Malcolm Kelly was with us recently on board the ship. He shared that a highlight of the trip came as Malcolm and his father Moses Kelly were received by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who personally thanked Malcolm for providing a positive role model for young people in Liberia. “More than anything, our youth need someone to look up to who has excelled, not only in athletics, but in life. Understanding the importance of discipline, work-ethic and education, as well as nutrition and physical well-being is critical in our efforts to rebuild Liberia,” noted President Sirleaf. “Malcolm’s willingness to come here to Liberia, a nation founded by freed American slaves, builds on the natural kinship between Americans and Liberians. Having a young African-American athlete who has achieved so much in life at such a young age reach out to our young people in this way is priceless. We need more of that. Our young people need that kind of encouragement at this critical time in our nation’s history,” Sirleaf stated. Kelly was obviously moved by his experience in Liberia. “Everywhere we went, people ran up to me to shake my hand and hug me, saying ‘Thank you! Thank you!’ I was a hero, but not because I’m a football player; it was because I was wearing a Mercy Ships Crew shirt. I don’t think I’ve ever been more humbled and honored than to be considered a part of the Mercy Ships team,” he said. Kelly stayed onboard the Africa Mercy during the trip, observing surgeries, and visiting with dozens of patients on the recovery wards. The group also visited a clinic under construction by a Mercy Ships Field Service Team some 20 miles inland in the rural community of Tenegar.
Keith R. Brinkman
Serving with Mercy Ships
