"One little patient had several operations and was so brave with each one. She enjoyed playing Snakes and Ladders and colouring pictures. She did not speak English and I could not speak her language. But we had lots of fun and plenty of laughs.
"She had travelled from neighbouring Guinea to the Liberian capital Monrovia for surgery, and did not see any of her family for at least two months. She became the darling of the ward. The girl was 14 and had the most beautiful smile. I believe her medical condition will shorten her life, but I felt privileged to have shared time with her."
There were also opportunities to visit an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity. The orphanage cares for the poorest of the poor. Babies born to mothers with HIV/AIDS and TB are also looked after there.
"The Sisters are an amazing group of women, displaying such love and compassion under very difficult conditions," says Christine.
At another refuge for older children, one of the women from the ship told the story of Noah to the children who acted out the story, playing the roles of the family of Noah and the animals.
"They sang and danced for us, and proudly showed us around their humble home. We also visited a new health clinic built by local people trained by Mercy Ships."
The clinic is surrounded by a farm where agricultural techniques are taught to local people from 11 surrounding villages, helping such people to become self-sufficient in the future.
Christine said it was wonderful seeing what is being achieved as volunteers seek to bring hope and healing to the poor.
"I have been very blessed to have had the opportunity of being a part of what is happening in Liberia. I know I have learnt the true value of life, and have seen what it is to have nothing and yet to have everything. It is my hope and prayer that the people of this country will go from strength to strength, and these people will regain the dignity they serve."
Mercy Ships is an international Christian charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time. A permanent land-based program operates in Sierra Leone, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.
