Mercy Ships: Hope For Healing Episode | Trinity Broadcasting Network

November 26, 2024 | S

Matt and Laurie Crouch visit the Global Mercy ship in Sierra Leone and experience the real change that Mercy Ships makes.

#LaurieCrouch #Help #Healing #Missionary #Missions #Religion #Medical #Health #LoveyourNeighbor #MattCrouch #inActive #TalkShow #Poverty #Special #Physicalhealth #Compassion

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Mercy Ships: Hope For Healing | Mercy Ships: Hope For Healing | November 26, 2024

(beeping sound)
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- [announcer] coming up tonight on "praise."
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- in sierra leone, there's no maxillofacial surgeon
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In a country with a population of about 8 million people.
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So we treat people who had surgery on their face mostly.
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What makes this work so beautiful is that
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People who come in
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Have a deformity that is really visible.
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So they are very traumatized.
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They're sometimes cast outs.
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They have to live with shame for so many years.
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- a city like this, it's just the poorest of the poor.
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It's hard to get the medical care in these places.
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- just seeing the need and seeing how
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Much needs to be done,
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There's a huge need to boost that surgical workforce.
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- this ship is incredible.
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It's an amazing platform
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That is unlike any other vessel in the world.
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It's the world's largest civilian hospital ship,
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But the thing that makes mercy ships is the people.
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You could take the same vessel
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And fill it with different people
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It wouldn't be a mercy ship,
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But you could take those same people
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And move them all ashore here to freetown,
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And they would still be mercy shippers.
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And this is where you see the kingdom of god
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In his people alive and active.
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- and when the mercy ship pulls up,
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I can't imagine the feeling of-
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- hope.
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- god has called them to be here.
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He's called them to serve.
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Out of their love for him they come.
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Mercy ships is really about the people.
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- and of really sticking together with your patient,
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Affirming them that things are gonna be all right.
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Help them on their way to healing and becoming a face
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That is more like other faces.
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(people cheering)
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- why do you serve in the capacity here that you do?
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- when people come here, they leave with,
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As the message theme says, hope and healing.
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It really is a community of faith.
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- [geoff] to be surrounded by so many people
00:02:03.736 --> 00:02:05.672
Who are selflessly giving,
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It actually ministers to your own spirit.
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- [crew member] we've got people
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From 40 to 50 different nations here
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Serving aboard together,
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Following the model of jesus together.
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- [crew] i feel like mercy ships really does a good job
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In leaving the country better than we found it.
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- i am telling you, there is a place for you,
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And it's on one of these ships.
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- you can't out give god.
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Sierra leone, mercy has arrived.
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(boat horn honks)
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"praise" comes to you today from freetown, sierra leone.
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Global mercy is in port,
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And this is kind of a full circle story for us
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Because about two and a half, three years ago,
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Laurie and i climbed a staircase very similar to this,
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And we were standing on the global mercy,
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But it wasn't done.
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Today, we report to you it is done,
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And we are here with the managing director.
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Geoff, we were on global mercy when it was there in port
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Up in antwerp, belgium.
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(soft music)
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- [host] and you weren't performing surgeries.
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(laurie chuckling)
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- [laurie] no.
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- [joff] yep.
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- but today, i get to report to you
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(laurie chattering distantly)
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That there is literal surgeries happening here today.
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- this ship is incredible.
00:03:42.435 --> 00:03:43.703
It's an amazing platform
00:03:43.703 --> 00:03:45.638
That is unlike any other vessel in the world.
00:03:45.638 --> 00:03:48.207
It's the world's largest civilian hospital ship.
00:03:48.207 --> 00:03:50.543
But the thing that makes mercy ships is the people.
00:03:50.543 --> 00:03:54.013
You could take the same vessel
00:03:54.013 --> 00:03:55.481
And fill it with different people,
00:03:55.481 --> 00:03:57.083
It wouldn't be a mercy ship,
00:03:57.083 --> 00:03:58.284
But you could take those same people
00:03:58.284 --> 00:03:59.652
And move them all ashore here to freetown,
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And they would still be mercy shippers.
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(host chuckling)
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And this is where you see the kingdom of god.
00:04:04.824 --> 00:04:05.792
In his people alive and active.
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We've got people from 40 to 50 different nations here
00:04:07.860 --> 00:04:11.264
Serving aboard together,
00:04:11.264 --> 00:04:12.999
Following the model of jesus together.
00:04:12.999 --> 00:04:14.967
When jesus talks about the north and the south and the east,
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And the west coming together
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And eating together at the table, we literally have that
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In our dining room every day
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With all of these nationalities and cultures.
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And you see the kingdom of god alive,
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Active, abundant, every day.
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It doesn't mean the work's easy 'cause it's not.
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It's exceptionally difficult work, but what a joy
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And a blessing it is to do good work with people
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That you love for a cause that you care about,
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For people that you love.
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- and this ship, i'm telling you,
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I'm just kinda overwhelmed today,
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Knowing the impact that a city like this
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Is just the poorest of the poor.
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It's hard to get the medical care in these places.
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And when the mercy ship pulls up,
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(airy music)
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I can't imagine the feeling of moms and dads,
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And grandmothers, and grandfathers,
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And children that would see hope!
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- hope.
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- and mercy pull up.
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And that they can get on board of this beautiful ship.
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And find people that care from all over the world,
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You know, the family of god
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(gentle piano music)
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Is huge, (chuckling) and it's abundant around the world,
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And there are people that have a servant's heart,
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That don't know what to do,
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And they're tired
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From just the normal everyday things in their life.
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I am telling you, (hands tapping)
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There is a place for you. (chuckling)
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And it's on one of these ships!
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To just come and get involved,
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And take what god has given you, and pour it out!
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- laurie, i can't tell you (hands tapping)
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How much more i have received
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Than i have given in this work.
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The fact that i'm volunteer
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Doesn't cross my mind on a regular basis.
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You receive so much in the community
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And the work that you do, it's so fulfilling,
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It's so rewarding because you get to see god's kingdom
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At work every day.
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We're there because there's a need, and there is great need.
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In the executive corridor downstairs, outside my office,
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We have a series of photos down the wall.
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And there's one that i keep right next to my office,
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And it's intentional.
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It's a young man with his daughter.
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This man had spent every penny that he had trying to find
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Medical care for his daughter, everything.
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And he had traveled throughout the entire nation,
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Seen as many medical professionals,
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The facility just wasn't there to provide what they needed.
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And i walk past that every day,
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And i see it, because i'm reminded we're not so different.
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If that was my child, i would do absolutely the same thing.
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If i was in the same circumstances,
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I would do absolutely the same thing.
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- so, the good news is that we can announce
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Here right now, sierra leone,
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Mercy has arrived.
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(birds squawking distantly)
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(gentle piano resonates)
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(graphics whooshing)
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(soft triumphant music)
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- [narrator] what does it take to make a difference?
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To be a light for those who only know darkness.
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It takes the heart of a servant.
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The very heart jesus described in matthew 25:40.
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"whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
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And sisters of mine, you did for me."
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- mercy ships is really about the people.
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Being called by god,
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I think it's just knowing that i am where i need to be.
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God has called them to be here, he's called them to serve.
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Out of their love for him, they come.
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People often talk about making a sacrifice
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To do this type of work,
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But it doesn't really feel like a sacrifice in many ways
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Because it's so rewarding as well,
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And it's such a blessing.
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- [narrator] so, ask yourself, what have you done lately?
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Better yet, what will you do?
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(triumphant music intensifies)
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(graphics whooshing)
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(airy foreign music)
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- if they are not having faith, they would've been here.
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But because they have faith, that's why they are here!
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- today is a celebration day.
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We call it celebration of sight.
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After our patient
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Have their eyes repaired, cataract removed,
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We want just to celebrate their life.
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We want to thank god for what (indistinct) messages
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To bring hope and healing in our patient's life.
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Especially for eyes, eyes is something very important.
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Without eyes, you live in a darkness, and it's the
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Horrible thing
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(soft foreign music)
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And it's a day where all the patients come together,
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We sing, we share testimonies just to celebrate them.
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So, i want to thank god
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And the entire board of mercy ship
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What they have done in my life.
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(audience clapping)
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(singer singing in foreign language)
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(people singing in foreign language)
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(singer singing in foreign language)
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(people singing in foreign language)
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(airy foreign music)
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- and when you can see it's a beautiful thing.
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And that's what we want to celebrate.
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(audience clapping)
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(participant speaking in foreign language)
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- what's now?
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- [together] i can see! (laughing)
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- hallelujah!
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(airy music)
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(birds squawking distantly)
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(soft music)
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- okay, you actually have
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One of the more unique stories on board.
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We're on the bridge, we're on the global mercy,
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And we're looking out over the city
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That you live in, sierra leone.
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Start us off by the beginning.
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- so, i'm sandra, i'm currently the country director
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For mercy ships here in sierra leone.
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I'm originally from the netherlands.
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I was born there,
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And when i was two years old, my parents decided
00:10:04.517 --> 00:10:07.620
To join mercy ships, which at the time
00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:10.289
Had just started as a missions organization.
00:10:10.289 --> 00:10:13.192
- okay, what year would that have been?
00:10:13.192 --> 00:10:14.360
(graphics shuffling) (soft music)
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- so, it started in 1978,
00:10:15.294 --> 00:10:16.796
Was really in the pioneer phase of the organization
00:10:16.796 --> 00:10:19.398
In terms of transforming the passenger ship
00:10:19.398 --> 00:10:22.735
Into a hospital ship.
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Stayed on board for 14 years with my parents
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And my two siblings, (participant's voice drowns)
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And went from nursery through high school on the ship.
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And so, while i was on board, my mom actually joined
00:10:31.544 --> 00:10:35.915
As a nurse and my dad was a teacher initially,
00:10:35.915 --> 00:10:38.551
And then did quite a few
00:10:38.551 --> 00:10:40.286
Different administrative type roles.
00:10:40.286 --> 00:10:42.922
But because my mom was a nurse, i had the opportunity
00:10:42.922 --> 00:10:45.691
To go down to the wards and meet the patients there,
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And just connect
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With the kids (graphics shuffling)
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And the adults receiving surgery.
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Just seeing the need
00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:56.268
And seeing how much needs to be done, paired with
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What i experienced growing up on a hospital ship
00:10:59.038 --> 00:11:02.174
Is what inspired me to study medicine.
