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,