ADAMS TWP — Michelle Erwin, 27, of Adams Township has been equipping herself for the mission of a lifetime: a 10-month tour aboard a hospital ship docked in Benin, West Africa.

“I currently work as a physical therapist. My main focus has been in pediatrics, mostly with children with developmental delays, neurological, orthopedic and genetic disorders. However, recently, I have been trying to expand my skill set to prepare for my mission work with Mercy Ships,” she said.

Erwin graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and adapted physical activity and again in 2012 with a doctorate in physical therapy.

She works part time at Adventure Time Pediatrics in Grove City and at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital in Sewickley.

But Erwin has wanted to be a missionary from the time she was 16 and a two-week mission trip to Moldova in Eastern Europe changed her life.

“I saw the needs of people in such a poor country, but also their beauty and value as people that God created,” Erwin said. She felt God calling her to take the Gospel to people around the world.

“For the last 11 years, I have geared my life around doing just that. I went to PT school so that I could gain a skill to help others. I have gone on a dozen short-term trips around the world to gain cultural skills and to help people whenever I could,” she said.

“The goal of Mercy Ships is to bring hope and healing to the world's poor. This does not just mean physical healing. This is hope through the saving power of Jesus Christ,” Erwin said.

She is eager for her long-term mission assignment in Benin which will run from August through May 2017. “I absolutely love experiencing new cultures and learning from people around the world. I am excited to help save lives and provide health care to some of the neediest people in the world,” she said.

Erwin also believes forming friendships with the 450 other volunteers aboard will be an added benefit. She will be part of a crew representing more than 45 nations.

Her parents have been supportive.

“I know that it is hard on any mother or father to let their child go to places like West Africa, but my parents have been so faithful and selfless to support me wherever I go,” she said.

“Probably the hardest part about an extended time on board is being away from your family, friends, and home. Living on a ship carries certain risks, but Mercy Ships holds the safety of its crew in highest regard,” said Heather Peterson, director of staffing with Mercy Ships.

The ship is a self-contained hospital. There are five operating suites, a recovery area, an ICU and a total of 78 patient beds. In addition, Mercy Ships provides community health care clinics and health education programs on shore.

“Michelle will be joining the crew as a physical therapist during our field service in Cotonou, Benin, and the services she provides will benefit the local Beninese people. We will be docked in Benin for a 10-month period, providing free surgical care, training and capacity-building programs to the people of Benin,” said Peterson.

Erwin will also tend to scar management and restoring movement in burn patients.

Most volunteers work for about 45 hours a week and then have free time to leave the ship.

“We are encouraged to join local churches, shop in the villages, play sports with local friends and enjoy the beautiful people of Africa,” she said.

Though it's a volunteer position, the process of selection is similar to applying for a job.

“I completed an application and communicated over the phone and via e-mail with a few people who staff the ship,” Erwin said.

She said she's not seen photos of the living conditions on the ship, but shared the description from the volunteer handbook: “Housing is our biggest challenge on board. Single crew will most likely be in a multiberth (with 6, 8, or 10 beds) cabin, most of which do not have a window or porthole. Most cabins have bathrooms and are furnished with bunk beds, a small closet for each person and access to the Internet.'”

Because Mercy Ships is operated on donations, each of the volunteers is responsible for raising funds for their trip.

“Each volunteer raises enough to essentially cover their room and board on the ship. My cost will be about $630 a month, plus the cost of getting to the ship and back,” she explained.

Erwin estimated her cost will be around $8,000.

She has been fundraising. Most of the efforts have concluded except for Miles for Mercy.

“It is a website where people can sign up to run any race for the cause, or to support a runner such as myself or my friends by donating through the site,” said Erwin. The website is www.milesformercy.com.