On the good ship Anastasis

Heat and humidity hung in the air; about 2000 hopeful people filled the dusty street outside the national stadium in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The people were hoping for life changing surgery from the doctors onboard the mercy ship. As the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world, the Anastasis is the flagship of Mercy Ships, a Christian organisation devoted to “bringing hope and healing to the poor” of all faiths.

The organisation, which is funded by private donations, was founded 25 years ago with the vision of using ships to access countries where healthcare services are primitive. There are three vessels; the Caribbean Mercy serves South America, the Africa Mercy is currently in the ship yard but will soon join the Anastasis in serving Africa. The Anastasis, which means resurrection in Greek, has helped 10 African countries in the past.