MADAGASCAR — A YWAM medical ship has set sail from the North Wales coast to Madagascar where its crew will provide vital medical treatment to those in desperate need. GNA reporter Peter Wooding went on board the Island Reach to find out more about their journey and mission to the South East African coast.

A YWAM medical ship has set sail from the North Wales coast in the UK for Madagascar where it’s crew will provide vital treatment to those in desperate need.

Crowds at Conwy Harbor worshipped God in thankfulness that the Island Reach was finally beginning it’s long journey to the South East African coast.

For nearly three years a dedicated team at this dock has transformed the former naval vessel into a purpose built floating medical centre.

I spoke to Elaine Leakey from YWAM Ships Switzerland who purchased the vessel in 2021 the day before the Island Reach left for Madagascar in their dental treatment room. She explained more about the need to pray for their crew on this challenging journey.

So they will travel for six to eight weeks. They’ll have three different fuel stops. And of course we know with the tensions rising in the Middle East there’s some risk involved so we’d love prayer for safe passage particularly when we get into the Red Sea.

Island Reach Captain Jeremy McWilliams says after so many years dedicated to preparing this ship eagerly looks forward to finally delivering the ship to the people of Madagascar.

Jeremy McWilliams:

What would be most rewarding is to have a video of this little ship coming into a river in Madagascar and just seeing all the smiling faces and the horn tooting and then seeing the people on the deck.  It will feel incredibly worthwhile everything we put into it at that moment.

And the Island Reach is expected to arrive in Madagascar in around six weeks time.

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