Waves of Mercy Summer 2026
Choosing hope isn’t easy. For the people we serve across sub-Saharan Africa, hope is one of the hardest choices they’ll ever make. From persevering through pain, believing that help will one day come, clinging to courage, and fighting for acceptance, hope is their light in a dark world.
When news travels of one of our hospital ships arriving in port, hope grows stronger than ever.
BRING HOPE AND HEALING
In the countries we serve, countless families are facing difficult battles. Tumors develop unexpectedly, weighing them down. Legs bend unnaturally from malnutrition, making every step painful. Babies are born with conditions that leave them fighting for survival.
Still, our patients persevere. They travel long distances, face uncertain outcomes, and refuse to give up hope.
As you read through this edition of Waves of Mercy, we hope you are inspired by the stories of resilience and that they help you see the difference that friends like YOU can make possible.
Little Alfredo entered the world two months earlier than expected. But his early arrival was only the beginning of the challenges ahead. In addition, Alfredo had been born with a cleft lip and palate, a condition no one in their family had ever seen before. His mother, Doxie, was terrified, but she refused to give up hope.
“I was determined that day. I needed help for my baby.”
Read more of Alfredo’s story>>
How long would you wait for help to arrive? How far would you travel for a chance at healing? For 40-year-old Theogette from Madagascar, the answer was simple: she would brave it all for the hope of a new life.
For ten years, Theogette struggled with a large facial tumor, enduring pain, isolation, and stigma. When she heard about Mercy Ships, she embarked on an intense three-day journey, determined to reach her chance for a new life.
Read more of Theogette’s story>>
Our mission of hope and healing is only possible because of our dedicated volunteers and our generous partners. Their compassion meets our patients’ determination, transforming their resilience into relief through free, life-changing surgery. Because of them, the hope our patients carry doesn’t stay on our ship; it travels home with them, creating a ripple effect that touches their families and entire communities.
Hope and healing is a mission we can only accomplish together. Thank you for standing with our patients, transforming hope into reality for those brave enough to believe in it.