During the final weeks serving with the Global Mercy in Freetown, Sierra Leone at the end of their second 10 month field service, the activities included:  Academy Graduation with one student from South Africa finishing high school, Day Crew Thank you with amazing local workers from Freetown – see below photo ‘Tenki’ = Thanks, Entire Evening to hear from the Hospital and their 20 teams and what took place – the victories and also the struggles, Sharing about Education and Training for healthcare workers, Visit of Partners, Final Farewell for crew departing and also ‘until you return’ for those leaving on vacation.  My duties as Port Liaison was meeting primarily with the technical leaders on board, learning what needs to done for the departure, reports, and working with the port authorities and our agents to ensure all goes well.  Also sharing with my contacts the Patient Registration posters as all surgical patients for the return of the Global Mercy to Freetown will take place this month.  

The voyage from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Cadiz, Spain is 2,049 nautical miles.  While en route the crew and families on board may participate watching for Dolphins, Worship at Sea on Deck 11 and for my Hoosier friends, on Deck 11 there is a basketball court with nets so no ball goes into the water, though the small swimming pool on board had to be drained for vessel stability requirements.  The Purser shared that the Global Mercy is sailing with 281 adults and children from 39 nations.  Ranging from the most represented country with 59 persons and 13 countries with only one person on board from their country. 
Anyone want to guess on the top six nationalities? 
Please note that there were many crew who left by plane instead of the sail to Spain.   

Though in the midst of joy of healing provided to surgical patients and the training for healthcare workers, our Academy finishing well, we also had grief as one of our crew members died from cerebral malaria.  He was cared for by our hospital staff in the intensive care unit of our hospital, but he did not recover and is in heaven now.  I didn’t know him to the same level as others, but last year we often had a meal together and he was teaching me some words in Swahili, the primary language in East Africa.  We had a memorial service for him and also a final farewell on the dock when his casket left.  

I continue with my work in preparations for the return of the ship with our contracts, agreements, logistic arrangements, checking regularly the berth as the ship is gone as we still have assets in our containers left behind and other duties as needed for the Country Engagement Team. 

I am living in a team apartment in Wilberforce and go to the Team House where I have a work station but can also work from the apartment if needed.  I will be getting to know the team better and seeing friends who live and serve in Sierra Leone and even some former surgical patients I know from 2011.  

Praise:  * 1,652 free surgeries provided in 9 months in Sierra Leone  * Crew on the Africa Mercy continue to serve faithfully in Madagascar 

Prayers: * Surgical Patient Registration Process in 12 sites in Sierra Leone  * Safety for the sail and the first drydock for the Global Mercy
*  Life Changing Surgeries continue on the Africa Mercy  * Safety for all  * Good health

Serving together,    

So I am curious, I would love to hear you the reader trying to pronounce the below words and phrases in Krio – the primary language in Sierra Leone, though many also speak British English.  Give it a try out loud, no one is listening:  

Trust me, I don’t know all the above expressions in Krio, but I will learn more while back in Sierra Leone also known by ‘Salone’.

As Port Liaison I move between the vessels and the time with the Africa Mercy in Madagascar finished for this season and I return to Sierra Leone, West Africa. 
I come alongside our Country Engagement Team members already in country and the leaders on the Global Mercy to assist for their upcoming departure after ten months here.  As you can imagine some things have changed over the ten months, some things have continued to stay the same and there are some things we wish to change for our next field service if possible.  I work primarily with the technical teams: Deck, Marine Operations, Engineering, Purser, Transportation, Maintenance, Security, and some in Operations.

While the Global Mercy is away for annual maintenance period, I will continue to stay in country and work on things to prepare for their return in mid-August, regular visits and meetings with port officials and others, continuing to build relationships, and documenting everything in reports and photos.  Plus I will help the Country Engagement Team in whatever ways possible.  We are excited as the Global Mercy is returning for an additional ten months in Sierra Leone – dates from mid-August 2025 to mid-June 2026.  Mercy Ships has committed more field services days to the nation of Sierra Leone than to any other nation – utilizing three of our vessels over the decades: the Anastasis, Africa Mercy and Global Mercy.  

Personally, since I was there last year, I have been able to connect via social media with a couple more of the dear surgical patients and their caregivers I knew from 2011.  I look forward to a couple trips to cities outside the capital to see these former patient and hear what has happened in their lives since 2011.  I am so looking forward to these opportunity.  If they give permission, I will share a bit in future KRB Updates.  

