Ship Life

Life aboard the Global Mercy Hospital Ship is an amazing and unique experience. I would like to somehow help you to experience our ship life.

Neither Kathy nor I have spent much time in the maritime world. This big metal structure is a living and breathing machine. A complete, self sustaining, floating city that just happens to also be a hospital. The ship receives water shipments from the dock, then purifies it for on-board use. Conservation is key. For example the maintenance crews reclaim the water condensed in the air conditioning system to supply the laundry. Just like in all of Sierra Leone, our water supply is limited. Since we arrived, our floating city has been rationing water wherever possible. Two minute showers, don’t flush more than necessary, and of course no water fights!

We are docked right along side container ships who are coming and going daily. We can watch them load and unload both day and night and wave hello and goodby as they head out to sea. 

As we are both involved in the food side of ship life, it has been eye-opening to witness the storage, management, and preparation of so much food. Everything managed to exact temperatures and cleanliness. Even left-overs return in fresh new recipes. Kathy chops fruits and vegetables for hours and Tim is constantly moving food from one place to another, cleaning everything in site including volumes of dishes, glasses, and silverware.

Then there are the people we meet. We are finding a beautiful golden thread of a servant mindset. Most of the people here are volunteers giving their available skills and time to serve others. This seems to influence the whole experience. We listen to the stories of some who have found ways in their off hours to drill wells that will deliver water in distant villages, or connect and encourage local day workers. Everyone striving to change one life at a time. All of this in addition to the incredible medical treatments and education that is the foundation of the Mercy Ship organization. 

We talk often with a man who serves as a bio-medical technician. He spends his hours keeping all the equipment running in the hospital and throughout the ship. We hear stories of how surgeons are faced with medical issues they rarely see and have limited resources to resolve it. Yet they do. Using whatever they can find, to creatively solve the problem and restore health. 

In the non-work hours the coffee shop area is a common hang out with places to sit and chat with new and old friends, or engage in a puzzle or card game. The walking deck provides an evening stroll with 360 degree views the city, ships loading and unloading, and the ocean.

Throughout the week there are numerous times to worship. Large groups in the International Lounge or a small group in the intimate chapel. To end a very long day of work with a time of heartfelt praise is a treasure. Above all it’s the joy of experiencing the nature of Christ lived out in so many people serving together.