Kelly Etienne from Switzerland is the French teacher for the children of the Africa Mercy crew members for the next two years.

How did you hear about Mercy Ships?
Kelly: “I heard about Mercy Ships from my uncle and his wife who were onboard the Anastasis. In 2001, I stayed one week with them and a friend recently reminded me that I told her afterwards: "This is what I want to do in the future!" Here I am now, 10 years later, fulfilling what was once a dream!”
 
What were your first impressions in Sierra Leone?
“I was lucky to fully immerse myself in the country by working two weeks in a small community and interacting directly with the locals. Even though they live in one of the poorest countries of the world they have a continuous smile on their faces. They are willing to make great changes in their lives after the war that ravaged their country and are open and very trustful. I think they are really an encouragement to us Westerners, to be satisfied with what we have and not always seek more.”

What is your motivation to work for free?
“One of my focuses for my teaching career is how to include and welcome children from different cultures. Working for an international organization that gathers around 40 different nationalities was a very interesting matter and challenge. The experience gained on the Africa Mercy will be so helpful for the future and for any prospective jobs, so I applied with no hesitation!”

Information about the Academy
- School started August 9 and ends May 18/2012.
- There are 13 staff and 55 students age 3 to 17.
- More than 2100 students have attended the school on the Anastasis, Caribbean Mercy, and Africa Mercy since 1978.

“It’s a privilege to work with like-minded people with a common goal to do our best for each patient, one at a time,” Nicolette and Derek commented after their second short-term stint onboard the Africa Mercy. “There is such support for our own well-being from this team, and such co-operation that it makes it a pleasure to work, even if the days go long. Being able to work with, laugh with, worship with, and share ourselves with them is a real joy.”

“Working from the ship, we appreciated being able to deliver care in a third world country with a first world standard. This meant we could provide care without compromising its quality,” said Nicolette.

Returning to their family practice and related work in Duncan, both comment on the fact that their experiences with Mercy Ships and the people of West Africa remind them “how fortunate we are in the developed world. It gives the opportunity to look beyond today’s minutae, and look at the big picture. Sometimes it is a challenge to work with such health, wealth and welfare, knowing that so many in so many places do not have that luxury. Being away in a county like Benin, doing God’s work, gives us a new perspective on our professional work as well as personal expectations.

(Dr. Nicolette served as ward physician and Dr. Derek served as anesthesia provider)