorteres i tre størrelser og sendes til Marokko for at blive pillet.

Af et læs på 21 tons rejer, er der 7 tons rejekød. Der går ca. 600 upillede rejer til et kg. 1 kg. rejer giver typisk ca. 300-330 g kød.

Hesterejerne afsættes til Holland, Spanien, Portugal, Italien, Belgien, Frankrig og Tyskland, som elsker den smagfulde reje. Skallerne afsættes til kvæg-og svinefoder.

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

You and others Dig og de andre

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CARL MARCKMANN: FOTO

ow we treat others and thrive among them depends on the way we have been treated over the course of our lives. Do you know the feeling of reacting on impulse, and afterwards you have no clue what made you think that way about a person? People consist of body, soul, spirit and relationships.

Lector Leif Andersen gives the following explanation: ”It happens when the memory-button is activated. If, for instance, you have grown up in a suspicious environment, you become suspicious yourself. Our actions depend on the way we’ve been treated ourselves, especially by our parents. We cannot disregard our family or caretakers, even if we choose to break contact or if they pass away. To some extent they determine how I act. If for instance you meet someone who talks down to you, and your father did the same, then it activates the memory-button. The same happens in regards to positive and joyful experiences in our relationships.

Leif explains further: ”It is the early years that define you as a person; perhaps hurt and insecure, perhaps accepted. Both the strength and the weakness that you acquire in life is hard to get rid of, but you can break your patterns. You don’t have to be defined for life by the way people have treated you. If we start to become aware of that, the healing has already begun, as it helps you learn how to respect and forgive yourself, and thereby move on. You can set yourself free.”

When you are at sea it can be hard to express your emotions, because you don’t want to show vulnerability. Nonetheless, this is an encouragement to find a colleague that you can talk to in private, share experiences with, listen to etc. The strongest relations exist between people who dare to ask questions and show interest in the other person.

At sea you have time for this, and often you need to know, that you are not alone but a part of a fellowship onboard. •

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vordan vi behandler andre og trives sammen med dem, beror på den måde, vi selv er blevet behandlet på i tidens løb. Kender du det, at man næsten handler pr. refleks, og bagefter ikke fatter, hvad det var, der fik en til at tænde sådan af overfor vedkommende? Mennesker er komplekse, for vi består af krop, sjæl, ånd og relationer.

Lektor Leif Andersen er ikke i tvivl om, hvad det er, der sker, når vi handler pr. refleks: ”Det er erindringsknappen, der bliver aktiveret. Igen. Hvis man fx er vokset op med mistænksomhed, bliver man selv mistænksom. Den måde, vi handler på, hænger i høj grad sammen med den måde, vi selv er blevet behandlet på, især af vores forældre. Opvækstfamilien er den relation, man aldrig kan vælge fra, også selv om man bryder med den eller ens forældre dør. Til en vis grad er det dem, der bestemmer, hvordan jeg handler,” siger han. Hvis man fx møder en, der nedgør en, som ens far måske gjorde. Så trykker det på erindringsknappen. Det samme sker ved gode oplevelser og glæde i relationerne.

Han uddyber: ”Det er i opvæksten, man bliver til som menneske. Måske såret og usikker, måske anerkendt. Både den tilegnede styrke og den tilegnede svækkelse er sejlivede at komme til livs. Men man kan bryde med mønstrene. Man er ikke livslangt fanget af den måde, andre mennesker har mødt en på. Hvis man begynder med at blive bevidst om det, så er der allerede lægedom på vej ved, at man måske for første gang respekterer sig selv. Tilgiver sig selv og prøver at komme videre. Man sætter sig selv fri.”

Ombord kan være svært at læsse af, for man vil ikke vise svaghed. Opfordringen lyder alligevel på at finde en kollega, man kan snakke fortroligt med, dele oplevelser med, lytte til mm. De stærkeste relationer udvikles af mennesker, som stiller spørgsmål og interesserer sig for den anden. Sommetider har man brug for at vide, at man alligevel ikke går helt alene, men er en del af et fællesskab ombord. •

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FOTO: BO TORNVIG

Georg Stage

By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

We create the world’s best seafarers - The individual respect for each crew member is key to success

Vi skaber verdens bedste søfolk - Respekten for hver eneste ombord er afgørende for succes

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n board the Danish training ship Georg Stage you cannot do things your own way, even if you want to.

From day one all new crew members face the same challenge – they have little or no prior experience with such situations – and from the moment they step on board they need the people around them to make it through. New knowledge, new terms, and new ways of working – long days filled with new impressions, new co-workers, duties, expectations, physical challenges etc.

Everything is new, and every teacher on board will agree that it is your duty to learn it all.

“At first, the constant flow of new information is tiring, but as soon as the waves exceed their usual height and situations get more challenging, the students begin to understand and respect our way of doing

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things. Being in a limited space with 72 other people can be exhausting as well. We are open to changes and new ideas, but not until the students understand that some things are not open for discussion. They must understand that they need to learn certain skills and practice a certain degree of discipline because other people depend on their abilities and professionalism. You have to take full responsibility for your role on board,” Helle Barner Jespersen says.

