Greetings from the beautiful nation of Sierra Leone, West Africa
The m/v Global Mercy is finishing her first ever full 10-month field service. This is the sixth visit of a Mercy Ship to Sierra Leone – the m/v Anastasis, m/v Africa Mercy (I was on board for this visit in 2011) and now with the m/v Global Mercy. For time in Africa, when you add up all the days a Mercy Ship has been in a country, Sierra Leone now has the most days. I first visited the m/v Global Mercy when she was in Dakar, Senegal next to the m/v Africa Mercy. Some current impressions: large, new, modern, shiny, clean, at times cold floating hospital. The total crew capacity with our children is 641 – when in full operation they serve over 3,000 meals a day, dining room can seat 660 people, hospital on two decks with six operating rooms, 109 ward beds, 90 low care beds, simulator lab for effective training, 682 seat auditorium, 125 student Academy, gym, small pool, library, and so much more. Check out my web site at www.keithbrinkman.com for the fact sheet with much details including technical details and about the Azipod propoulsion units on the m/v Global Mercy – available in English, Español and français. Exciting News!!! The m/v Global Mercy will return to Freetown, Sierra Leone in mid August after their annual maintenance in Tenerife, Canary Islands for another ten- month period.
Photo: With guests from the Aberdeen Women’s Clinic hosted by our Country Director, Dr. Sanda Lako
As I shared in my last update, I am in Sierra Leone on the Country Engagement Team serving as the Port Liaison. So I am learning about the m/v Global Mercy and my responsibilities and duties as in some aspect it is different than for the m/v Africa Mercy and thus different needs and assistance.
As my role is off ship, I am living in a short-term apartment in a compound where Mercy Ships has two apartments. I am with those from Global Patient Selection Team and the Education and Training team. Others from Country Engagement are at the Team House about 10 minutes drive away. Always hopeful at the apartment that we will have electricity and water and only a few mosquitos.
Praise and Prayer: ETA = Education, Training and Advocacy
Translation: How’s it going? This is a commonly used informal greeting in Krio. It’s a light-hearted way to ask about someone’s general well-being. So I would not use this with the President or other officials, but I would use with patients, caregivers, day crew and local friends.
Though why I am sharing about Sierra Leone ….
I am traveling there this week to serve on the Country Engagement Team in Freetown (so living in town, not on the ship) as the Port Liaison and with the Global Mercy in her remaining weeks of field service and then her absence for maintenance and then return to the same berth for the additional field service. I am learning that my position as Port Liaison is going to be a more like a roving position to where needed.
I already have my name in Sierra Leone – with the Kono people, first born son is Sahr and so we tried ‘Sahr Keith’ – but the ‘Keith’ became really only ‘ke’ – so I was called Sah-ke, but that is fine with me. I have great memories of spending all of 2011 in Sierra Leone. It is estimated that I will be there for a little over four months and then return back to Toamasina, Madagascar. I was able to do my hand overs to those on the Africa Mercy before I left Madagascar.
When I return to Madagascar in October, I will take care of things again related to the port, customs, and other assignments as they prepare to leave for maintenance in South Africa and then the planned return to the same port in early February.
Currently, much is happening with the field service in Madagascar and I miss not being there. Though this will give me the opportunity to learn also about the Global Mercy.
I appreciate the 10-months-in-a-country model and repeat visits to the same country, as relationships are so important. You need time to build quality relationships with the people. So I will see how things go with the ‘roving’ part of the Port Liaison position as I appreciate the quantity and quality of time building relationships where I am serving. God is faithful and I am trusting Him.
It is official and announced last week. Here is the link: https://www.mercyships.org/a-new-ship/ but I have copied and pasted all below. Exciting Times !!!
