Joni on the Africa Mercy ship

I need your help.

I am a nurse. As a nurse, I have always had the desire to help people in any way that I can, with the skills that I have been blessed with. A dream that I have always had is to volunteer my skills in a significant way for others in a nation other than the United States.  One year ago, I applied, and was awarded, a one semester sabbatical from my work (St. Petersburg College) to pursue this dream.  This sabbatical is allowing me the opportunity of a lifetime to provide my nursing skills for others much less fortunate than me.

I  applied, and was accepted to join the Africa Mercy hospital ship. The ship usually serves in West Africa, but with the outbreak of Ebola,  has changed their planned field service location several times and is now docked in Madagascar, Africa.  I will travel to Madagascar in January, 2015, and spend 2 months on the ship.  I will be working for 4 weeks in a pediatric ward and 4 weeks in an adult ward, caring for people who will receive significant surgeries which will greatly enhance their lives.

The mission of the Africa Mercy Ship (per their website) is “To Change the world… one nation… one community…one life at a time.” This mission statement aligns with my own beliefs, and being a participant will be a life-changing opportunity for me.

 For more information please see this link:

http://www.mercyships.org/who-we-are/our-ships/the-africa-mercy/

 

The opportunity to work on the Africa Mercy hospital ship will be gratifying for me both on a personal and professional level. The idea of making a positive difference in a person’s life is a goal each day as I care for patients and work with nursing students in my current working career.  Working in a third world country will enable me to impact lives in a meaningful way, fulfilling what nursing is all about for me. Bringing the mercy of Jesus to those less fortunate on the other side of the world will challenge me in immeasurable ways.

This trip is a huge financial undertaking for me and I need YOUR help. In order to serve on the Mercy ship, I must pay my own airfare and land transport to Tamatave, Madagascar. This trip will involve a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa and from there a flight to Madagascar and then an 8 hour bus ride to the coast, where the ship is docked. The cost for my transport is around $3000. I must also pay for my cost of living expenses while on the ship; this is $700 for each of the 2 months I will be there. I also need vaccinations- Typhoid and Yellow Fever, which are not covered by my health insurance.

If you would like to follow me while I am on my trip, I will be writing a blog and would be happy to share my experience with you. Please send me your email and I will add you to my email list.

Please help me to help others. It’s an opportunity for you to make a difference in a personal way in this big world we all live in. Together.