00:11:02.174 --> 00:11:05.377
And so, i went back to the netherlands and studied there.
00:11:05.377 --> 00:11:08.147
And then, i was actually asked
00:11:08.147 --> 00:11:09.148
To come to sierra leone in 2005
00:11:09.148 --> 00:11:12.551
To support mercy ships in starting up
00:11:12.551 --> 00:11:15.488
A health facility in freetown.
00:11:15.488 --> 00:11:17.623
And at the time, the child mortality rate was the highest
00:11:17.623 --> 00:11:20.559
In the world, with one in four children
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.162
Not reaching the age of five years.
00:11:23.162 --> 00:11:24.897
- oh my goodness- - and so,
00:11:24.897 --> 00:11:26.832
I really had a heart for children,
00:11:26.832 --> 00:11:28.534
And set up a pediatric clinic, outpatient clinic.
00:11:28.534 --> 00:11:32.838
So, the work on the ship really focuses on
00:11:32.838 --> 00:11:35.040
Meeting the direct surgical needs
00:11:35.040 --> 00:11:36.809
That patients have in the host country.
00:11:36.809 --> 00:11:40.045
And that is very important
00:11:40.045 --> 00:11:42.014
Because there's a lack of surgical specialists,
00:11:42.014 --> 00:11:45.951
The surgical workforce in sierra leone.
00:11:45.951 --> 00:11:48.087
We also want to look at how can we address
00:11:48.087 --> 00:11:50.489
Some of the root causes in the unmet surgical need.
00:11:50.489 --> 00:11:53.492
And that's where the education and training piece comes in.
00:11:53.492 --> 00:11:56.095
And in sierra leone, there's no maxillofacial surgeon
00:11:56.095 --> 00:11:58.998
In a country with
00:11:58.998 --> 00:12:00.332
A population of about eight million people.
00:12:00.332 --> 00:12:02.301
And there's only one pediatric surgeon.
00:12:02.301 --> 00:12:04.804
And so, there's a huge need
00:12:04.804 --> 00:12:06.172
To boost that surgical workforce.
00:12:06.172 --> 00:12:09.275
And so, our off ship work
00:12:09.275 --> 00:12:10.509
Really focuses on that piece of work.
00:12:10.509 --> 00:12:12.645
- well, i was gonna ask you, when did you find out
00:12:12.645 --> 00:12:15.748
That the global mercy was actually coming to sierra?
00:12:15.748 --> 00:12:19.318
- so, when i was working at the children's clinic,
00:12:19.318 --> 00:12:22.021
I guess it was probably end of 2021 or early 2022,
00:12:22.021 --> 00:12:26.192
I heard that the global mercy would be coming to freetown.
00:12:26.192 --> 00:12:29.028
I was very excited
00:12:29.028 --> 00:12:30.196
Because- - oh! i'm sure.
00:12:30.196 --> 00:12:31.397
- the last time a mercy ship was here was 2011.
00:12:31.397 --> 00:12:34.400
So, it had been quite a while.
00:12:34.400 --> 00:12:36.168
I had been waiting
00:12:36.168 --> 00:12:37.436
For a ship to come back, (interviewers chuckling)
00:12:37.436 --> 00:12:38.838
And all of sierra leone had been waiting (chuckling)
00:12:38.838 --> 00:12:40.239
For a ship to come back. (interviewer's voice drowns)
00:12:40.239 --> 00:12:41.340
So, we were very excited,
00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.608
And that's also when i learned about
00:12:42.608 --> 00:12:44.109
The country director role and the vacancy.
00:12:44.109 --> 00:12:47.346
And so, i was encouraged to apply
00:12:47.346 --> 00:12:49.648
For this position- - wow.
00:12:49.648 --> 00:12:50.950
- and i think with my history with mercy ships
00:12:50.950 --> 00:12:53.385
And my experience in sierra leone for many years,
00:12:53.385 --> 00:12:56.789
I think it's just a great opportunity for me to serve god
00:12:56.789 --> 00:13:00.025
And to help mercy ships complete its mission
00:13:00.025 --> 00:13:03.829
Here in sierra leone.
00:13:03.829 --> 00:13:05.564
- did you hear what, she's in my history?
00:13:05.564 --> 00:13:07.066
- yeah.
00:13:07.066 --> 00:13:07.900
(sandra laughing)
00:13:07.900 --> 00:13:08.801
- with mercy ships, yeah.
00:13:08.801 --> 00:13:10.035
- my life with mercy ships. (laughing)
00:13:10.035 --> 00:13:11.170
- from the time she was two, got it.
00:13:11.170 --> 00:13:13.105
Ultimately, it feels like one of the key phrases i heard,
00:13:13.105 --> 00:13:17.576
Your managing director joff say that
00:13:17.576 --> 00:13:20.412
"the kingdom of god is on display
00:13:20.412 --> 00:13:23.949
More tangibly than he's ever seen anywhere else."
00:13:23.949 --> 00:13:27.119
- well, i think the people
00:13:27.119 --> 00:13:28.354
That come to mercy ships come because.
00:13:28.354 --> 00:13:30.456
- god has called them to be here.
00:13:31.323 --> 00:13:32.591
He's called them to serve,
00:13:32.591 --> 00:13:34.293
Out of their love for him they come.
00:13:34.293 --> 00:13:36.061
People often talk about making a sacrifice
00:13:36.061 --> 00:13:38.430
To do this type of work,
00:13:38.430 --> 00:13:39.965
But it doesn't really feel like a sacrifice in many ways,
00:13:39.965 --> 00:13:42.801
Because it's so rewarding as well and it's such a blessing.
00:13:42.801 --> 00:13:45.371
Mercy ships is really about the people.
00:13:45.371 --> 00:13:47.139
And so we do need more people to come and serve with us,
00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:50.676
Because if we don't have people
00:13:50.676 --> 00:13:52.778
Filling some of our critical positions on board,
00:13:52.778 --> 00:13:55.748
Then we can't provide the services
00:13:55.748 --> 00:13:57.349
That are really needed in the countries that we visit.
00:13:57.349 --> 00:13:59.818
Being called by god, i think it's just knowing
00:13:59.818 --> 00:14:02.354
That i am where i need to be.
00:14:02.354 --> 00:14:04.290
It really is a community of faith.
00:14:04.290 --> 00:14:05.891
I mean, we start our days with devotions.
00:14:05.891 --> 00:14:09.228
We start some of our meetings, or end some of our meetings,
00:14:09.228 --> 00:14:12.431
In a time of prayer.
00:14:12.431 --> 00:14:13.899
And i think it's just such an amazing way
00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:16.035
To connect with each other as the body of christ,
00:14:16.035 --> 00:14:18.871
As we serve together, to serve the people in sierra leone.
00:14:18.871 --> 00:14:23.242
(upbeat music)
00:14:23.242 --> 00:14:28.747
(light music)
00:14:29.181 --> 00:14:30.916
- the kingdom of god is on display
00:14:30.916 --> 00:14:34.219
More tangibly than he's ever seen anywhere else.
00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:37.356
You can't out-give god.
00:14:37.356 --> 00:14:40.459
Why do you serve in the capacity here that you do?
00:14:40.459 --> 00:14:46.165
- when people come here, they leave with,
00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:49.234
As the message supreme says, hope and healing.
00:14:49.234 --> 00:14:52.905
- there's such joy.
00:14:52.905 --> 00:14:55.574
And joy is not wrapped up in what you have.
00:14:55.574 --> 00:14:59.378
When i see the people that, you know, live here,
00:14:59.378 --> 00:15:02.815
There's just joy on their faces.
00:15:02.815 --> 00:15:06.385
- [interviewee] god has called them to be here.
00:15:06.385 --> 00:15:08.354
He's called them to serve.
00:15:08.354 --> 00:15:10.122
It's just such an amazing way to connect with each other
00:15:10.122 --> 00:15:13.592
As the body of christ, as we serve together,
00:15:13.592 --> 00:15:16.095
To serve the people in sierra leone
00:15:16.095 --> 00:15:18.630
And other countries that we visit.
00:15:18.630 --> 00:15:21.000
(light music)
00:15:21.433 --> 00:15:28.173
(bright music)
00:15:28.574 --> 00:15:30.509
- tell us what you do here at mercy ship.
00:15:30.509 --> 00:15:32.911
Obviously, we're in
00:15:32.911 --> 00:15:34.446
One of the most beautifully outfit operating rooms.
00:15:34.446 --> 00:15:37.216
And this one is finished for this cycle,
00:15:37.216 --> 00:15:41.420
So we got to come in here and be here.
00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:43.455
I just walked past, and i didn't faint,
00:15:43.455 --> 00:15:46.492
But i saw blood in that or room.
00:15:46.492 --> 00:15:49.928
- yes. - and the one next door.
00:15:49.928 --> 00:15:51.697
There are physical procedures happening right now,
00:15:51.697 --> 00:15:56.168
In the next room.
00:15:56.168 --> 00:15:57.669
So what is it exactly that you do here for mercy ships?
00:15:57.669 --> 00:16:02.141
- i'm serving as the or manager.
00:16:02.141 --> 00:16:04.276
I am an or nurse.
00:16:04.276 --> 00:16:06.378
As the manager, really, it's a lot about
00:16:06.378 --> 00:16:10.015
Building relationship, connecting,
00:16:10.015 --> 00:16:12.251
Questions and answers, staffing,
00:16:12.251 --> 00:16:14.887
And just sort of being the mom.
00:16:14.887 --> 00:16:18.323
I feel like it's kind of being the mom.
00:16:18.323 --> 00:16:21.093
- sure - of this little group
00:16:21.093 --> 00:16:22.661
Of people.
00:16:22.661 --> 00:16:23.529
And our family is big.
00:16:23.529 --> 00:16:24.496
We have a very large or family.
00:16:24.496 --> 00:16:27.399
Part of our strength is that
00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:29.334
The people that come will come again
00:16:29.334 --> 00:16:31.370
And we love having them come back and work with us again,
00:16:31.370 --> 00:16:35.474
Because then they can train up the new folks that come along
00:16:35.474 --> 00:16:40.245
And learn how we do it here.
00:16:40.245 --> 00:16:42.581
- now we wanna know why you do it.
00:16:42.581 --> 00:16:44.550
Why do you serve in the capacity here that you do?
00:16:44.550 --> 00:16:48.787
- when you're given things you can't hold them tightly.
