"I first heard about Mercy Ships almost 20 years ago through my colleagues in the Australian Maritime Safety Authority based in Newcastle. Mercy Ships had a vessel at the time that worked in Papua New Guinea that would come to Newcastle for surveys, refits and repairs," Mr MacGillivary recalled.
"I am a certified chief engineer, but I have not sailed on a ship for over 25 years. Accordingly, I requested to serve in the junior engineering position of motorman. My work is no more or less important than the work of others on board. I am happy to make whatever contribution I can in support of the medical practitioners onboard."
The Africa Mercy arrived in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo, in August 2013 and plans to provide over 3,300 free surgeries onboard, to treat more than 20,000 people at land-based dental and eye clinics, and to provide health care education to Congolese health care professionals during its 10-month stay in port.
Mr MacGillivary travelled to the Congo via South Africa and was required to complete crowd and crisis management training upon arrival to the ship. Like all 400 crewmembers onboard, Mr MacGillivary was responsible for his own travel costs and actually paid crew fees to cover his accommodation and food costs. He says that his friends and family have been very positive about his decision to travel to Central Africa. "Some have been inspired to look into Mercy Ships to serve as well," he says.
"I have had the opportunity of meeting the families of our local engine hands, shared food and conversation with them and met members of their communities. These people live in grinding poverty in countries where, despite having enormous natural resources and having received decades of aid, the graft and corruption of their governments have robbed the people of basic health care, education and infrastructure."
Mr MacGillivary says it's too early to tell what effect his service in the Congo will have on his life, but he hopes to volunteer with Mercy Ships again. "I plan to land another work contract in order to save up some money for a possible return in the future," he concluded.