Ellen Bids Mercy Ship Hearty Farewell

Below is an excerpt from an encouraging Liberian news paper article about the President’s recent visit to the ship.

Ellen Bids Mercy Ship Hearty Farewell Following 1,700 life-changing Surgeries:
By Cheechiay JablasonePublished: 24 May, 2006
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

MONROVIA, May 24 --President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has praised the doctors, nurses and staff of the charitable medical Mercy Ship for transforming young Liberians “ostracized” by their communities due to deformities.
At a “Thank You” program for the floating medical rescuers, President Sirleaf said the potential for transformation on the Ship has led its staff to transform the lives of young people who for years had felt ashamed of their deformities, and enabled them once again to proudly walk in their communities.
Speaking aboard the Mercy Ship M/V Anastasis, the Liberian leader spoke of three experiences drawn from the works of Ship’s staff. First among these she said, were blessings which the crew have reaped because they walk in the paths of Jesus Christ.
The second experience lay in the staff’s “sacrificial services,” in which they portrayed their selfless nature, having left their fortunes careers and other pleasures of life to make life new for people who are hopeless.
Third she named as the potential for transformation.
The courage her young compatriots in braving the knives of surgeons to undergo transformation reminded her of “transformation of our nation,” she said.
“I know that in transforming our country there will be pains and sorrows, but look at tomorrow with the bright light coming”, she asserted.

Click here to read more: http://www.ana.mercyships.org/depts/comms/news/LB0506/ship_reports/2006_05_24/ship_report_2006_05_24.pdf