Dorina

Time on the Africa Mercy is unlike time anywhere else in the world. It both races by and stands still. One moment, a month can feel like a single day, swept away in a blur of purpose, community and constant motion. And yet, because of the ship’s structured routines and the immersive nature of life onboard, time can also feel suspended, like the outside world has paused and we’re living in a space outside of time itself. 

After months of preparation, we officially began our eye surgery, a unique specialty that never fails to amaze me. Eye surgery is unlike any other. In just a short operation, patients lives are dramatically altered. One day, a person navigates the world through shadows and shapes. The next, they open their eyes to see their loved ones clearly—sometimes for the first time in years. There’s always a moment of awe, and makes me often reflect to the famous hymn:

“Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound. 

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found. 

Was blind but now I see.” 

A gentle reminder that God is still at working of making the blind see, both in body and in spirit. This remains my daily prayer, that each patient who walks through the doors with Mercy Ships may not only have regained their sight or had the legs straightened but also experience the transformational change through Jesus. 

One of the weekends, a small group of us, including some of our wonderful day crew friends took a trip up the coast to a local town about two hours away. It was such a wholesome and refreshing time. Stepping off the ship and into the beauty of Madagascar’s nature felt like breathing deeply for the first time in weeks. We explored, laughed, shared meals, and simply enjoyed being together outside of our usual routines. It was a reminder of the joy found in community, in slowing down, and in soaking up the richness of the world God has created.