By Brendan Rees
PRECEDE:
Narre Warren grandmother Jennifer Marshall tells BRENDAN REES of her life-changing journey aboard the largest civilian hospital where she reached out to those suffering in Cameroon, Central Africa.
BREAK OUT QUOTE:
“We were all there with the same goal and reason – that is to serve the beautiful people of Cameroon and to provide relief and hope where we can.”
STORY:
Whilst most people spent time with loved ones last Christmas, Narre Warren South grandmother Jennifer Marshall was aboard the biggest charity hospital, the Africa Mercy, helping the world’s forgotten poor.
A bookkeeper by profession, Ms Marshall volunteered for seven weeks, working in the ship’s café and shop, providing the crew of more than 400 volunteers with coffee and everyday necessities whilst the ship was docked in Cameroon in Central Africa.
“When I first saw the ship I couldn’t believe I was finally there,” says Ms Marshall. “I’ve been wanting to get there probably six or seven years – ever since I first heard about it.”
Ms Marshall, 52, paid for her own travelling expenses, arriving in Cameroon on 12 November.
Since her return home, she has reflected on her humanitarian journey as “the best experience I’ve ever had in my life.”
“There’s just so much here that we take for granted,” she said.
“In countries like Cameroon people have to buy their own surgical equipment before they can have operations.”
Operated by international medical charity Mercy Ships, the Africa Mercy planned to provide more than 3000 free, life-changing surgeries during its 10 month stay in port when it arrived last August.
Professionals like surgeons, nurses, dentists, teachers, cooks, seamen, and engineers donate their time and skills.
Ms Marshall said working in the Starbucks café and shop gave her a great opportunity to get to know all the crew members.
“It’s actually the hub of the ship. It’s where everybody meets there; everybody goes there and gets their coffee.”
She said she could’ve volunteered as bookkeeper but wanted “something totally different.”
“There were long days; just very different than running a book keeping business. I was using some of my professional abilities to do end of day cash ups and using spreadsheets.”
“The shop attached to the café sells all of those personal needs; you’ve got toothpaste, shampoo, souvenirs – so it becomes a place where practically every crew member goes there. It was a really good place to meet everybody.
Ms Marshall says every day was tremendously fulfilling but there was no escape from walking multiple flights of stairs everyday.
“There are eight decks, so to get from my room to anywhere really I had to climb three flights of stairs, minimum.”
She jokes she should’ve taken a step pedometer. “I worked out by the time I was up and down to the laundry a couple of times and I dropped into the hospital to visit my friends and just a few other bits and pieces, I had done 35 flights of stairs.”
When not working in the café or shop, she took some time to visit the hospital wards.
“When I first went down to the hospital it was really confronting,” she said.
“You see things that you can’t even imagine people who as kids have fallen into open fire pits and their faces have been literally burned off.”
“They’re adults now and they’ve still got these horrific injuries because there’s never been any medical intervention. Amazingly enough on the ship, they’ve been given a new face.”
She says the experience changed her in ways that she could not imagine but primarily she understands the power of compassion.
“There was this little girl; every time I walked in to the room her face would just light up,” she says.
The girl, she explains, was an 18 year-old named Assiatou who underwent surgery on board to correct burn contractures on both feet.
Assiatou was only 18 months old when she suffered burns to her legs after being involved in a car accident.
“She was so delighted to see me. She was actually abandoned by her mum when she was about 10.”
“She told me that since then until she had met me she hadn’t felt the love of her mum. She called me her white mamma.”
“Her feet are both on the ground now,” says Ms Marshall. “She’s still going to physio, so she’s not on the ship any more. She’s at a place called the Hope Centre – it’s a like a hospital or government building.
“The people that can’t go home will stay there until they’re finished with their care and then they’re sent home.”
“When I told her I was coming home she was devastated.”
Although they keep in contact, Ms Mashall says communication is challenging as Assiatou only speaks French.
“She hasn’t even used technology herself so she’s got a friend; we’re using Google Translate, it’s challenging but we’re still staying in touch.
She says she would love to see her again one day. “I would love to go back there just personally – say in five years and see how she’s going.”
“Mercy Ships has really changed the course of her life as it has with many.”
Ms Marshall also enjoyed the great atmosphere of unity with the volunteers.
“Everybody gets on really well with everybody. It’s a little slice of heaven in a way, just totally different.”
“We were all there with the same goal and reason – that is to serve the beautiful people of Cameroon and to provide relief and hope where we can.”
Ms Marshall felt she left a lasting impact with patients who would normally be shunned from society.
“In these countries they’re treated like they’re demons or they’re cursed or they’ll be ostracised because of the way they look.”
These people are treated like human beings on the ship, she said, adding it was “beautiful to see.”
Asked what advice she would give to those thinking about volunteering with Mercy Ships, Ms Marshall said “go for it.”
“I think everyone should have to do something like that and make you realise what you’ve got.”
“Stop sweating the small stuff. Appreciate what you’ve got here.”
“It doesn’t matter what sort of job you’ve got, if you feel a calling to go and do something like this I’m sure you’ll find a spot.”
Anyone interested in making a real difference to the lives of people who have no other source of help and wish to donate please visit www.mercyships.org.au.