Through 20 years as chief mate she has made a clear mark on the training ship, but her relationship with the ship goes back even further. Her grandfather was a student on board, her father was the ship’s captain, and in 1982 she was among the first female students on board the ship.

“Back then, the students were between 15 and 17 years old. I got a chance to sail along,

and it was both fun and fascinating. At the time, I had applied to become a nurse, but instead I chose the maritime path.”

Leaving your comfort zone Although several generations of aspiring seafarers have come and gone, the training ship is still doing what it has always been doing – It turns individuals into teams. It challenges and changes people’s attitude about themselves and their co-workers. A new cruise has just begun – in February 2021, and Helle is back at work. She is usually on board for the first twelve weeks, where all routines and new information is presented to the young students. She wants to ensure a strong cohesion and a firm course for each student from the outset – both when it comes to their professional and social capabilities. Today, the students are not as used to working together

PHOTO: BO TORNVI G

FIRST MATE, SAILING SHIP EXPERT AND GRANDMOTHER ++

FACTS ABOUT GEORG STAGE Georg Stage is a fully rigged three-masted ship. The ship was built in 1934. It holds twenty sails and 7000 meters of rope distributed on 210 rope ends. The full-rigger demands a large crew and high maintenance.

FOTO: FRANK KAMP

In 1982, Helle Barner Jespersen joined Georg Stage as a student, and in 1987 she started at the School of Navigation in Copenhagen. Through the years, she has sailed on board various schooners and coasters, but in 1992 she returned to Georg Stage as mate. When she became pregnant in the Fall of 1992, she thought her career had ended, and she lost her blue book. However, she found a job at the canal tours in Copenhagen where she sailed until two weeks before the birth.

“After our son arrived I thought that my maritime career had ended, but suddenly the Norwegian training ship SØRLANDET needed experienced mates, and my husband got the job as chief mate and I got the position as first mate. We took our son with us along with a nanny, and that worked out just fine,” Helle recalls.

Later, she worked on board PILEN, a catamaran sailing between Malmø and Copenhagen, until returning to Georg Stage in 1997, while her husband went ashore.

“Our son used to come along during the school holidays so we didn’t have be apart for more than six weeks. I definitely missed my family, but being with the students and seeing them develop also meant a lot to me. My son is a blacksmith and is now attending the school of marine engineering – a fourth generation of seafarers is on its way.”

And perhaps a fifth generation will come as well, as Helle has just received the title of grandmother – maybe the only one who can also call herself active chief mate and knight of the order of Dannebrog. Helle was given the cross of the order of the Dannebrog by the Danish Queen on the 26th of October 2020.

as they used to be. They don’t like depending on others, but that is the reality on board Georg Stage. The ship takes the young people out of their comfort zone and into a new world that demands absolute mutual respect in order for the ship to function. The ship is a small community – a unit, and it can’t function unless everyone shows consideration for the person next to them. For the same reason no phones are allowed on board. Everyone must be present in the moment – in their physical surroundings and not online. You can ask for your phone on certain occasions, but they are not part of your everyday life.

The ship is a teacher “The ship itself is the greatest teacher, as it forces the students to learn how to behave in a certain manner. Through an intense and demanding lifestyle, we move people both physically and mentally. It doesn’t take long before everyone sees themselves as part of a unit where everyone must contribute.”

“At first, it is often those who do well in the social arena who are challenged the most.

They might be on board because they are unsure about what to do in life, and the ship is a completely new and challenging context where a lot must be learned in only a few weeks.

Also, those who lack empathy and find it hard to see things from the perspective of others are challenged on board – those who have no

positive past experiences when it comes to teamwork. Their understanding of right and wrong is challenged because each person is different. As leaders, we see diversity as a strength, and we look for it when we select our crew. We choose people with different skillsets, and it is this combination that leads to a thriving crew. Some can´t take it, but others are simply thrilled. Every year, our main ambition is to give young people a chance to become solid seafarers.”

Results Denmark is the only country in the world that still offers certified maritime education on board sailing ships. Fifty percent of the students at Georg Stage are youths who are at the edge of the educational system. Nonetheless, 95 percent of the students complete the training, and 99,5 percent of them find a steady job afterwards.

“At first, some of them have a problem dealing with authority – but once they experience their own value as part of the group, the atmosphere often changes. Something as simple as being able to fasten the sail correctly can bring out the respect of a fellow crew member who might have a college degree, but who has never held a rope before. Having different skillsets is crucial, and the students quickly come to understand this reality. > Quickly, the shared norm becomes that “we

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FOTO: NIELS JØRGENSEN

On Georg Stage the students help each other / eleverne hjælper hinanden

have to make it through together”, and we often see the students help each other. After a while, this becomes a natural attitude.”

