Estella Pyfrom retired from teaching and bought a custom-designed bus with 17 computer stations and high-speed Internet. On the side are the words “Have Knowledge, Will Travel” and “We bring learning to you.”

Grace had a massive facial tumor removed in a free surgery onboard our hospital ship in the Republic of Congo. She spent some time recovering at our Mercy Ships outpatient center. When someone asked her what was the best part of her day, she said.

Often people don’t realize that Mercy Ships needs volunteers with all kinds of skill sets. For example, David Forrest serves as the principal of our accredited onboard Academy for crew children. Listen, as he talks about his role.

Jane Garofalo of Durham, New Hampshire, found a creative way to help people remember to buy items for the local food pantry. Listen to the idea submitted to Woman’s Day Magazine.

She had an “X” instead of a first name. Mercy Ships volunteer nurse Sue Clynes checked the medical notes. It was true. The Malagasy girl receiving a free surgery for cleft lip and palate was known only by her family name … for her entire 12 years of life! The Malagasy translator said it was because she was born with a major facial disfigurement.

Wendy Spencer wants schoolkids to think of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as “day on,” not a “day off.” She heads the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, DC.

Dr. Gary Parker has served as a volunteer surgeon onboard our hospital ship for over 25 years. He’s had a long time to observe the people we serve. Listen.

Carl Luther, an alumni of Mercy Ships, is now a missionary doctor in Papua, New Guinea. A patient named Kindame had a large abscess in her abdomen. So, he sent her to the closest surgeon, three hours away. But the surgeon couldn’t do the surgery because Kindame’s blood count was too low, and the hospital didn’t have the blood supply she needed.

Fresh air and exercise are important to the patients recovering on the Africa Mercy. But what do you do when the rainy season drowns your play time? You host an indoor parade, of course!

The winter of 2010 brought the British Isles heavy snowfalls, record low temperatures, and travel chaos.