Why Cameroon?

The Africa Mercy has been in the port of Douala, Cameroon since August, and is well underway doing mission by providing free surgeries, training, and many other ways of blessing the people of Cameroon.

But why Cameroon?  Cameroon is a country of over 275 ethnic groups and languages.  It has many climate zones and great biodiversity.  There are rainforests, savannas, active volcanoes, and many reserves to protect animals. Cameroon has one of the best economies in that part of Africa, with oil a primary export.

But Cameroon is also rated 153/188 on the UN Human Development Index.  For every 100,000 people in Cameroon, there is 1.15 surgical specialists.  Do you need a C-section?  Or hernia surgery? How about orthopedic care?  Care for burn victims?  In our world of 7.6 billion, over 5 billion lack access to timely, safe and affordable surgical care.

That's a lot of suffering, and the statistics seem overwhelming.  What I love is Mercy Ships response to global surgical need.  This quote is from Ann Voskamp.

"For such a time as now, we eradicate divisions and incarnate passion.
For such a time as now, we show up even when it seems small because this is how we love large.
For such a time as now, we love just one, like we'd absolutely love to love everyone.  Like we would love to be loved.
For such a time as now, we live shaped like a cross, reaching right out, because this is how He begins to shape the world."

Wow.

God willing, we join the ship on January 7.


Debbie

Get ready for Cameroon

We've been accepted by Mercy Ships to serve in Cameroon!   We are looking forwarded to returning to the Africa Mercy community in January 2018.
Here is some information we received about this years field service.

The Africa Mercy has arrived in Cameroon
The world’s largest civilian hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, operated by Mercy Ships, has docked in the port city of Douala, Cameroon, to begin a season of service to this Central African nation. Over the next ten months, Mercy Ships will provide free specialized surgeries and healthcare services to the people of Cameroon.

During our stay in the port of Douala, Mercy Ships plans to provide more than 3,000 life-changing surgeries for adult and child patients onboard, to treat over 8,000 at a land-based dental clinic, and provide holistic healthcare training to Cameroonian healthcare professionals.

Mercy Ships Medical Capacity Building Programs foster transformational development within the healthcare structure of our host nation. After collaborating with our hosts, these projects were specifically developed to impart knowledge and skills, while modeling and encouraging compassion and a professional work ethic. We incorporate one-on-one mentoring opportunities and a large number of local doctors, nurses and other medical staff so that, together, we will be able to impact and bolster the Cameroonian healthcare system long after the ship has departed.

Warrie Blackburn, Managing Director of the Africa Mercy said “With the ship’s arrival in Douala, we celebrate the commencement of a field service that has been years in the making. This historic event has been made possible through a unique partnership between Mercy Ships and the government of Cameroon, supported by the commitment and dedication of the Mercy Ships family and partners in Cameroon. It is a great honor to be here, to love and to serve the people of Cameroon in the model of Jesus. We look forward with great anticipation to all that will take place here in the next 10 months.”