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2010 This is Coastal Missions 30th year. Preparations are in place for a celebration picnic on Sunday afternoon September 5. Persons intending to join in are requested to register by phone, mail, or email (contact information - click on About Coastal Page from the Home Page).
Missionary voyaging began January 15 and continued in places south as far as Olympia. Yearly maintenance and safety checks began on March 1. The COASTAL MESSENGER was surveyed for insurances purposes by J. R. (Bob) Down, Meadows Marine Surveyor. Conclusive statement at the end, and most rare, were the delightful words, "There are no recommendations."
After a few days of Open Boat in Nanaimo April 16 -19, the ship returned to Chemainus and on April 20 began its big circuit up the west coast of Vancouver Island, into Alaska, across to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), and is now moving down the coast of BC.
This entry is made on August 14. The vessel, presently with Brian Burkholder and Tom and Debbie Maxie and Teresa McArthur aboard, is at Butedale with plans to move to Klemtu tomorrow..
Those at "home" are typically busy with administrative things, with gardening and food processing, and a host of other things. There are always an array of engagements.
(see 2009 was another good and big year for Coastal Missions. The COASTAL MESSENGER, after many months away, returned November 21. The ship was able to hold to its schedule in spite of seeming endless storms in November. It was obvious that many were praying and the Lord was answering.
Besides the regulars on board during the year, Tom Burdett, spent some time with Brian's crew learning some of the Gold Team areas.
And what a summer! Gardens were advanced because of such warmth. The processing of foods was BIG on the list of BUSY in late July and in August.
Renovations continued at the base and now, after ten years, and little by little, and by year's end, even the light fixtures were in. |
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2008 The Coastal Messenger circuit year started January 15 and ended November 19. A new aluminum workskiff was placed on deck in April - increasing crew safety in terms of a lifeboat, and increasing dynamics in terms of getting around from the mother ship.
It was a big year for renovations. Changes at the Mission Base greatly improved spaces upstairs. The Mission Office also had a makeover. Many of the furnishings were manufactured in Coastal Missions' own shop - thanks to the cabinetry skills of Chet McArthur.
Roy Getman demonstrated dramatic vitality after Ablation Therapy in May, a procedure that effectively corrected his unsteady heartbeat.
Activities were still at a high in November and early December as Christmas goody plates were prepared and delivered to businesses.
A special Anniversary Event was celebrated December 13 - honoring 25 years in the case of Brian and Anne Burkholder; 25 in the case of Tom and Debbie Maxie, and 50 years in the case of Roy and Rachel Getman. Some 280 people braved impending snow to be there - snow that came and seemed to keep coming the remainder of the year. |
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2007
The Coastal Messenger
left Chemainus January 13 and was out and away 260 days.
Sea time records were kept as always. Tom Maxie was out and away on the
vessel 160
days. Debbie 100.
Roy Getman 121. Brian
Burkholder 139. Anne 92.
Joan McKee (Petunia) 121. Gloria
Troll 115. Chet and Teresa McArthur 31 (21 days in January/February and 10
days in November). Steve Kinahan
joined the crew in Tofino May 10 and served 22 days. Tom Burdett joined Roy’s
crew at Port Hardy on June 10 and returned from Wrangell Alaska by air 19 days
later.
In
July, a memorial service for Dave Potts was conducted from the deck of the Coastal
Messenger outside Edna Bay Alaska. Back
in 1992, Dave, Sharon and family represented Coastal Missions when the crew
could not go to that area.
In late October, both crews participated in a service where the ashes of Evelyn Hunter were committed to the sea in Stuart Channel outside Chemainus. Evelyn had served as a missionary nurse associated with Roy Getman’s parents in Alaska in the early 1950s. The
vessel made 178 stops to visit people and anchored for the night 31 times.
Its odometer passed the 30,000 nautical mile mark in 2007 (34,490 statute
miles)(55,500 kilometers). According
to galley records, 674 visitors had refreshments.
363 had meals aboard. At
least 115 cookie plates were given to fishermen, fuel dock employees, harbor
managers and marina operators. Dozens
of loaves of bread and several hundred jars of jams were given.
No record was kept of the many Bibles given out.
The
Coastal Messenger broke ice getting into Oak Harbor in January.
Dense fog prevented departure from Tacoma in February and hurricane force
winds resulted in a delay in November. Both
crews have noticed that significant spiritual ministry occurs when the vessel is
thrown off schedule. Such was the
case during the September/October Inlets North voyage when Roy Getman underwent
extensive medical tests and observation in Port McNeill.
This was by far the longest the vessel ever stayed
in one place with a crew aboard.
The Coastal Missions Base was a hub of activity as usual. Canning of salmon, tuna, chicken, beef and all sorts of things from a productive garden continued nearly every working day in August and early September. Corn and many other things were vacuum-sealed and frozen. One grape vine alone yielded 76 quarts of purple juice. Many volunteers added to the blessing. Mary Bumstead, just to mention one, with the help of others of her family, continued to provide gift jams for the vessel as she has done for more than 25 years.
