‘Go again better' is the theme of YWAM Ships Aotearoa's deployment of the YWAM KOHA to Fiji this month.

The Tauranga-based medical aid ship is scheduled to depart on its second voyage to Fiji on May 12, following months of preparation.

'We still have space for dentists and dental assistants to serve on the ship,” says YWAM Ships Aotearoa managing director Marty Emmett.

The MV YWAM KOHA is scheduled to leave Tauranga for Fiji on May 12. Photo: Supplied.

'If you are a dental professional, or you know someone who desires to use their skills to empower health in Fiji, please contact our volunteer registrar at volunteers@ysa.nz.”

'We are genuinely grateful for all those who have helped prepare the ship, the dental clinics, and the multiple areas of ministry so we can launch the team off to serve again. This truly is a mission driven by us all. Thank you for the part you play.”

Go Again Better

With the 2023 theme being ‘Go Again Better', Marty says they aim to accomplish even more than last time.

'We hope to be more effective and efficient in empowering health as we partner with health professionals in Fiji. We learnt a lot last year about deploying this vessel and are eager to sharpen our skills and methods.”

After three-and-a-half years of dreaming and working towards the goal of using a ship to empower health in the isolated communities of the Pacific this aspiration became a reality as the YWAM KOHA deployed to Fiji on its maiden voyage in 2022.

Arriving in the port of Suva the crew was honoured and warmly greeted at a dockside ceremony featuring national dignitaries, religious leaders and the Fijian Police Band.

The YWAM Koha received a hospitable welcome from the Fijian Police Force and the Fijian Ministry of Health. Photo: Kirk Corrie.

In outreach mode over the following three months, Marty says the ship delivered incredible results to the people of Fiji.

'Reflecting on 2022, I am humbled and thrilled at what was accomplished through the YWAM Ships Aotearoa team. More than 3000 health services were delivered and many people's lives were transformed. I am mindful that this was only possible due to the large team who are a part of the YWAM Ships story.”

More than 100 volunteers from many nations participated in this deployment including health care professionals, mariners and general workers. The medical mission was supported by many people across Tauranga, NZ and around the world who donated financially.

'We are grateful for the many organisations and the thousands of individuals who had a part in making this deployment successful.

Ship Deployment Schedule - working in seven locations

The YWAM KOHA is scheduled to deploy to the Pacific in mid-May with the primary focus to again be Fiji. The ship will serve four months divided into seven outreaches spread across the maritime islands of this nation.

• Sail Window, May 8-19 to Suva for customs and immigration and official functions
• Outreach 1–June 3 to June 17 working in Kadavu
• Outreach 2–June 24 to July 8 working in Kadavu
• Outreach 3–July 15-29 working in Rabi Island
• Outreach 4–August 5 to 19 working in Rabi Island
• Outreach 5–August 26-September 9 working in Bua
• Outreach 6–September 16 to 23 working in Bua
• Outreach 7–September 30 to October 14 TBD
• October 15-24 Clear customs and depart for NZ

'We have a long-term commitment to Fiji and the Pacific. Partnerships will continue to undergird everything we do and moving forward together we will continue to empower health in the isolated communities of the Pacific,” says Marty.

'Having had time to reflect, I'm overwhelmed by what we achieved last year,” says Marty. 'It's only through the grace of God and the generosity of hundreds of people.

'I think my memory that I'll hold from 2022 is that we lived our dream. I got to touch something I'd been dreaming about for four years."

The YSA team with Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Photo: Supplied.

'We delivered dental work here in our region locally and we delivered the ship to Fiji and served for three months. I've never been so emotional. I've never lived in a space where I've actually touched what I'd been envisioning and communicating, for a couple of years at that point.

'It was so moving to me personally. I will never forget that. We learned so much last year.”

Three aspirations

Marty says they have three major aspirations for 2023 as part of ‘Go Again Better'.

'We're working to form a long term relationship with the Fiji Government.”

On a recent advance trip to Fiji, every leader they needed to connect with opened their door to them, including the High Chief of Fiji, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, the national leaders of the Minister of Health and of Fiji Oral Health Services, and many more.

'The Minister of Health confirmed that our partnership agreement had been agreed upon in principle by the multiple stakeholders within the government. It next goes to the cabinet this month to hopefully be approved.”

This agreement with the Fiji Government will clear the way for YWAM Ships Aotearoa to freely serve in Fiji for the next decade.

The MV YWAM KOHA sailing in Fijian waters. Photo: Supplied.

'We have added more outreaches this year hoping to empower healthy lives for many more individuals. We also aspire to see the crew thrive on this deployment. We realize, to succeed, the mission has to be sustainable for our hard working crew who deliver services to the people in need.

'Financially we have seen amazing generosity. It's not an easy season for many, so we are so grateful for every dollar that has been gifted. We view every donation as a gift towards the beautiful people of the Pacific. As such, we have a stewardship mindset over our spending.”

'With one hand we are preparing to serve in Fiji and with the other we want to keep serving in New Zealand through the Trinity Koha Dental Clinics. Over 1000 people with urgent dental needs were served last year. We want to do more this year. We want to build the vision. We want to change the culture of oral health in our region.”

Already this year, the NZ focused Trinity Koha Dental team has been hard at work with over 130 people treated here in the Bay of Plenty. Many more clinics are scheduled throughout the year.

YWAM Ships Aotearoa partnered with Huria Trust to deliver free dental care into the Tauranga community. Photo: Supplied.

More than $1m worth of free dental services has now been delivered to local communities where access to care is limited by the team, whose volunteers say they are 'just getting started”.

YWAM Ships Aotearoa began using their mobile units about two years ago to treat Bay of Plenty locals in urgent need of dental care after Covid -19 prevented their ship from sailing to remote Pacific Island villages to fulfil its original mission.

What became known as the ‘Trinity Koha Dental Clinic' has subsequently treated 1882 patients from across the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and East Coast (including Katikati, Judea, Bethlehem, Papamoa, Kawerau and Rotorua). Patients are able to give a koha, but there was no expectation to pay.

Members of the Trinity Koha Dental Clinic team providing dental care. Photo: Supplied.

'We set up the clinic where we are invited and where there is great need for urgent dental care,” explains Team Leader Sue Cole, who is a retired dentist.

'In 2023, we hope to serve more than 1,000 people in need of urgent dental services,” says Marty.

'We want to empower good oral health, a culture of oral health in the Bay of Plenty and our region.

Medical supplies brought ashore from the ship in Fiji. Photo: Supplied.

He says the third aspiration is to grow YWAM Ships Aotearoa partnerships.

'The most critical aspect and our greatest need is partnerships. We are only as strong and effective as the team beside us.

'As our services expand, we are aware that we need to grow our support team, the office staff, our clinic team, our mariner team, and our ship's technical team.

'We are looking for people who want to jump in long term to be a part of this aspirational dream of empowering health in the Pacific.”

To join the YWAM Ships Aotearoa team or find out more about joining email info@ysa.nz

Herea tō tātou waka ki te whetū, kāore ki te titiwai

Tie our canoe to a star and not to a glow worm