<p><strong>Here at Apostleship of the Sea we talk again and again about the isolation that seafarers face on long voyages at sea, and the lack of contact with friends and family. No matter how hard we try, we struggle to capture the reality of this life as we have never experienced it ourselves. Recently in the Medway one of our regular seafarers, Raul, came once again into port. After talking to our chaplain, Daniel Mulcahy, he suggested that he write in his own words, what he considers the worst hardship he faces whilst at sea. </strong></p> <p>This is Raul&rsquo;s story....</p> <p><strong>BIRTHDAY AWAY FROM HOME</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I can&rsquo;t remember when was the last time I celebrate My Birthday with My family when I started working at sea, I keep on thinking that yesterday when I wake up. Its seems that another year has passed...<br />I&rsquo;m staring at the card that our captain handed me a couple of days ago then slowly open it, It was a lovely Birthday card from My family back home, a sight and a smile from My face then followed by a teary eye when I was reading it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Since its Monday it will be a busy day, I started the day with a prayer &amp; thanking THEE for the good health &amp; all the blessings that THEE had given. At lunch break greetings in text messages and wishes for My birthday occupied My mobile phone in box, then My wife inform me that whenever I&rsquo;m ready She is on line so that we could chat, its the usual thing we do when we are at UK port.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As we are chatting on the net, we started viewing its other web cam with Her viewing me first, when its My turn to view Her web cam, I was totally shocked when they started singing a Birthday song, I first saw my wife&rsquo;s face struggling to sing, the mumbling words of my grandnieces, My aging father &amp; mother faces and all My close friends was there singing out loud Happy Birthday!!! I was laughing not knowing that My tears are falling and can&rsquo;t hold it back, I simply hide My face from the camera so that they could not see me crying, only then that I&rsquo;m ready to face them that I talk to them, It was a surprise that My wife arranged, &lsquo;coz She knows that we are at UK port on that day, they started to greet me one by one, showing the foods that they prepare, My mother cooked My favorite arroz valenciana, I loved watching them eating those foods while I was eating in front of them too.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Afternoon work seems not tiring for me on that day, as if I was recharged, the smile from My loved ones faces inspired me. After dinner My shipmates are asking if I could join them for a couple of beer at the Pub, they don&rsquo;t know either that its My Birthday, I&rsquo;ve inform them that I have to chat with My family Back Home, but the real reason is that I don&rsquo;t want to missed My Birthday with My family. Some of My friends are gone but some were still there celebrating My Birthday. As the party is over, it was only me &amp; My wife chatting, thanking Her for everything, the joy She made for me on that day means a lot. It was My first Birthday celebration with My family away from each other.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>By Raul Gulac <br /></strong><em>(Printed in full as written by Raul himself, who kindly wrote this in <br />English for our readers.)</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Christmas Day is, of course, the birthday of another very special person, Jesus. Whilst we gather with our families for celebrations such as birthdays and Christmas, seafarers are often far from their loved ones.&nbsp; However, with your help Apostleship of the Sea and its tireless volunteers will continue to be there to support seafarers and provide spiritual comfort in times of personal need. In addition, throughout the Christmas season our AoS chaplains and volunteer ship visitors will be working hard to be a welcoming presence for seafarers coming into our ports.</strong></p> <p><strong>Will you help seafarers in need this Christmas? </strong></p> <p>Please support Raul and other seafarers like him. Give &pound;20 or whatever you can afford, which will allow us to continue our valuable work. Your gift will be used where the need is greatest. Thank you.</p>