Captain John P. De Silva

 

 This is a memorable event, and the Glory is to God:    

 

SS

Somewhere in October 1971 I was invited by a friend to join him to go on board a ship berthed in Colombo harbor. I was delighted at the invitation. But I explained to him my problem. He said that he would obtain permission from my mother. He came with his brother, who happened to be the third officer on that ship. My mother  then allowed me to go on board the ship with them. It was great. As the Third Officer, he was living in luxury. We were invited to dinner, but we declined. Therefore, we were served with a hot cup of soup brought in by a steward. I went around the ship, and it was out of this world.

One day when my mother was in a good mood I explained to her about the ship that I visited and

One day when my father was at home, I just mentioned my idea to him. His immediate response was "Don’t talk nonsense". As he was a person of few words, it took another month or so to find out why he said that. I invited home the friend who was an officer on the ship which I visited. At that time, my father was there. He obliged. He came and had lunch with us. It was extremely difficult to convince my parents. They went on saying that I being the eldest in the family, they just cannot even think of sending me to sea, considering the dangers and other activities involved in seafaring.

It was around this time I was informed by one of my uncles that a company in Sri Lanka based in Colombo will be calling applications for Officer Cadets in the Merchant Navy. Few days later, it was advertised in the papers. After a long deliberation, my father agreed to help me with the application. Thereafter I submitted my application.

However, there was a huge doubt about whether or not I will be called for the interview as I didn’t possess the required qualifications. I prayed to God and also attended novenas of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, and other church services, praying and asking for God’s help for me to get this job.

In March of that year, I received a letter from the company calling me for the interview. I did attend the interview, and I was interviewed by a senior captain in the merchant marine. He asked me if had a recent Vision Test report. When I said, No. He wanted me to get one and come back in two days. When I returned with the Vision Test report the captain checked it and was satisfied.

Then he asked for the educational qualifications.  I certainly did not have what he was looking for. Then he handed back my folder containing all my certificates and told me to get the certificate he wanted and to return on the following day. There was no way of getting the certificate because I did not have it.

 I returned home and gave the bad news to my father. He said he anticipated something like that.

That day during the night I prayed and cried to our Father in Heaven asking for his help.

 ON the following day, when I was ready to leave to go back to the shipping company office, my father too came with me. And when in the office my father also went in the room of the captain who interviewed me. For nearly forty minutes they had a discussion and mainly about God. Thereafter, I was selected for the job.

 It took a very long time for me realize it was a Miracle, and a direct act of God.