00:16:48.787 --> 00:16:52.925
They need to be loosely in your hands.
00:16:52.925 --> 00:16:56.161
So then as they're put into your hands, you can give it.
00:16:56.161 --> 00:16:59.131
You know, this is one way that i can give back.
00:16:59.131 --> 00:17:02.835
I think just seeing the miracle of all of this,
00:17:02.835 --> 00:17:08.307
I mean, there's really not any way you could look
00:17:09.441 --> 00:17:13.846
At the magnitude of this ministry and
00:17:13.846 --> 00:17:18.083
The lord's work here
00:17:18.083 --> 00:17:19.918
And think it should be possible.
00:17:19.918 --> 00:17:21.787
(laughing) so i think my faith has grown too,
00:17:21.787 --> 00:17:25.724
To understand that if the lord's in it,
00:17:25.724 --> 00:17:29.795
Then it can be done.
00:17:29.795 --> 00:17:33.999
- i'm working on board as a biomedical technician.
00:17:33.999 --> 00:17:35.934
Of course, i cannot fix people's bodies.
00:17:35.934 --> 00:17:39.404
So what i do is,
00:17:39.404 --> 00:17:40.806
I receive the equipment, ensure they're safe,
00:17:40.806 --> 00:17:45.177
And give them to the department,
00:17:45.177 --> 00:17:48.580
To where they are needed to be used on this patient.
00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:50.816
And if for any reason they ever have a concern,
00:17:50.816 --> 00:17:53.218
Probably they need to be fixed,
00:17:53.218 --> 00:17:55.487
Or they need some troubleshooting or something,
00:17:55.487 --> 00:17:57.523
Then i get into the picture again
00:17:57.523 --> 00:17:59.057
And do the troubleshooting.
00:17:59.057 --> 00:18:00.792
And my little hands do some fixing.
00:18:00.792 --> 00:18:04.029
- i work in the operating room here.
00:18:04.029 --> 00:18:05.964
We are the ones that take care
00:18:05.964 --> 00:18:07.166
Of all the surgical instruments,
00:18:07.166 --> 00:18:09.768
Dirty instruments from the surgical room,
00:18:09.768 --> 00:18:12.004
Where we sitting right here.
00:18:12.004 --> 00:18:13.539
And take it back to the decontam.
00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:15.807
And we clean the instrument, which is gonna be safer again
00:18:15.807 --> 00:18:18.377
For the doctors or nurses to use it
00:18:18.377 --> 00:18:20.646
On our patient. - so you don't mind
00:18:20.646 --> 00:18:23.015
The side of blood? - no way.
00:18:23.015 --> 00:18:23.949
No way. - okay.
00:18:23.949 --> 00:18:25.350
- yeah, the blood doesn't bother me.
00:18:25.350 --> 00:18:26.818
- i don't like to see blood.
00:18:26.818 --> 00:18:28.720
- [interviewer] that's why you fix
00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.088
The equipment. - i fix the equipment.
00:18:30.088 --> 00:18:31.456
- [doctor] i'm not a buddy.
00:18:31.456 --> 00:18:32.357
- got it. all right.
00:18:32.891 --> 00:18:34.159
Now we understand exactly what you do.
00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.728
- when i think about my life,
00:18:36.728 --> 00:18:38.664
Everything i use daily is as a result
00:18:38.664 --> 00:18:43.135
Of someone having an initiative.
00:18:43.135 --> 00:18:45.737
So i felt if i'm a beneficiary of other people's thoughts,
00:18:45.737 --> 00:18:50.943
Other people's wisdom, other people's creativity,
00:18:52.077 --> 00:18:55.047
Then i should be able to do something
00:18:55.047 --> 00:18:56.782
People can benefit from as well.
00:18:56.782 --> 00:18:59.384
- why i'm doing what i'm doing,
00:18:59.384 --> 00:19:00.452
Because it is god will.
00:19:00.452 --> 00:19:03.255
Being part of a lifesaving team, again,
00:19:03.255 --> 00:19:05.357
I'm always having a joy.
00:19:05.357 --> 00:19:06.725
Even the nurses here and everybody,
00:19:06.725 --> 00:19:08.760
They can testify that i always have enjoyed
00:19:08.760 --> 00:19:10.862
Working with instrument
00:19:10.862 --> 00:19:12.231
And make these things safe for other people.
00:19:12.231 --> 00:19:14.466
Because i knew it is god blessings,
00:19:14.466 --> 00:19:17.269
If it is not god that connects people together,
00:19:17.269 --> 00:19:19.504
Nobody could have been here today
00:19:19.504 --> 00:19:21.173
Doing certain great things, so he uses his miracle.
00:19:21.173 --> 00:19:24.409
People come from all over the world.
00:19:24.409 --> 00:19:25.877
We don't know that, but here it's like a
00:19:25.877 --> 00:19:27.746
Junction for everybody.
00:19:27.746 --> 00:19:29.648
- [speaker] the thought that you-
00:19:29.648 --> 00:19:31.950
- come and give your time.
00:19:31.950 --> 00:19:33.118
You come and serve people here.
00:19:33.118 --> 00:19:36.822
You can't out-give god.
00:19:36.822 --> 00:19:39.224
So what is happening inside
00:19:39.224 --> 00:19:41.126
Of you when you're here doing your job?
00:19:41.126 --> 00:19:44.329
They come on board and they've got problems.
00:19:44.329 --> 00:19:46.898
They leave and largely a lot
00:19:46.898 --> 00:19:48.700
Of their problems are very different and better.
00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:52.771
What is that doing inside of you?
00:19:52.771 --> 00:19:54.306
- a lot of people come
00:19:54.306 --> 00:19:55.540
And they think, what do i have to give?
00:19:55.540 --> 00:19:58.277
And they give of their time, they give of their skills
00:19:58.277 --> 00:20:01.313
That the lord has put in their makeup.
00:20:01.313 --> 00:20:04.416
But the blessing that you receive definitely
00:20:04.416 --> 00:20:07.452
Is far greater
00:20:07.452 --> 00:20:08.487
Because there's such joy,
00:20:08.487 --> 00:20:11.089
And joy is not wrapped up in what you have either.
00:20:11.089 --> 00:20:14.159
When i see the people that live here,
00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:17.296
There's just joy on their faces and they don't have a lot,
00:20:17.296 --> 00:20:21.700
But it's not about that, you know?
00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:24.903
So that's one of the blessings i think
00:20:25.871 --> 00:20:27.839
That i've received too, is just a reminder that.
00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.209
- we think about the poor,
00:20:31.843 --> 00:20:33.545
But there's joy in their lives.
00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:37.082
- when you meet a patient and the first thing
00:20:37.082 --> 00:20:39.184
They ask you is, "how are you?"
00:20:39.184 --> 00:20:41.186
With a smile on your face.
00:20:41.186 --> 00:20:43.155
And i'm like, you're the one
00:20:43.155 --> 00:20:44.556
Who just had the surgery actually asking, "how are you?"
00:20:44.556 --> 00:20:47.192
And that's, i feel
00:20:47.192 --> 00:20:50.362
This place doesn't just do the physical healing.
00:20:50.362 --> 00:20:52.731
It does the mental, it does the emotional,
00:20:52.731 --> 00:20:55.567
It does the psychological, the spiritual.
00:20:55.567 --> 00:20:58.036
And when people come here, they live with,
00:20:58.036 --> 00:21:02.941
As the message theme says, hope and healing.
00:21:02.941 --> 00:21:07.312
Knowing that they never,
00:21:07.913 --> 00:21:09.848
Ever thought they could have these surgeries.
00:21:09.848 --> 00:21:11.416
And god put them in the minds of an organization.
00:21:11.416 --> 00:21:15.287
And if god could actually do that,
00:21:15.287 --> 00:21:17.122
Then he can solve every other problem they could think of.
00:21:17.122 --> 00:21:20.359
- god is really working with us.
00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:22.427
If you are here, you see some certain tumor,
00:21:22.427 --> 00:21:25.163
You think they are moving, removing this thing from people
00:21:25.163 --> 00:21:27.733
And you see them again walking, dancing.
00:21:27.733 --> 00:21:30.369
I have never...
00:21:30.369 --> 00:21:31.136
- this kind of thing in my life.
00:21:31.870 --> 00:21:32.938
- i have often pondered what the kingdom of god is.
00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:37.309
I think it's the attitudes that he puts in us
00:21:37.309 --> 00:21:41.313
To show to one another.
00:21:41.313 --> 00:21:42.848
Just the way that we treat one another,
00:21:42.848 --> 00:21:45.717
The way that we treat other people, the way we communicate,
00:21:45.717 --> 00:21:50.856
That it's all wrapped in
00:21:51.456 --> 00:21:52.691
With kindness and with love.
00:21:52.691 --> 00:21:54.626
I think love is the heart of it.
00:21:54.626 --> 00:21:56.027
That's what i've sort of imagined the kingdom of god is,
00:21:56.027 --> 00:21:59.765
Is the attitudes with which we do things.
00:21:59.765 --> 00:22:03.702
- the energy of god is 10,000 better than any medication,
00:22:03.702 --> 00:22:07.939
I think for me.
00:22:07.939 --> 00:22:09.207
The one thing about our department
00:22:09.207 --> 00:22:10.075
Or the or,
00:22:10.075 --> 00:22:11.710
The little tiny instrument you have to leave behind.
00:22:11.710 --> 00:22:14.045
It's like a military forces, leave no one behind.
00:22:14.045 --> 00:22:16.815
- yeah. - maybe the the one i have
00:22:16.815 --> 00:22:18.617
To leave for tomorrow rest over
00:22:18.617 --> 00:22:20.352
Is gonna be the first requesting instrument
00:22:20.352 --> 00:22:22.120
In that surgery.
00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:23.088
I prefer me and my team
00:22:23.088 --> 00:22:24.689
And my whole brothers go connected our heart together
00:22:24.689 --> 00:22:27.392
To be devoted to what we're doing, actually.
00:22:27.392 --> 00:22:29.361
- the military says, "never leave a man."
00:22:29.361 --> 00:22:31.396
- behind.
00:22:31.763 --> 00:22:32.297
You say.
00:22:32.297 --> 00:22:33.865
- [presenter and doctor] never leave the instrument behind.
00:22:33.865 --> 00:22:34.800
(presenter and doctor laughing)
00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:37.302
- [presenter] beautiful.