Mercy Ships Announces Brand New Purpose-Built Hospital Ship
We are so excited to announce that we have joined forces with partners the MSC Foundation and the MSC Group to grow our fleet with another new, purpose-built hospital ship. This addition, to be built to similar specifications as the Global Mercy, will expand the impact of Mercy Ships’ life-changing surgeries, anesthetic care, and surgical education for future generations of patients and healthcare professionals in sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement was finalized on April 8, 2024, during a meeting between the chairman of MSC Group and MSC Foundation, Captain Gianluigi Aponte, Diego Aponte, MSC Group President and Member of the MSC Foundation Board, and Mercy Ships Founder Don Stephens. This exciting new project is made possible by a generous anchor donation from MSC Foundation, reflecting the visionary leaders’ commitment to supporting access to critical healthcare for the generations to come.
“I spent part of my childhood and early years in the shipping industry in the Horn of Africa, it is a region close to my heart,” Capt. Aponte, founder of the MSC Group. “I saw firsthand the challenges faced by many local communities there and this shaped my conviction that improving the availability of healthcare would bring real and lasting impact for them. It has been extremely gratifying to work with Don and provide this crucial support through his unique organization Mercy Ships, our partnership has reaped extraordinary results already and now we are on the verge of expanding their fleet to increase this support. I truly look forward to seeing this new ship set sail to help more communities across Africa.”
Expanding Access to Safe Surgical Care and Education
The impact has already been significant.
Since Mercy Ships was founded in 1978, we have provided more than 117,000 transformational specialized surgical procedures. These surgeries include maxillofacial reconstructions, contracture release for severe burns, correction for orthopedic problems in children, cleft lip and palate repair, ophthalmology, and dental services.
Mercy Ships has also remained committed to boosting the capacities of its partnering healthcare systems through sustainably designed surgical education, training, and advocacy programs. Since 1978, our hardworking volunteers have provided additional training to more than 54,300 local professionals in their areas of expertise.
With the addition of a new ship, which will be designed with a focus on designated training spaces, we will increase our capacity to collaborate with host nations in training and advocacy efforts.
The need to accelerate access to surgical care and surgical education in sub-Saharan Africa remains very apparent. In his welcome speech at the recent West African College of Surgeons (WACS) conference in Freetown, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh of Sierra Leone stated that the country is still grappling with 91% unmet surgical needs. Highlighting the progress already made, he urged collaborative efforts to tackle surgical deficits.
Don Stephens, founder of Mercy Ships, confirmed our vision for serving African nations with safe surgical care and education: “The investment of many around the world towards a fleet of hospital ships will be enhanced by the future of our new purpose-built vessel. The mission of Mercy Ships to bring Hope and Healing is only possible by the generosity of our partners, volunteer crew, and the provision of God. Today, I am grateful to MSC for their support.”
The Multiplying Impact of Partnership
Operating hospital ships involves transporting large quantities of essential supplies across oceans and seas to continuously support surgical and training activities. MSC and Mercy Ships have been partners since 2011, with the MSC Group ensuring logistical support and container delivery of supplies to all ports of service. The infrastructure support and logistical expertise provided by its teams in Africa ranges from MSC’s local shipping agency and MSC and TiL terminals handling cargo to MSC and MEDLOG logistics, storage, and inland transportation services. In addition to this, MSC have provided extensive technical advice and experience in preparation for the new vessel, working with Mercy Ships to develop a design that will improve efficiency for the organization’s needs.
Diego Aponte, MSC Group President and a Member of the MSC Foundation Board, said: “I have always been passionate about Africa and I was struck by the extraordinary and honorable nature of Don’s initiative when it was first presented, and these made me want to be involved in a significant way. Mercy Ships brings tangible and concrete support to thousands of families across the region, and with MSC Group’s major presence there we have a duty to give back to the local communities. This vessel is yet another milestone in our vision to support the African continent with achieving a truly prosperous and sustainable destiny.”
Daniela Picco, MSC Foundation Executive Director, said: “We are extremely proud of our support for Mercy Ships through grant-making and in-kind donations and of the transformative impacts their free services and training have had on 18,000 medical professionals and community leaders, and 30,300 patients of all ages through 33,200 surgeries since 2011. When the discussion started with Mercy Ships’ founder Don Stephens to build a new ship together, I was delighted to facilitate this game-changing commitment to accompany Mercy Ships into the coming decades.”
