THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407200152
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JUDY PARKER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 112 lines
PORTSMOUTH'S REPUTATION AS a safe, natural harbor is anchored securely in the gentle waters of the rivers and creeks that lap the sides of her shoreline.
And nestled in a corner of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, adjacent to a graveled parking lot, sits a tantrailer that offers a safe port of another kind.
The International Port Ministry, sponsored by the Portsmouth Baptist Association, provides support services for seafarers routinely separated for months at a time from their families and home ports.
``To borrow a biblical phrase, the reason we're here is to offer the seafarers a `cup of cold water,' '' said Norman J. Reid, coordinator and chaplain for the 3-year-old ministry.
The Portsmouth terminal is a world most locals experience only as a drive-by blur as they enter and exit the Midtown Tunnel. For ship personnel who make quick, temporary stops there, the port is a high-tech gateway to load or unload cargo. For a dozen or so hours on each stop, it's also a place for a brief respite from the isolation of the open sea. Inside his trailer, Reid's tiny office walls are adorned with world maps, framed displays of shipping line trademarks and international flags. In one corner, shelves offer for sale T-shirts and caps imprinted with the ministry's logo. Colored in tints of blue, white and gray, they bear the images of a sea-swept tall ship surrounded by full-winged sea gulls buffeted by the ocean wind.
Almost lost amid a host of maritime-related artifacts is a bright red and gold box of ginseng tea.
``I've been told the tea is good for you . . . can cure just about anything,'' Reid said with a hint of skepticism.
``Well, maybe that's so, but it sure doesn't taste very good.''
The tea, in a box about the size of a large Whitman's Sampler, was a gift to Reid from the wife of a South Korean container ship captain sailing the Cho-Yang line.
During one of the ship's previous port calls, Reid had helped locate some over-the-counter medicine for the man's daughter.
``It's doing little things like that that seem to be the most appreciated,'' Reid said.
``Most of the ships do a really fast turn-around in port, and sometimes it's difficult for us to provide all the kinds of services we'd like.''
The International Port Ministry program, while committed to promoting the Christian gospel, is more social service in its operation by providing clothing, health and personal care items, and assisting with visits to consulate offices when necessary.
And although Reid is available to provide spiritual and emotional counseling to anyone who asks, he admits ``it's nice for me when people don't have problems.''
The middle room of the trailer, furnished like your next-door-neighbor's den, is used as a place to relax, munch on homemade cookies, watch TV, or maybe write a letter home. It's also just the spot to reacquaint sea-sturdy legs used to walking on rolling decks with more solid ground.
Wedged in one corner, however, is the most popular tool the ministry offers exotic sounding locales like Vladivostok, Pusan, Hamburg or Singapore.
``That telephone is the best thing we have,'' Reid said. ``These seafarers are away from their homes for six or eight months at a time. That's a long time to be separated from your family.''
The third section of the ministry's trailer is something of a multipurpose library. It's stocked with Bibles in German, Croatian, Turkish, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Tagalog, Korean and Spanish, as well as current foreign language newspapers and magazines.
Atop and below a table situated next to a well-stocked refrigerator are assorted children's games, puzzles, stuffed animals and other toys.
``Sometimes, officers will bring their families with them on their cruises, especially during the summer months,'' Reid explained. ``So it's important we have some things that children will enjoy.''
Reid is a licensed Southern Baptist preacher who retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1989. He's also a 20-year Army veteran, who flew helicopters during the Korean conflict.
``As soon as I retired, all I wanted to do was become involved in the church's home mission program,'' he said.
``My home church, Grafton Baptist on the Peninsula, has a long history of ministering to seafarers. So I guess that type of ministry was kind of natural for me.''
In 1988, the Portsmouth Baptist Association, which financially supports the program, began making plans to establish a port ministry similar to one that has operated in Norfolk for many years.
``From the very beginning, we've had a wonderful relationship with the people at Portsmouth Marine Terminal. They've been very supportive,'' Reid said. ``In fact, they not only gave us this trailer, they helped renovate it.''
As might be suspected of someone who's dedicated his life to church work, Reid sums up the port ministry with a passage from Psalms:
``Then they called to Yahweh in their trouble and he rescued them . . . reducing the storm to a whisper until the waves grew quiet, bringing them . . MEMO: Related story on page 13. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover by Mark Mitchell, Staff
Russian seaman Michail Khisamiyev tries out a "Thighmaster" whild on
a trip with Igor Kravtsov at Chesapeake Square Mall.
Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Norman J. Reid, coordinator and chaplain for the 3-year-old
International Port Ministry, says sailors appreciate the ``little
things'' he does for them.
Russian seaman Igor Kravtsov and Pavel Skok look over stereo
equipment at Sears during a shopping trip.
by CNB