Mercy Ships Missions Organization Making a Full Recovery
Africa Mercy Ships’ medical screening held this past Saturday, March 26 in Sierra Leone was a huge success. Three thousand individuals waited calmly and patiently for many hours in hopes of receiving medical attention provided by Mercy Ships, a Texas-based organization which operates several hospital ships in developing countries.
By mid-day, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Parker, provided an update, “We’ve had an excellent screening morning. The team worked together so well from security to medical to logistics. We’ve seen most of the people who have come through and mostly conditions that we can help them with. I’ve been at a lot of screenings, and this one is very smooth.”
The number of crew members was increased to assist with security, medical services, and prayer support following the devastating screening where one person died and several more were injured during a routine screening in Sierra Leone on March 7. Missionaries aboard the hospital ship said the injuries and fatality were the result of the crowd storming through a gate to receive the free medical care at Freetown National Stadium.
Mercy Ships volunteer medical staff responded immediately to the injured by tending to those with minor injuries and sending others to the hospital. According to a release from the organization’s headquarters, Mercy Ships has continued to serve despite the tragedy.
"Our hearts and prayers are with the individuals and families of those affected," states Mercy Ships Founder Don Stephens. "The occurrence of this incident in the course of activities intended to restore lives is tragic. We move forward with tremendous sadness, but great determination, to assist as many people as possible in the next ten months."
Melissa Ruebke, a member of the Mercy Ships dental team, was present at the time. She has been serving with the organization for the last year.
Melissa’s mother, Michelle Ruebke says,“ [Melissa] did received some physical bruising and emotional bruising,” but she is expected to make a full recovery and will continue to serve despite the tragedy. “The one casualty and the eleven injuries were all local Africans. None of the Mercy Ships staff was hospitalized,” Michelle says.
In light of the event, Mercy Ships will provide therapy for their volunteers. Michelle says that in 30+ years of service nothing like this has ever occurred at a screening, so the nonprofit organization is taking time to evaluate the situation in order to take the appropriate precautions.
As the parent of a 21 year old daughter who is serving in a developing county, Michelle say she and her husband have a great deal of respect for the Mercy Ships program. “But above and beyond [Mercy Ships] we know that Melissa is called by God to be there at this time doing what she is doing.” Michelle concludes, “She is much safer being where God wants her to be than she will be anywhere else.”
Mercy Ships staff provide medical care for individuals in developing countries, many of whom live in solitude due to large tumors and deformities. To provide prayer and financial support for Melissa Ruebke and other Mercy Ships volunteers you can visit www.mercyships.org/page/outreach/splash/crewmates.