The Future Impact of a New Ship
Our new ship will feature living spaces to accommodate approximately 600 crewmembers and guests on board. Its hospital will span two decks and 7,000 square meters, featuring six operating rooms, a fully equipped laboratory, and state-of-the-art training spaces such as a simulation lab. This makes it possible for us to strengthen local surgical systems during our time in port, typically a 10-month field service.
“This new hospital ship will bring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to support the nations we serve,” Gert van de Weerdhof, CEO of Mercy Ships, shared. “This new vessel and her future crew will enable us to meet surgical needs while supporting host nations as they develop healthcare systems with their next generation of medical professionals.”
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I will share more on the New Ship in future updates.
Plus I will have an updated KRB Update on me later this week.
Christos anesti | Χριστός ἀνέστη! (Greek) Alithos Anesti (Aληθώς ανέστη!) ‘He is Risen’ and in response, ‘Truly He is Risen’ On Sunday morning, in the International Lounge on the Africa Mercy here in Toamasina, Madagascar, the Chaplains started our service asking for our participation in sharing this proclamation: “He is Risen, Truly He is Risen.” The crew spoke it out in over 25 different languages. I should have been quicker and shared it in Spanish/Espanol, as there was no crew from Spanish-speaking countries present.
Photo Caption: Schedule for Holy Week on the Africa Mercy in Toamasina, Madagascar
It is always an exceptional, impactful, and meaningful time of the year on one of the Mercy Ships for Holy Week / Easter —my last time was on board the Africa Mercy in 2019. Last week, I was grateful to stay in a guest cabin onboard for a few nights.
On Thursday night, the “Interactive Walk-Through Experience for the Night Jesus was Betrayed” included entering a modified family cabin to hear the story of Passover, a time of Foot Washing ceremony out on deck 7, time at a table eating snacks – hearing readings from God’s word and prayer, then to the Crew Mess with Dr. Andrew Clark, our Senior Chaplain, for Holy Communion and then to a space created in the International Lounge to be the ‘Garden of Gethsemane,’ more Scripture reading and prayer. This space was available Thursday night and all day Friday and Saturday for a quiet place.
Photo Caption: Easter Morning in the International Lounge with my friend from Cameroon Kingsley
Following the Easter Service, an American missionary family here in Toamasina who are involved with us on the Africa Mercy conducted a baptism of his three children in the small swimming pool on board – so special to witness. Then an amazing feast was shared by all in the dining room – the best meal of the year.
Photo Caption: On Saturday, I hosted some dear friends, including AR, his wife, and his four-month-old baby boy – whom I got to spend time with on Christmas.
The Search for Potential Surgical Patients for Madagascar 2024 has Started Surgical Patient Registration in twelve cities around Madagascar: Antananarivo, Toamasina, Vavatenina, Brickaville, Amparafaravola, Miarinarivo, Itasy, Ambilobe, Sofia; Melaky, Ihorombe, and Fitovinany. All on the same dates: 11 – 29 March on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays = 12 days. As I shared in my last update that since I returned in August 2023, I made promises to people to provide them with the necessary information, which I did through WhatsApp, Messenger, Email, text, and in person. Yesterday I had the opportunity to join the patient selection team working here in the port city. Our day started at 1:30 am at the largest hospital. One of their team members is my friend, and his neighbor is a tuk-tuk driver, and so we had transport to get there. When we arrived, we found more than 200 people under the palm trees on the beach. I joined my friend at the main entrance, handing out tickets to potential patients (my favorite location during the larger mass screenings Mercy Ships did in the past). Then I switched over to the pre-screening – primarily just holding up a flashlight and umbrella as it continued to rain. It was at this location the potential surgical patients shared details on their need for surgery. Once we got the people inside the building, I helped with crowd control and getting people to the right locations. I greeted each of them with a smile and the greeting here of: “Salama” and with the older ones, “Salama Tompoko,” which is more respectful. Some wanted to hear more of my Malagasy language – I shared all I knew, and some laughed, but that’s fine with me. With the young ones, I would demonstrate the fist bump and then see if they would fist bump with me – success with all except for one little guy who started to cry. Parents brought their children needing surgery, including unilateral (one side of the lip)
and bilateral (both sides of the lip) cleft lips, two sweet little girls with cleft palates, a boy with severely bowed legs whose papa was with him. They both have the same look and amazing smile. Many others came with facial tumors.
