I continue to speak to groups about my newest book, Pedro’s Delivery, (Pink Umbrella Books, 2026). Increasingly folks will ask me about the plight of commercial ship seafarers, so many of them Filipino, in the Strait of Hormuz. My heart is heavy as I think about the wartime conditions on the waters near Iran.

First, I am struck by the number of folks I encounter who haven’t even heard of the Strait of Hormuz. Not everyone follows the news. And I understand how busy folks are these days. But never heard of it?

I now subscribe to the “Strait of Hormuz Updates” compiled weekly by the International Christian Maritime Association. (subscribe here) It comes with a note from Jason Zuidema, who oversees the North American Maritime Ministry Association, the group I made remarks to about my book Aug. 4 during their convention in Philadelphia.

I like the updates so much because the compilation relies on multiple sources.

Jason noted Sept. 10 that the Gulf conflict was intensifying at his writing. Iran launched missiles at U.S. warships and forces in Jordan. The U.S. responded by destroying eight Iranian oil tankers. Commercial traffic through the strait has not stopped but is limited. In short, the war is not over and appears to have no end in sight.

I won’t cite all the sources here, but a paragraph from UN News cited in Jason’s update especially caught my attention:

Ships and seafarers increasingly caught in the crossfire of unrelated wars

“Four regions – the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the waters off Somalia and the Black Sea – are now simultaneously active theatres of danger, on a scale the shipping industry has not seen before. Vessels and seafarers are being trapped and attacked in conflicts that have nothing to do with the ships themselves.”

At least 70 cargo ships have been attacked since the war with Iran began, and 19 seafarers have been killed. Recent statistics suggested that even though limited traffic is accessing the Strait an estimated 400 cargo ships and as many as 6,000 seafarers are in limbo nearby. Getting them on and off ships as contracts begin or expire and getting seafarers provisions when they are not in port is much more costly than usual. Shipping is getting harder to insure.

These realities should deeply concern us. I’m asking you, dear readers, to pray for the safety of innocent seafarers. They do so much for us. In addition, their plight is becoming our predicament too. Because it is getting harder for seafarers to “deliver the goods” to us, including much needed fertilizer for farmers, our costs are bound to increase dramatically in the uncertain months ahead.

You can read the original reflection Hormuz Heartache here.

On Tuesday afternoon, August 4, I had the distinct privilege of addressing 115 shipboard visitors and chaplains from all across North America. I was a keynoter at the annual conference of NAMMA, the North American Maritime Ministry Association held at the Marriott Hotel in Old City Philadelphia. I described how my 10 years of experience visiting hundreds of ships and their crews in the Port of Philadelphia had changed my life and inspired the writing of Pedro’s Delivery (Pink Umbrella Books, 2026.)

We are so grateful that Jason Zuidema, who directs NAMMA, invited Lynn and me to be part of this special conference, giving me the chance to talk about the journey leading to Pedro. I made all those visits as a volunteer for the venerable Seamen’s Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey (SCI).

Jeff Wheeler, who has been involved in the cocoa industry in the Port for 46 years, was so taken with Pedro’s Story that he donated copies of the book to all the conference attendees. Jeff began his career as a stevedore loading bags of cocoa beans on railroad cars. He now oversees the importing and distribution of beans in the Port as CEO of Dependable Distribution Services, Inc. in Pennsauken, NJ.

Because of Jeff’s generosity, conference attendees, having heard my remarks, sent me and my spouse, Lynn, a consistent message as they spoke to us. “This book does a great job educating children about what goes on behind the scenes to bring products to their store shelves.” Some said reading the story to and with their children and grandchildren will help give early readers an understanding of the importance of their ministry to seafarers.

Several said they hope to purchase multiple copies of Pedro’s story to give to those they relate to in the workplace and to family members.

Lynn and I were greatly blessed and moved to meet so many dedicated and compassionate caregiving professionals and hear their stories. It made my having written the story of Pedro so worthwhile!

