Appreciation and Thanks for Day Volunteers

During every field service in an African nation, Mercy Ships employs local men and women to work as day-volunteers onboard the Africa Mercy. By doing so, Mercy Ships provides beneficial job opportunities to hundreds, who in turn give their all in serving Mercy Ships and helping to bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor.
More than 200 day-volunteers were employed during the 2009 Benin Field Service. Each day-volunteer is assigned to a department where they share their skills and expertise to assist in maintaining the ship or to help Mercy Ships complete its objectives. From Deck and Engineering, to Communications, to Crew Services, to Medical, to Food Services, to Programs - each day-volunteer provides a necessary and valuable service for Mercy Ships.
Many friendships are formed between crew and day-volunteers, and these relationships often remain strong even after Mercy Ships departs a country. Some day-volunteers even decide to extend their service by becoming crew members onboard the Africa Mercy. James Soumanou is one such individual.
James first heard about Mercy Ships back in 1998 when the organization visited his country of Benin. He realized then that Mercy Ships was where his heart wanted to be. With the financial support of two crew members, he completed a DTS (Discipleship Training School) in Ghana. In 2000, James joined the Anastasis as short-term crew, working in the galley.
During this year's field service, several men and women who served with Mercy Ships in previous visits to Benin returned to work onboard the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship. James also returned to Mercy Ships, working as a day-volunteer in Reception . After a successful ten months in this position, he has decided to commit as long-term crew. "I enjoy working in Reception. I have learned a lot doing this job," James explained. "I have met wonderful people while working here. It is why I applied to work in this department as crew."
As the field service comes to its conclusion, a celebration was recently held onboard the Africa Mercy to honor the hard work of the many day-volunteers. Each received a certificate of appreciation and enjoyed a plentiful meal with crew members. The event involved a time of worship and celebration, during which the International Lounge onboard the Mercy Ship came alive with music, singing, and dancing. Speeches of thanks were given by Managing Director Ken Berry and Captain Tim Tretheway, followed by responses from representatives of the day-volunteers.
"Each of you filled a vitally important position to enable Mercy Ships to serve as many people as it did this field service," said Ken Berry. "You are all well-known, well-thought of, and well-thanked today. I bring that to you on behalf of all Mercy Ships."
Written by Richard Brock
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photographed by PJ Accetturo & Richard Brock

James Soumanou of Benin worked onboard the Africa Mercy as a day-volunteer in Reception during the 2009 Field Service. James has enjoyed the experience so much that he has decided to commit to Mercy Ships as a long-term crew member.

Keith Brinkman of the USA, Programs Administrator, welcomes crew and day-volunteers during the day-volunteer farewell ceremony.




Crew members and day-volunteers danced and sang in joyous celebration in the International Lounge onboard the Africa Mercy.

The event was concluded with a time of fellowship between day-volunteers and crew.  Brenda pictured in green in the centre of the stair case with Andy & another crew member, then began reading out the 200 names in groups of 10 so that we could systematically disembark our day volunteers.