Photo Caption: Surgical Patient Selection Poster – try and see if you understand the Malagasy language. One aspect that is new to me is that this same team handles selection for all surgical patients —including ophthalmic (eye) surgeries. In previous seasons of Mercy Ships, the Eye Team made their own selection separately. So yesterday, we had a good number of older people blind from cataracts, and getting them from station to station takes a bit more, though most all came with a caregiver. I have really missed being a part of the patient selection process. Still while in Liberia in 2022, I was invited and was on the patient selection team in Senegal and for the planning for patient selection in The Gambia. While I was the Country Director in Liberia, we already began discussing how we would reach out for surgical patient selection to 15 counties of Liberia.
I found great joy in being a part of this activity and found myself smiling. Since August, all that I have been doing in getting containers with medical and non medical supplies cleared through customs, arrangements for the hospital ship at the port and all the required services, and some with immigration for our incoming volunteers, is for patients in Madagascar so they may receive the hope and healing. Please pray as the team continues – they have eight more days in 12 locations around Madagascar.
May we continue to Love God and Love and Serve Others.
Photo Caption: The Africa Mercy at Mole A in Toamasina – Photo Credit: Lisa Having the Africa Mercy in Toamasina feels great – much has happened during the first month. For me, I continue to live in the Country Engagement Team apartment in town and either walk, take a tuk tuk or pouse pouse to get to the main gate for the port and then walk the 13 minutes to the Africa Mercy. I have enjoyed some meals in the renovated dining room as I sit with friends I have known for over 20 years and with new friends. Photo Caption: View from Town Hall towards the beach on the Avenue De l’Independance with the tuk tuks and pousse pousse (bicycle version) The Ministry of Public Health of Madagascar and Mercy Ships have agreed on the locations for the surgical patient selection process in Madagascar for 2024 – the cities are: Antananarivo, Analamanga / Toamasina, Atsinanana / Vavatenina, Analanjirofo / Brickaville, Atsinanana / Amparafaravola, Alaotra-Mangoro / Miarinarivo, Itasy / Maevatanana, Betsiboka / Ambilobe / Diana Antsohihy, Sofia / Morafenobe; Melaky / Ihosy, Ihorombe / Manakara, Fitovinany. We await the actual dates and exact locations for each city. Since I returned in August 2023, I have made promises to people here in Toamasina to provide them with the necessary information. I often share that you may know a family member or friend locally or back in the village who our team would never see if you didn’t assist us in providing the information and maybe even getting them and going to the site together. Our hospital on board will open after the patient selection process is completed. Please pray that those we can help, will hear the message, have the courage and come and that more healthcare professionals will volunteer and join. Photo Caption: a 40′ shipping container arrives at Mole A full of frozen food – 15,395 KG or 33,940 pounds to unload In my role as Port Liaison, my responsibilities involve the customs clearance processes for our shipping containers and air freight shipments. Each country where Mercy Ships operates the requirements are different. With Annick’s help, we learned the system in Liberia as we had about a dozen containers with donations that arrived. Here in Madagascar, I have and continue to understand the process for customs clearances in accordance with our protocol with the host government. This is includes a detail invoice of eight columns include source, category, HTS code, unit of measurement, packing list with details, weights in detail, etc. Most of our containers come from our European Distribution Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and the International Support Center in Lindale, Texas. After reviewing the information, I work to produce official documents which need to be signed and stamped by the officials in the capital. I work closely with our AGL Clearing Agents to make the delivery of the containers and air freight to the Africa Mercy as smooth as possible. Though as you have seen on the news with the problems in the Red Sea and container ships traveling around Africa, there have been delays. In additional to customs clearance, I am learning about diesel fuel for the vessel and those requirements, inspection permissions, lube oil, a/c gases, and also the removal of oily water and slude. Many of our former day crew (local workers) from 2014 to 2016 applied to work again with the ship, and the selections were made and contracts signed. So it is fulfilling to see some of them already serving, and others will join when the hospital opens. Additional Prayer Requests: *Safety on the road between the capital and port city – due to the heavy rains, the road has been more challenging to travel. *Health for our crew, day crew, staff, incoming patients, and myself. May we continue to Love God and Love and Serve Others.