Praise:  * Lives Transformed in Sierra Leone over the past 10 months  * Crew on the Africa Mercy continue to serve faithfully in Madagascar 

Prayers: * Safety for the departure of the Global Mercy
*  Life Changing Surgeries continue on the Africa Mercy  * Continued safety for all  * Good health

So pleased to share with you that the Africa Mercy safely returned to Toamasina (East Coast) of Madagascar on Wednesday mid day 12 February.  Our Country Engagement Team members from the capital, Africa Mercy crew who didn’t sail but flew in, and guests were on the dock to welcome the ship and crew.  There was some traditional dancers, singing, flags flying, and shouts of joy and excitement.  Later in the afternoon, the Governor of the Antsinanana Region came to welcome the crew and take a short tour.  All the Arrival Formalities were completed in a timely manner.  I give thanks to God that all went well.  
In my role as Port Liaison, this is a big event with all the planning coming together.  I had a radio connecting me with the ship in one hand and in my other hand my mobile phone with our agent and other officials.  

I visited the port daily to ensure everything was being prepared for the return of the ship.  The below photo is from the dock at 04:15 to show that the Mole (Berth) A – East is open and available for the arrival.  I also had the time and peace of the morning to walk the dock and pray for all that would be happening on the day.    

On Sunday afternoons, there is the opportunity to partner with Mercy Ministries ONG in Toamasina with their gathering of young people and children coming from different corners of Toamasina for a Christian English Club.  At the same time of helping them to learn English and be more confident in speaking English, the leaders are commited to care for their spiritual and emotional life and that they may experience the love of God.

I continue living at the team apartment in Toamasina, I am at the ship daily representing the Country Engagement Team, attending meetings, assisting the leaders on board, connecting with the crew and enjoying the community life.  We are currently preparing to host a Partners Reception on board for the 6th of March.  This is an opportunity to provide hospitality, make introductions, listen to speeches and view presentations.  This is a time that I can take to introduce my contacts with those on the ship as we continue to build relationships. 

I will continue here in Madagascar with the Africa Mercy till mid April and then transfer to asist the team in Sierra Leone.     

Praise:  * Safe Return of the Africa Mercy  * Increase in the recruitment of volunteers to serve 

Prayers: * Surgical Patient Field Consultations in Madagascar
*  Life Changing Surgeries  * Continued safety for all  * Good health

Happy and Blessed New Year 2025

This is my fourth Christmas and New Year in the nation of Madagascar – 2014, 2015, 2023, and 2024
The first two were with the Africa Mercy and the last two with Country Engagement while the ship is away

Photo: Joined this amazing group of young people with bringing Christmas meals and visitation at Bethany Hospital here in Toamasina.  

I enjoyed Christmas Eve at God’s Presence Church with much singing and dancing by the children and young people. 
Christmas Day with a missionary couple (Australia/USA) and their three Malagasy kids, an Irish doctor, an Australian doctor, and my fellow colleague with Mercy Ships from Switzerland.

Photo:  A view from town towards the port – but no Africa Mercy as she is away for maintenance, repairs and new inspections which all take place in Durban, South Africa.
 
My work continues as the Port Liaison so I worked on the technical arrangements for the ship’s departure in December, various reports, and on the arrival formalities for the return next month.  Working with our agents, port officials, technical vendors and others.  I visit the port regularly as we left behind our vehicles, containers, tents with equipment and supplies inside the warehouse.  
Plus as I am the Country Engagement Representative here in the port city, I am also involved with other areas to service – including visits to Bethany Hospital to check on the only patient we had to transfer from our ship hospital to a local hospital for ongoing care, though thankfully our little one went home this week.  Also assisting with the four day crew still working at the HOPE Center in cleaning and general care, and arrangements with the caterer who is still providing meals for our day crew still working and hired security guards at the port and at the HOPE Center.  I am also working on logistics arrangements for those coming to Toamasina before the ship returns. 

All the time continuing to build relationships in the community and local churches.  Also including joining the Patient Selection Team who paid a courtesy visit to the mayor of Toamasina yesterday and next week we will meet the governor.

Surgical Patient Registration starts on Monday the 6th for two weeks in the following cities around Madagascar:   Sambava, Fianarantsoa, Farafangana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Fenerive Est, Tulear, Ambovombe, Anosy, Morondava, Antananarivo and two sites here in Toamasina.  Extra points to anyone who tried to pronounce the names of the cities in Malagasy.  I have been sharing the information on the patient registration with many of our partners both here in Toamasina and elsewhere.  I often share that you or those who work with you may know a potential surgical patient in the city or in the village who has a surgical need that Mercy Ships can assist with, but you can be the one to share the information and help to give them confidence and courage to come for the registration.  For the two sites here in the port city of Toamasina, I will drop by and show my support for the two teams over the next couple weeks.

