Frankie Wilson, a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City, refused to spend her retirement in just comfort and rest.
That’s why she has embarked upon a 9,000-mile journey, to serve the people of Madagascar.
In Madagascar, there are approximately three hospital beds for every 10,000 people, and about 3,000 doctors to serve the population of 22 million. So with a Bible and stethoscope in hand, Wilson, 72, a retired nurse, will put forth her best to do God’s will in a country where medical care is inaccessible for most local inhabitants.
Eager Volunteer
A few years ago, Wilson’s mother and husband both died within a six-month period. Soon after, Wilson retired. But she didn’t want to remain idle.
Wilson’s daughter told her about an organization she had read about called Mercy Ships. Wilson also saw a segment about the organization on 60 Minutes.
“I studied what it was all about, and I thought, that’s something I’d like to do— but not now,” Wilson said.
Mercy Ships is a Christian nonprofit, founded in 1978, that works internationally to provide surgeries in some of the world’s poorest areas. Though Mercy Ships used to manage a fleet of three ships, there is just one operational ship now, the Africa Mercy.
“This vessel was deployed in 2007 and can accomplish far more than the three previous ships put together, due to the size of the ship and its onboard hospital,” Russ Holmes, a spokesman for Mercy Ships, said.
When the Africa Mercy arrives at a port, it docks for months to provide free medical care to the locals, including treatment of burn wounds, cleft palates and tumors.
In 2013, Wilson began the application process to become a volunteer. She submitted recommendation letters and had to get “every vaccination you can imagine,” she said.
In June 2014, nearly a year after she had applied, Wilson was notified that she had been accepted. She was called to begin serving in August at a port in West Africa, but the ebola epidemic changed the plans.
Wilson raised more than $5,000 to cover the travel and living expenses of her service. Members of her church, St. Peter’s Episcopal, were some of the most generous donors.
In November, the Africa Mercy arrived in Madagascar, and Wilson was invited to board Jan. 24. She accepted the call, and will return to Plant City May 30.
Life On Board
Wilson is a registered nurse and certified catastrophic case manager.
“This is where my experience will be really helpful in evaluating the patients on the ship,” she said.
With the help of an interpreter, she will be one of the last people each patient speaks with before going in to surgery.
“I’ll be there to hold their hand and give them a little bit of comfort,” Wilson said.
Wilson will share a cabin and bathroom with five other women. Volunteers are limited to two-minute showers and one duffel bag.
“You’re lonely at times, you’re tired, but you just keep going on … because it’s all about doing God’s work,” Wilson said.
Volunteers have weekends free for excursions and visits to local church services.
“I’ll be seeing things I’ve never seen before,” Wilson said. “I know that I will get far more out of this experience than I will give, but I’m just going to give it the best that I have and hope to make a difference.”
Local Roots
Wilson is serving with Mercy Ships in honor of her mother, who raised four children alone.
“She was always teaching us to take the high road,” Wilson said.
The family has prominent ties to Plant City. Two of Wilson’s granddaughters were Strawberry Queens (Ashley Watkins Jordan in 2005, and Victoria Watkins in 2011), and another was first maid on the Strawberry Court (Alexandra Watkins in 2007).
Wilson said she will sad to miss the Florida Strawberry Festival this year. Is is the first time since 1965.
Last year, Wilson moved out of Plant City to a retirement community in Tampa. But she is still involved at St. Peter’s, as a member of the Altar Guild.
The church honored Wilson last weekend, to send her off to Africa with prayers.
“I felt like I was being dedicated to God all over again,” she said.
Answer the Call
About 1,200 volunteers serve with Mercy Ships each year, and not all of them have backgrounds in medical care. Applications are available for teachers, cooks, electricians and more. The ship is staffed by about 400 volunteers.
Holmes said volunteers should most importantly have a heart to serve.
For more information, visit mercyships.org.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.