Portland, Oregon, is known for its wonderful fruit trees.  Consequently, it’s hard to believe that over 16% of the state’s population struggles with hunger.  Katy Kolker decided to help.

A volunteer onboard our hospital ship wrote about visiting the operating room in a hospital in Guinea, West Africa, in 2012.

Biddy Mason was born in 1818 as a slave on a plantation in Mississippi.  In 1851 her owner moved his household to California, where slavery was forbidden.  So Biddy petitioned the court and won freedom for herself and her children.

In January 2006, a Mercy Ships-sponsored church team worked in Honduras.  One team member was Chris, a hairdresser from Michigan.  

Six-year-old Elina was recovering from surgery onboard our hospital ship.  She didn’t trust easily. 

Liz Willock missed her flight and took a later one.  It turned out to be an opportunity for mercy.  Ellis Hill was her Uber driver for the trip from the airport to the hotel.

Helping others has its own reward … like a sense of fulfillment and purpose that comes when you reach beyond yourself.  Dr. Mark Shrime is a wonderful surgeon who volunteers onboard our hospital ship.

Imagine combining a family get-together with an act of mercy.  Each year, Karen Hanovich and her six sisters and her sister-in-law spend a long weekend together.  They work on charitable projects throughout the year, and then they bring the items to the retreat.

Ed Moseley is 86 years old, and he taught himself to knit.  He organized a hat knitting group to provide caps for premature babies in Northside Hospital in Atlanta.

The crew members onboard our hospital ship find that serving the poor in Africa also helps them. Crew member Andrea Diallo explains.