A Nordic crew The crew also counts members from the other Nordic countries, and ten percent of them are from Greenland. This can be a challenge because they have different norms and a different cultural background, which also includes a language barrier.

“On arrival, many of them are already experienced seafarers, and most of them make it through the program. On board Georg Stage you are not alone. The students are constantly together, and that leads to fellowship and a helpful attitude.”

The Greenlandic crew members always exceed when it comes to going aloft – when someone needs to climb the highest mast in bad weather. This often gives them a feeling that they can do something unique and valuable – something that “the Dane with the impressive exam papers couldn’t do”. In addition, they often take the certificate of competence for merchant ships prior to joining Georg Stage, which allows them to sail smaller vessels. This gives them a certain status among the others, and they are able to help their fellow students in various situations. One of the first exercises on board is learning to keep time when rowing together.

This is harder than it sounds, and it demands collaboration. Here, the Greenlandic crew members are often experienced too.

“This exercise also provides good, physical training. The physical form of the students

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varies a lot to begin with, and it often needs improvement. For instance, it takes strength to crawl up a mast or pull the many ropes,” the first mate explains.

Teaching is shaping With great enthusiasm, Helle says that “one of the best things is when students, after countless repetitions, suddenly understand why we do things the way we do, and when they learn to master a new skill, like performing a successful tacking. Seeing them grow three inches after fastening a sail correctly for the first time is amazing, and nothing beats that feeling! It is thrilling to see twenty students who successfully turn the ship around by working as a team. In other situations, I have to shout out corrections. I never scold them, but I sometimes use a sharp tone if things aren’t done fast enough, or if a situation becomes critical. We do what is necessary to prevent any form of work-related accidents!” Through the years, Helle has seen countless students come and go, and she is counted among the best sailing ship mates in the world. Her approach to the students leads them safely into a professional future. After 21 weeks on board Georg Stage the students earn the title of ordinary seaman, or OS. •

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å skoleskibet Georg Stage kan man ikke sejle sin egen sø, selv om man måske gerne vil. Fra starten har man det til fælles med de andre, at man er uden forudsætninger, når togtet begynder, og den overvældende chok-pædagogik går i gang: Ny vi-

den, nyt sprog, nye måder at arbejde på, lange dage, nye indtryk, nye kolleger, pligter, forventninger, fysisk opkvalificering osv. Meget er nyt, og lærerne ombord præciserer, at her har man pligt til at sætte sig ind i tingene: ”I begyndelsen er de da knaldhamrende trætte af al den information, men de får også respekt for vores faglighed, første gang skibet vipper mere end vanligt, og forstår, at der er en mening med måden at agere på.

Det at skulle navigere mellem 72 andre på sparsom plads kan også udmatte. Vi er lydhøre overfor forandringer, men først når eleverne kender forudsætningerne for, at noget er, som det er. Eleverne skal forstå, at de selv skal tilegne sig viden og lære tingene, fordi andre mennesker er afhængige af, at de kan deres kram. Man skal tage sin rolle på sig,” siger Helle Barner Jespersen.

Gennem 20 år har hun som overstyrmand sat sit unikke præg på skoleskibet, men hendes kontakt til skibet er endnu ældre. Hendes farfar var elev, hendes far kaptajn og hun var selv i 1982 blandt skibets første kvindelige elever. ”Dengang var eleverne 15-17 år, men jeg var 21. Jeg fik lov til at sejle med, og det var både fascinerende og sjovt. Jeg havde godt nok søgt ind på Rigshospitalets sygeplejeskole, men valgte sømandsvejen i stedet.”

Ud af komfortzonen Skoleskibet gør det samme, som det altid har gjort, selv om eleverne er forandrede hen over generationer af søfolk in spe. Det ryster folk sammen. Det udfordrer, og det ændrer folks indstilling til sig selv og kollegaen. Næste togt er netop begyndt – i februar 2021, og Helle er

FOTO: BO TORNVIG

OVERSTYRMAND, SEJLSKIBSSØMAND OG BEDSTEMOR ++ I 1982 sejlede Helle Barner Jespersen med Georg Stage som elev, og i 1987 kom hun på navigationsskolen i København. Hun har i tidens løb sejlet med forskellige skonnerter og coastere, men i 1992 kom hun tilbage til Georg Stage som styrmand.

Da hun i efteråret 1992 blev gravid, tænkte hun, at det var det. Hun mistede også sin Blå Bog. Dog fandt hun et job ved havnerundfarten i København, hvor hun sejlede til 14 dage før fødslen. ”Jeg fødte vores søn og tænkte, at nu var det definitivt, at jeg ikke kunne sejle længere, men da det norske sejlskoleskib SØRLANDET manglede rutinerede styrmænd, blev min mand ansat som overstyrmand, og jeg som 1. styrmand. Med havde vi vores lille søn samt en barnepige, der også kunne nå at hjælpe lidt til i messen. Det var en god ordning,” husker Helle.