00:22:37.302 --> 00:22:38.470
(presenter laughing) (happy music)
00:22:38.470 --> 00:22:40.305
(seagulls crying) (waves crashing)
00:22:40.305 --> 00:22:45.010
- [narrator] this is the face of hope,
00:22:45.010 --> 00:22:47.712
A new life, a bright future. (uplifting music)
00:22:47.712 --> 00:22:50.782
For nearly 50 years,
00:22:50.782 --> 00:22:52.517
Mercy ships has been a beacon of healing,
00:22:52.517 --> 00:22:55.387
Bringing life-saving care to millions across africa.
00:22:55.387 --> 00:22:59.458
Recently, their reach has touched sierra leone,
00:22:59.458 --> 00:23:02.727
A nation where urgent need meets limited means.
00:23:02.727 --> 00:23:06.231
Here, two-thirds of the population lives in poverty,
00:23:06.231 --> 00:23:10.302
With 22% surviving on less than $2.15 cents a day.
00:23:10.302 --> 00:23:15.507
Health crises are frequent.
00:23:16.174 --> 00:23:17.742
Resources scarce.
00:23:17.742 --> 00:23:19.611
Communities struggle
00:23:19.611 --> 00:23:20.979
Amid a severe shortage of trained clinicians,
00:23:20.979 --> 00:23:24.015
Limited medical supplies, under resourced facilities,
00:23:24.015 --> 00:23:27.752
And a healthcare system stretch to its limits.
00:23:27.752 --> 00:23:31.389
- [narrator] expectancy barely surpasses 55 years.
00:23:31.389 --> 00:23:34.626
And tragically, 140 out of every 1,000 children
00:23:34.626 --> 00:23:38.997
Do not make it to their fifth birthday.
00:23:38.997 --> 00:23:41.266
(gentle music)
00:23:41.266 --> 00:23:43.568
Yet mercy ships believes
00:23:43.568 --> 00:23:45.437
That god is not bound by statistics.
00:23:45.437 --> 00:23:47.906
Aboard global mercy,
00:23:47.906 --> 00:23:49.574
The ministry's newest world-class floating hospital,
00:23:49.574 --> 00:23:52.577
Hope is alive, and miracles unfold daily.
00:23:52.577 --> 00:23:56.448
God moves through the hands
00:23:56.448 --> 00:23:58.149
Of those who have answered his call.
00:23:58.149 --> 00:24:00.519
Individuals from all walks of life
00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:02.454
Who have declared, "here am i, send me."
00:24:02.454 --> 00:24:06.191
Through faith-focused leadership
00:24:06.925 --> 00:24:08.660
And the unwavering dedication of thousands of volunteers
00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:11.663
From over 60 countries,
00:24:11.663 --> 00:24:13.431
Mercy ships brings hope to the most vulnerable.
00:24:13.431 --> 00:24:16.968
Cleft lips, burn scars, orthopedic deformities,
00:24:16.968 --> 00:24:21.540
Benign tumors, cataracts, and more.
00:24:21.540 --> 00:24:24.543
Here, miracles don't just happen. they are lived.
00:24:24.543 --> 00:24:28.914
The lame walk, the blind see,
00:24:29.614 --> 00:24:32.150
And the overlooked find a sanctuary.
00:24:32.150 --> 00:24:35.487
(crowd cheering)
00:24:35.954 --> 00:24:38.957
(crowd clapping)
00:24:38.957 --> 00:24:50.769
(gentle music)
00:24:51.169 --> 00:24:53.038
- if you just tuned in,
00:24:53.038 --> 00:24:54.306
We are on the bridge of the global mercy.
00:24:54.306 --> 00:24:58.209
We are in sierra leone.
00:24:58.209 --> 00:25:00.312
Captain, it never ceases to amaze me
00:25:00.312 --> 00:25:03.081
How god will take a person like yourself,
00:25:03.081 --> 00:25:06.418
Kind of grow you up through the maritime operations
00:25:06.418 --> 00:25:10.155
Of all sorts of ships.
00:25:10.155 --> 00:25:12.023
You've been on hundreds of ships, thousands of ships,
00:25:12.023 --> 00:25:15.026
And your wife training up through
00:25:15.026 --> 00:25:18.096
The medical field being a nurse, and, hmm,
00:25:18.096 --> 00:25:21.566
Then all of a sudden, there's a medical mission ship.
00:25:21.566 --> 00:25:26.771
God perfectly orchestrated your pathway
00:25:27.772 --> 00:25:29.674
To cross with mercy ships.
00:25:29.674 --> 00:25:31.676
Is that how you feel about this whole thing?
00:25:31.676 --> 00:25:33.111
- [captain] yeah, i always like to say
00:25:33.111 --> 00:25:34.579
That i started training for this maritime career
00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:37.282
When i was 17,
00:25:37.282 --> 00:25:38.516
And that's 50 years ago. - wow.
00:25:38.516 --> 00:25:40.452
- so before mercy ships even existed,
00:25:40.452 --> 00:25:43.622
God started training me,
00:25:43.622 --> 00:25:45.724
Knowing someday that i would end up doing this.
00:25:45.724 --> 00:25:49.227
It obviously wasn't on my horizon at that stage.
00:25:49.227 --> 00:25:51.429
I had no idea that this would be
00:25:51.429 --> 00:25:53.531
Probably the end of my career
00:25:53.531 --> 00:25:55.033
Because i have no ambitions to go back to work
00:25:55.033 --> 00:25:58.069
Once we finish here with mercy ships.
00:25:58.069 --> 00:25:59.938
So for the time being, this is my future,
00:25:59.938 --> 00:26:02.841
And i'm really proud to be able
00:26:02.841 --> 00:26:04.743
To end up my career
00:26:04.743 --> 00:26:05.910
Doing this. - mm.
00:26:05.910 --> 00:26:07.278
- and my wife, she, let's say, wasn't so sure
00:26:07.278 --> 00:26:10.815
That this would be a good thing,
00:26:10.815 --> 00:26:12.350
But once we got her on board the africa mercy,
00:26:12.350 --> 00:26:14.853
She came and spent a month there,
00:26:14.853 --> 00:26:16.354
She got the mercy ship bug, she went home and applied.
00:26:16.354 --> 00:26:19.057
She was still working, she hadn't actually retired yet.
00:26:19.057 --> 00:26:21.893
So she was applied for some leave of absence to go.
00:26:21.893 --> 00:26:25.897
The company that she was working for said,
00:26:25.897 --> 00:26:28.133
"no, you can't have that.
00:26:28.133 --> 00:26:29.901
Nurses are too valuable at the moment. we can't spare you."
00:26:29.901 --> 00:26:33.438
So she said, "okay, i'm resigning."
00:26:33.438 --> 00:26:35.674
So she resigned on a wednesday,
00:26:35.674 --> 00:26:37.876
And we were back on board the african mercy on a saturday.
00:26:37.876 --> 00:26:40.311
It was that quick.
00:26:40.311 --> 00:26:41.513
- oh, my goodness. - goodness.
00:26:41.513 --> 00:26:42.847
- let's see. hmm.
00:26:42.847 --> 00:26:44.582
A ship's captain and a nurse apply to mercy ships.
00:26:44.582 --> 00:26:49.721
I think that's gonna work. - yeah.
00:26:50.622 --> 00:26:52.023
- interesting how god organizes all that stuff.
00:26:52.023 --> 00:26:54.426
- yeah, they weren't very long
00:26:54.426 --> 00:26:55.627
Going through the the process.
00:26:55.627 --> 00:26:57.328
A lot of people have to wait a long time, but i-
00:26:57.328 --> 00:26:59.731
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, yeah.
00:26:59.731 --> 00:27:00.799
- they pick up very quickly.
00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:02.400
- the buzzer went off like the one that's going off in here.
00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:04.402
- okay, well, i'm not a captain,
00:27:04.402 --> 00:27:05.770
But it looks like what's so cool about that
00:27:05.770 --> 00:27:07.605
Is that he is a captain of a ship,
00:27:07.605 --> 00:27:09.641
Yet he's here saving lives with everybody else.
00:27:09.641 --> 00:27:12.444
- i don't see myself as being above any other crew member.
00:27:12.444 --> 00:27:16.081
Yeah, sometimes the hard decisions come down.
00:27:16.081 --> 00:27:18.216
Somebody's gotta make them.
00:27:18.216 --> 00:27:19.551
Let's face it, captain's been around
00:27:19.551 --> 00:27:21.553
Since biblical times. - yeah. (laughs)
00:27:21.553 --> 00:27:23.354
- one of the jobs that kind of got mentioned
00:27:23.354 --> 00:27:25.323
In the bible.
00:27:25.323 --> 00:27:26.658
So who am i to change that model? (laughs)
00:27:26.658 --> 00:27:29.861
- what we're hoping is that people will see this
00:27:29.861 --> 00:27:33.031
And want to come serve.
00:27:33.031 --> 00:27:34.599
Some people think there's a barrier between service
00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:37.702
That, "man, i need someone to help me.
00:27:37.702 --> 00:27:40.839
I can't go help somebody else."
00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.474
But there's a biblical truth. you can't outgive god.
00:27:42.474 --> 00:27:45.510
- yeah, if you have an empty tank,
00:27:45.510 --> 00:27:47.812
You get energized by coming here.
00:27:47.812 --> 00:27:50.115
People think, "oh, i'm volunteering
00:27:50.115 --> 00:27:51.883
To help the folk in africa who need help most."
00:27:51.883 --> 00:27:56.588
But what they don't see is the added side effect
00:27:56.588 --> 00:27:59.824
Of living in a community of christians here on board,
00:27:59.824 --> 00:28:03.027
That it actually ministers to your own spirit
00:28:03.027 --> 00:28:07.065
To be surrounded by so many people
00:28:07.065 --> 00:28:08.967
Who are selflessly giving.
00:28:08.967 --> 00:28:10.702
And your day is blessed as a consequence.
00:28:10.702 --> 00:28:12.804
Now that we've gone to two ships, there's
00:28:12.804 --> 00:28:14.739
Double the demand.
00:28:14.739 --> 00:28:16.074
And if you have medical skills or are a marine professional,
00:28:16.074 --> 00:28:19.944
It's a wonderful place to come,
00:28:19.944 --> 00:28:21.880
And to, like what i'm doing is putting something back.
