By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

GARDEN VALLEY, TEXAS (ANS) – As American President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush wrapped up their six-day tour of Africa to Liberia last week, Mercy Ships volunteer doctors from around the world began the first of several thousand surgeries onboard the Africa Mercy in the Port of Monrovia, just minutes away from the celebrations.

According to a news release from Mercy Ships, among a group of well over one hundred guests participating in the state visit were Mercy Ships Founders, Don and Deyon Stephens, accompanied by the Africa Mercy Executive Director, Solfrid Quist.

The President and First Lady were the special guests at a luncheon served on the lawn of the Executive Mansion by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

During the luncheon, Sirleaf recognized the work of Mercy Ships whose International Operations Center is located in the President’s home state of Texas. Finding out that Stephens was in the audience, Bush motioned him to the podium where the news release reported he said, “I know you, Mercy Ships! Don, thank you for the work that Mercy Ships is doing for the people of Liberia. President Ellen has told me of the wonderful work you are doing for the Liberian people.”

According to the news release, the Africa Mercy, the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world, arrived back in Liberia earlier this month following its inaugural field service to the war-torn country last year. A mass medical screening was held the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in preparation for admissions. Over one thousand people arrived in the early hours of the morning, hoping that Mercy Ships professional volunteers could help them recover from illness and injuries.

Sirleaf recently visited the ship and according to a news release told the crew, “You could have used your resources for your own comfort, but you decided to give. And so, we honor you for that. There are many of you in this room who serve: the captain, the doctors, all of those who work on the ship; volunteers give their time to be able to come way across the ocean to serve people they don’t know. To be able to care for them and to make them whole again and to give them a life again…that’s something that can only come from one whose heart is touched by the life of Jesus.”

This year’s field service will see Mercy Ships building on the success of its previous visits to Liberia by increasing training and mentoring to local medical and construction personnel, in addition to providing the free onboard surgeries.

Mercy Ships said the additional focus is in line with the organization’s goal of providing a regional health strategy to the people of West Africa.
Sirleaf, the first democratically-elected woman to lead an African nation, also commented about the work of Mercy Ships during a recent annual address to the National Legislature.

She said in the news release, “I am delighted that Mercy Ships has chosen to celebrate its 30th anniversary year by helping the people of Liberia. We are working hard to rebuild our country, but it takes time, and without Mercy Ships thousands of Liberians would still be waiting for essential medical care and for clean water. Mercy Ships support is invaluable, and the millions of people who have benefitted from their generosity over the years are a lasting legacy.”

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free health care services to the forgotten poor. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has directly impacted over 1.9 million needy people, with a value of $670 million. Each year more than 1,600 short-term volunteers serve with Mercy Ships.

For further information go to www.mercyships.org