Siden blev hun ansat på PILEN, flyvebåd mellem Malmø og København, indtil hun i 1997 returnerede til Georg Stage, mens hendes mand gik i land. ”Min søn sejlede typisk med i skoleferier, så vi max skulle undvære hinanden i halvanden måned. Det var bestemt et afsavn, men samværet med eleverne ombord og det at se dem udvikle sig, betød meget for mig. Min søn er nu uddannet smed, og går på maskinmesterskolen. 4. generation til søs er på vej.”

Og måske også femte, for Helle er blevet bedstemor – nok den eneste af slagsen, der også kan skrive bl.a. overstyrmand og Ridder af Dannebrogs-ordenen på sit visitkort. Ridderkorset fik hun tildelt af dronning Margrethe den 26. oktober 2020.

OM SKOLESKIBET GEORG STAGE Georg Stage er en tremastet fuldrigger med råsejl på alle master. Skibet er fra 1934. Der er 20 sejl og 7000 meter tov fordelt på 210 tovender. Fuldriggeren kræver mange folk om bord, for der er meget at holde styr på.

på job igen. Hun er gerne med de først 12 uger, hvor alle rutiner og alt det nye skal præsenteres for de unge elever. Hun vil være med til at sikre en sammenhængskraft og en ret kurs for hver elev fra dag 1 - både med hensyn til fagligt niveau, socialt og duelighed.

I dag er de unge ikke så vant til at bruge hinanden som tidligere, er hendes erfaring.

De bryder sig ikke om at være afhængige af andre, men det er man ombord på Georg Stage. Skibet sender de unge ud af deres komfortzone og ind i en ny verden, som fordrer en total respekt for hinanden, hvis skibet skal sejle. Det er et lille samfund – en helhed, som ikke kan trives, uden man tager hensyn. Derfor er den også mobilfri. Man skal være i nuet.

I fællesskabet og ikke online. Man kan bede om mobilen ved særlige lejligheder, men den er ikke fremme til daglig.

Skibet er pædagogen ”Det er skibet, der er den største pædagog, fordi det tvinger eleverne til at opføre sig ordentligt. Vi flytter folk både fysisk og psykisk, fordi vi bl.a. lever ganske tæt sammen. I løbet af kort tid tænker næsten alle sig som en del af en helhed, fordi langt de fleste yder.” ”Det er typisk de socialt velfungerende, som har det vanskeligst i starten. De er måske med, fordi de ikke helt ved, hvad de vil med deres liv, og her er de totalt på en mangfoldig udebane og så meget skal læres på måder, de ikke er komfortable ved. Særligt udfordrede er også de, der ikke har empatisk udsyn for deres medmennesker. Som ikke har erfaring for, at man sammen med andre yder langt mere end alene. De bliver udfordret på deres kodeks om rigtigt og forkert, fordi eleverne er så forskellige. Vi ser forskellighed som en stor fordel, og det er bl.a. det, vi udvælger elevholdet ud fra. Så er der altid mindst en, der kan noget, og mikset af mennesker giver trivsel. Nogle står af rimeligt hurtigt, andre synes, det er vildt fantastisk. Det, vi allerhelst vil, er at give unge mulighed for at uddanne sig til sømænd.”

Resultater Danmark er det eneste land i verden, hvor man i dag giver kompetencegivende søfartsuddannelse om bord på sejlskibe. På Georg Stage optages 50 procent af eleverne blandt unge, som er truet af at falde ud af uddannelsessystemet og dermed af arbejdsmarkedet.

Alligevel gennemfører 95 procent af eleverne, og 99,5 procent af dem kommer efterfølgende i arbejde eller job. ”Der kan da være flere, som har en negativ holdning til autoriteter, men når han for første gang viser at kunne noget, der er vigtigt for de andre, så sætter det også stemningen. Fx at sætte sejlet helt korrekt fast. Det aftvinger respekt hos hende med studenter-

eksamen, der ikke har set et reb, før hun kom på Georg Stage. At kunne noget forskelligt er afgørende, og det lærer eleverne hurtigt. Ret hurtigt breder normen sig: ”Vi skal alle sammen klare os igennem”, og ikke sjældent ser vi eleverne hjælpe hinanden. Det er der en stor forståelse for.”

Grønlænderne kan Der er også elever fra de andre nordiske lande, og 10 procent af eleverne er grønlandske.

Det kan være en udfordring, fordi de har andre normer og kommer fra en anden kultur, hvor det desuden ikke er en selvfølge at tale dansk. ”Når de kommer, er de særdeles dygtige søfolk og de fleste af dem gennemfører uddannelsen hos os. Ombord på Georg Stage er man ikke alene. Eleverne er sammen hele tiden, og det giver fællesskab og hjælp indenfor rækkevidde.”

