My journey on the world’s largest charity hospital ship

For months, David Kpakiwa has been working to get ready for Mercy Ships to serve his home country of Sierra Leone. David shares how his childhood gave him a heart of compassion to help people in need

I grew up in the eastern part of Sierra Leone. It’s a beautiful country. We have a lot of mountains. And if there’s one thing you’d love about Freetown, it’s the beach. The beach is amazing.

I had a terrible life as a kid. A few months after I was born, we had the first attacks of the civil war. When I was eight years old, we all had to move over to Guinea as refugees. It was very scary. I remember that clearly.

I lived almost like an orphan for a few years because of the war. I have first-hand experience of being on the streets. My family returned to Sierra Leone in 2004, after living in Guinea for six years as refugees.

The need for safe surgery

Several years later, my mum got sick and she needed surgery, but no one could help her in our community. She had to go somewhere else for surgery but then it was delayed because we didn’t have the money. I spent a lot of time looking at my mum’s suffering.

When my mum at last went for surgery, she left the house crying. We were all crying. We were sad for her. When she came back, she was smiling. She was happy. It was a transformation.

“The best thing that has ever happened to me”

In 2012, I moved back to Guinea because my brother was running a peace project there. I was working for the church as a driver, doing cross-country trips to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Mali. While Mercy Ships was in Guinea, they worked with my pastor.

Because of how I grew up, I have a passion to help people as much as I can. So I told my pastor, “I think Mercy Ships would be a good opportunity for me to step up my passion”. And I thought, “Okay, God, if this is your will, let it be done”. The next day, I got a phone call from my pastor, and she gave me a form and I applied to join the Mercy Ships crew.

I can tell you, it was the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I started with Mercy Ministries, an off-ship programme within Mercy Ships. Our focus was working with a deaf school and two orphanages – with a lot of cute babies! We also worked with a destitute centre.

When I went to the orphanages and saw these kids, it blessed my heart. At one point in my life, I was almost like them. So I could really empathize with them. I could feel their fear. If you go without food and water for three days and somebody blesses your life with a beautiful meal – you can imagine how happy you’re going to be. Some of these kids have been excluded from their communities, but here you could see how they were showered with love.

After that, I felt that God wanted me to go on the hospital ship. I was offered a position in housekeeping, and I was really excited. But within a few weeks, COVID-19 came. I was part of the team that spent more than 100 days isolated onboard. We couldn’t even touch the dock. I think that God just keeps giving me the strength and the courage to survive these hard times.

Then I saw a job posting for Sierra Leone. I reached out to the HR team, and I said it would bless my heart if I could have the opportunity to serve my nation with Mercy Ships, so could they please transfer me. I thought my cultural experience would be valuable to the team. So I applied, had an interview and I got the job as Operations Liaison.

I’ve been working hard to get ready for the ship to come to Sierra Leone. I see the need in my country. So I’m really excited for my nation. So many people will come onboard to receive free surgery.

On a personal note, it’s going to be emotional for me. I’m really impressed and moved by the love on the ships. The nurses and crew that care for you – they don’t know you – but they genuinely love you. It’s amazing.

We’re looking for more passionate people like you to help onboard our hospital ships. Your time and talents could transform lives. Be a part of the crew: mercyships.org.uk/setsail

Can you minister to this need?

As many as one in eight households in the UK are struggling with debts they cannot repay.

Debt causes: shame, fear, depression. It can lead to losing a home, broken relationships, addictions and even to suicide.

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Over 25 years, Community Money Advice (CMA) has helped hundreds of churches and community groups establish local debt and money advice services; freeing people from debt, giving them back hope for the future. We can help you to do the same in your community.