A
fully operational office was maintained. Birthday
and anniversary cards, many signed by all the workers, were mailed along with
dozens of get well and sympathy cards. While
several boxes of stationery were purchased, most cards were made in the office
using Coastal Missions’ own photos. While
email was utilized, traditional mail was the preferred means for communication.
Postage in 2007 was $5,373.99.
The Victoria Times Colonist newspaper carried a well-written article by Darryl Ohs that included a photo of a model of the Coastal Messenger.
That model, built by Doug Allen of Cobble Hill, BC, won first prize
in the Workboat Class as well as first prize as the Modelers’ Choice at the Mid-Vancouver
Island Marine Modelers boat show
in Nanaimo, March 17. It now graces
the living room at the Base.
Tom
Burdett, qualified by 37 years experience with the Canadian Coast Guard, spent
some time with Roy Getman’s crew in 2006 and was again aboard for the trip
into Alaska in June 2007. On
November 26, Coastal Missions Board approved Tom as a suitable backup skipper for the Coastal
Messenger.
Other
Board business included approval for the printing of another 5,000 Compass
Bibles since most of the 5,000 ordered in 2004 had been given out.
Thousands of cookies and many sweet breads were baked nearing Christmas. 145 Gift Plates were then given to businesses patronized during the year. |
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Photo shows a new gleaming white John Deere marine diesel model 6081AFMK300 with its ZF W325 gear being lowered into the Coastal Messenger on February 15.
Repowering and sea trials completed, the vessel left Chemainus May 27. After annual haul out at Esquimalt she carried on and completed her season. There was snow, horrendous winds and terrible rains in November and December but missionary visits were exceptionally good and the vessel and her crews were always safe.
By the end of December, the GPS odometer showed that the ship had so far traveled a total of 26,578 nautical miles in its eight seasons (30,600 statute miles)(49,244 kilometers). This is roughly equal to one and a quarter times around the globe. |
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2005 Coastal Missions 25th Anniversary was celebrated in a variety of ways. In January, there was a special Open House at the Mission Base in Chemainus. In April, more than 200 persons attended a weekend anniversary celebration at Camp Imadene. In April and May, more than five hundred people, by families or small groups but mostly by ones and twos, visited the Coastal Messenger during Open Boats in four different ports. The ship then reenacted the circuit taken by the "old" Coastal Messenger twenty-five years before—1980. Many land trips using vehicles were made (as part of the reenactment of 1980) all the way down to Coos Bay, Oregon. There were special gatherings with potluck dinners in Port McNeill, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, and Bamfield. Copies of The Compass New Life Bible (who knows how many) were given as part of the 25th Anniversary thrust. |
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2004 Missionary endeavors continued as scheduled. According to its GPS odometer, the Coastal Messenger traveled 3,412 nautical miles (3,928 statute miles)(6,322 kilometers) during the year. She tied to a float 153 times, to another boat 17 times, anchored 60 times, and stopped for fuel more than a dozen times. There were shifts to a different berth or anchorage 47 times. The utility skiff was often used as a tool for transportation after the ship was moored or anchored at a place.
Meanwhile, a seemingly endless stream of things took place at or from the mission base. There were many visitors—whole groups of visitors in some cases. Base grounds and flower gardens were beautifully kept. Vegetable gardens were plentiful in spite of much hot weather and a long dry spell. Produce was eaten fresh, some was frozen, and much was canned as in former years.
Directors approved purchase of 5,000 Compass edition New Life Bibles on October 29.
Mail always plays a great part in the on-going ministry of Coastal Missions—letters, cards, follow-up letters and acknowledgement letters went to individuals, churches, and groups. Postage for 2004 was $4,141.07. |
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2003 was a good year for Coastal Missions. Ministry in all sectors was gainful. The mission vessel Coastal Messenger carried on from January to December. The utility skiff was fitted with a new 20 hp Honda outboard in April. Most weather in 2003 was gentle thus making travels easy. But not all. During part of October, the barometer was up and down like a yo-yo. Winds were sometimes at storm and hurricane force. Rains were torrential. Tides and currents were thrown off predicted tables. Because of the aftermath of tremendous flooding of rivers and streams, some channels where choked with masses of needles, leaves, limbs and whole trees.
In all 2003, the ship was out and away from home port 253 days and traveled more than 3,500 nautical miles (4,000 statute miles)(6,500 kilometers).
Base renovation projects continued at the base in May, June, and July. A downstairs bedroom and bathroom was redone. A staircase was moved.
Gardens at the base were especially fruitful in spite of little rainfall on lower Vancouver Island during the Summer and early autumn. |
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2002 The Coastal Messenger did not go into Washington in mid January as in previous years because of uncertainties associated with the terrorist attacks made against the U.S. Rather, she proceeded to Victoria January 22 and was used, in conjunction with a vehicle, as a "platform" for ministry over the next weeks. She was hauled out of the water as usual at Esquimalt on March 25. Open Photo. Otherwise, the ship carried on through the year and finished December 7.
