Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

For ten months in each country we toil beside locals. We begin as strangers. We part as friends. Before the ship enters each of our host nations our Advance Team scours our past contacts, or as was the case in the Congo, begins from scratch, through the minefield of old email addresses and mobile numbers in the search for approximately 200 locals to partner with us as our support, our backbone in the galley, dining room, engineering, hospital, eye team, dental team, Hope Centre, deck, communications, executive and transport. The ship simply does not have enough bed spaces to contain all the crew needed to run a hospital, ship of this capacity, not to mention the very great need for translators. Partnering with locals whom we call day crew or day workers helps to  build unity between our host nation and the crew.

 

We laugh together, pray together and cry together. We argue and express anger and frustration towards each other. Sometimes we offend and betray each other. We share each others cultures, habits, quirks and curiosities. Alongside we work to achieve the mandate of Mercy Ships to bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor. They teach us their languages (there are often up to a dozen) and we help the improve their English. We begin as strangers. We part as friends.

 

At the end of each field service we hold a Day Worker Celebration, a very special day to honour our friends and all they have done and to say "see you later", not goodbye. The day begins at lunch time where an amazing African meal is prepared by the galley for the day crew. The day crew and crew dress up in their finest clothes and the dining room is a myriad of beautiful African fabrics. Following lunch there is a presentation and time of worship in the International Lounge. This is my favourite part, such a time of joyful celebration in song and dance. It is rowdy and loud and fun! Below Franck, one of the Transport day crew helps to lead this worship. There are speeches from our MD, Donovan and replies from several day crew.

A special part of this time is the slideshow presentation of the day crew at work and play over the past ten months. As each day crew and their department sees a photo of themselves, boisterous cheers erupt, each louder than the last.

 

The Transport day crew cheer as they see one of their own in the slide show.

Once the celebration and presentation is complete, the day crew head to the café area for ice cream. Various crew take turns to serve ice cream to the day crew. I had the pleasure in Sierra Leone and this year many of the Junior High kids did the honours.

This time in the café is a change for photos, exchanging of emails and general chit chat. Soon the real goodbyes will begin.

The Transport guys and Andy!

Andrew's right hand man and our friend, Simplice. Some of Andrew's day crew stayed on after the celebration, as many do for about another week to help out  and Simplice was one of them. Saying goodbye to Simplice, as the tears rolled down both our cheeks was hard, really hard. Might we see each other again on the is earth? Maybe. Probably not. Simplice, I will not forget you and all the help you gave to Andrew and for taking me to the market and being my translator!

Andrew and Transport day crew, Franck.

Andrew and Transport day crew Francoise.

The Transport guys!

Jess and friend Zodi enjoy some ice cream of their own after working so hard to dish out a few hundred bowls of ice cream!

The final part of the tradition of this day... escorting day crew from the café to reception, department by department to reception to ceremoniously hand over their ID badges and have their names marked off, akin to the final roll call. Andrew and Judicael.

One last photo on the dock with a couple of ring ins, including the famously named "Baby" who Andrew had to sadly let go from the ship to the Hope Centre as his English was not up to par to meet standards to read emergency signage on the ship.

The Transport department has had a tumultuous year without a doubt. Andrew famously yelled at his guys so furiously and so out of character, that a vein popped out on his neck, prompting the guys to comment, "The boss is mad". But he has, as Americans would say in an expression we have yet to capture well, loved on them greatly. He has rescued one from prison, found shelter for another whose home was washed away in the rainy season, passed on clothing and other items, counselled them, settled (dozens of) arguments between them, given them references, cash gifts and found several of them jobs on our departure. The called him "Boss" but really he was their mentor. We began as strangers. We parted as friends. If we never meet again on this earth, we will meet in heaven and what a party it will be!