Hello from Freetown, Sierra Leone.  As the Port Liaison for Mercy Ships serving both of our hospital ships, one of my biggest days is the arrival of a vessel into a country.  So much planning and preparatory work is invested to see a successful arrival.

Photo Caption:  A short video interview with Harry on what it has taken to bring the ship back – the photographer was good with the Global Mercy in the distance over my left shoulder.

While the Global Mercy was at her first drydock in Cadiz, Spain, I was serving here in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to prepare for her arrival back: Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2025.  While the vessel was away, I regularly visited the Berth #3 space to ensure all was well and to walk the dock, and also pray.  Though approaching the arrival day can be a bit stressful.  I had promises from the Port Authority and our Agents that all was set for the pilot boarding the vessel at 9:30 am on Tuesday, as requested by the Captain.  Although the plan didn’t unfold as expected due to a vessel at Berth #4 and Berth #2, the pilots’ preference was to wait until later in the day for safety reasons.  The vessel at Berth #4 was preparing to depart, and so the Global Mercy had to be patient.  So we had a delay of about seven hours, though we rejoiced with the safe arrival.  Our standard required Arrival Formalities had to be adjusted. Health and Quarantine came on board on Tuesday evening, as their approval was critical for allowing others to board and for the crew to have shore leave. The other five authorities came on Wednesday morning – Immigration (stamping 301 passports), Customs, Maritime, International Ship and Port Facility Security, and our Agents. 

Photo Caption: View of the crew as the vessel approached Berth #3 – I am on the dock dressed in my uniform and wearing my hard hat – just a dot in this photo.

Then for the rest of the week, work was done, including: 

• the dockside setup started in the rain with assistance from using the Terex and forklifts
• returning to the port all the ship vehicles left here in Freetown,
• connecting for fresh water,
• initial garbage pick-ups, and
• an early visit to the HOPE Center. 

Photo Caption: the Global Mercy slowly approaches Berth #3 with the tugboats on stand by to assist if needed.

Praise:  *Successful Sail and Arrival of the Global Mercy  * Crew on the Africa Mercy continue to serve faithfully in Madagascar, I will rejoin them in November

Prayers: * Life Changing Surgeries on both the Global Mercy in Sierra Leone and the Africa Mercy in Madagascar * Safety for all  * Good health

Serving together,    

Hello from Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The below photo shows the m/v Global Mercy in her first ever drydocking, which took place in Cadiz, Spain.  All was successful and the vessel is sailing her back to Sierra Leone as I write this update.The sailing crew on board the Global Mercy are 301 adults and children from 38 nations.  Ranging from the most represented country with 74 persons and 12 countries with only one person on board from their country.  The top five nations represent 60% of the crew – they are: United States, Netherlands, Nigeria, Great Britain, and Sierra Leone.  For Sierra Leone, those are long term crew members, as no local workers or as we call them day crew are sailing.

So I am not the best photographer, but behind me in the above photo is Berth #3 which has been empty almost the entire time the Global Mercy has been away.  As part of my work in this season has been going to the port and checking on the containers and water tanks we left behind, walking the dock area to see if anything has changed (ie. sinkholes), and report on other activity. 
Though while at the dock area I need to wear my vest and hard hat.  The hard hat is not required when the vessel is in berth. 
I enjoy the walking, observing, praying, and believing for all that will happen when the vessel and the international crew return.  I also go to meetings with the Port authorities, our agents and others in the area.  Even while Mercy Ships wishes to plan well ahead of time, I am learning that in the Maritime world, sometimes activity and responses are delayed as they wait till closer to the arrival of the vessel.  So I choose not to worry or stress.

As I serve with the Country Engagement Team, weekly we write something down on a post it note of ‘Thanksfulness’ and share with the others and put on the wall as good reminders of our Thanksfulness to God during this season.  This past Friday, I wrote I am thankful ‘for local partners we know and they know us and sincerely wish the best for the upcoming field service‘ – I was referring primarily to the port and our agents who I had just met with.  

In my next update, I will report on the arrival of the Global Mercy.  The Global Mercy will remain in Freetown, Sierra Leone for 10 months – till mid June 2026.

Praise:  *Successful Drydock of the Global Mercy  * Crew on the Africa Mercy continue to serve faithfully in Madagascar, I will rejoin them in November

Prayers: * Continued Safety for the sail for the Global Mercy * for Patient Selection as pre-select the surgical patients *  Life Changing Surgeries continue on the Africa Mercy  * Safety for all  * Good health

Serving together,