Excited to be talking about Mercy Ships today.  I heard of this organization a few months ago when I read The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau who worked on the ship for several years.

Basically, it is a huge hospital ship that has 6 operating rooms and beds for 78 patients.  It has a crew from more than 30 countries and offers lifesaving 1st world medical help to nations in West Africa that have very little medical care.

I thought the cool thing was that everyone on the ship is a volunteer.  They raise their own support for the time they serve.  They do this so that all donations and funding the ship receives can go straight into the program to help more people.

Here is a movie about their work:

(here is the link)

Isn’t that cool?

Almost 50% of Africa’s population has no access to a hospital or doctor (source).  Mercy ships is bringing the doctors to them.

• Here is their super-amazing-full-of-info website
• Want to donate?
• Want to volunteer?
• Their prayer blog

Thanks for reading!  If you want to recommend a organization or program to feature in this spot or if you are involved with one you would like to share about contact me.

Photo Credit: Bryon Lippincott