The Mercy Minute

One Friday afternoon, an elderly woman showed up at the Mercy Ship in Benin with her newborn grandson in her arms. 

When the Mercy Ship arrived in Benin, West Africa, it was just in time. 

When Maurel was 2 years old, Rene, his concerned mother, took him to a local hospital because of his bowed legs. 

Alimatou’s facial tumor grew bigger every day. Because of this, her husband took the children and abandoned her. 

Veronique had labored with her first child for five days. 

In the middle of the night Perlagie couldn’t sleep. 

When Richard was a baby, his parents sought help for his cleft lip. 

Rebecca lay in her bed the night before her surgery. 

When Josiah received free surgery on board the Mercy Ship, he also received freedom from generational bondage. 

Veronique stood in her wooden stall, selling goods at the market. 

Glenn Lashley volunteered on the Mercy Ship in Guinea as an electrician. 

Baby Jugie was born with a cleft lip and palate. 

Odilon’s aunt was visiting and noticed a bump on his face, but his mother said it was nothing. 

Marty came to volunteer as a chaplain on board the Africa Mercy with his family.

Dr. Venter just completed his 40th visit on board one of our Mercy Ships as a volunteer plastic surgeon.

Baby Paul came on board at just 4 months old.

After a horrible accident, Jules rushed his 1-year-old son to the hospital where they could do nothing to help.

Little Cheikh was born with a cleft lip and palate.

Mercy Ships’ founder Don Stephens shares his feelings after visiting a medical screening site years ago in Guinea, West Africa. 

Remember the exhilaration of soaring high in the sky on your school swing set? 

Kotiam is a farmer and father of 14 children. Several years ago, a growth began to form on his neck. 

In Ivory Coast, West Africa, Jules Yapo and his wife were picking coffee beans in a field while their children played nearby. 

Nurse Laura Rawson was drawn to her patient that didn’t want anyone to touch her or talk with her. 

Imagine walking around with a tennis ball in your mouth. 

Prince Eddie was a businessman who kept his briefcase next to his hospital bed. 

When patients come to us with large tumors or windswept legs, we provide free surgery and transform their appearance and mobility. 

Ramatulai’s jaw had been locked since she was born. For 20 years, she couldn’t fully open her mouth. 

When Josue was only 6 weeks old, a cloudy layer began to cover both of his eyes. 

The transformations our patients go through are far more than physical. 

In the United States, one would never think of dying from a dental infection. 

At just 21 years old, Papa was a hard-working mechanic pursuing his dream of fixing motorbikes. 

Mariama suffered episodes where she’d suddenly fall and lose consciousness. 

Florentine faced almost as much rejection as her son born with a cleft lip. 

Emmanuel is a father of two who suffered for many years with a benign tumor on his jaw. 

Little Elisabeth was known in her community for her sweet smile and kind heart. 

Tears can express many emotions. The Bible says our tears are precious, and God collects them 

One night, Esperance was woken up by her husband standing over her.             

Benedict was born with club feet. Now nine years old, he has learned to walk on the curled-under tops of his feet. 

Oceane was born with a tiny opening at the back of her skull. That opening allowed spinal fluid to escape from her brain.

Suzanna had labored for days only to deliver a still born baby. In her sorrow, she found that she too had been injured 

Marthlyn stands out in a crowd. People stare. They point and laugh. She is viewed as an outcast by her community

By the time Lincoln was 36 years old, he had already weathered many storms. Living in a country where civil war broke out

The patient felt her way up the gangway with a hole in her cornea.

Marie had already survived being orphaned, teen pregnancy, civil war and becoming a refugee. 

Biso was a widow and mother of 4 children who struggled to support her family.

A crowd of excited children holding colorful signs waited for their friend to return. 

When Lincoln boarded the Africa Mercy, he didn’t know he was about to receive more than free surgery. 

There was no hospital where Mary Johnson lived. She spent 2 days in labor without professional medical assistance. 

