40 Stories of Healing

It began in part with an overheard prayer on a hurricane-battered island. The blood, sweat, tears and petitions of Don and Deyon Stephens and hundreds of visionary volunteers eventually turned a 20-year-old retired Italian liner recently put up for sale, into a vessel of mercy.

The patients who found the hospital ship encountered unconditional love that healed them – inside and out. Volunteer professionals from all over the world embraced them; providing free essential surgery, medical treatment, acceptance and prayers.

The crew of the Mercy Ship were changed by these encounters; the patients were transformed. 40 years later, these are some of their stories.

1. Hawa, Sierra Leone 2005

2. Tellez children, Guatemala 1987

3. Dreige & Eddy, Congo 2014

4. Patrick, Sierra Leone 1992

5. Ebenezer, Ghana 2006

6. Gisele, Congo 2014

7. Rafael, Mexico 1987

8. Paula, Honduras 2003

9. Jimmy, Madagascar 2015

10. Tina, Sierra Leone 1993

11. Kumbuna, Gambia 2002

12. Sambany, Madagascar 2014

13. Cavilla, Benin 2001

14 Laurence, Ghana 2006

15. Haingo, Madagascar 2016

16. Edoh, Togo 1995

17. Bintu, Sierra Leone 2002

18. Serah, Madagascar 2016

19. Sahondra, Madagascar 1996

20. Blessing, Liberia 2005

21. Kaltoumi, Cameroon 2017

22. Hurricane Mitch, Nicaragua 1998

23. Fifalina, Madagascar 2015

24. Jatu, Sierra Leone 2010

25. Yasawa, Fiji 1998

26. Sidiatu, Sierra Leone 2011

27. Monique, Cameroon 2008

28. Isabelle, El Salvador 1999

29. Yaya, Guinea 2012

30. Niki, Cote D’Ivoire 1991

31. Maria, El Salvador 1999

32. Lorette, Philippines 1999

33. Grace, Congo 2013

34. Felisia, Benin 2000

35. Mama H, Guinea 2013

36. Paul Pascal, Cameroon 2018

37. Benigno, Guatemala 2001

38. Aminata, Sierra Leone 1993

39. Camacho, Mexico 1987

40. Mercy Ships 40 years