Here’s the video of his talk:

Here are some photos with Mark (and Lynn) at the event:

Images and video courtesy NAMMA

I’ve written elsewhere about my pending early reader children’s book Pedro’s Delivery, a fictional story based on fact about a Filipino seafarer who escorts cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast to Philadelphia and the difference mariners from often faraway places make in our daily lives.

At age 81 my life has had many blessed chapters, twists and subplots. This blog will celebrate the ones that led to this new book, which comes out in July. Maybe you have had similar unfolding stories. I believe God has breathed life into each subplot. 

About 25 years ago I worked with other Lutherans on a long-term flood recovery escapade to help mostly older residents along the banks of the Delaware River recover from the ravages of two tropical storms. That work involved me with seminarians from what was then known as The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now part of United Lutheran Seminary), as well as volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale, PA. Volunteering several years along the Delaware was in itself life changing. My wife, Lynn and I subsequently helped out in the aftermath of Katrina in Mississippi.

While working in Bucks County I met another volunteer, the Rev. William Rex, who was pastoring a Lutheran church in nearby Ferndale. Eventually, Bill invited me to serve with him as a shipboard visitor extending hospitality to cargo ship seafarers visiting the Port of Philadelphia. 

One ministry leads to another. I became a visitor with Homeland Security credentials affording me access to highly secure terminals in the Port of Philadelphia. That service was as an ambassador for Seamen’s Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey (SCI) for 10 years.

Memories gleaned from relating to thousands of seafarers on hundreds of ships led me to write Pedro’s story. I wanted early readers to know something of how commodities get to their store shelves. I wanted them to know about the seafaring professionals who sacrifice so much to “deliver” for them.

I showed my manuscript to Helene Pierson, the CEO for SCI, a couple of years ago long after I had “retired” from climbing gangways on so many ships, sometimes writing stories about my experiences for SCI when Father Jim Von Dreele was the SCI leader. After reading it to a grandchild, Helene was enthusiastic about the “face” the story would give to many who know little, if anything about the origins of commodities we take for granted when we shop. 

She has been a vigorous supporter, helping me with author photos aboard ship in Gloucester City, NJ, early in 2026 and introducing me to Jeff Wheeler, the man who oversees the importing of cocoa beans from West Africa to the Port of Philadelphia, and the distributing from there of bags of beans as far away as Illinois and Wisconsin. In 2025 the Port of Philadelphia imported 5 million bags of cocoa beans, more than received by any other port in the U.S. Jeff himself is a remarkable story. He began as a longshoreman helping to load bags of cocoa beans on railroad cars in the Port. Today he is the chief executive of Dependable Distribution Services, Inc. in Pennsauken, NJ. Jeff has also become an advocate for Pedro’s story. “Many people don’t understand much about the people who work in international trade and what goes on behind the scenes in places like our port,” he says. “This book will really put a face on that work.”

A couple of other twists remain to relate about this Pedro journey.

I had an electronic exchange on Alignable, a sprawling electronic network for entrepreneurs, with Yvonne Kathryn Caputo, an author of adult books published with Ingenium Books of Toronto. Yvonne suggested I submit Pedro’s manuscript to that publishing house. Ingenium acquired the rights to publish the book. Unfortunately, Ingenium closed while the book was in process. Happily, Pedro was picked up by Pink Umbrella Books of San Clemente, CA. Ingenium had hired Pink Umbrella’s owner, Adrienne Quintana, to work with me and illustrator Sandra Jessop to develop the book. Thanks to Yvonne’s suggestion, Pedro’s Delivery will soon come to pass! I am deeply grateful to Adrienne and Sandra for all their hard work!

And special credit goes to John Kahler of Coatesville, PA, my long-time friend, technical specialist, photographer and publicist. He plays a major role in bringing my work to life.  John is truly a wizard! 

The final special twist in this Pedro Journey belongs to Lynn Roberts Staples, my spouse of nearly 59 years. Without her encouragement and support none of this happens.

Pedro’s main lesson is a simple global perspective I hope children will take to heart as they read. We need each other.