Photo:  Patient Registration posters shared in each city with the specific details on the locations.

Photo:  Visit with a former day crew and dear friend ‘Dada’ Andre and his wife.   

Praise:  * Life Changing Surgeries  *  Training for Lasting Impact  * Lives being Transformed  * Hope being restored

Prayers: * Patient Registration in Madagascar – as Dr. Gary would often share with us that we pray that those God has purposes with Mercy Ships at this time for surgery, that nothing would stop them from coming to be registered 
* Safe return of the Africa Mercy 
* Continued safety for all involved * Good health

With this KRB Update, I would like to share some experiences now that I am back in Madagascar and alongside the Africa Mercy in Toamasina.

* As I left Madagascar in mid-April, our hospital on the ship and the HOPE Center had not opened yet, so since my return, I have experienced great joy in seeing surgical patients and caregivers in the hospital to receive their healing.
* Able to join patients, caregivers, and local workers on Sunday mornings at the HOPE Center – the Bible story in the Malagasy language using the Simply the Story method with interaction with the patients.  Last Sunday, there was a time for those willing to share testimonies, which were translated into English for the crew attending.

* Attending a Celebration of Sight with ophthalmic patients as they return for their 6-week appointment – hearing some of their experiences and testimonies.  In 2024, a total of 157 patients received life-changing surgeries – adults and children.

* Hosting business partners and personal guests for visits to the Africa Mercy – usually a tour and the evening meal.  I have four groups visiting this weekend.
* Attending Malagasy Language classes – with 21 letters, only three tenses – past, present and future, no ‘to be’ verb, transportation, numbers which are read from right to left, and currency.

* Spending time with the crew who I knew from my 13 years on the Africa Mercy and new volunteers – I left my full-time life on the ship five years ago – November 2019.
*Spending time with local workers/day crew

* For my role as Port Liaison on the Country Engagement Team, I am meeting with the various leaders on the Africa Mercy to learn how things are, any changes that took place, whether other areas need changes, and coming alongside the crew on the Africa Mercy to coordinate services and activities.  I am also meeting with our local partners to ensure a smooth transition for the ship’s departure and time away, and then the vessel will return in early February 2025.  

Photo: the studio apartment at La Creole, where the Country Engagement Team is based in Toamasina.  Next weekend, I will move into a two-bedroom apartment.

Photo:  assisting our hospital with customs and logistics for donations to local partners – delivering a heavy operating room table to Bethany Hospital

Last Sunday morning, while at the HOPE Center, I observed an older woman with a cleft lip, a birth defect, so she has lived her entire life with this deformity.  Though just right in front of her was a mama holding a little baby boy – maybe around six months with a cleft lip also.  I tried to imagine what she was thinking and feeling in her heart – seeing this little one who won’t have the same life situation she had for decades, but he will get his surgery while so little, won’t have any memory, though his mama will remember all that took place.  The little boy is on the infant feeding program as he was underweight for surgery.  The older woman had her successful surgery on Friday and will soon be able to return home.  There is a no-photo policy, so hopefully, you can imagine what I observed on Sunday.   

Even though Mercy Ships is an international organization, a good number of crew are from the United States.  So, for Thanksgiving next week, it is not a holiday or day off.  However, the galley will serve everyone some traditional dinner food (turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, etc.).  Then afterward, there will be a gathering for those from the USA, and if we wish to invite other non-American good friends, they are most welcome.  We will have desserts and then a time to share and express our great gratitude as we gather together.

The Africa Mercy will depart in mid-December for its annual maintenance period in South Africa.  I will remain here in the port city working, making arrangements, checking on assets the ship is leaving behind.  Thankful that I will have a vehicle to use as I didn’t have one from last August when I first returned. 
I will spend Christmas and New Year’s here in Toamasina with local friends as I did last year.  After the ship departs, I will return to attending a few local churches.  

Praise:  * My Safe Return to Madagascar  * Surgeries ongoing on both ships  *  Training happening on both ships  * Lives being impacted  * Hope being restored

Prayers: * Recovery of surgical patients with the Africa Mercy before returning home
* Continued safety for all involved * Good health

Greetings to you all.  Another KRB Update to share what is happening with my service with Mercy Ships.  My season in Freetown, Sierra Leone has finished.  So thankful to report that all is going well there with the surgeries and the education and training on the ship and off the ship at the primary hospital in the country – focusing on anesthesia students and providers and nurses.  Mentoring is taking place on the Global Mercy in our operating rooms and with the simulation lab.
 