00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:24.916
- you driving past in cape town
00:28:24.916 --> 00:28:27.986
- yes. - the african mercy,
00:28:27.986 --> 00:28:29.387
God does those little moments. - yeah.
00:28:29.387 --> 00:28:32.056
- you believe that's happening?
00:28:32.056 --> 00:28:33.458
- oh, i definitely think that from time to time,
00:28:33.458 --> 00:28:35.527
In everybody's life,
00:28:35.527 --> 00:28:36.461
That god kind of like gives you
00:28:36.461 --> 00:28:37.495
A tap on the shoulder. - yeah.
00:28:37.495 --> 00:28:39.030
- and he says, "you think you're supposed to be heading
00:28:39.030 --> 00:28:41.199
In this particular direction,
00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:42.534
Right?" - yeah.
00:28:42.534 --> 00:28:43.802
- "but i have not only a different plan for you,
00:28:43.802 --> 00:28:46.137
But a bigger plan."
00:28:46.137 --> 00:28:47.572
And then if you are awake and listening
00:28:47.572 --> 00:28:49.774
To that guidance that he's given you,
00:28:49.774 --> 00:28:51.943
You could just get blessed out of your socks by it,
00:28:51.943 --> 00:28:53.945
Because- - i love that.
00:28:53.945 --> 00:28:55.079
- you know, our expectation is tiny
00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:59.117
In comparison to what god can do.
00:28:59.117 --> 00:29:01.452
There's something about obeying god's call on here
00:29:01.452 --> 00:29:06.057
That you are just energized by serving on this ship.
00:29:06.057 --> 00:29:10.094
And people, while they're experiencing
00:29:10.094 --> 00:29:13.164
The same long hours,
00:29:13.164 --> 00:29:16.267
It's as if we're not serving ourselves,
00:29:16.267 --> 00:29:18.269
We're serving somebody else.
00:29:18.269 --> 00:29:20.271
And just through that then, you get blessed in the process.
00:29:20.271 --> 00:29:24.342
It's not something, it's not like a paycheck,
00:29:24.342 --> 00:29:26.911
If i put in so many hours,
00:29:26.911 --> 00:29:28.746
God will bless me with so many blessings.
00:29:28.746 --> 00:29:32.083
This is something that he just orchestrates
00:29:32.083 --> 00:29:35.019
Within your heart and within your soul.
00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:37.388
And it's not tangible, it's not quantifiable.
00:29:37.388 --> 00:29:40.491
But you, as you just rightly pointed out,
00:29:40.491 --> 00:29:42.393
You talk to anybody who's working on this ship,
00:29:42.393 --> 00:29:44.696
And they've all felt that presence in their life.
00:29:44.696 --> 00:29:47.065
- that's true. - that's beautiful.
00:29:47.065 --> 00:29:47.966
- beautiful. - wow.
00:29:47.966 --> 00:29:53.171
(gentle music)
00:29:53.571 --> 00:29:56.741
- [narrator] look into the eyes of this man,
00:29:56.741 --> 00:29:59.043
This woman, this child.
00:29:59.043 --> 00:30:01.479
What do you see?
00:30:01.479 --> 00:30:02.780
For those in sierra leone whose bodies are bent and broken,
00:30:04.115 --> 00:30:08.319
Pain often feels unending, and hope, out of reach.
00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:12.891
Yet, through the unwavering compassion
00:30:13.858 --> 00:30:15.693
Of mercy ships' volunteers,
00:30:15.693 --> 00:30:17.762
Prayers are answered and lives transformed.
00:30:17.762 --> 00:30:21.332
- we've got people from 40 to 50 different nations here
00:30:21.332 --> 00:30:24.802
Serving aboard together,
00:30:24.802 --> 00:30:26.604
Following the model of jesus together.
00:30:26.604 --> 00:30:29.307
This is where you see the kingdom of god,
00:30:29.307 --> 00:30:31.342
In his people, alive and active.
00:30:31.342 --> 00:30:33.678
You could take the same vessel
00:30:33.678 --> 00:30:35.146
And fill it with different people,
00:30:35.146 --> 00:30:36.748
It wouldn't be a mercy ship,
00:30:36.748 --> 00:30:37.949
But you could take those same people
00:30:37.949 --> 00:30:39.350
And move them all ashore here to freetown
00:30:39.350 --> 00:30:41.152
And they would still be mercy shippers.
00:30:41.152 --> 00:30:43.221
- [narrator] so ask yourself,
00:30:43.221 --> 00:30:45.890
Will you be part of the miracle?
00:30:45.890 --> 00:30:52.297
(soft music)
00:30:52.697 --> 00:30:57.402
- hi. cookies, anyone?
00:30:57.936 --> 00:31:00.271
- whoa. - enjoy.
00:31:00.872 --> 00:31:01.873
- thank you. - want a cookie?
00:31:01.873 --> 00:31:02.840
- chocolate? - yes.
00:31:02.840 --> 00:31:04.242
- with chocolate chips? - yes.
00:31:04.242 --> 00:31:05.410
Everyone's favorite. (laughs)
00:31:05.410 --> 00:31:12.283
- my name is breanna charleson.
00:31:13.017 --> 00:31:14.786
- joe street. - i'm bambi hawkins.
00:31:14.786 --> 00:31:16.487
- ruben ulrich. - i'm kofi.
00:31:16.487 --> 00:31:18.957
(gentle music)
00:31:18.957 --> 00:31:21.993
- mercy ships is just like a body described in the bible.
00:31:21.993 --> 00:31:25.430
- so everyone on board is so highly trained
00:31:25.430 --> 00:31:28.166
In such specific skill sets.
00:31:28.166 --> 00:31:30.468
- you to develop a sense of comradery
00:31:30.468 --> 00:31:33.171
With the people that you're living with.
00:31:33.171 --> 00:31:34.872
- full of people who are all very motivated
00:31:34.872 --> 00:31:36.975
Towards the same goal.
00:31:36.975 --> 00:31:38.242
- and the care for the patient, the love,
00:31:38.242 --> 00:31:40.812
I see in this community.
00:31:40.812 --> 00:31:42.447
- it takes a family mentality,
00:31:42.447 --> 00:31:45.817
And a family that you really want to stay connected with
00:31:45.817 --> 00:31:49.887
To be a part of this.
00:31:49.887 --> 00:31:51.456
- now you actually are telling people
00:31:51.456 --> 00:31:53.558
About the gospel in a different way
00:31:53.558 --> 00:31:55.026
By doing some good works.
00:31:55.026 --> 00:31:57.095
- but also the fact that they're working
00:31:57.095 --> 00:31:59.197
With local healthcare systems
00:31:59.197 --> 00:32:00.732
To help strengthen and support them.
00:32:00.732 --> 00:32:02.800
- 'cause we want to help.
00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:04.235
- helping people to be able to have a normal life.
00:32:04.235 --> 00:32:05.970
- if for people are coming from different nations
00:32:05.970 --> 00:32:08.673
And coming and working
00:32:08.673 --> 00:32:10.008
For our brothers and sisters in africa.
00:32:10.008 --> 00:32:12.276
As an african, i would like to be part of it.
00:32:12.276 --> 00:32:14.912
(gentle music continues)
00:32:14.912 --> 00:32:19.017
- this experience is definitely staying with me
00:32:19.017 --> 00:32:20.852
For as long as i have memory. (chuckles)
00:32:20.852 --> 00:32:23.721
- i think it's been the best job i've ever had.
00:32:23.721 --> 00:32:26.324
- on this ship,
00:32:26.324 --> 00:32:27.925
It's so diverse in who your family is.
00:32:27.925 --> 00:32:31.129
And everybody is so accepting
00:32:31.129 --> 00:32:33.498
Because of mostly being, i believe,
00:32:33.498 --> 00:32:36.067
A family that is based on christ.
00:32:36.067 --> 00:32:38.903
- it just starts to feel like family.
00:32:38.903 --> 00:32:40.671
- you will see transformation as well.
00:32:40.671 --> 00:32:42.673
Your life may be transformed as well in a positive way.
00:32:42.673 --> 00:32:46.411
- i don't know who i'm gonna have dinner with
00:32:46.411 --> 00:32:47.445
When i get home. (chuckles)
00:32:47.445 --> 00:32:49.680
I actually don't.
00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:51.015
I'm gonna have to message my parents saying,
00:32:51.015 --> 00:32:51.983
"get home. come over here now.
00:32:51.983 --> 00:32:53.184
I need someone to talk to." (chuckles)
00:32:54.152 --> 00:33:02.927
(soft music)
00:33:03.327 --> 00:33:04.729
- [emmanuel] my name is emmanuel. i'm 43 years old.
00:33:04.729 --> 00:33:07.899
I experienced my swelling on my left part of my chin.
00:33:07.899 --> 00:33:12.170
It all started like a cold.
00:33:12.170 --> 00:33:14.238
I went to the hospital.
00:33:14.238 --> 00:33:15.673
The doctor gave me some drugs and injection.
00:33:15.673 --> 00:33:18.943
I thought everything will be good.
00:33:18.943 --> 00:33:21.212
Two, three months later it started growing.
00:33:21.212 --> 00:33:24.015
I suffered that for almost three years.
00:33:25.016 --> 00:33:27.518
One day, a friend of mine told me about mercy ship.
00:33:28.719 --> 00:33:31.622
- [patient] i went to the aberdeen community health center
00:33:32.924 --> 00:33:34.492
At 2:00 am in the morning to register myself as a patient.
00:33:34.492 --> 00:33:38.729
I was lucky that day i was accepted
00:33:38.729 --> 00:33:41.599
And was given a date to come to the ship.
00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:44.569
I was very happy to come to the ship,
00:33:45.536 --> 00:33:47.972
And on the 12th of september,
00:33:48.673 --> 00:33:52.543
I will never forget in my life what mercy ship did for me.
00:33:52.543 --> 00:33:57.415
My stress and pain that i have gone through for four years.
00:33:58.649 --> 00:34:02.653
On 12th september, i was taken to the operation room
00:34:02.653 --> 00:34:06.190
Where i was operated and free from all pain and stress.
00:34:06.190 --> 00:34:12.130
On the same day, i eat, talk, and walk, and laugh.
00:34:13.297 --> 00:34:17.502
Thank god for mercy ship for saving my life
00:34:17.502 --> 00:34:20.638
And changing my story.
00:34:20.638 --> 00:34:30.281
- [producer] okay, you wanna hold the roll or cut?
