Fellowship Hall

‘Anastasis’ kid returns as ‘Africa Mercy’ adult

Little did 12-year-old Chadwick Meyers know that when he left the Anastasis in June 2001, where he had lived with his family for four of his most formative years, he would return some day as a young adult – on his own.

Chad, who is now 18 and a resident of Waterdown, didn’t quite make it back to the Anastasis, which is now retired, but he is back with Mercy Ships and serving in Liberia, West Africa on the Africa Mercy, the newest and largest of the Mercy Ships hospital ships.

Chad Meyers aboard ‘Africa Mercy’

“There are even some people onboard who were here when I left in 2001,” Chad says. “Enoch, an African friend of mine from years back, is still here and it’s been cool to reconnect our lives. But, of course, the ship itself is different – the layout and design of it is different. It’s newer and things are done differently.”

At the same time, Chad knows that his whole perspective has changed. “I’m here now, not as a kid with my parents, going to school, doing kid things, but I’ve come on my own will, and I see everything in a different light. There are more responsibilities and I can help more now than I could at 12 years old!”

And what kind of help is Chad giving now? He’s working with the Crew Services department, in Housekeeping – a surprise to his mother who could never get him to clean his own room, let alone help clean a whole ship! But now, he can be found wielding a mop, sanitizing and cleaning the ship’s public toilets, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming – anything that is required to keep the interior of the vessel tidy and clean.

“With over 400 people living onboard, we need to keep the ship like the hospital area – clean and sanitized,” Chad explains. Probably even more surprising to his mother is that he doesn’t mind the work at all. “I have fun and I enjoy the people I work alongside,” Chad admits.

Besides his daily shipboard work, Chad appreciates the opportunities to get off the ship and visit orphanages, prisons and hospitals. “I especially love caring for the kids in the orphanages – they are always so joyful.”

Alongside the 'Africa Mercy'

And something that Chad learned when he lived onboard with his family is now being used on the Africa Mercy – playing the djembe (African drum). “I also help with the soundboard and sometimes get to play the djembe at our community worship services,” he says.

Recalling his earlier years, Chad admits to being fearful of leaving his Ontario home and friends and school. And when he first arrived on the ship at age seven, he was “intimidated and impressed at the same time. I wanted to explore everything and meet everyone!”

Spending some 'play time' with orphaned children in the village of Bonjeh.

“Ever since I left the ship when I was a kid, I felt that God might bring me back some day,” Chad says. “I enjoyed the different countries and cultures and felt like our family’s experience at that time was like a four-year field trip! I see how healthy the environment onboard was for me – educationally and spiritually.”

“I spent my maturing years surrounded by people passionate for Christ,” Chad says. “And I’ve seen the poorest of the poor – and all of it has changed my life.”

And so, Chad is back to give back – short-term for now. But who knows what might happen when he leaves the ship in April? After all, when he left the first time in 2001, he had no idea he’d be completing a circle six years later!

Story and photos courtesy of Mercy Ships