We have just complete a five day training in Saly, Senegal.  A time of coming together for relationship building – four team members, I had only met via Teams online and many sessions and group activities to better equip us for our duties.  Subjects included diplomacy (which I would love to learn more), transformational development, patient selection, programs, cross cultural interactgions, wins and challenges, Clifton Strengths, monitoring and evaluation, servant leadership and devotions daily.  They counted and we represented 16 nations for this training.  The Africa Services team includes all of us on country engagement teams in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, and Madagascar. 
Two counselors joined to provide one-on-one member care, shared at a session, and spent time with us all.  Thankful that they are available to us over Teams as needed while we serve remotely.  As I move from country to country and ship to ship in my Port Liaison role, I truly enjoyed being together this week.

Photo:  Participants at the Team Training in Senegal

Photo:  Group Sessions with various scenarios – ie. Meeting with Port Director, Meeting with Dean of the medical school, and Meeting with Ministry of Health leaders related to patient selection.
 

Photo:  All but one meal was at the venue – for the meal out we took two small boats to travel to the restaurant with the specialities of fresh fish and seafood. 

I am en route back to Madagascar.  For Mercy Ships, geographically we focus on West Africa, Senegal is the farther north west, to Central and Southern Africa and to Madagascar – the East Coast – port city of Toamasina.  So my travels this week take me from one extreme side to the other. 
I remain so thankful for the opportunity and privilege to continue to serve.  I will take care of all port related activities, helping the Africa Mercy as she prepares to leave for annual maintenance period, for the time they are gone and then arrangements for their return in February.

Praise:  * Documents signed with the government of Madagascar  * Surgeries ongoing on both ships  *  Training happening on both ships  * Lives being impacted

Prayers:  * Additional documentation for customs with Madagascar  * Continued safety for all involved (I will move back into the same apartment building where I lived before) and good health.

Mercy Ships – Global Mercy – many activities are restarting here in Sierra Leone

Open Hospital on August 28th – the once-a-year opportunity for the crew to visit the hospital: wards, biomedical, pharmacy, operating rooms, sterile processing, patient selection, pre-operative, rehabilitation, low care unit, dental clinic, crew clinic, and other locations.  Many of our children living on board have shared how impactful their hospital visits were and when they had work experience opportunities -which are coordinated by the Academy.  Once the hospital opens, most areas are off-limits to the crew.  The hospital crew provides fun, educational, and interesting activities.  I enjoyed dressing as a second surgeon with our Captain as the primary surgeon – pulling out gummy bears from the abdominal area.  

Photo:  the state-of-the-art MRI machine in our hospital – no scan but rode the bed in and out listening to the recording (in Espanol as requested) – for our patients here, they have recorded the messages in the local languages so the patient understands.
 

Partners Welcome Event on August 29th – for Country Engagement Team we were greatly involved with the invitation of partners from the government, non-government organizations, businesses, churches, ministries, and others.  As Port Liaison, I had guests from the port, our agents, mayor’s office, waste removal, fuel providers, and others.  We expressed our thanks for the last field service and thank them for their continued partnership with us for the next ten months.  We were honored to have the First Lady of Sierra Leone as our guest of honor.     

Photos:  Program and with the Deputy Harbourmaster and Emmanuel Mendi, Third Engineer, from Sierra Leone.  

Photo:  First Lady of Sierra Leone sharing with all the guests and crew present
 

Prayer Walk in the Hospital on August 29th – all crew who were interested joined a group and went to three spaces in the hospital as we spread out as not possible to go to all locations.  While there, the crew that serve in that area shared some prayer requests with the group.  I was with Group #6, lead by Dan B, we went to the biomedical, rehabilitation, and pharmacy spaces for prayer.

First Patient Admissions – today, September 2nd – admitted to the wards on the Global Mercy in preparation for their upcoming surgeries. 

Prayer Walk – HOPE Center – September 2nd – to pray around the compound, in the rooms and common areas.  Most surgical patients and caregivers from the provinces will stay in the HOPE Center before and often after their surgeries before they are healthy enough to be discharged to return home.

Prayer for the Start of Surgeries—It is a tradition on the ships to pause on the morning of the first surgery. Normally, the Chief Medical Officer leads in a powerful prayer over the public address system, and we all agree with ‘Amen.’

First Surgeries for this seventh visit to Sierra Leone start tomorrow, September 3rd.  General Surgical Cases.  Most of all the surgical patients have already been selected by our amazing Patient Selection Team who conducted Patient Registration and Field Consultations in 12 locations around Sierra Leone.  The Global Mercy surgical team plans to provide over 1,400 free life-changing surgeries for the people of Salone from now till May 2025.  

Exciting time to be on board the Global Mercy.