Carlos was 6 years old when he first knew he wanted to be a missionary. 

Arthur is the youngest of five children. He was born with a benign tumor growing on the right side of his face. 

Beatrice couldn’t stand by as her family neglected her little brother who was born with bi-lateral club feet. 

Oebele came to volunteer with Mercy Ships as a Mechanic Fitter. 

Pastor Bill was excited to send Mercy Ships the church’s donation of $4130.02. But the 2 cents seemed odd.  

Sitting on the deck of the Africa Mercy, looking out at Monrovia, Liberia, Milton Dunbar waited as his leg healed from his free surgery on board. 

In the Western world, many birth defects are easily corrected.  But this is not the case in West Africa 

Anthony was born with a large growth on his lower back. It was the result of a bone defect in his spinal column.

Being a mother to five children can be challenging. But for 45-year-old Lolly, life became more complicated.

Adama was like any other boy his age. The 7-year-old loved to play and explore the world around him. 

As Dr. Jim walks through the Mercy Ship, he grabs the hands of those he passes. 

Esther was fleeing for her life with her husband and two small children. 

For 36 years a tumor grew on Sambany’s face and neck. It became a monstrous burden.

When Prince was 7 years old, he became nearsighted and all he could see were faint shapes. 

Happy New Year! We wanted to begin this new year of possibility with a note of thankfulness. 

When walking through the wards, nurse Rachel Greenland noticed one patient whose massive smile lit up the room.

Have you ever met someone whose eyes dance when they talk? 

Maria was nine years old when her parents took her to tour a mercy Ships vessel in Gisbon, New Zealand. 

Children who are receiving free, reconstructive plastic surgery usually have a prolonged stay on board.

The start of a new year means the opportunity for new beginnings. 

 This season has been one of immense hope and healing. 

Sidy came to the Mercy Ship for surgery to remove his large tumor. 

Paula Pheasant thinks that her job is a hidden gem on the ship because she and her team are the first people to see the patients wake up to a new life. 

The older gentleman sat on the edge of his hospital bed when the surgeon came to go over the details of his upcoming surgery. 

Nurse Rachel Greenland has served with Mercy Ships for over 20 years. 

Childhood should be filled with joyous sights and memories. But for Adama, it was filled with shadows.

In this season of hustle and bustle, we want to take a moment to stop and count our blessings. 

Mohammed Mattia became an orphan at the age of 17.

Like a Shepherd searching diligently for lost sheep, the Mercy Ships medical team drove hours over bumpy, dusty roads.

Diane Rickard who works with media relations for Mercy Ships was sitting with a family that was going to be featured in a video. 

What does it take to run a hospital on the water?

Many of the patients we see in West Africa have spent their lives hidden away because of their physical conditions that have imprisoned them in a world of isolation. 

Little Sheik was only 2 years old and a bundle of energy! 

Cathy had been reading about Jesus and his compassion for others and she prayed that she'd feel the same love for others. 

A young man named Daniel was blinded when his wife threw caustic soda into his eyes.

Our volunteers come to us eagerly looking for ways to change another's life.

Hawa was a little girl when she came on board our flagship the Anastasis in 2005. 

On a special day in 2007, a patient was guided up the gangway of the Africa Mercy. 

It takes great courage for some of our patients to arrive on our hospital ships alone. 

Abdul Cole first heard of Mercy Ships when he was 14 years old. 

When Serah was born, her tiny feet were twisted and facing inward. 

Something was wrong. Eight year old Sourou just knew it. 

Kristell was only 6 years old when her face began to swell. 

It was midnight at sea, April 9, 1999. 

Counsuelo was once a school teacher in El Salvador. 

Aser Roger, a proud father of three daughters, was once the primary provider for his family. 

Hawa was a young girl when a tumor developed in her mouth. 

Nana Kamara watches the nurses serve meals and treat patients. 

Many years ago, while the Africa Mercy was in South Africa, there was a severe drought. 

Volunteer, Dr. David Chong shared a moving sentiment recently.