00:34:31.449 --> 00:34:33.050
You wanna call?
00:34:33.050 --> 00:34:34.652
- [videographer] let's cut.
00:34:34.652 --> 00:34:35.620
- my name is dieke van tuijl.
00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:37.021
I'm from the netherlands from the city of rotterdam,
00:34:37.021 --> 00:34:38.990
And here on the ship i work as a pediatric nurse in the icu,
00:34:38.990 --> 00:34:42.293
And when there's no children on the icu,
00:34:42.293 --> 00:34:43.794
I work as a ward nurse on the maxillofacial ward.
00:34:43.794 --> 00:34:46.831
So we treat people who had surgery on their face mostly.
00:34:46.831 --> 00:34:50.635
What makes this work so beautiful is that
00:34:50.635 --> 00:34:52.236
People who come in
00:34:52.236 --> 00:34:53.304
Have a deformity that is really visible.
00:34:53.304 --> 00:34:55.173
So they are very traumatized or sometimes cast out.
00:34:55.173 --> 00:34:59.210
They have to live with shame for so many years,
00:34:59.210 --> 00:35:01.245
And then they come to us and they receive surgery.
00:35:01.245 --> 00:35:04.815
It's a whole super intense process of healing
00:35:04.815 --> 00:35:08.219
And of really sticking together with your patient,
00:35:08.219 --> 00:35:10.755
Affirming them that things are gonna be all right,
00:35:10.755 --> 00:35:12.957
Have them on their way to healing,
00:35:12.957 --> 00:35:14.358
And becoming a face that is more like other faces.
00:35:14.358 --> 00:35:17.828
So i've been working as a nurse already for a few years,
00:35:19.030 --> 00:35:21.332
And in those years i also worked in india.
00:35:21.332 --> 00:35:23.367
I really got in touch
00:35:23.367 --> 00:35:24.635
With working in underdeveloped countries.
00:35:24.635 --> 00:35:26.470
I really have a passion for that
00:35:26.470 --> 00:35:28.472
In teaching in these kind of situations,
00:35:28.472 --> 00:35:31.809
But also working alongside the local nurses.
00:35:31.809 --> 00:35:34.612
I was actually preparing myself
00:35:34.612 --> 00:35:36.847
To move back to india for a longer time,
00:35:36.847 --> 00:35:38.816
And i felt that god was really telling me like,
00:35:38.816 --> 00:35:41.085
Hey, it's not your time to move abroad
00:35:41.085 --> 00:35:43.621
And you have to stay in the country for two years.
00:35:43.621 --> 00:35:45.957
This is gonna be like a harbor season for you
00:35:45.957 --> 00:35:48.426
Because ships are not built to lay in the harbor,
00:35:48.426 --> 00:35:51.429
But it's good for a ship to be in the harbor
00:35:51.429 --> 00:35:52.997
Because you need to be restocked, you need to be fixed.
00:35:52.997 --> 00:35:55.600
So i spent two years in the netherlands.
00:35:55.600 --> 00:35:57.969
I built community, i built my faith,
00:35:57.969 --> 00:36:00.438
I specialized in my profession.
00:36:00.438 --> 00:36:02.607
Two years later on the dot, the exact same date,
00:36:02.607 --> 00:36:05.243
The global mercy sailed into my backyard,
00:36:05.243 --> 00:36:07.178
And i really felt god speaking to me
00:36:07.178 --> 00:36:09.413
That this was gonna be my next step.
00:36:09.413 --> 00:36:11.482
This is why he gave me a harbor theme in the first place
00:36:11.482 --> 00:36:14.418
Because my next season was gonna be on the global mercy,
00:36:14.418 --> 00:36:17.221
The wind in my sails season.
00:36:17.221 --> 00:36:20.324
I'm doing this because i feel like god really called me
00:36:21.592 --> 00:36:24.161
To represent this vision.
00:36:24.161 --> 00:36:26.497
God really put in my heart this passion for unity.
00:36:26.497 --> 00:36:30.768
That it is a choice for you to respect someone else
00:36:31.969 --> 00:36:35.172
Instead of judging them, which we are as humans,
00:36:35.172 --> 00:36:37.775
I think it's so easy for us to do
00:36:37.775 --> 00:36:39.243
If someone looks different than you,
00:36:39.243 --> 00:36:40.611
Or has different values or opinions.
00:36:40.611 --> 00:36:42.980
We tend to judge other people,
00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:44.615
And we are meant to love each other,
00:36:44.615 --> 00:36:47.184
We are meant to respect each other.
00:36:47.184 --> 00:36:48.886
There is so much beauty in diversity.
00:36:48.886 --> 00:36:51.522
I feel like this organization, mercy ships,
00:36:51.522 --> 00:36:53.891
The work that they do, they do it very well.
00:36:53.891 --> 00:36:56.727
Doing developmental work is actually really hard,
00:36:56.727 --> 00:36:59.764
And also to do it without too much damage to the country,
00:36:59.764 --> 00:37:03.000
Or to the ecosystems, or everything,
00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:04.835
And i feel like mercy ships really does a good job
00:37:04.835 --> 00:37:08.105
In doing a sustainable job
00:37:08.105 --> 00:37:09.540
And leaving the country better than we found it.
00:37:09.540 --> 00:37:13.911
I'm dieke, and this is the mercy ships.
00:37:14.912 --> 00:37:25.890
- [narrator] at this very moment, thousands of miles away
00:37:27.191 --> 00:37:29.760
Aboard a ship anchored in sierra leone,
00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:33.564
A child takes their first steps,
00:37:33.564 --> 00:37:38.836
A young man stands taller with renewed purpose,
00:37:39.970 --> 00:37:43.407
A woman unveils a smile long hidden.
00:37:44.342 --> 00:37:48.279
This is mercy ships.
00:37:48.813 --> 00:37:51.215
Here transformation unfolds,
00:37:51.882 --> 00:37:54.585
Miracles, redemption, awakenings,
00:37:55.486 --> 00:38:01.092
And you can be a part of it.
00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:03.961
Each of us is called,
00:38:04.528 --> 00:38:06.297
Each entrusted with a piece of god's purpose.
00:38:06.297 --> 00:38:09.934
He asks, whom shall i send?
00:38:10.601 --> 00:38:14.805
How will you answer?
00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:26.484
- [interviewer] what has the experience been like
00:38:27.618 --> 00:38:29.620
Having your kids on the ship here?
00:38:29.620 --> 00:38:31.589
- it's very different to come with children.
00:38:32.590 --> 00:38:34.725
They add a lot of dynamics
00:38:34.725 --> 00:38:36.727
To living on board and in community,
00:38:36.727 --> 00:38:38.829
But it has been wonderful being able to see them
00:38:38.829 --> 00:38:40.965
Thrive in this place and to make friends,
00:38:40.965 --> 00:38:44.568
And to expose them to another culture.
00:38:44.568 --> 00:38:47.772
People come in all different shapes and sizes,
00:38:47.772 --> 00:38:50.107
And that god is there for us and he loves all of us,
00:38:50.107 --> 00:38:53.744
And that there is more to life than what you know at home,
00:38:53.744 --> 00:38:57.481
And that you'll be able to just have an open mind
00:38:57.481 --> 00:39:01.018
About the amazing things that we can do in this world.
00:39:01.018 --> 00:39:04.188
- i think the diversity is really good.
00:39:04.188 --> 00:39:06.090
It doesn't matter if you're a doctor,
00:39:06.090 --> 00:39:07.258
A surgeon, a camera man.
00:39:07.258 --> 00:39:09.026
You know, you can do, you can play a part in it.
00:39:09.026 --> 00:39:11.529
God said he wants you as you are
00:39:11.529 --> 00:39:13.798
So everyone can do something.
00:39:13.798 --> 00:39:16.033
- you know, some of these patients
00:39:16.033 --> 00:39:17.601
Have really been outcasts in their community,
00:39:17.601 --> 00:39:20.204
And everyone's always really surprised
00:39:20.204 --> 00:39:23.407
At how much love they feel from the crew members for them.
00:39:23.407 --> 00:39:27.645
The patients are always really shocked that, you know,
00:39:27.645 --> 00:39:30.114
How can people love me like this?
00:39:30.114 --> 00:39:31.816
And it really is just, it's the hand of god
00:39:31.816 --> 00:39:33.551
That is flowing through us into these patients.
00:39:33.551 --> 00:39:36.454
We get so many different kind of people
00:39:36.454 --> 00:39:38.222
That come and live on this ship,
00:39:38.222 --> 00:39:40.090
Whether it's just for two weeks,
00:39:40.090 --> 00:39:41.459
Or whether it's for 10 years,
00:39:41.459 --> 00:39:42.860
To come to a place we are so welcome,
00:39:42.860 --> 00:39:46.130
Where people will welcome you, sit with you, talk with you,
00:39:46.130 --> 00:39:50.501
And it's a big step, but it's a step that is very worth it.
00:39:50.501 --> 00:39:54.538
Definitely.
00:39:54.538 --> 00:39:55.940
- if you happen to come across mercy ships
00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:57.908
And you think, can i be a part of this,
00:39:57.908 --> 00:39:59.710
Or can i do this, am i sure?
00:39:59.710 --> 00:40:02.313
It's like trying new food.
00:40:02.313 --> 00:40:04.548
If you don't try it, you don't know what it tastes like.
00:40:04.548 --> 00:40:06.851
You know, and it's a risk.
00:40:06.851 --> 00:40:09.687
Yes, it is a risk, but you gotta try it.
00:40:09.687 --> 00:40:12.323
If you don't like it, then you know that you don't like it.
00:40:12.323 --> 00:40:15.125
But if you love it, it's great.
00:40:15.125 --> 00:40:17.795
You come back again and again.
00:40:17.795 --> 00:40:19.330
This is my second time,
00:40:19.330 --> 00:40:21.632
It's her third time, the kids' first time.
00:40:21.632 --> 00:40:23.968
So it's great because it gives you that opportunity
00:40:23.968 --> 00:40:29.106
To see what you can do to serve god,
00:40:30.040 --> 00:40:32.276
And to be a part of somebody's life, not just your own life,
00:40:32.276 --> 00:40:37.147
But you can be a blessing to somebody else's life
00:40:37.147 --> 00:40:39.416
Even if they're patient or just a crew member on board,
00:40:39.416 --> 00:40:42.887
You can change somebody's life.