Land teams were sent out to the north and to the south as far as Coos Bay, Oregon, during the early months of 2002. A tree was planted near the Mission base in memory of Ron McKee on March 7. Friends gathered for the occasion including two from Japan. Open Photo Blue Spruce in Memory. Vic Hookins died in April. Joan McKee's mother died in October.
Renovations continued at the base. The new kitchen and dining area were completed. An attractive porch was added to the west side of the building.
Coastal Missions received the gift of a Nissan Centra in February. The old 1980 Ford van was sold. By now it was on its second paint job, second engine, and the odometer had gone around 3 or 4 times. |
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2001 Work started January 5. Workers engaged in Bible studies January 9 - 11. Dave Thompson conducted morning sessions and Chet McArthur the afternoon ones. The Coastal Messenger was 32 days in the Gulf and San Juan Islands, and Puget Sound starting January 16. She was put through her annual maintenance during parts of March and April. She left again on April 18 and finished her year December 8.
The Coastal Messenger was moored in Prince Rupert while Brian and Anne Burkholder used a vehicle to visit people some distance inland. Tom and Debbie Maxie visited by ferry and used a vehicle in the Queen Charlotte Islands during this time. This "by land" approach allowed contact with ones who in some cases had not been visited for a long time. It also maximized visits over vast distances in a relatively short time.
The Coastal Messenger's schedule was interrupted briefly at the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks and again just before Ron McKee died in October.
One or more Coastal Missions people were in some way touched by the death of 22 different individuals in 2001. Mark DeVries served in various capacities with Coastal Missions then abruptly quit on May 24 less than a year after he began.
The Coastal Missions office was streamlined. Six computer stations were set up and linked. Rachel Getman became a bona fide part of the staff. Renovations continued at the base along with all other things normal to the year's work and ministry.
Cookie plates went out as usual to dozens of businesses before the Coastal Missions' year culminated on December 19. |
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2000 The new steel Coastal Messenger began its second circuit on January 12 and completed it on December 9 - 264 days away from home port. She traveled 3,921 nautical miles (4,515 statute miles)(7,265 kilometers) - down to Olympia, Washington and as far north as Point Baker, Alaska. She was overnight in 212 places.
Funds were low from March until the beginning of August. The Lord abundantly blessed throughout the remainder of the year. So blessed, in fact, that Coastal Missions was able to purchase two new computers for the office, a new propane heater for the base, a new utility trailer, and replace an old Subaru with a 1997 Ford Escort.
The Potts family from Washington and the DeVries family from Vancouver Island showed special interest in Coastal Missions during the year - and became involved in various ways. Julie Potts volunteered at the base August 15 - September 15. Mark DeVries began as a missionary September 5.
Ministry continued at the base. There were visitors from far and wide. Hospitality was (and is) important to Coastal Missions. Cost per individual meal serving was worked out for the base and the vessel and found to be $2.05! This figure was possible because of the growing of a large garden and the enormous effort that was put into canning, preserving, and freezing of the products and also by the generosity of individuals who gave of the abundance of their produce. Open Photo Garden shots |
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1999
The
newly constructed Coastal Messenger left "home" January 13,
1999. Systems had been thoroughly checked during trial runs after
launching in late 1998 but this time they were doubly checked by actual use and
by harsh and continual storms. The ship returned to Chemainus February 26
and left again near the end of March. She went first to
Not all was "smooth" sailing in 1999. Failure of an electronic component in the autopilot detained the vessel a few days in Puget Sound in January. Relentless winds at Cape Chacon forced a change in scheduling during the Alaska voyage. Fierce winds forced another alteration from the schedule during the Queen Charlotte Islands voyage. Failure of a part in the fuel pump in the Coastal Messenger's engine in October forced landing at a private lodge on the BC coast during the Fall voyage. Understanding staff provided free air flight for the needed part. The problem was then fixed in 45 minutes.
The Coastal Messenger was out and away from home port 260 days in 1999. She traveled 3,850 nautical miles (4,433 statute miles)(7,134 kilometers). 1922 persons signed the vessel's guest book.
Meanwhile the mission base roof was replaced. Skylights were added. Beachfront was repaired due to serious erosion caused by storms.
Office staff kept pace with ongoing business. Karen McArthur took her place with the regular workers in March and April. Hundreds of cards and letters went out as in former years.
There were many speaking and other engagements and numerous funerals. One service was for Shannon, sister of a neighbor who worked on the BC ferry Queen of the North. Roger Parrish, director, received a kidney transplant. Yoshiko Sakai, one of many Japanese friends of Coastal Missions, brought her father and mother to visit Coastal Missions. |
Vancouver then to
Victoria for a special commissioning service on April 3.