People are really much alike – even when they’re separated by an ocean.  Katie Callow, a volunteer Mercy Ships photographer, noticed one similarity at a patient screening in Benin.

One of the Mercy Ships surgical specialties is obstetric fistula repair.  Many women suffer incontinence from this childbirth injury caused by obstructed labor.

A well-known childhood saying is “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.”  Well, it’s not true.  The pen is truly mightier than the sword when it comes to inflicting emotional damage.

Wendy Richmond is a granny who loves adventure and mercy!  She’s celebrated her birthdays by wing-walking, parachuting, ballooning and ziplining – all to raise funds for her favorite charities.

Brittany Blake volunteers as a nurse anesthetist on our hospital ship, the Africa Mercy.  At the age of 14, a crisis in her 17-year-old brother’s life set her on a course of mercy.

The police in Rome, Italy, responded to a call that crying had been heard coming from an apartment.  They found an elderly Italian couple in tears … from loneliness.  Many of their neighbors were away on vacation, and they felt isolated.

Robyn Porep volunteered as a physical therapist onboard our hospital ship in Madagascar.  She watched patients work hard to fully recover and loved being a part of their healing.

Dr. Bruce Shephard decided to become an obstetrician because they bring life.  He opened his own practice so that he could get to know his patients better.  And so that, when it was time, he would be the one to deliver their babies.

Josh Young volunteers as the Food Services Manager onboard our hospital ship, the Africa Mercy.  Recently, he was asked if he had anything to share with people who were thinking about volunteering.

Katie Woodard of Oklahoma volunteers onboard our hospital ship, the Africa Mercy.  She wrote the following account of why she chose Mercy Ships.