Grønlænderne er næsten altid bedst til vejrs – når der skal kravles op i toppen af de høje master uanset vejret. Det giver også dem en bekræftelse af, at de kan noget, de andre ikke kan – fx de mere boglige danskere. De tager gerne et erhvervsduelighedsbevis, så de bliver godkendte fartøjsførere. Det giver en vis status hos de andre, at grønlænderne kan lære fra sig på mange måder.

En af de indledende øvelser ombord er at ro i takt i en jolle. Det er sværere end det lyder, og det kræver samarbejde for at få jollen fremad. Det har grønlænderne styr på. ”Øvelsen er også god til den fysiske træning. Eleverne er i meget forskellig fysisk form, men den skal typisk forbedres. Det kræver fx en del armmuskler at kravle til tops eller trække i de mange tove,” konstaterer overstyrmanden.

Former de elever, hun underviser Helle udtaler sig engageret: ”Noget af det bedste er, når eleverne efter gentagelse på gentagelse på gentagelse pludselig forstår, hvorfor vi gør, som vi gør. Og de kan udføre det. Fx at de laver en stagvending, der virker eller er oppe og gøre et sejl fast og kommer ned 10. cm højere mindst. Det er så fedt. Det er godt at opleve, når 20 elever lige får vendt skibet, fordi hver ydede sit. Og det, man har sagt, virker.

Andre gange kan jeg da råbe. Jeg skælder ikke ud, men kan finde på at råbe, hvis noget ikke udføres hurtigt nok, og derfor kan have katastrofale konsekvenser. Vi skal ikke have nogle arbejdsulykker ombord!”

Helle har efterhånden haft med mange elever at gøre, og hun regnes blandt verdens bedste sejlskibssøfolk. Hendes tilgang til eleverne er med til at højne deres faglighed.

Efter de 21 uger på Skoleskibet Georg Stage kan man kalde sig for ubefaren skibsassistent. •

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By general secretary Nicolaj Wibe / Af generalsekretær Nicolaj Wibe

Respect /

Respekt

- We all carry the same fundamental value Vi er alle lige meget værd som mennesker

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MeToo. After the strong rise of the MeToo movement, men all over the world have had to reevaluate and adjust their attitude towards women, especially in the workplace. Women have felt like they were being disrespected, they have felt intimidated, and their boundaries have been overstepped. The MeToo movement has taken root globally, and although I won’t talk more about it here, I will talk about a topic that relates to it, namely Respect. Let us begin by considering what the Bible has to say about respect.

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True respect for others begins when we stop and consider who we really are in relation to other people.

Do we carry a fundamental feeling of being better than others? That feeling might impel us to be disrespectful Lifting up others “Honor one another above yourselves,” the apostle Paul says. If this is your approach to other people, men and women alike, you will never stand guilty to a MeToo charge.

Loving your neighbor, showing respect towards others, putting others ahead of yourself – these are central Christian virtues. The Bible is even known for claiming that we should love our neighbor more than we love ourselves. These radical ideas are all about respect.

Jesus met many people who had been treated disrespectfully. He took care of peo-

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ple who had been humiliated in their past.

He cared for those who had been marginalized by others. If you want to dig deeper into a concrete example, I suggest you read The Gospel of John, chapter 8, the first eleven verses.

Equal value If we ask the psychologists, most of them would claim that respect is a natural human response when others treat us respectfully.

But I don’t think this is the full explanation.

True respect for others begins when we stop and consider who we really are in relation to other people. Do we carry a fundamental feeling of being better than others, and does that feeling impel us to be disrespectful? Or do we feel like we are worth less than others? And does that make us act disrespectfully in an attempt to promote ourselves? Do we use others to better our own position?

In an environment with a strong hierarchy our sense of self-worth is often distorted.

Perhaps you who reads this is a crew member on a ship dominated by a strong hierarchy. That is how it has always been in the maritime world. Perhaps it is less obvious today, but fundamentally it is still the same.

And we find the same pattern in most other companies and organizations. There are the leaders and bosses – and then there is the rest. Hierarchies - they might even trick us into believing that some are worth more than others – but this understanding is both false and unproductive! No human being is worth more than any other human being, not ever.

This is where respect begins Isn’t the captain worth more than the ship’s boy? The answer is no. As human beings they carry the same value. Their degrees of responsibility on board differ, but that has nothing to do with human value. How can this be? Because God has created us all as equals. From the day we are conceived until the day we die, we all carry the same fundamental value – and the amount written on

your paycheck does not change that fact. Regardless of gender, skin color or physical abilities – no person on earth is worth less than anyone else. This fundamental truth is where respect begins; respect for yourself as well as others. Your fellow crew member – no matter what position he or she has on board – is worth the same as you. And because this is true, we must also treat each other with respect. You should expect others to respect you in the same way that you respect them. You are equals.

Children of God Unfortunately, the truth is that we will all encounter acts of disrespect many times throughout our lives: In traffic, at work, in our families, or when shopping. Try to think back – when was the last time you encountered disrespect? Perhaps you were the one causing it?

