Charting the migration of a Bible:  Richards Bay, Port Louis, Colombo, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Shanghai and then a U-turn.    Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, then Chennai and Djibouti. Pirates, pirates, pirates, pirates, Suez, Piraeus, Barcelona... Marseille.  Now Lisbon. Atlantic Ocean, a terrifying storm, waves as high as mountains, breaking over the bridge of the ship. New York.  Rio de Janeiro. Engine trouble. Buenos Aires and another U-turn. Now Panama channel. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle. All aboard infected with some germ. Tokyo. Four days from a doctor. Hello Shanghai. Three trips to Perth, Lagos or perhaps around the Cape. Then back to Richards Bay. Then again, and again, and again and again, until this very moment:

 ‘Sir’, with a massive smile and open arms. ‘Sir, it is so nice to see you again!’ honestly, excited, a surprise that a reunion is possible after so many years. ‘It has been twelve years, Sir’, he says with a wide smile, big eyes and a lot of excitement.   

 Loffie cannot believe that a man working at sea, whom he met twelve years ago is standing in front of him. For Loffie the first meeting twelve years ago was not a remarkable meeting and he has to search in the recesses of memory to find the right connection and remember the situation. 

For the seaman the memory comes easily, because the day was remarkable for him. He has to show Loffie something he says, just before storming excitedly and inspiringly into the bowels of the ship. He returns in a moment with something that looks like a very old Bible. The clean pages have not been clean in a long time and the corners are dog-eared and well touched. The Bible contains photos of everything important in the man’s life - everything he prays for each day. On the first page is a date, written in blue ink, with the word ‘Richards Bay’ and a faded stamp of the CSO.  

We chart a full circle to trace the migration of a Bible. For a moment we are reminded of the travels that this Bible accompanied. Just think about pirates, storms, sadness, joy. Think about health and illness. Think about bitter longing. Also remember the absolute joy when you are reunited with those reflected in the pictures, when you are received with open arms and tears of joy.

This is the journey of a single Bible. Would it not be fantastic if we could trace the hundreds of Bibles the CSO places in the care of so many hands at sea each year? How wonderful would it be to trace the migration to the corners of the world?  How fantastic would it be to record each story?  

Now Loffie sits with a friend, sharing coffee and talking about twelve years, the ebb and flow of life, while the seaman (now a friend) bears witness that the Bible, that Bible, helped him each moment to cling to God.

When you decide to stay part of the CSO family, you become involved in something valuable and unbelievable. You become involved in serving Jesus Christ’s mercy, peace and love to reach, literally the ends of earth. Please consider supporting us again - in prayer and deed!

PS. Our bank details are: Christelike Seemansorganisasie. ABSA. Current. 1520-230-226. Here is the link for the debit order: https://bit.ly/43khwDO