Praise God! It came down to the last moments, but we heard at 6 pm Madagascar time on Sept. 4th that Mercy Ships received a signed protocol agreement from the Malagasy Government. This new agreement allows Mercy Ships to serve Madagascar until the end of 2025 as originally planned. The news is a relief to the long-term crew waiting for it and a joy for the day crew who can continue contributing to Africa Mercy and our mission. It brings renewed hope to hundreds of patients around Madagascar who now have opportunities to get the surgery they need.
We celebrated the news of a signed protocol on Thursday, September 5th. Many crews left work early to volunteer alongside our stewards, galley, and dining room staff to make the event happen. The crew and day crew were served a feast of BBQ fish, burgers, chicken wings, sausages, and skewers (beef, shrimp, and veggie) alongside all the fixings. Rachel joined the dining room team to serve while Dan helped the galley team BBQ outside.
The evening featured performances from a local youth choir, our onboard choir, “The Key of Sea,” and many talented performances from the crew and day crew. The energy was electric and there was so much talent on display. God was glorified throughout it all with songs of praise and prayers of thanksgiving.
Our mission now faces the challenge of staffing the hospital and supporting teams as we look to reopen the hospital on Sept 30th. Pray that God will prompt and prepare the medical crew to apply and travel to Madagascar. It takes a large community to keep a ship going, and the Africa Mercy needs people of all backgrounds and skills to join. We continue to believe that God is calling people to the ship, and pray that those who get the call are receptive to it and respond.
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