A knife must be sharpened, a car must be maintained, and the same is true for human relations. All aspects of life must be given attention in order to function. The best way to maintain your sense of respect both in relation to yourself and others is by remembering your own value, and the value of others.

What is a human being? Who are you, and who is the person standing in front of you?

Let us conclude these considerations by turning to a short passage from the Bible that truly cements the fact that no one deserves to be treated with disrespect, but that we should all strive to lift each other up:

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

Psalm 8, verse 4-6

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Respekt for den anden begynder med, at du overvejer, hvem du selv er i forhold til den anden. Har man en grundlæggende følelse af at være mere værd end den anden, er respektløs adfærd en fristelse.

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MeToo. Der er mange mænd, der har måttet evaluere deres omgang og adfærd i forhold til kvinder, efter at MeToo-bevægelsen fik mund og mæle. Kvinder har følt sig respektløst behandlet, de har oplevet sig intimideret, og grænser er blevet overtrådt. MeToo har sat en enorm bevægelse i gang på hele kloden. Men det er ikke den, jeg vil skrive om her. Men noget der minder om. Jeg vil skrive om respekt. Først lidt om, hvad Bibelen har at sige om det.

Rejs andre op ”I skal kappes om at vise hinanden agtelse,” siger apostlen Paulus. Hvis det er tilgangen til de andre, mænd såvel som kvinder, kan man ikke blive ramt af en retfærdig MeToo-dom.

Næstekærlighed, respekt og agtelse, at sætte den anden højere end jeg sætter mig selv, det er vigtigt i al kristen adfærd. Kristendommen er ligefrem kendt for at sige, at man skal elske sin næste højere end man elsker sig selv. Det har noget med respekt at gøre.

Jesus mødte mange, som andre havde behandlet respektløst. Mennesker, andre havde ydmyget, rejste han op. Mennesker, der var udsat for andres misbilligelse, tog han sig respektfuldt af. Vil du fordybe dig i et eksempel, så læs kapitel 8 i Johannesevangeliet de første 11 vers.

Lige værdifulde I psykologiens verden vil nogle sige, at det naturlige er at vise respekt, når man selv bliver mødt respektfuldt. Men jeg tror ikke, det begynder der. Respekt for den anden begynder med, at du overvejer, hvem du selv er i forhold til den anden. Har man en grundlæggende følelse af at være mere værd end den anden, er respektløs adfærd en fristelse. Eller har man en følelse af at være mindre værd end den anden, kan man, ved at være respektløs i sin adfærd, hive sig selv op af sin mindreværdsfølelse. Man hiver sig selv op på den andens bekostning.

I et miljø, hvor der er et stærkt hierarki, opstår der let en mere- eller mindreværdsfølelse hos mennesker. Du, der læser dette magasin,

er måske besætningsmedlem på et skib, hvor der er et hierarki imellem jer.

Sådan har det altid været i søfarten. Måske mindre udtalt i dag end før, men det er der. Det samme mønster ser du i mange virksomheder på land. Der er en tydelig ledelse, og så er der alle de andre. Hierarki. Man kan næsten tro, både ombord på et skib og i en virksomhed, at der er nogle, der er mere værd end andre. Og det er ulykkeligt, når det er sådan. Og det er forkert. Der er intet menneske, der er hverken mere eller mindre værd end et andet menneske.

Her begynder respekten Er kaptajnen ikke mere værd end dæksdrengen? Nej, det er han ikke. De er lige meget værd som mennesker. Deres ansvarsområder er forskellige. Men det giver ikke en mereeller mindre værdi. Hvorfor? Fordi Gud har skabt os alle lige. Fra vi bliver til i mors mave, og til vi bliver lagt i en grav, er vi alle lige meget værd som mennesker. Om man får mere eller mindre i løn, har ikke noget med ens værdi som menneske at gøre. Om man er mand eller kvinde, sort eller hvid, handicappet eller ej, så er der intet menneske på denne jord, som er mere eller mindre værd end andre. Det er her, respekten begynder. Både for sig selv og overfor den anden. Ham eller hende, du sejler sammen med, uanset hvor man er på skibet, så er man lige så meget værd som dig. Og når det er sådan, så må vi behandle hinanden med respekt. Der skal vises respekt overfor dig, og du skal selv vise respekt overfor de andre.

I er ligeværdige mennesker.

Menneskebørn Ulykkeligvis vil man igen og igen møde respektløshed. I trafikken, på skibet, i familien

eller butikken. Tænk tilbage, og det er ikke lang tid siden, du sidst mødte respektløshed.

Måske du selv leverede varen?

