Just Imagine

This week was a major milestone for Mercy Ships. On Saturday, the last patients were discharged from the hospital on the Africa Mercy in Dakar, marking the end of the first full field service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well done, AFM team!

Many crew who were on the Africa Mercy in the 2019-2020 field service remember a particular patient named Modou. His story was not memorable because he received surgery on the ship that year, but because he was one of the patients who did not.

Modou first came to Mercy Ships in 2019 with a condition affecting his ability to open his mouth, and consequently his ability to eat. He stayed at the HOPE Center for months, where he was on a special diet so that he could gain weight and be healthy enough to undergo his operation. Through all that time he spent waiting, Modou never stopped encouraging the other patients who would come and go, patients who arrived at the HOPE Center after him, and who would be admitted to the hospital before him.

The good news was, in 2020, Modou did reach his goal weight, and his surgery was scheduled! The bad news was that, before his surgery could take place, it had to be postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The premature end of the field service was difficult news to everyone on board at that time. But it was especially heartbreaking for patients like Modou, who had been waiting so long, had come so far, only to go back home without the physical transformation he desired, expected, and worked so hard for. That is a heavy burden to carry.

But God had not forgotten Modou, or any of the patients who were in that same situation, and neither had Mercy Ships. When the Africa Mercy was finally able to return to Senegal in 2022, the question was at the top of many crew's mind: What about the patients whose surgeries were cancelled in 2020? What about Modou?

The week that he was readmitted, my friends in Dakar texted me "Modou is back!" This time, nothing would stand in his way. The communications team was able to capture his admission day in photos. 

You normally see a smile like this AFTER surgery!

Welcome back Modou!

I love this photo of the Pre-Operative team celebrating with
Modou as he walked to the ship for his admission to the hospital!
Many of them also worked with him in 2019-2020.

Just a few weeks ago, the entire Mercy Ships community celebrated the news that Modou was recovered after a successful surgery, and was headed home. For all the challenges and curveballs of the first post-COVID field service, patient send-offs like his are a very tangible reminder to the crew of why we are all here.

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. 

He has planted eternity in the human heart, 

but even so, people cannot see 

the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end."

-Ecclesiastes 3:11

Once again, the communications team was able to capture the special day when Modou left the hospital.

Jessica, the Clinical Dietician, saying goodbye to Modou,
who she has looked after since 2019.

Take care, Modou!

Meanwhile in Tenerife, each week in the Equipping phase brings the Global Mercy one step closer to following in the AFM's footsteps. Now in November, the upcoming field service feels a little less far away and a little more "almost here"! 

Several members of the Hospital team, on top of their daily work, had the idea to start offering weekly tours of the hospital space to the crew who wanted a closer look at the work taking place. This initiative has been of great interest not only to the newer crew, who may not have seen the hospital yet, but also to crew who saw the hospital looking shiny and new in Rotterdam, and might be wondering, how much work could really be left?

Each time I go down to the hospital and see all the work that is still ongoing, it is a tangible reminder of the purpose behind all the waiting. The hospital is not yet ready for field service, but they are hard at work down there to make sure that it will be! Some major projects have included installing copper piping that will transport medical gas to the operating room, and configuring the ceiling pendants--the pieces that hang down from the ceiling and provide lighting, storage and other essential functions during an operation.

The ongoing pendant work in OR 4

Copper piping stored in one of the wards and ready to install!

As we walked from room to room, Senior Radiology Technologist Martha said to the group, "Just imagine, in a few short months, these rooms will be filled with patients and their caregivers." So we imagined together, the admission waiting room humming with anxious anticipation, the rehab room alive with patients gaining back their physical strength, and the wards buzzing with nurses, chaplains, and doctors as they walk with patients and their caregivers on the road to healing. Despite the mountain of work that still stands between now and the first field service, I so appreciate that the hospital team took the time to invite crew to come in and share in the vision of what we will soon undertake as a ship.

"For since the world began, 

no ear has heard and no eye has seen 

a God like you, 

who works for those who wait for him!"

-Isaiah 64:4

One of the wards, where beds are pulled away from the "bed head units" while they work on the wiring.

For its inaugural field service, the plan is for the Global Mercy to once again dock in Dakar, Senegal. Although it's unusual for Mercy Ships to operate in one location for such an extended period of time, the decision was made for a few reasons. 

First, since it will be the first time the Global Mercy hospital will welcome patients for treatment, we're anticipating that there may be a few "hiccups" that don't surface until then. The hope is that operating the new ship in a familiar location will be an advantage in that regard. 

Second, although 10 months is a pretty typical length of field service for Mercy Ships, that does not necessarily mean that there is no more surgical need at the end of that time! It's very common that we run out of space in our surgical schedule, but there are still patients in need of safe and affordable surgery, for whom there was simply not space. The extra time in Senegal will allow Mercy Ships to treat additional patients from within Senegal, but also from nearby countries, including the Gambia.

