Becky’s Journey of Faith, Identity, and Service with Mercy Ships
“I care a lot about people, I like to be creative, and I love the Lord.”
These qualities shine through the moment you meet Becky Chaplin.
Originally from Kenya before moving to the U.K., Becky’s life has been one full of love and driven by a deep passion for serving God by serving others. It’s a story of love in action, and one that begins with a miracle.
Her umbilical cord was still attached when Becky was first found. A veterinarian had been jogging nearby when he came across the newborn who had been abandoned.
“I think God was looking after me and sent a voice to the vet to find me,” she said.
The vet took her to New Life Home, an orphanage in Kenya. It was at the orphanage that her parents, missionaries from the U.K., fell in love with the 7-week-old and decided to adopt her.
“Mum said when she picked me up that she felt that God was saying, ‘this is your daughter,'” Becky said. “The love that they brought me up with and instilled in me was just what I needed, and God knew that.”
Her childhood was split between Kenya and the U.K., where she spent time learning about who she was and who she dreamed of being.
“I’m Kenyan by birth but British by adoption,” Becky shared with a proud smile. “I think it was really important for my parents that we knew our history and where we came from, and to fall in love with our Kenyan side.”
At 10 years old, her family moved to the U.K., where she continued her education. “I think I’ve got both cultures in me. I can relate to more than one group of people from different cultures.”
It was that ability that led to her future career choices.
“Living in Kenya, I saw both sides,” she shared. “I was exposed to extreme poverty and the opportunities you can have with education. I was fortunate to be adopted into a family that gave me that opportunity.”
This awareness sparked a desire to help. For her, the ideal career was one that allowed her to share her creative skills while helping people grow. She eventually chose to become an occupational therapist. And after completing university, she pursued a master’s degree with interests in hand therapy, burns, and working in low-income countries.
While she had always hoped to do missionary work, she also wanted an opportunity to use the skills God had given her to give back to those who needed it most. That’s when she heard about Mercy Ships.
“I’d really like to do something like this,” she thought. “Maybe Mercy Ships is for me.”
After she graduated, she started working at a hospital and, in time, was transferred to the burn unit in the hand therapy department. There, she heard about a therapist who had gone to serve on Mercy Ships.
“It became more of a reality that this is something that I could do, and it was in an area that I had studied,” Becky explained.
A few years later, she came aboard!
“I’ve always had a heart to come back to an African country, and I wanted to do it once I had the skill or experience to be able to help,” she shared.
Initially, Becky was only planning to stay for three months, but after being on board, she decided to take a chance and serve for the long term.
“I absolutely loved it,” she shared. “I loved being back in an African country with people who look like me.”
As a volunteer with Mercy Ships, Becky is encouraged not only by the patients she gets to walk alongside every day, but by other volunteers as well. On board, she’s able to bring her passions into her work in unique ways.
“I’ve been able to weave my love for music and art into what I do as a therapist… I’ve been able to integrate music,” she shared. “We do a lot of discharge dances, even when we’re doing exercises. Having a motivational song on helps us get through some of the exercises because we want to make therapy fun.”
And each day continues to be an adventure! According to Becky, “If you want something that’s enriching, pushes you, and grows you, then Mercy Ships is for you!”
Want to serve with others like Becky? See how you can Find Your Place on Board today.