KRB Update 2268 Arrival of the Africa Mercy in Madagascar Keith Robert Brinkman
04 February 2024 Photo Caption: The Africa Mercy arriving in Toamasina, Madagascar on this past Thursday – 01 February Photo Caption: Arrival Day with our Country Director, Esperant Mulumba Photo Caption: The day before the arrival of the Africa Mercy. I told the officials I would not leave until all the other vessels at our location had been moved.
Thankful for the smooth transition for the immigration process and arrival day formalities.
Prayer Requests: *Smooth Activities with customs clearance of our incoming containers *Plus for our Patient Selection Team as they work with the Ministry of Public Health for the dozen sites around the country to identify surgical patients.
“The Mercy Ship is returning to Madagascar” Ever since I arrived in Madagascar in early August after leaving Liberia in July, many people have expressed their great excitement that the hospital ship is returning. The Africa Mercy will arrive on 01 February for a ten-month field service.
So, I have been on the ships most of the times when one of the Mercy Ships vessels arrives into a country. Though, I have also been on land to welcome the ship and that is exciting also. In the Malagasy language, ‘Welcome’ = ‘Tonga Soa’ – so in between coordinating with the ship technical teams and our shipping agent and our partners of the Port of Toamasina, I will be welcoming the Africa Mercy with Tonga Soa.
As Port Liaison here in Madagascar, I have been working with the port officials related to the berth for the ship – same berth as 2014-2016 – use of the same warehouse as before but it needs some repairs, confirmations on the fresh water, arrangements for fuel deliveries, garbage removal and other activities. Plus learning the process for how Customs Clearance will take place for our incoming shipping containers and air freight – the paperwork and the required signatures needed from the capital and then the process here in the port city. The ship relies heavily on incoming supplies, medications, food, equipment, and parts via containers.
Prayer Requests: *For the ship’s safe journey from East London, South Africa to Toamasina Madagascar, *Safe docking of the vessel, *Smooth Activities with customs and immigration. *For the Mercy Ship team interviewing potential local workers, that they would have clarity on who is the best to serve with us and in what positions. *Plus for our Patient Selection Team as they work with the Ministry of Public Health for the dozen sites around the country to identify surgical patients. May we continue to Love God and Love and Serve Others.
PS – This a fulfilling time as the Global Mercy is in Freetown, Sierra Leone – providing specialized surgeries and education/training for healthcare professionals in Sierra Leone. Our last visit to Sierra Leone was in 2011 and was one of my favorite field services – connection with patients – visit to their homes.
Photo Caption: Enjoyable Visit with my friend and former local worker, Pierrot. While serving on the ship, our local workers (day crew) and patients were the ones I got to know the best. Here in Madagascar, I have been reuniting with many of these and making new contacts also.
Photo Caption: Connecting with new friends from a friend’s church – who want to serve with the ship as day crew.
PS – a note on Liberia – after the second round of elections, they have voted for a new President – the former Vice President will now be the President for the six year term – Mr. Joseph Boakai. We know him from the previous visits to Liberia from 2005 – 2008. On the sad side, after Christmas in Liberia there was a tanker explosion and over 50 people died and over 90 to the hospital due to burns and their injuries.
