We’d like to thank everyone who has followed and supported us so far in this journey. Sorry for the delays in our posts with updates and images. We’re hoping to get better at this, I promise! Getting settled into new routines, weekend adventures, and experiencing the mission firsthand continue to fill much of our time.
The mission of Mercy Ships in Madagascar is to bring hope and healing through a variety of medical services. Operations are happening as much as the limited staffing capacity allows. We have begun to experience the mission ourselves as we’ve lived aboard. The Hope Center is a pre and post-operation facility at a local hospital where patients are prepared for their surgeries aboard, or recover once released from our onboard ICU rooms. We enjoyed a Sunday church service at the hope center with the patients, staff, and caregivers. The service was loud, music and speaking cranked, but an amazing experience. A chaplain from Mercy Ships opened and closed the service in English with a Malagasy translator. Once the kids were dismissed, a local pastor took over and conducted the sermon in Malagasy.
This wasn’t a typical sermon experience. She spoke to the crowd, and then the crowd responded in turn, random people standing up and speaking replies to the teacher. Seeing this interactive teaching method was fun, even though we couldn’t understand anything they said. Dara and Cal left with the kids for their church, spending some time doing various activities, colouring, playing, and having fun with Malagasy kids who were staying at the Hope Center. We are so proud of them for stepping up on our first trip to this unfamiliar place and choosing to spend some time with the Malagasy kids.
It’s heartwarming to see some of the people we had short interactions with at the Hope Center arrive here on the ship. Every day, the patients onboard, those who can, make their way up to deck seven for some outside time. These afternoon breaks are open for available crew to join. Early on, before classes started, some of the kids stopped by to spend time with the recovering patients. After school started, Rachel spent some time on deck seven with some patients. The language barrier is a constant challenge, but smiles, high-fives, fist bumps, and warm expressions go a long way to brighten someone’s day.
These operations are common by our standards, but are life changing for the Malagasy people who get them. One example is a young boy who sat with us during the service. He had a cleft pallet, which he covered with his hand whenever he walked around or met strangers. He was clearly embarrassed by it. But after some friendly smiles, fist bumps, and fun during the service, he felt comfortable enough around us to confidently smile without covering his face. Once his cleft pallet is repaired and his wounds heal, he is spared a lifetime of embarrassment and feeling out of place in his community. Often, those with facial tumours and deformities are rejected or shunned by their communities, bringing shame to their families. Surgery on board the Africa Mercy frees them of this burden, providing the holistic healing Jesus showed us during his time on earth.
We’ve seen countless videos and articles about the impact Mercy Ships has, but it’s incredible to experience it ourselves tangibly. While we can’t take pictures with patients and our experiences at the Hope Center, we’ve included some pictures that Mercy Ships took that are approved for sharing. As a community on board, we continue to pray for the patients recovering in the wards and at the Hope Center. We pray for the nurses who have the unenviable job of selecting which patients get care and which don’t, knowing full well the impact this has on their lives.
Weekdays are filled with work and school activities, evening community groups, and homework. Dara, Ivan, and Cal all started classes in the on board academy on August 13th. They’re quickly adapting to the new education system and getting into homework habits. All three kids are part of the Junior High program, Cal starting in grade 6 while Dara and Ivan tackle grade 8. They’ve all recieved positive praise from their teachers for their efforts.
Rachel is starting the process of training for a role on the ship, learning the emergency and fire systems on board, how to communicate with the marine crew, and handling alarms as she prepares to help out at reception. Dan settles into his role as IT Manager on board. His team is already well-established which has helped him with onboarding. One of the challenges unique to managing a team on Mercy Ships is how staff change over time. In a few short months, two members of his team finish their service.
Weekends are an opportunity to explore off ship and truly experience Madagascar. One weekend we took a day trip to a lemur reserve, called Parc Ivoloina, about 12 km – or an hour’s drive – from the port. While most of the animals were in large cages in the zoo, mostly for protection and as part of the breeding program, we did encounter a few lemurs as they hopped through the canopies overhead. Our guide took us on a walk through the park’s trails and jungle, giving us a close look at the impressive flora of Madagascar.
The following weekend, a ship long weekend, Rachel and the kids joined another family on board for a day at the beach. This was the kids’ first time at an ocean beach. They loved the big waves, building sand castles, and beautiful weather. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly and returned exhausted and a little sunburnt. Dan was on call for the weekend and had to stay on ship, unfortunately.
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