Those are the words of Christine Crook of Newstead, Brisbane in Australia, summing up her six week experience as a volunteer onboard the world's largest private hospital ship Africa Mercy, currently on assignment in the West African nation of Liberia.
Christine read in her church's newspaper of the experiences of an Australian volunteer who had spent time with the international Christian charity Mercy Ships. She says she was seeking some sense of meaning in her life. She offered herself for voluntary service and paid her way to and from Liberia, along with crew fees during her time onboard, to work in the ship's laundry.
"I have worked as a volunteer for ten years with Karuna Hospice Services in Brisbane, and felt I could be involved in the work of Mercy Ships as it seeks to serve people in the world's poorest nations," she said.
"All volunteers are given the opportunity of 'adopting a patient' in addition to their regular duties on the hospital ship. Each evening I was able to go to the wards with several others and spend time with patients, giving them encouragement along with well appreciated foot and hand massages.
"Many of the women I visited were recovering from life changing surgery to correct obstetric fistulas resulting from prolonged or obstructed childbirth. The women were so beautiful and so appreciative. Some had been outcasts from family and community for many years. Yet their faith was so strong and it was lovely to be able to help them.
"I was privileged to attend special dress ceremonies for several of the women leaving the ship following successful surgery. The women are given a new set of clothing as a symbol of their new start in life. The bongo drums played and we all gathered around for wonderful songs of praise and to hear the women's stories, stories of such sadness but now about lives changed through the free surgery provided. It was very moving, and so wonderful to be a part of it all."
Christine says it was hard to say goodbye to patients she had adopted during their time of recovery.