En kniv skal slibes, en cykel skal passes, og vennerne skal plejes. Det meste, vi har med at gøre, skal have vores opmærksomhed for at virke efter hensigten. Måden du skærper din sans for respektfuldhed, både i forhold til dig selv og i forhold til andre, er ved at være opmærksom på din værdi – og den andens værdi. Hvad er et menneske? Hvad er du, hvad er den anden? Vi giver det sidste ord til Bibelen, et ord der sætter en tyk fed streg under, at ingen behøver behandle andre respektløst.

Tværtimod, så er det en rigtig god idé at kappes om at vise hinanden agtelse.

Når jeg ser din himmel, dine fingres værk, månen og stjernerne, som du satte der, hvad er da et menneske, at du husker på det, et menneskebarn, at du tager dig af det?

Du har gjort det kun lidt ringere end Gud, med herlighed og ære har du kronet det.

Salme 8, vers 4-6

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By Hanne Baltzer / Af Hanne Baltzer

Sailing with God Til søs med Gud

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illions of people have God as the main navigator in their lives, but others are unaware of the fact that the Christian values can guide us in our professional lives, whether we are helping a co-worker or speaking to our boss.

First of all, we need to accept the life we’ve been given, says minister Flemming Baatz Kristensen: “Personally, I begin every day by saying the following words out loud: "In God’s liberating grace and blessing I have woken up to a new day. Thank you." To be able to wake up knowing that my life is carried by God’s unconditional love – that reality is strongly printed in my mind. And by thinking about it whenever I

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wake up, it becomes a reminder that God is always near. We belong to God. He loves us unconditionally. That is the heart of Christianity. And to me it has become a strong tool that I can bring into all aspects of life. We might say that our destiny as humans is to distribute love to others – even our annoying co-worker. Then, at the end of the day, you can look back on your day, ask for forgiveness, give thanks for the good things that happened, and look forward to the next day.”

Longing We are all different, and sometimes we might ask ourselves why we are here. What is the meaning of all this? From time to time,

we might experience emptiness, loneliness, and a longing for something greater – something that does not have to do with money or entertainment. We might even have a bad conscience, feel ashamed etc.

“Is it possible to search for God? The short answer is yes. God is always available no matter where we are. You don’t have to be a certain way to believe in him. All you have to say is: God, if you are there, will you show me? It is very simple: Dear God, I need you to speak to me. You can also say the Lord’s prayer.

When alone, a moment with God can fill you with renewed energy and a sense of safety that you haven’t felt before,” says Flemming, as he goes on with a strong encouragement:

“The next time you sign on, bring a Bible - or just the New Testament, where you’ll find many of the central stories of the Christian faith. Or download the Bible and the Pope’s prayer-app on your phone at clicktopray.org.

And do it before you even pack your toothbrush or your clothes.”

No one-man-show Being a Christian is not a one-man-show, although it sometimes feels that way. It is a personal matter, but it is related to a fellowship. At sea, you might be the only Christian, but could there be a co-worker who also has some experience with God? Who also says a prayer now and then? Another option is to speak to a missionary when he or she comes to visit your ship, or you can write him or her an e-mail.

Flemming also suggests that you find a mentor whom you can speak to on a regular basis while sailing. A mentor can ask you relevant questions about your life and support you. It is like holding up a spiritual mirror to yourself. Together you can figure out what path to follow, and when you are on shore you might be able to find a Church or another Christian community where God is at the center. Life at sea is different, and it calls for unconventional solutions. No matter what you do, the aim is to avoid isolation.

Flemming Baatz Kristensen is a minister in St Paul’s Church in Aarhus, Denmark. In the following he inspires you to live your life closer to God. Flemming Baatz Kristensen er sognepræst i Sct. Pauls Kirke i Aarhus. Han giver her inspiration til livet med Gud.

Prayer restores When you are ashore in foreign ports, you might be able to find a Christian community to join. Many ships return to the same ports again and again, and if your schedule allows it, you might be able to find a church that you can visit on a regular basis. This is another way to give your faith a chance to grow, and to add an extra dimension to your life. As mentioned before, Flemming recommends the Pope’s prayer-app at clicktopray. org – even if you are not a Catholic. “It tells us that we are God’s children. Prayer is important. It brings you closer to the heart of Jesus. Personally, it renews my strength and helps me overcome my daily challenges. It helps me meet the world as a new person, and it makes it a bit easier for me to try to face my co-workers and every other person in my life with the attitude of Jesus Christ.” •

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ange mennesker har kristendommen som navigation for deres liv. En del er nok ubevidste om, at det er de værdier, der kan guide dem, når de passer deres job, hjælper kollegaen eller snakker med chefen.

Vi skal tage vores liv på os, lyder opfordringen fra sognepræst Flemming Baatz Kristensen: ”Jeg har fx selv den praksis, at når vækkeuret ringer, så er det første jeg siger: "I Guds befriende nåde og velsignelse er jeg vågnet til en ny dag. Tak." At vågne op og være bevidst om, at vi lever af Guds betingelsesløse kærlighed. Det er printet ind i mit sind. Og ved at tænke på det som det første på dagen, bliver det en reminder om, at Gud er hos os.