00:40:42.887 --> 00:40:52.329
(ndeye speaks foreign language)
00:40:53.063 --> 00:41:53.624
- cheikh was a patient who had this affection
00:41:54.625 --> 00:41:58.062
For anyone that he saw.
00:41:58.062 --> 00:41:59.930
He just wanted to be part of what was happening,
00:41:59.930 --> 00:42:03.100
And was just climbing over everyone,
00:42:03.100 --> 00:42:05.269
And just wanting hugs, and just brought so much joy.
00:42:05.269 --> 00:42:10.474
- tell me about it.
00:42:11.008 --> 00:42:12.276
- surgery takes a big toll on the body,
00:42:12.276 --> 00:42:15.112
And the body sees surgery like an injury.
00:42:15.112 --> 00:42:17.815
And so after surgery, the body's requirements for nutrition
00:42:17.815 --> 00:42:22.686
Are quite high, and so if we have patients
00:42:22.686 --> 00:42:25.189
Who are underweight when we do the surgery,
00:42:25.189 --> 00:42:28.225
Their outcomes of recovery and complications
00:42:28.225 --> 00:42:31.528
Can be a lot worse.
00:42:31.528 --> 00:42:36.233
(ndeye speaks foreign language)
00:42:36.967 --> 00:42:53.817
- you know, our goal as dieticians is to
00:42:54.818 --> 00:42:58.022
Get kids well-fed.
00:42:58.022 --> 00:42:59.156
So to have a child that's afraid of food
00:42:59.156 --> 00:43:02.893
When food is supposed to be good
00:43:02.893 --> 00:43:04.395
And nourishing for your body, it's difficult
00:43:04.395 --> 00:43:06.664
And it's a thing that would take a lot of years of therapy
00:43:06.664 --> 00:43:11.268
To help alleviate those fears.
00:43:11.268 --> 00:43:13.771
And we just started brainstorming ideas
00:43:13.771 --> 00:43:15.706
And what we could do to try to support him.
00:43:15.706 --> 00:43:19.476
So we brought him in and we put him in a high chair,
00:43:19.476 --> 00:43:21.979
And we got him some toys,
00:43:21.979 --> 00:43:24.615
And his mom played a song on her phone that he loved,
00:43:24.615 --> 00:43:27.818
And we just kind of kept it light and
00:43:27.818 --> 00:43:31.321
- fun for him. (caregiver laughing)
00:43:31.321 --> 00:43:32.990
Then we gradually started replacing the
00:43:32.990 --> 00:43:34.725
Toys with soft foods
00:43:34.725 --> 00:43:37.027
And he kind of, to our surprise, started grabbing them
00:43:37.027 --> 00:43:40.497
And mushing them in his hands,
00:43:40.497 --> 00:43:42.366
Which he really had not done before
00:43:42.366 --> 00:43:43.934
Because he was so afraid of the food.
00:43:43.934 --> 00:43:46.203
And then he started throwing 'em on the ground
00:43:46.203 --> 00:43:48.105
Like a normal toddler.
00:43:48.105 --> 00:43:50.140
So we just kept introducing more food,
00:43:50.140 --> 00:43:52.176
And eventually, as long as we kept the music going,
00:43:52.176 --> 00:43:55.245
Eventually he put food in his mouth.
00:43:55.245 --> 00:43:58.315
- [caregiver] yeah, he tried it.
00:43:59.049 --> 00:44:00.551
- he did? - yeah. he just did. (laughs)
00:44:00.551 --> 00:44:02.619
- kind of was surprised about it.
00:44:02.619 --> 00:44:04.221
We were surprised, and we all cheered, and was so great.
00:44:04.221 --> 00:44:08.525
- [caregiver] are you serious? i can't believe it. (laughs)
00:44:08.525 --> 00:44:10.961
- [speaker] but then he kept playing with food,
00:44:10.961 --> 00:44:12.463
And then he put it in his mouth a couple more times.
00:44:12.463 --> 00:44:14.832
And you could tell that he was very interested in it
00:44:14.832 --> 00:44:18.736
And not afraid.
00:44:18.736 --> 00:44:20.170
And then it was just a very fun and sweet moment.
00:44:20.170 --> 00:44:27.511
(speaking in foreign language)
00:44:28.178 --> 00:44:38.122
(soft music)
00:44:38.522 --> 00:44:45.362
(gentle music) (gull cawing)
00:44:46.096 --> 00:44:51.301
- the global mercy is right here in sierra leone.
00:44:52.469 --> 00:44:56.073
What an incredible day.
00:44:56.073 --> 00:44:57.875
Joff, we've got to visit with several of your people here.
00:44:57.875 --> 00:45:01.712
And thematically, i want to talk about this idea
00:45:01.712 --> 00:45:06.517
That you can't outgive god.
00:45:06.517 --> 00:45:09.052
A lot of people always relate that to money,
00:45:09.052 --> 00:45:11.188
But that's not what we're talking about here.
00:45:11.188 --> 00:45:13.357
We're talking about pouring yourself out
00:45:13.357 --> 00:45:15.893
And allowing room for jesus.
00:45:15.893 --> 00:45:17.961
We believe jesus works from the inside out.
00:45:17.961 --> 00:45:20.697
When you pour yourself out, more room for him.
00:45:20.697 --> 00:45:24.434
We walked on to the global mercy three years ago.
00:45:24.434 --> 00:45:28.172
We're on it again as we are right here in sierra leone.
00:45:28.172 --> 00:45:32.743
And we got to see surgeries happen today.
00:45:32.743 --> 00:45:35.579
We got to see all sorts of stuff.
00:45:35.579 --> 00:45:37.014
Mercy ships follows the 2,000-year-old model of jesus,
00:45:37.014 --> 00:45:41.752
Bringing hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor.
00:45:41.752 --> 00:45:46.590
That's your mission. that's what you're doing.
00:45:46.590 --> 00:45:48.859
That was the mission at the beginning.
00:45:48.859 --> 00:45:50.460
What the story that i feel like i found here
00:45:50.460 --> 00:45:53.831
Is you can't outgive god.
00:45:53.831 --> 00:45:55.365
Everyone is saying that the more you give yourself away,
00:45:55.365 --> 00:45:59.169
The more that he gives back to you
00:45:59.169 --> 00:46:02.372
In ways that you can't explain.
00:46:02.372 --> 00:46:04.808
But we've now seen it.
00:46:04.808 --> 00:46:06.176
- yeah, the first thing that comes to mind, matt,
00:46:06.176 --> 00:46:08.679
Is that for us to be able to give hope and healing,
00:46:08.679 --> 00:46:11.181
We have to have it ourselves.
00:46:11.181 --> 00:46:13.150
And when jesus promises the abundant life,
00:46:13.150 --> 00:46:15.352
It means full to overflowing, right?
00:46:15.352 --> 00:46:17.821
And when jesus is teaching about fruit on the vine
00:46:17.821 --> 00:46:20.924
And as needing to be plugged into him,
00:46:20.924 --> 00:46:23.126
We produce fruit because the vine has an abundance of life.
00:46:23.126 --> 00:46:26.496
And that fruit is for two things.
00:46:26.496 --> 00:46:28.065
It's for multiplication of the plant and of the kingdom,
00:46:28.065 --> 00:46:30.801
And it's for the benefit and good of others.
00:46:30.801 --> 00:46:33.036
That fruit, and that's what you see here.
00:46:33.036 --> 00:46:35.472
- food for the nations. (laughs)
00:46:35.472 --> 00:46:36.974
- i feel like there's a barrier
00:46:36.974 --> 00:46:38.775
Between some people that just say,
00:46:38.775 --> 00:46:40.611
"i'm not a super kind of adventurous person.
00:46:40.611 --> 00:46:45.282
I'm not the type of person that bungee jumps
00:46:45.282 --> 00:46:48.952
Or, you know, base jumps
00:46:48.952 --> 00:46:51.054
Or any of that kind of,
00:46:51.054 --> 00:46:52.055
You know. - me neither.
00:46:52.055 --> 00:46:53.323
- and it feels like this is a place to serve.
00:46:53.323 --> 00:46:57.227
And it takes literally hundreds of people
00:46:57.227 --> 00:47:01.365
- thousands of people. - to do what this does.
00:47:01.365 --> 00:47:02.499
- thousands of people.
00:47:02.499 --> 00:47:03.834
We are here in sierra leone.
00:47:03.834 --> 00:47:06.136
This part of the world needed mercy
00:47:06.136 --> 00:47:09.106
And it needed global mercy to pull in.
00:47:09.106 --> 00:47:11.375
We're so glad,
00:47:11.375 --> 00:47:12.476
So grateful that you got to show us
00:47:12.476 --> 00:47:14.912
Everything that we saw today.
00:47:14.912 --> 00:47:16.313
I mean, this is a, there's a lot going on here.
00:47:16.313 --> 00:47:18.815
I felt like the captain said something really amazing
00:47:18.815 --> 00:47:22.552
That his wife is a nurse,
00:47:22.552 --> 00:47:25.656
He's a maritime captain, okay,
00:47:25.656 --> 00:47:27.925
Let's see, does that kind of work for mercy ships?
00:47:27.925 --> 00:47:30.961
It kind of does, you know.
00:47:30.961 --> 00:47:32.396
And that, i think, that may be a barrier in some ways
00:47:32.396 --> 00:47:35.332
That some people think if i'm not in the medical field
00:47:35.332 --> 00:47:37.701
Or if i'm not in this, but there is,
00:47:37.701 --> 00:47:40.837
You know, all sorts of things - opportunities.
00:47:40.837 --> 00:47:43.473
- that you can serve here,
00:47:43.473 --> 00:47:44.675
That, you know, you said earlier,
00:47:44.675 --> 00:47:46.777
"i didn't know what i was gonna do.
00:47:46.777 --> 00:47:48.345
If i had to swing a hammer, i'll swing a hammer to help."
00:47:48.345 --> 00:47:51.214
But you need more people.
00:47:51.214 --> 00:47:52.983
- yeah. his wife is in wound care.
00:47:52.983 --> 00:47:54.685
- yeah, that's right.
00:47:54.685 --> 00:47:55.953
My wife is a nurse also and often works,
00:47:55.953 --> 00:47:57.788
Captain and i wives
00:47:57.788 --> 00:47:59.156
Often work together. - yeah.
00:47:59.156 --> 00:48:00.390
- but the ship takes so many different
00:48:00.390 --> 00:48:02.092
Kinds of professionals.
