"In the strong name of Jesus we pray"

On Thursday, 2 March, the Hospital was still empty of patients, but not for long. The crew took the opportunity to go down to the Hospital decks together to cover every space in prayer.

Prayer walk through the hospital the week before the start of surgeries.

On Sunday, 5 March, the first patients were admitted to the Hospital on board for their surgery the next day. One of them was a boy named Amadou, who was going to undergo an orthopedic operation to straighten a bowed leg. He would be the first patient to receive surgery on the Global Mercy.

It is tradition for the Chief Medical Officer to lead the crew in a prayer immediately before the start of the first surgery. At 9:00am on 6 March, the voice of the CMO, Dr. Sarah, and the CMO Emeritus, Dr. Gary, came on over the PA system throughout the ship, and Dr. Gary said a prayer that has been adapted and used in previous years, shared below. In their workspaces across the ship, the crew paused their work and bowed their heads together in prayer.

Merciful Father, 

You have called us from many tribes and nations, languages and cultures 

Both young and old, you have appointed each one of us to participate in your Kingdom work here in Senegal 

The OR team meeting before the start of surgeries.

Compassionate Christ, 

Let us see you in those with deformed faces and broken lives

Let us hear you in the grieving and the oppressed

Let us know you in the hungry and the vulnerable

Amadou and his mother boarding the GLM for admission.

Transforming Spirit, 

You whose indwelling presence brings renewal and restoration 

Flow through our hands and pour out healing 

Flow from our hearts and extend hope to the hopeless 

Flow through our lives with saving grace 

Flow through all we do and make others whole

Amadou after his surgery.

Eternal God, Creator, Redeemer, Comforter 

Touch and transform us 

Let your love grow strong and deep within us

Let your compassion fill our hearts and overflow to others through us 

And may your presence in us bear fruit of mercy, love and justice.

Until your world is changed 

And all creation is restored and made new. 

In the strong name of Jesus we pray

Amen

Amadou playing in the ward after surgery.

Photo credit for this post goes to photographers Tirsa Tapia and Elizabeth Brumley. Consent is obtained from patients and their caregivers before being photographed.