Why I want to go back

Here are the reasons that I will happily give up whatever I need to to go back.  My heart has been captured by the people of West Africa. 

I'm going to Africa. Want to go????

It is already posted on the blog, but I'm going to be mailing out support letters this week.  If anyone would like more information on Mercy Ships or what I'm going to be doing with them, please send your address so you can receive a letter.  I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

Maggie

My support letter

Dear friends and family:

As many of you already know, I will be leaving home in January 2011 for 7 months in order to serve aboard the Africa Mercy – the world’s largest charity hospital ship – as it docks off the coast of Sierra Leone.  This is my third tour of service with Mercy Ships, an organization whose goal is to bring world class healthcare, hope, and healing to the forgotten poor and sick in developing countries worldwide. Before ever setting foot on the ship for the first time, I knew it would be a special experience. One year and two voyages later, I’m utterly committed to this phenomenal group that has not only touched the lives of millions of sick and underserved people across the globe, but that has changed my own life forever as well.

Since returning from my two previous Mercy Ships tours in Benin and Togo, many people have asked me why I’m so drawn to working aboard a floating hospital half a world away. Even though I’ve worked in hospitals and other healthcare settings for most of my adult life, I’ve never been able to so directly impact the lives of people in need. I’ve had the opportunity to give life by donating my own blood (and watch it be immediately transfused into a critically ill patient sitting next to me!). I’ve also been able to care for children undergoing simple surgeries that will change the course of their lives, but that they would never have access to in their own countries without Mercy Ships.

Just like here in the United States, quality healthcare is not free. Fortunately for the clients of the Africa Mercy, the cost of these expensive and otherwise unattainable resources falls directly back on the Mercy Ships organization, which is 100% funded by charitable donations. Likewise, Mercy Ships relies on a team of volunteer doctors, nurses and crew members who pay their own room, board and travel expenses while serving. The world-class care provided on board is possible only with the help of charitable giving that helps to offset these expenses.

To cover my room and board on the Africa Mercy while I serve the people of Sierra Leone, I will need to raise approximately $1,000 per month. Because many of you have expressed interest in supporting the mission of Mercy Ships, I wanted to pass along the website so you can do so.  www.mercyships.org/page/outreach/splash/crewmates

You can search for me by using Hill.

Donations can be made directly in my name as a single gift, or as a recurring pledge.  

Even if you’re not able to contribute at this time, I’d like to invite you to follow my blog which chronicles my experiences on the ship.  You can also read about my time aboard the ship in Benin and Togo, and the lives we were able to change there: maggieinbenin.blogspot.com and maggieintogo.blogspot.com.

Many thanks for your love and ongoing support,

Maggie

Going Back!

Three months from now I'll be returning to the giant white ship.  I joined Mercy Ships in 2008 in Benin and again in 2009 in Togo.  This year I will be on the ship Africa Mercy  from January until August serving the people in Sierra Leone.  Mercy Ships is an organization that provides world class health care to the forgotten poor.  The people that are served by Mercy Ships rarely have access to even basic health care and lives are forever changed.  During a 10 month field service surgeons will treat cleft lips, cleft palates, deformed legs, deformed  arms, and large tumors and goiters.  Thousands will be seen by the dental team and thousands by the eye team.  It is an amazing organization and I'm excited to be able to return to work with them.  Feel free to follow my blog and ask any questions you might have.