
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.