Prayers:  * Successful surgeries for our patients, * All of our patients showing up for transport to the ship, * Our training participants being mentored in the operating rooms

In my next KRB Update, I will share some updates on the Africa Mercy also.

I am excited to share with you that on Wednesday 14 August, the Global Mercy has made her return to Freetown, Sierra Leone!  

I was at the port when the Global Mercy departed from Sierra Leone in mid-June for a brief annual maintenance period in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain to fulfill maritime law.  I continued to live in Freetown and as Port Liaison to make preparations for their return, primarily with the port arrangements, customs, and immigration.  

We are thankful to President Julius Maada Bio, who has invited Mercy Ships back to continue our work in the country. The next phase of free surgeries will include maxillofacial/head and neck, general, pediatric orthopedic, pediatric general, reconstructive plastic, and ophthalmic.   We’re also continuing ongoing training for staff at Connaught Hospital and students at the University of Sierra Leone.  

The Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby welcomed the ship back with excitement, saying, “I’m extremely happy that Mercy Ships honored the President’s call to stay longer to provide life-changing surgeries and train our healthcare professionals… I am excited about this possibility and very proud of the partnership with Mercy Ships,” he said.  He came for the departure and also back for our return.  We are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Health.   

Photo:  Taken from the bridge on the ship showing the starboard side as they approached Berth #3.  I’m on the dock, but too small in this photo : ) 

Photo:  View of all of us at the berth as we welcome the vessel.

Photo:  On the dock in my ‘uniform’ to ensure all is working well for the ship’s arrival.

During this ten-month field service, the plan is to provide over 1,400 life-transforming surgeries and continue training Sierra Leonean healthcare workers.

Please pray as we prepare to open the hospital and start bringing healing.

I moved into a cabin on board yesterday and am thankful for a hot shower, clean, comfy, adjustable a/c cooling, fast internet, BBC/CNN on the television, and just lovely space.  In my next update, I will include photos of my cabin and guest office, so stand by. 

The timing of my arrival in Sierra Leone was towards the end of the first full field service for Global Mercy.  I have been able to join many great events taking place onboard the ship, which I have thoroughly enjoyed:

 * Field Service Report by Hospital and Education and Training – successes and challenges

 * Celebration including the blowing of the ship horn when the last patient was discharged from outpatient care
 * Celebration of our amazing Day Crew (local workers) – big lunch, gathering in the international lounge, a big dinner, and then a party on the dock; many of the day crew have applied to serve again when the ship returns,

Photo:  Day Crew Celebration in the International Lounge of the Global Mercy 
Curious about the Day Crew – click here for a YouTube video  5:37 in length
Mercy Ships Daycrew Sierra Leone 2023 – 2024 (youtube.com) 
 *  Farewell to many long-term crew who are departing – including the managing director and his family 

 *  First 12th Grade Academy Graduation Ceremony on the Global Mercy – one student
 *  Final visits to one of the Mercy Ministries partners – Divine Heritage House, a children’s home outside of Waterloo, and others.

Photo:  Walking with the children to the area where we sang, heard a Bible story and played some games.  Including the song:  Bambelela – ‘Hold on to Jesus’ a chorus from South Africa with all the movements.  

I started driving Mercy Ships vehicles the day after I arrived (a vehicle we had in Liberia that we sent over when we closed down last year).  There are challenges with keke (tuk tuk), motorbike taxis (okada), large trucks and buses, pedestrians & only one functioning signal light – but we safely move about as needed.

Onboard, I am thankful to be able to use a visiting staff office for meetings with those on the Global Mercy, and reviewing previous reports and setting up meetings and making arrangements with our shipping agent and others for the vessel to depart. 

I am so grateful for the time reconnecting with friends who I have served with in the past on the Africa Mercy who are faithfully serving here.  I am meeting others face-to-face for the first time.  I enjoy sitting in the dining room on the ship and hearing people share their stories.  One day crew shared that he had been a maxillofacial surgical patient and now serves as a translator in Ward D where our maxillofacial patients stay.  He said he has been able to share his story and encourage the patients and their caregivers.  He is applying to return when the ship arrives back in Freetown.

Our surgical patient selection is in process here in Sierra Leone at 12 locations: eight locations in the interior and four locations around the capital city of Freetown. The dates are  18 – 28 June for registration, then field consultation, and then a schedule to visit the vessel in Freetown for nurse diagnostics, any lab work, or radiology, and finally, the surgeon selection for the hopeful ‘Yes’ for their surgery.

All the arrangements for departures took place, and the Global Mercy successfully left Freetown safely this morning. The Country Engagement Team and others were on the dock to wave good–bye, though we know the vessel will be returning in August.  

Sahr Keith