Vi tilhører Gud. Han elsker os betingelsesløst. Det er kristendommens hjerte. Og det er for mig blevet et rigtigt godt redskab, jeg kan tage med alle steder. Man kan sige, at menneskets bestemmelse er at give kærlighed – også til den trælse kollega.”

Om aftenen kan man så se tilbage på dagen – bede om tilgivelse, glæde sig over det gode og tænke på dagen i morgen.

Længsel Vi er vidt forskellige. Man kan godt tænke, hvorfor er jeg her? Hvad er meningen med det? Man kan opleve tomhed, ensomhed og længslen efter noget større, der ikke er afhængig af penge og underholdning. Man kan have dårlig samvittighed, føle skam osv. ”Kan man søge Gud? Ja! Gud har altid træffetid uanset, hvor man befinder sig. Man

skal ikke være tjekket for at være troende.

Man kan bare sige: Gud, hvis du findes, vil du da overbevise mig om det? Det er meget enkelt: Kære Gud, Jeg har bare brug for, at du taler til mig.

Du kan også bede Fadervor. I stilheden på dit kammer kan en stund med Gud fylde dig med ny energi og en tryghed, du måske ikke tidligere har kendt,” fortæller Flemming, der også kommer med en klar opfordring: ”Næste gang du tager på job, så pak også en bibel eller Det Nye testamente, hvor mange af kristendommens pointer står i evangelierne. Eller download Biblen og pavens bønneapp clicktopray.org på din telefon, før du pakker tøj og tandbørste.”

Ikke et one man show At være kristen er ikke et one man show, selv om det måske kan føles sådan. Det er en personlig sag, dog er man relateret til et fællesskab. Til søs er man måske den eneste kristne ombord, men er der alligevel en kollega, der har erfaringer med Gud? Som også beder en bøn af og til? Du kan også tale med en sømandsmissionær, når han kommer ombord eller kontakte ham.

Flemming Baatz foreslår, at man får sig en mentor, som man også til søs kan have regelmæssig kontakt med på sms, skype, messenger eller lign. En mentor kan stille gode og relevante spørgsmål ind i ens liv. Ja, det er som at holde et spejl op. Sammen kan man nå frem til, hvor man skal hen. I land ville man måske opsøge kirken eller et sted, hvor de taler om Gud. Til søs er det anderledes, hvorfor man må handle anderledes. Man skal passe på ikke at blive for isoleret.

Bøn bygger op Når man er i land, kan man opsøge et kristent fællesskab. Nogle skibe vender tilbage til de samme havne gang på gang, og hvis tiden er til det, kan man måske have en fast kirke, man kommer forbi til gudstjeneste eller lignende. På den måde kan man også give sin tro gode vækstvilkår og livet en dybere dimension.

Flemming foreslår som nævnt pavens bønneapp –clicktopray.org. Selv om man ikke er katolik, kan den bruges: ”Der forkyndes, at vi er Guds velsignede børn. Desuden er bøn vigtig. Man bliver tættere knyttet til Jesus. Og særligt hans hjerte. Det frigør kræfter, når jeg går ud i dagen. Jeg går ud på en styrket måde og kan måske møde mine kolleger og andre mennesker bedre med Kristi sind. Det har i hvert fald hjulpet mig.” •

The harbor-community in Ilulissat, Greenland

The many fishermen know each other. If no man is an island, and if someone needs a helping hand, the others are quick to respond. Joel Hansen is an angler: “I helped another angler bring his catch to shore the other day. He had caught so many fish that his boat wouldn’t move.” •

De mange jollefiskere kender hinanden. Hvis en ven er i nød eller mangler en hjælpende hånd, så kommer assistancen. Joel Hansen er jollefisker: ”Forleden dag hjalp jeg en anden jollefisker med at sejle nogle af hans fisk ind til havnen. Han havde fanget så mange fisk, at han ikke kunne få båden op i fart.” •

Someone who listens / En der gider lytte

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tudies show that mental burnouts, loneliness and social isolation are some of the greatest challenges to seafarers.

On page 2 of this magazine you find the contact information for the Danish Mission to Seafarers – we invite you to call or write us at any time. We are willing to listen. Another option is to visit Seafarerehelp.com •

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ndersøgelser viser, at udbrændthed, ensomhed og social isolation er de største udfordringer for mennesker til søs. Der er muligheder for at hjælpe sig selv eller kollegaen:

En online mulighed for assistance er Seafarerhelp.com på engelsk eller www.samtalertilsøs.dk på dansk.

På side 2 her i Waves kan du desuden finde sømandsmissionærernes kontaktinformationer. Vi har tid til at lytte til dig. •

Returadresse: Indenlandsk Sømandsmission, Havnepladsen 1, 7100 Vejle, Denmark

FOTOS: CHRISTIAN DAMGAARD

Fællesskab på havnen i Ilulissat, Grønland