Until then, our focus turns first towards advent, Christmas, and the celebration of Emmanuel, God with us. Beyond that, our sights are set on Senegal, and we cannot wait to see what God will do through this team and this ship!

“No eye has seen, 

no ear has heard, 

and no mind has imagined 

what God has prepared 

for those who love him.”

-1 Corinthians 2:9

Working while we wait

The Windmills admire a beautiful Granadilla sunset.

I'll admit that the past few months have been difficult to put into words. But hopefully in this update I can bring you up to speed on the highlights.

Besides being on a completely new ship, and everything that brings with it (more on that at the end of this post), one of the other major differences between 2020 and today is getting to enjoy much more freedom on our little island home! Far from being in lockdown, during our free time, the ship's crew can now come and go from the port, swim, hike, eat in restaurants, visit businesses, and explore the beautiful place that God provided for us more than two years ago, at a time when we had literally no where else to turn.

The natural beauty of Los Christianos, one of the beautiful
coastal towns on Tenerife.

In June, the Global Mercy sailed from Tenerife down to Dakar to moor alongside her little big sister, the Africa Mercy, for one month. While there, we were able to welcome a number of Medical Capacity Building trainees into the hospital. This was a very significant milestone in the life of the Global Mercy--her first time in West Africa, supporting the local healthcare system by providing training to its professionals. Many of the crew had never been to Africa, and we could not have been more excited.

While the two ships were together, Mercy Ships hosted several African Presidents and Ministers of Health for a visit of the Global Mercy. It was an incredible honor to welcome these guests on board. 

Following that visit, Mercy Ships had organized a very meaningful ceremony to symbolize the Global Mercy joining the Africa Mercy in service, and the crew of both ships were able to participate in the celebration. With a prayer and a vase of flowers smashed against the bow, the Global Mercy was christened. 

After the christening, the senior leadership of each ship took turns carrying two torches, which themselves were beautifully and very thoughtfully crafted from pieces of previous ships in the Mercy Ships fleet. The first torch was lit and carried down the gangway of the Africa Mercy, across the dock, to light the second torch beside the gangway of the Global Mercy. In the background, the Academy students and members of the ship choir (called the Key of Sea!) led the crew in singing "This Little Light of Mine". You can watch a wonderful video of the torch lighting here!

Lead maxillo-facial surgeon Dr. Gary and AFM Managing
Director Bernard participated in a torch-lighting ceremony
to symbolize the GLM joining the AFM in service.

Looking back at the Africa Mercy as we sailed away from Dakar.

On the first of July, we waved goodbye to the Africa Mercy and set sail. A few days after arriving back in Tenerife, the third and final phase of Global Mercy equipping began. There are some major projects that need to be completed before the ship will be ready to receive patients for surgical care.

To give you a snapshot of what equipping looks like, I have a story to share. One week I noticed that the temperature of the water coming out of my faucet ranged from hot to steaming hot. I mentioned this to another crew member, who confirmed that this was definitely not normal, so I submitted a maintenance ticket. The next time I came down to deck 6, every plumbing cabinet in my hallway was open. Apparently I had unearthed an issue that spanned my entire neighborhood!

This is all just part of the territory when you're working on a newly-delivered ship! I am encouraged by the thought that every single problem that we solve now is a problem that we don't have to solve while also caring for patients in the hospital.

Most of the equipping work is concentrated in the hospital on decks 3 and 4. Up on deck 8, where I work, it could look like not much is changing. But there is an equally important mission that is harder to see. The ship community is establishing the culture on board. As we are figuring out "how we do things around here", we pray that God will give us wisdom to use this time well, and to establish momentum in the direction we want to walk. It's slow work, but deepening this community's roots can and will have generations of impact.

"If the root is holy, so are the branches."
Romans 11:16

So while the crew are understandably eager to be back in West Africa, doing what the ship was designed to do, there is plenty of work to do between now and then.

To those that have prayed for good health for the crew, thank you--God has heard! We have had a number of COVID cases on board, which would be very hard to avoid in a ship environment, but none of the cases have been severe, for which we are very grateful.

To those that have prayed for safety, thank you--God has heard! In both our work and our play, the crew have stayed safe.

To those that have prayed for this new community on the Global Mercy, thank you--God has heard!

To those that have prayed for wisdom for how to do this work well, thank you--those prayers are always needed!

Welcome Back

I pulled the Land Cruiser into the Port of Dakar around 6:20am on February 1st. In the pre-dawn stillness, I killed the engine and gazed ahead in slight disbelief. The dock in front of me had been cleared of the rebar, rice, and flatbed trucks that had covered it just a few days prior, and would be transformed again in a few short hours.

