Story of my cabinmate

Jenn Childs - Crew Story

Jenn Childs served as Hospital Care Provider on the Africa Mercy for a total of three months. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York with a degree in Allied Health Science. She worked as a physician's assistant for five and a half years in an outpatient family practice and is currently on a leave of absence from the Guthrie Clinic in Gang Mills, New York.

Jenn was raised in New York in a Christian family. She serves in her church, the Central Assembly of God, as the mission director, which gives her the opportunity to communicate with missionaries and coordinate their visits to her church.

This interest in missions drew Jenn to Mercy Ships. She participated in two Mercy Teams - one in Honduras and one in Benin. Mercy Teams are short-term trips offering various kinds of experiences. Medical Mercy Teams often host an outpatient clinic, treating patients for general ailments and dispensing vitamins and medications.

While in Benin, Jenn had an opportunity to visit the Africa Mercy . She describes the impact of that visit: "As soon as I stepped foot on the ship, I knew I had to come back. There was something so special about it, and I could feel the spirit moving and telling me that I had to come back here."

And Jenn did come back. She worked in the admissions tent onboard the Africa Mercy . Every surgical patient has to be screened for problems that could affect surgery, such as high blood pressure. Jenn also got the opportunity to hear every patient's story as she guided them through the admission process. She described her days as emotional, yet uplifting. She saw deformed and heartbroken patients, but she also saw them transformed by the medical care provided on the hospital ship.

Jenn says, "My experience has been wonderful. I've loved it here. To see the transformation in people's lives is amazing. To see their physical problem healed is touching and wonderful. But to see the transformation that is taking place in their hearts and their spirit s is what is more beautiful to me because these people have a story beyond the obvious defect."

Jenn credits her experience with Mercy Teams as the reason for joining the Africa Mercy crew. She feels the teams were not only a great missions experience but also preparation for life on the Africa Mercy .

Written By Joy Clary
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos By Liz Cantu:


Jenn Childs, Hospital Care Provider, checks a patients vitals in the Africa Mercy admissions tent.


Jenn Childs, Hospital Care Provider, poses with Africa Mercy patient, Lawson.


Jenn Childs examines an Africa Mercy child patient, Souleman Konde, during the admissions process