"I love Africa and its people. I wanted to go and help them. I had heard about the work being done by volunteers serving with Mercy Ships in the poorest nations of West Africa and decided to offer myself for service."
"But there were no vacancies for dental assistants at the time I could go, so I went to Togo and spent two months onboard the world's largest charity hospital ship chopping vegetables," she says.
Joanne heard of Mercy ships from one of Australia's long serving volunteers, Trevor Haylock, who is a member of her church, Gateway Baptist. "So I put my stuff in storage, gave up my full-time job, and went. Those around me were very supportive of my plans. There were no fears or doubts, and no real expectations. It was my fourth trip to Africa. I really needed to see if this was something I would want to do longer-term."
"During the two months onboard there were times I did think I was just chopping vegetables. But then I was reminded that there were more than 400 other volunteers onboard all doing their part, some small, some larger, towards the goal of Mercy Ships in bringing hope and healing to some of the world's poor. All were paying their own way like me to be there. While amazing surgeries were being provided completely free of charge in the ship's six operating theatres, other volunteers were out in the community working on a wide range of health and community development programs.
"The people of Togo, as with those living in so many of the African countries, need help. Living conditions are so poor, there is often no clean water, no access to balance healthy diets, and very little or unaffordable medical care.
"African people are amazing. They are so warm and friendly, and so grateful for anything done for them. I met one young man in hospital. He is 16, but looked more like a 12-year-old. He had received surgery to correct a leg deformity. I was there as part of an "adopt a patient" program onboard to help make him feel welcome and comfortable. But, in fact, the reverse happened. It was this young man who made me feel at home."
Of the future, Joanne is not yet certain. "I return to Australia to a casual part-time position. I am still waiting to hear from God on what happens next," she concludes.
Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978 providing free health care and community development services to the forgotten poor. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves. The result is a way out of poverty.
Since 1978, volunteers serving with Mercy Ships have had an impact on the lives of millions of people in the world's poorest nation. Mercy Ships has provided services valued at more than $800 million.
*Performed more than 41,000 surgeries such as cleft lip and palate, cataract removal, orthopaedic reconstruction and obstetric fistula repair.
*Treated more than 230,000 people in village medical clinics.
*Performed more than 205,000 dental treatments.
*Taught over 14,500 local health care and professional workers, who have in turn trained others.
*Taught 105,000 local people in primary health care.
*Delivered more than $70 million worth of medical equipment, hospital and other supplies.
*Completed more than 1,000 community development projects focusing on water and sanitation, education, infrastructure development and agriculture.
*Demonstrated the love of God to people in over 550 port visits in 70 different nations.
*More than 1,600 short-term volunteers serve with Mercy Ships each year.
The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the world's largest charity hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time. Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean. Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.
On the web: www.mercyships.org.au