August 2010 Alumni Newsletter

Posted by Marius on Aug 10, 2010 at 09:31 am

Welcome to the August 2010 edition of the Mercy Ships Alumni newsletter!

CONNECTIONS: A Mercy Ships Update! In this month's update, we take another close look at the unique world of Mercy Ships. You will find out more about Mercy Ministries, a program set up for crew who work behind the scenes to reach out and help make a difference with the local population. We also learn more about Train the Trainer, a capacity building program.  You can view the video HERE!

UPDATE FROM TOGO: Twice a week or so the sounds of African drums and joyful singing waft up the stairwells from the hospital on third deck. It's the Dress Ceremony for the ladies who are ready to go back home after having a vesicovaginal fistula corrected, sometimes after suffering the symptoms of urine leakage for decades. For most of them the condition was caused by serious complications of prolonged labor in childbirth, and many lost the child they were giving birth to. Read more HERE!

BRENDA Cole, 46, swapped Britain for the experience of a lifetime when she and her family moved on board a hospital ship off the coast of Africa. My morning routine probably sounds like that of a lot of working mums. At 6.30am my alarm goes off then it's shower, get dressed, breakfast and a quick chat with my husband and children before we all head out of the door. By 8am I'm at my desk ready for a day's work but then there are other things that are very different. Read more HERE!

The sun dips below the horizon, and darkness covers the narrow dirt road deep in rural Mali. Gladys, an '86 Volkswagen Caravelle, is almost out of gas, and she has been acting up during the last leg of the drive. There is no village in sight. Looks like Joel will be sleeping in the van tonight. Such is life when you're driving "cross-continent" from Ireland to Togo. When Joel Somerville won the "Live your Dreams" Scholarship from Glasgow Caledonian University, he knew he wanted to work as an optometrist in third world countries. He heard about Mercy Ships from a friend and applied for an open position. He was accepted and given a start date in mid-March. Read more HERE!

GLOBAL NEWS: A group of nine teenagers from the Kinsale, Ireland area is embarking on a Round Ireland Challenge in aid of the world's largest charity hospital ship. The keen sailors, most of whom have just finished their exams, will be sailing a 39ft yacht round the coast of Ireland over six days in August, to raise money for the international charity, Mercy Ships. Read more HERE!

"I saw God at work during my time as a volunteer nurse with Mercy Ships in Togo," says Darwin nurse Jenny Ward. One occasion she remembers well. "We had a four-month-old child being prepared for surgery to correct a cleft palate. Such children are always hard to feed, and often need to be put onto a special feeding program to fatten them up before surgery. Read more HERE!

ALUMNI NEWS: Remember Mercy Ships when making your selection for this year's CFC or Workplace Giving Campaign! Let Your Employer Match Your Giving and make Mercy Ships the designated charity at your workplace! Around the world, billions of people live with impure water and inadequate food, a little or no health care. Nearly 50% of Africa's population has no access to a hospital or doctor. But behind every statistic is a life - a person who is waiting for your help!!

Contribute to the Mercy Ships Combined Federal Campaign #94744.

We are also looking for volunteers who will represent Mercy Ships at CFC or Workplace Giving events in their areas.

Please email us at workplacegiving@mercyships.org for more information on how you can be involved!

Reflections of our Alumni. See the latest Reflections HERE! We would love to hear your feedback or comments and we would also like to know how serving with Mercy Ships has impacted your life and/or your career choice upon your return. Email us at alumni@mercyships.org

The  Mercy Ships online shop, the Mercy Market is now open for trade! Stock up on all your Mercy Ships branded clothing. Visit the shop at https://store.mercyships.org/ 

Did you know that we have our own Mercy Ships Alumni Facebook Group? Reconnect with your old crewmates by searching for Mercy Ships Alumni on Facebook.

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