Ellen On Mission

Why Mercy Ships? Joining the mission of Mercy Ships has been a dream since I heard about the organization in 2017. The Lord has opened many doors as I’ve pursued a position onboard and I am thankful for the ways He continues to provide!  My three and a half years as an operating room nurse within the Duke Health system has helped equip me with the skills necessary to serve with Mercy Ships. I love being a nurse and I am thankful I am able to use my gifts in this way! Who Is Mercy Ships?  “Since 1991, Mercy Ships has partnered with African governments and Ministries of Health to offer safe, free surgeries to those who need them, while also working to strengthen national surgical and anesthetic systems. At the invitation of host countries, Mercy Ships’ hospital vessels deliver accessible surgical care and other healthcare services to those with little access. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has focused entirely on partnering with Af...

The Application Process I started the application to join the Mercy Ships team in April 2024. The application included a brief questionnaire, faith survey, and assessment of relevant nursing skills. Applicants are also required to complete a Physicians Evaluation with a primary care provider. Throughout the duration of the application process, I was connected with a Volunteer Coordinator who kept me on track and answered any questions that came up! How You Can Get Involved Packing   I don’t know about you, but thinking about packing to live on a ship in another country for 14 weeks was definitely intimidating to me. There are a lot of potential opportunities with ship life and I am someone who wants to be prepared for all of them (surprise!). Mercy Ships provided a broad packing list, but I found  this blog  very helpful from someone who had served on board years ago. One thing that I’ve had to plan for is the suitcase situation on board. Because of limited space on the s...