Week One in Sierra Leone – Learning to Slow Down

Today marks one week since I arrived in Sierra Leone to serve on Mercy Ships. I’m still processing everything I have experienced since the moment I left home.

The past few days I have been working evening shifts, and tonight will be my fourth one in a row. Adjusting hasn’t been easy. It’s not just about the work—it’s about shifting my mindset and learning a completely different rhythm of life.

One of the biggest challenges has been time.

Time moves slowly here. Much slower than what I’m used to. In Western countries we are often so busy that we forget to pause. We rush from one responsibility to another and rarely take time to truly rest or sit with friends, family, and neighbors.

Here, life unfolds differently.

The work of Mercy Ships is incredibly important for the people of Sierra Leone and the surrounding region. Basic healthcare is fragile and, in many places, almost non-existent. Something as simple as explaining the importance of washing hands becomes part of daily conversations with patients and families.

At first, the slower pace felt strange—even boring at times. But I’ve started to realize that what I thought was “boring time” is actually precious time.

Time to listen.
Time to hear people’s stories.
Time to understand their journeys.

One thing that deeply touches me in this culture is the way people care for each other. Even when they don’t know one another, they encourage and support each other whenever someone is struggling.

And then there is something here called “Waka Waka.”

In Krio, the local language spoken across Sierra Leone, waka simply means to walk. But “waka waka” is more than just walking.

People gather together, music starts playing, and for about half an hour everyone walks and dances together. It becomes a moment of shared joy.

I saw a patient who was clearly in pain. But the moment Waka Waka began, he joined the others—walking and dancing. For that moment, the pain seemed to fade.

Moments like that are incredibly powerful. For a little while, people can forget their struggles and simply experience joy together.

Today I also left the ship for the first time to visit a local hospital called the Hope Center. The Hope Center provides a place for patients who come for pre-screening before surgery on the Mercy Ships, or for those who live far away and need a place to stay during rehabilitation.

Because of safety and privacy reasons, we are not allowed to take pictures of people or specific buildings. But the stories, the smiles, and the resilience I see here will stay with me.

It has only been one week.

And already I feel like Sierra Leone is teaching me something important:

Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when we slow down enough to walk life together.

Waka waka.
David