Pen Bay Pilot
Without an Agenda: Talking with the Crew of the ‘Sunbeam’ Pt 2
By Eva Murray – Tuesday, April 2, 2019
…Sunbeam steward Jillian…. [H]er domain is the galley, from where she feeds crew and visitors alike. Sometimes islanders are invited aboard for supper, but all through the day working islanders stop in for coffee break and to raid the famous cookie jar.
You don’t have to have an identified need to come aboard and be helped to feel good, and that’s largely the responsibility of the cook. The sense of community helped along by a good meal is not lost on Jillian….
“Seven years ago we started our regular community supper in Cherryfield, and for seven years every Sunday we’ve served a free meal. I just learned the value of just sitting with your neighbor and eating at a big table. People love to come together. Providing a meal for people is an honor and I love the simplicity of it.”
I said to Jillian, “Your role and the role of every steward before you has been larger than your bosses may know. You’re not just here to support the crew, but you’re here to support us all in an abstract sense. You provide the service that is the hardest to measure.”
She replied, with a grin “Not really—you cut a pie into eight pieces!”
Mission Island Health Director Sharon Daley, RN. (Photo courtesy Eva Murray)
Pen Bay Pilot
Without an Agenda: talking with the crew of the ‘Sunbeam’ – Part 2
By Eva Murray – Posted: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 – 1:45pm
I brought up how March on an island has classically been considered the hardest time, and asked, “Do you see a seasonal impact on people in terms of depression?”
Sharon’s reply was particularly interesting to me, and it defied the stereotype of the “long lonely winter.”
“I see August as also being hard for people on all the islands.” (Hearing these words from her made me smile, as I personally feel the stress of the intensely busy summer much more acutely than any stress from a low population, even though that issue gets little media attention in Maine). “The population on every island doubles (or more,) and everybody’s working really hard, and having so many people around always needing a lot of things can be really hard. By August, people are ready for it to be quieter.”
I could have hugged her. We hear a lot about the impacts on mood and mental health of isolation and long winters, but less about the sense of being overwhelmed, overworked, or “always on call” during a Maine coast summer.
ABOARD THE SUNBEAM V, ME — Mission President John Zavodny in the Sunbeam V wheelhouse with Capt. Michael Johnson. President Zavodny and Mission Director of Development Christine Stelling are out with the Sunbeam crew for a few days this week for Island Health Director Sharon Daley’s telemedicine trip.
This trip gives Stelling and Zavodny a chance to see the Sunbeam and crew in action, to introduce themselves to some of the unbridged island communities.
Introducing Moonbeam. Named by a majority vote of Maine island schoolkids, Moonbeam is the Sunbeam V’s replacement during its refitting.
BAR HARBOR, ME — With the Maine Seacoast Mission’s Sunbeam V coming out of the water for a major refit later this Spring, the Mission had to find a way for the Sunbeam crew to continue traveling from island to island providing social, health, education, and spiritual services in the Sunbeam’s absence.
Sunbeam Engineer Storey King did a fabulous job researching, locating, and inspecting several possible boats to fill in for the Sunbeam. He located the 34-foot wooden Downeast Cruiser shown here to serve this role.
Now the big question: What to call the Sunbeam’s interim replacement?
Island Outreach Director Douglas Cornman solicited possible names from Mission staff and crew and asked island schoolkids to vote for their favorite name on the list.
Director Douglas Cornman said, “End of day Friday, March 8, was the voting deadline. The majority of island schoolkids selected Moonbeam, with Hope in second and Promineo in third.”
Moonbeam was suggested as a complimentary name to Sunbeam V, Hope was the name given to the Mission’s first vessel launched in 1905. Promineo is the Latin word meaning “to reach out.” Holistic outreach is the crew’s focus with outer island communities.
“So, the Sunbeam crew will be traveling around on a Moonbeam this Summer and Fall while our beloved Sunbeam is enjoying its much needed refit,” said Douglas.
Stay tuned for details on the official Moonbeam christening.
Learn more about the Sunbeam V and the crew’s work among Maine unbridged islands:
ABOARD THE SUNBEAM V, ME — Island Health Director Sharon Daley (half hidden behind the laptop computer) is introducing Maine island resident Bernie to Amazon, helping her research lime green knee high boots. Pat, wearing a red cap, is watching.
Sunbeam Steward Jillian said, “I share this image because it captures a collective favorite precious experience for all of us. Anyone who knows beautiful Bernie will understand.”
Learn more about the Sunbeam V crew’s work with communities on Maine unbridged islands.
Every so often, someone makes our day, sending us a note from our website, sharing new pieces of Mission history. These two recent messages are examples.
I was going through some my wife’s things and came across the book, “The Light of a Sunbeam,” written in 1993 by Cecil Mac Donald. It’s about the Mac Donald family tree [and] the formation of the Maine Sea Coast Missionary Society.
My wife is related to the Mac Donald family. Apparently she is the several “greats” granddaughter of Allan Mac Donald. We actually bought and live in her Great Aunt Maude Mac Donald’s home in California.
It is nice to find out Maine Seacoast Mission, founded over a hundred years ago, is still going.
David
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My mother, Charlena G. was born and raised on Louds Island and she told me that when she was a small child that she always looked forward to a visit from “Gods Little Tug Boat.” She passed away in 2001 and I am sure she is with God.
She always told me how the Seacoast Missionaries and the little church on the island affected her life. She was a good mother.
I am wondering if you might have a picture of the boat that would visit the island in the twenties and thirties. I would love to see it. Thank you for your attention and for the message that was brought to my mother by “Gods Little Tug Boat.” She passed it on to my brother and me.
