Mercy Ministries
Many crew members of the Africa Mercy hold positions that involve little or no interaction with the local community. Thus, in every field service, Mercy Ministries provides opportunities for crew members to work within the local community through partnerships with longstanding, land-based ministry projects.
"Many of the crew work eight-hour, very routine jobs onboard the Africa Mercy," said Mercy Ministries Coordinator, Ines Kronester. "I think they appreciate the opportunity to get a feel for what is going on outside in the local community. It's important to see how other ministries are working in Africa."
Before the Africa Mercy enters a country, a small team is sent in advance to begin forming relationships with local ministries. Upon arrival, Ines identifies approximately ten ministry sites crew members can partner with throughout the field service.
"Ideally we find team leaders for each site. Crew members can then sign up to go out and attend at theses sites during their spare time. Ideally, most opportunities occur in evenings and the weekends," said Kronester. "It's very low-key at the beginning. We start by doing visitations, playing with kids, and supporting long-term ministries in practical ways like painting and cleaning."
During the 2009 Field Service in Benin, ministry opportunities have included working at a home for trafficked and abused boys, alongside the Missionaries of Charity, and supporting Soeurs Salisiennes, a skills training programme for market girls run by the female branch of Don Bosco.
The skills training programme has been one of Kronester's favourite ministry sites. "It's an amazing programme," she said. Participating girls come from the harsh market, where they have a rough and stressful daily routine.
Each is given the opportunity to complete two of the six-month courses on baking, pastry-making, cooking, or soap-making. Girls are taken in overnight for a small fee and complete the skills training in the mornings, returning to sell in the market in the afternoons. The programme is designed to enable girls to sell better items in the market or leave the harsh environment altogether.
On average, eighty crew members visit various Mercy Ministry sites every week. Often, crew members discover serious needs of land-based partners. Many times, crew members have offered further assistance through financial offerings and special projects.
"It often becomes much bigger than visitations. Crew members feel like they've left something behind, something very purposeful," said Kronester. "We try to offer a broad range of ministry opportunities so everyone can find their place. We've gotten a lot of feedback from exiting crew members saying these are often the most valuable times for them. It's been well-received."