Looking to the future

Welcome to your latest edition of Onboard magazine.

First, I want to thank you for supporting Mercy Ships by giving generously, by volunteering and sharing about our work with your church, community group and more.

Together, we are offering hope and healing to thousands of patients across Africa - changing one life at a time.

You will be glad to know that earlier this year the Global Mercy welcomed new patients onboard in Senegal for the very first time, and opened for training for local healthcare professionals.

Together we are building an exciting legacy of healthcare in this part of Africa.

While docked in Senegal, we are excited to serve in a new way - by welcoming patients from The Gambia.

So, what does the future hold for us?

In a few months the Global Mercy will embark on a medical service in Sierra Leone. I promise to share news and stories of new patients whose lives will be impacted by your future generosity and kindness.

The Africa Mercy will also re-start its field service soon after a period of refit and maintenance in Durban, South Africa. Our maintenance crew have been busy fitting new technology on this ship to significantly extend its life and service.

With two fully functional hospital ships, a dynamic community of volunteers and caring supporters like you, we are poised and ready to offer more hope and healing to thousands of new patients.

As you read this edition of Onboard magazine, I hope that the stories of transformation and the impact you have made possible will continue to fuel your passion for this vital cause.

You help our patients write new, hope-filled stories of their lives.

Joanne Balaam Chief Executive Officer

Daouda had not started school yet when a tiny node emerged in his upper jaw. Over the years, this painful tumour grew so large that it was hard for him to talk and eat. With his son struggling to eat, Hamady suffered too. “I would cry when I looked at my child. I became unable to eat. It was not right that I could eat well, but my child could not.”