00:48:02.092 --> 00:48:03.994
If you think about it, if you have a hospital on land,
00:48:03.994 --> 00:48:06.630
You're still gonna have a need for it systems, hr systems,
00:48:06.630 --> 00:48:10.534
Even just cleaning the facilities and housekeeping.
00:48:10.534 --> 00:48:12.803
The hospitality services,
00:48:12.803 --> 00:48:14.271
We've got our dining room team feeding 1,000 people
00:48:14.271 --> 00:48:17.240
Meals three times a day.
00:48:17.240 --> 00:48:19.109
And there's space for all sorts of kinds of people.
00:48:19.109 --> 00:48:21.745
And one of the beautiful things i find about mercy ships
00:48:21.745 --> 00:48:24.848
Is that sometimes thinking of,
00:48:24.848 --> 00:48:26.583
You know, we think of these missionaries
00:48:26.583 --> 00:48:28.018
Who go and they give their lives,
00:48:28.018 --> 00:48:29.786
And there's some incredible people who-
00:48:29.786 --> 00:48:32.522
- go to incredible lengths in self-sacrifice.
00:48:32.522 --> 00:48:35.025
To come and do a mercy ships thing,
00:48:35.025 --> 00:48:37.027
We've got this platform
00:48:37.027 --> 00:48:38.295
That's stable in our business processes,
00:48:38.295 --> 00:48:41.331
We do this all the time,
00:48:41.331 --> 00:48:42.299
We've got volunteers coming in
00:48:42.299 --> 00:48:43.533
And out of the system all the time
00:48:43.533 --> 00:48:45.369
And we're used to that, it's normal.
00:48:45.369 --> 00:48:47.270
You might think it sounds like a big step for you,
00:48:47.270 --> 00:48:50.374
But i promise you, it's maybe not as big as you think it is.
00:48:50.374 --> 00:48:53.710
And if you take it,
00:48:53.710 --> 00:48:55.078
You will get so much more out of it than you give.
00:48:55.078 --> 00:48:58.015
- and that's another thing i've heard all day is,
00:48:58.015 --> 00:49:00.283
"i was a part of it years ago and i came back."
00:49:00.283 --> 00:49:03.320
- yeah. - "i came back
00:49:03.320 --> 00:49:04.388
And i came back,"
00:49:04.388 --> 00:49:05.622
And i think once you're a mercy shipper,
00:49:05.622 --> 00:49:07.691
It's hard to get away.
00:49:07.691 --> 00:49:08.992
- it is, it's not that the work is easy,
00:49:08.992 --> 00:49:10.394
'cause i said at the start, this is hard work.
00:49:10.394 --> 00:49:13.196
But once you get a taste of that
00:49:13.196 --> 00:49:15.599
And you see what god is doing and can do
00:49:15.599 --> 00:49:18.802
When you just say yes to him, that's my testimony.
00:49:18.802 --> 00:49:21.838
Can i wake up every morning and get out of bed
00:49:21.838 --> 00:49:24.241
And be willing to say yes to him?
00:49:24.241 --> 00:49:26.176
So i would say the same thing to your viewers.
00:49:26.176 --> 00:49:28.145
What is the lord saying to you?
00:49:28.145 --> 00:49:29.880
Are you ready to say yes to him?
00:49:29.880 --> 00:49:31.381
- you know, you're hitting a theme
00:49:31.381 --> 00:49:32.649
That's very personal to laurie and i,
00:49:32.649 --> 00:49:34.251
We've been through a season in our life
00:49:34.251 --> 00:49:35.752
Where we feel like we've poured out,
00:49:35.752 --> 00:49:38.789
You know? - sown.
00:49:38.789 --> 00:49:40.323
- and sown for a long time now,
00:49:40.323 --> 00:49:42.959
For a number of years now, we've poured out.
00:49:42.959 --> 00:49:45.295
And the lord so beautifully spoke to us not long ago
00:49:45.295 --> 00:49:48.465
That said, "i worked from the inside out
00:49:48.465 --> 00:49:50.667
And since you've poured yourself out to me,
00:49:50.667 --> 00:49:53.770
I can now, you've made room for me."
00:49:53.770 --> 00:49:56.940
And that feels like the theme of what's happening here,
00:49:56.940 --> 00:50:01.211
That you come and serve, you pour yourself out,
00:50:01.211 --> 00:50:03.947
He works from the inside out.
00:50:03.947 --> 00:50:05.715
And that's such a beautiful concept, because,
00:50:05.715 --> 00:50:09.219
Literally, that's been playing out
00:50:09.219 --> 00:50:11.855
In our personal lives over the last year or more,
00:50:11.855 --> 00:50:15.492
And it just seems like
00:50:15.492 --> 00:50:17.327
We have seen a different version of that here.
00:50:17.327 --> 00:50:20.163
People are pouring themselves out in their time,
00:50:20.163 --> 00:50:23.300
Their energy, and taking these steps of faith
00:50:23.300 --> 00:50:26.169
To come and serve and do some of this.
00:50:26.169 --> 00:50:29.005
But i'm still kind of left,
00:50:29.005 --> 00:50:33.810
My impression is left that you can't out give god,
00:50:33.810 --> 00:50:37.848
And i think that's the theme for today.
00:50:37.848 --> 00:50:39.583
Do me a favor, just pray for the audience
00:50:39.583 --> 00:50:43.987
And, you know,
00:50:43.987 --> 00:50:45.355
There's a lot of people kinda,
00:50:45.355 --> 00:50:48.058
I think there's hearts being moved.
00:50:48.058 --> 00:50:49.860
- yeah. - and i'd love for you to pray
00:50:49.860 --> 00:50:51.528
For everyone if you would, please.
00:50:51.528 --> 00:50:52.762
- i'd love to, matt, sure. - beautiful.
00:50:52.762 --> 00:50:54.631
- father, we're thankful for your kingdom.
00:50:54.631 --> 00:50:56.166
- thank you, lord. - and your kingdom life in us,
00:50:56.166 --> 00:50:58.602
That your holy spirit is alive and active
00:50:58.602 --> 00:51:00.904
And working through your church all through this globe,
00:51:00.904 --> 00:51:03.673
And that you call us all into mission.
00:51:03.673 --> 00:51:05.976
And that may look like service
00:51:05.976 --> 00:51:07.310
In our community around us where we live,
00:51:07.310 --> 00:51:09.546
It may look like service on the other side of the world.
00:51:09.546 --> 00:51:12.315
And so, today, father, we commit ourselves to you
00:51:12.315 --> 00:51:14.618
To say yes to you, yes to your kingdom, yes to your ways.
00:51:14.618 --> 00:51:18.688
Your word says obedience is better than sacrifice.
00:51:18.688 --> 00:51:22.125
And so, we don't think of it
00:51:22.125 --> 00:51:23.293
As our sacrifice back to you, father,
00:51:23.293 --> 00:51:25.028
But a simple obedience that says,
00:51:25.028 --> 00:51:26.630
Yes, we love you and we trust you,
00:51:26.630 --> 00:51:28.698
And we'll step out into whatever is that you're calling us,
00:51:28.698 --> 00:51:31.735
Whatever that looks like for each of us,
00:51:31.735 --> 00:51:33.803
Whether it's mercy ships,
00:51:33.803 --> 00:51:35.205
Whether it's in our church at home,
00:51:35.205 --> 00:51:36.940
Whether it's another ministry.
00:51:36.940 --> 00:51:38.575
Father, we trust you, you've been faithful in the past,
00:51:38.575 --> 00:51:41.111
And we know you'll be faithful for tomorrow as a result.
00:51:41.111 --> 00:51:44.147
So we say yes to you today
00:51:44.147 --> 00:51:45.949
And we'll continue to say yes to you
00:51:45.949 --> 00:51:48.051
Out of the love for your son jesus christ,
00:51:48.051 --> 00:51:51.087
Through the power of your holy spirit
00:51:51.087 --> 00:51:52.622
For the glory of your name and for your kingdom, amen.
00:51:52.622 --> 00:51:55.325
- beautiful, wow.
00:51:55.325 --> 00:51:56.459
- it's a call to all.
00:51:56.459 --> 00:51:57.527
- i love that.
00:51:57.527 --> 00:51:58.795
From the global mercy to the declaration
00:51:58.795 --> 00:52:02.165
That his mercy endures forever.
00:52:02.165 --> 00:52:04.501
- amen. - thank you.
00:52:04.501 --> 00:52:05.602
- yeah. - we'll see you next time.
00:52:05.602 --> 00:52:06.536
- thanks, matt, thanks, laurie.
00:52:06.536 --> 00:52:08.238
- bye-bye.
00:52:08.238 --> 00:52:09.806
(upbeat music)
00:52:09.806 --> 00:52:14.744
- [narrator] every volunteer's experience
00:52:15.679 --> 00:52:17.480
Serves as a powerful testament
00:52:17.480 --> 00:52:19.416
To the life-changing impact of giving back.
00:52:19.416 --> 00:52:22.852
Each patient's journey reflects
00:52:23.587 --> 00:52:25.388
The strength of faith in action,
00:52:25.388 --> 00:52:27.224
Reminding us that when we respond to god's call,
00:52:27.224 --> 00:52:30.193
Miracles come to life.
00:52:30.193 --> 00:52:31.895
For those aboard global mercy,
00:52:32.562 --> 00:52:34.464
Healing is more than restoring bodies.
00:52:34.464 --> 00:52:37.500
Mercy ships embodies a calling
00:52:37.500 --> 00:52:40.003
To be the hands and feet of jesus,
00:52:40.003 --> 00:52:42.872
Bringing light where darkness has lingered,
00:52:43.840 --> 00:52:46.209
Reviving hope, dignity, and the promise of a future.
00:52:47.410 --> 00:52:51.348
This is not just a mission,
00:52:51.348 --> 00:52:53.416
It's a movement of transformation,
00:52:53.416 --> 00:52:57.854
And it's an invitation to all who feel the call
00:52:58.955 --> 00:53:02.525
To be a part of god's miraculous work in the world.
00:53:02.525 --> 00:53:06.196
(upbeat music continues)
00:53:06.196 --> 00:53:24.214
(upbeat music continues)
00:53:24.814 --> 00:53:45.435
(bright music)
00:53:45.835 --> 00:53:45.835

Mercy Ships: Hope For Healing

November 26, 2024 | S

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