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  • Eugene Kertzman
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  • Eugene Kertzman

Sierra-Leone

Our journey to join the Global Mercyship Read more
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    🇸🇱 Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Eugene KertzmanSierra-LeoneTraveler
    1

    Tacugama Chimpanzee sanctuary

    January 24 in Sierra Leone ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our first trip out was to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. It was founded with the help of Jane Goodall, the world's preeminent chimpanzee expert. We had booked a reliable taxi driver who did an excellent job in negotiating the (to us) chaotic traffic with cars, vans, Kekehs (motorized tricycles) everywhere, overtaking on both sides with horns blasting.
    After we arrived we had to wait for an hour for the tour to start and we promptly joined the wrong tour! A 3 hour hike! After a quick U turn we rejoined the tour. The have four areas for the chimpanzees that join usually as orphans kept by humans as pets in cages and sometimes even made to smoke and drink!
    In the first pens they get introduced to each other and slowly become a new family. They also have to learn to climb and use robes. After some time they can be moved to the second area, bigger and with more trees. The become more independent but still sleep in a covered area at night and get fed by their keepers. This continues till they are in area 4, much bigger and higher trees and more freedom. After this final stage they will be released in the wild, often on an island with very few people so they are safe. Mind you, you don't want to get in the way of one of these big boys, an alpha male is as strong as five grown men.
    Great tour and we might well try the hike as well! Dip in the on-board pool to cool off!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanSierra-LeoneTraveler
    1
    1

    Let the work commence.......

    January 23 in Sierra Leone ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We were fortunate enough to start our shift pattern with 2 days off before we had to start work. The first day was taken up by induction meetings. The second day by settling in and finding our way round this vast ship. Our very roomy cabin certainly will suit us well for 3 months with a living space, mini kitchen, double bed and bathroom. Plus a view over the next ship on the docks with a hive of activity during the day.
    Our shift pattern is 2 days on 3 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off. Start at 7:00 finish at 19:00 hrs with 2 long breaks in between.
    Eugene's work in the galley is not easy at all, apart from a long day on your feet is also noisy and warm with a generous dose of African gospel music thrown in. This makes the language barrier a bit of a challenge at times! I am in the cold section and the easy peeler quickly became my best friend attacking 2 cases of cucumbers in quick succession! There are 18 of us in the galley, 2 of us from the UK/NL.
    Sally is in the dining room to help stock the serveries and drinks counters as well as help clearing away and sorting out the dirty dishes and cutlery. A lot of contact with the crew which suits Sally who is not shy of talking to anyone! There are 15 in the team with 4 from Western Europe/US.
    First day off is spend having a rest, getting in the gym and doing the laundry. We also had an hour deck time with the patients on the veranda outside, playing games and trying to communicate in pigeon English and with our hands. A lot of children with leg operations that are not mobile yet. It brings it home why we are there!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanSierra-LeoneTraveler
    111

    Global Mercyship

    January 19 in Sierra Leone

    Our first glance of the Global Mercyship was from above as we drove down the hill in the minibus, by far the biggest ship in this small harbour.
    Crew meeting at 07:45, We had to stand up and be welcomed by the MD and it also included a short devotion as well as the importance of sorting the waste into the correct containers.
    Captain informed us that practice drills were compulsory and which cabins would be inspected!
    10:00 hrs, departmental induction with Joery, all in Dutch. Our shift doesn't start untill Wednesday!
    Nausea from malaria kicks in followed by a long induction meeting!
    Evening: tour of the ship, all 11 floors! Including leisure deck with pool, the bridge, walking track, ship shop, gym and hospital floors . A long walk!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanSierra-LeoneTraveler

    Is airtravel exciting?

    January 18 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    The plane journey from Heathrow to Brussels was quicker then getting off! The trip from the hotel at T4 to T2 was more stressful then the flight as well. The bus driver that was supposed to take us at 04:15 was ill, so a shared Uber at £37, was the answer!
    We arrived duly in Brussels and 'enjoyed' 4 hours in the departure lounge as more and more Mercyships t-shirts and sweaters started to appear. Turns out that Brussels is a bit of a hub for getting to Sierra Leone, even from Texas, USA!
    Upon arrival the heat and humidity hits you and your brain goes into sensory overload.
    An immigration officer whisked us as a group through and we pick up our luggage. Another scan of our luggage and we're in the arrivals lounge where we had to show our appointment letters or we couldn't get out! Unless you pay the statutory $25 exit fee!
    Next leg was on a minibus from Seacoach to get to a ferry terminal. Our first experience of Freetown roads! Noise, honking, tuk tuks (small taxis), okadas (motorbikes, no helmets) and lots of potholes. Lots if people wondering the streets and sitting out hoping to get a cool sea breeze. We then boarded a water taxi on a noisy bumpy ride whilst a vicious Chinese killing movie played on the big screen in front of us. I think it was suppose to take your mind off potential sea sickness.
    After this we were bundled into 2 minibuses and taken to where Mercyships was moored up. It was a long day and we got to bed at 00:15 hrs. Part 2 next time!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanSierra-LeoneTraveler

    The Journey begins

    January 17 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Well, we are finally on our way. Two 25kg suitcases and two 10kg rucksacks as well. Some tricky packing decisions were taken, what do you take for 13 weeks on a ship in Africa? Plus the fact the ship has aircon but outside it is 31°C?!
    Our journey is taking us to Heathrow today (Saturday), plane to Brussels (Sunday), 4 hr wait and a Brussels Airline plane straight to Lungi Airport near Freetown. Then the funs starts: coach to the Sea coach Terminal, water taxi to Aberdeen Terminal in Freetown, minibus to the ship. And we may well get a beautiful sunset thrown in! We shall see!    Read more

  • Eugene KertzmanSierra-LeoneTraveler

    Start of our journey

    April 9, 2025 in England ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    I guess our journey started quite a few years ago when we thought about what we could do as an act of service to God for all the blessings he had given us over many years. This idea became more pertinent as our retirement loomed closer. So in September 2022 we enquired about spending a period of time on one of the Mercyships as this charity had become close to our hearts in terms of their purpose, aims and ethos. After many emails, interview, questionnaires, form filling, etc we were finally accepted in July 2025 to serve on the Global Mercy from January 18 to April 18 2026.
    In the in between time we had a medical in Bristol (see picture), vaccinations (on-going) and a whole set of online courses from cyber security to food hygiene. The trip to Bristol was rather interesting, I thought we had to be in Almondsbury for our medical. When we got there we discovered it was in Shirehampton! We had 30 minutes to cover 14 km across Bristol from North to West on a tandem. We managed it in 33 min, average speed 25km an hour. When we rushed into the waiting room 5 min late my name was just being called!
    Update 15 Jan, all set to go. Mostly packed and all injection finished. Starting malaria tablets tomorrow, for 3 months and 4 weeks afterwards, oh joy!------    Read more

    Trip start
    January 16, 2026
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