Misaotra, Veloma, Tonga Soa, Salama, Fitahiana, Azafady – are all examples of words in the Malagasy language. Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar. The other official language is French, though it is considered to be the language of the colonizers. Wikipedia tells us that Malagasy is the westernmost Malayo-Polynesian language brought to the island in or around the 5th century AD. There are some words in common with the African continent Bantu languages and some Arabic expressions were brought here by the traders. Around 25 million people speak Malagasy. There are some major dialects from the Western Coast, Central, and Eastern Coast – I am living in and calling Toamasina ‘home’, so on the Eastern Coast. However, I am trying to learn phrases in the standard language and not get involved with dialects. When you try to speak some Malagasy, the people appreciate the efforts as they know their language is only spoken here vs. French, English, Espanol, etc. Not many know English, but some will know some phrases as there are tourists who come through this area. Malagasy is a beautiful-sounding language, I especially enjoy hearing it in praise and worship when I visit local churches. I came prior to the ship in 2014 and was here for almost 2 years, so now I am enjoying reconnecting with people here – thankful for Messenger and WhatsApp and friends who know our other friends and have helped me reconnect. The Christian population here are Catholics (brought to the country by French missionaries in the 19th century), Presbyterians, Anglicans, Lutherans, and the ‘new’ churches – like the Baptist, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, and others. The proportion of Muslims is small, though there is a mosque near our team apartment, so I hear the calls for prayer. Often, when I visit a church on a Sunday morning, I am given the opportunity to share briefly on Mercy Ships. When I ask ‘how many remember the Africa Mercy in 2014 – 2016′ many of the hands are raised. I share a bit about the ship’s return in 2024 and that maybe they would know someone who would know someone who needs healing with one of the surgeries we can provide on the ship. Plus for those here in the port city if they know of ones who may wish to serve with us as local workers (day crew) and to pray for us as we make the preparations.
Photo Caption: Visited a friend’s church – she was day crew in 2014 – 2016 with our hospital chaplaincy team and wishes to rejoin in 2024. Last week, I was invited to a meeting of the Federation of Church Leaders for the area of Toamasina. The Federation is primarily the ‘new’ churches. I was given time to share about our plans to return, how the Body of Christ in Toamasina can be involved with referring surgical patients, identifying locals who would be able to join and serve with us, and for God’s will. During the meeting, one of the pastors shared part of his testimony on how he received eye surgery on the Anastasis when the ship was in Madagascar in 1996 and how he gave his heart to Jesus and is now serving as a pastor today. Two others shared how they had been local workers also back in 1996 and are now pastors. I left the meeting with my heart so full of blessing and wishing to share with the Mercy Shippers from that time that their labor of love and sharing the two hands of the gospel have impacted people here and they are impacting others.
Serving together,
PS. Last weekend, I had my third birthday in Madagascar (2014, 2015, 2023) – a celebration over the weekend – dinner out with friends, a home-cooked meal with a missionary family, day off, and visited First Love Church – as I was walking the last kilometer to the church, they were playing ‘Goodness of God’ song in French and this part of the chorus is so true <And all my life, You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so so good>.
The above is in Malagasy, the language of Madagascar, where I am currently serving. I figured out the translation of ‘Jesus Christ’ but was unsure about the other two words – a friend shared the translation: “Jesus Christ is the Center” Amen.
I spent two Christmases in Madagascar in 2014 and 2015, but those were Christmases with the Africa Mercy and all the fantastic opportunities available onboard the hospital ship. This year, I celebrate Christmas ‘on land’ in Madagascar.
I received an invitation from a local ministry here where their children and teens shared the Story of Jesus’ birth and served the community children lunch and gave them a gift. Till today, which was their Christmas celebration, the staff and I served them as they performed the drama of the birth of Jesus and time of singing and dancing and eating rice, zebu (beef), and carrots and receiving their gift. Christmas Eve, a group of us Mercy Shippers will attend a friend’s church for their Christmas program – available in Malagasy and English. Then, on Monday, Christmas Day, I will join a missionary family here in the area. I wish all of you a special Christmas season, wherever you may be.
Here are links for two Christmas songs you may recognize but probably have not heard in this language.
Photo Caption: Visited a friend’s church – she was day crew in 2014 – 2016 with our hospital chaplaincy team and wishes to rejoin in 2024.