Welcome back to Berth 14.

Before long, the sun came up. The first group to join me were Day Crew, all alumni who had worked with the ship before. They were there to set up the dockside infrastructure that would soon help us welcome patients from around the country. I was especially excited to see Ka, who I knew from the previous field service. (Ka also appears in this post from February 2020!)

Welcome back to Mercy Ships, friends.

Morning devotions with the team at our apartment.

By God's design, there are some seasons of life where grace carries us through one day at a time. Many people have experienced this reality in deeper valleys than I've ever walked, but my team got a taste of it in January. It was a month that seemed to last one day and a whole year at the same time. Arrival day was barreling towards us, and thinking of all that had to be accomplished in time was a bit overwhelming! Through unexpected challenges, exhaustion, and late nights of work, we found ourselves frequently leaning on God for our daily bread. 

To those that prayed for me and the team in Dakar, thank you. When we were working and waiting for one more appointment, one more phone call, or one more authorization, we were frequently reminding each other to trust God. Trust that He would come through in His perfect way, in His perfect timing. It's a nice thought on paper. In practice, the waiting can be torture!

Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
-Psalm 9:10

Recognizing the silhouette of the Africa Mercy in front
of the Pilot boat was a highlight of the day!

Despite the struggle, February 1st did come. It was a day filled with greetings, hugs, photos, a portable toilet delivery, a lunch run for the dockside teams, one very exciting boat ride out to meet the Africa Mercy and drop off the Pilot who would guide her into the port, more hugs and photos, and an arrival ceremony hosted by the Senegalese Ministry of Health. Any exhaustion from the preceding weeks was replaced by a sense of victory, and pure joy! 

Welcome back to Senegal, Africa Mercy!

That's one excited Advance team!

Almost two years after the ship left, arrival day felt like the perfect answer to all of our waiting, questions, and prayers. Mercy Ships will be able to fulfill its promise to the people of Senegal, and our team could not be more honored to have played a part in it.

(To see more photos and videos from arrival day, I saved it as a highlight on my Instagram page.)

With our work as an Advance team winding down, each of us was preparing for their next step. Several members of my team moved onto the Africa Mercy to serve in roles on board, while others prepared to return home and continue in their roles as part of the Country Engagement Team. 

One last team dinner before we parted ways.

Arriving in my cabin

As for me, there was a period of uncertainty, and periodic conversations with the HR team about where I might land post-Advance. After much prayer and deliberation, I accepted a role as the Executive Assistant on the newest member of the Mercy Ships fleet, the Global Mercy.

Welcome back on board, Kate.

The job title may be familiar from my time on the Africa Mercy, but it comes with a new ship, a new team, and an unusual schedule for the next year that bears little resemblance to the seasonal rhythms that I had come to know by heart.

While the Africa Mercy is actively treating patients and training Senegalese medical professionals, the Global Mercy is still getting equipped for service, and won't be ready to welcome its first patient for almost another year. But the preparations being made now will be crucial when the time comes for her to follow in the AFM's footsteps.

I boarded the GLM at the end of a months-long equipping phase in Antwerp, Belgium. From there we sailed to Rotterdam for a two-week PR stopover. During that time, the ship welcomed tens of thousands of guests to see the new ship first hand. 

Quality time with old friends has been a 
highlight of Rotterdam.

Among many visitors who were discovering Mercy Ships for the first time (yay!), there was also an astonishing number of Mercy Ships alumni who made their way to Rotterdam to see the new "baby" in person. 

Running into old friends, I habitually exclaimed "welcome back!" and then immediately laughed because we were on new ship in a new country. Welcome back to what, exactly? But it was understood immediately. 

Welcome back to this community. 

Leave it to your old friends to make a new ship feel like home.

On Tuesday, the Global Mercy departs for the island Tenerife, to moor in the same port where the Africa Mercy spent almost two years preparing for its return to Senegal. I will write more about the ship's schedule in my next post.

Exploring the hospital with

my friend Irma.

Despite the distance, whether by offering surgery and training or by welcoming visitors to take a tour and hear stories, we are united around one cause. Far beyond Dakar and Rotterdam, we want to participate in God's epic plan to heal the world.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
-Psalm 33:11

Even if we could make all our plans run like clockwork (LOL, we can't.), treat all the patients, train all the local surgeons, and raise all the funds, God is the one who brings true healing. May you experience it this week, as well. Blessings to you, friends, and glory to God!

For health reasons, we still don't do communal singing indoors, but we
can worship outdoors. In Belgium and the Netherlands, that meant bundling up!

Entering a lock on our way out of Antwerp.

Arrival day in Rotterdam

Visiting two former youth students in Delft