John Rolland has met many local heroes. In fact, he’s been photographing them for our magazine for more than two years.

This month, I asked the humble artist to turn the camera on himself and his wife, Jenny, so that we might share the exceptional journey their family is just beginning.

By the time this issue goes to print, the Rollands — John, Jenny, and their three children,

Joey, Bethany, and David — will be on their way to Monrovia, Liberia, to embark on a two-year mission through the global charity Mercy Ships.

Mercy Ships has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978, and more than 7,000 surgeries a year are performed onboard its current ship, Africa Mercy. The group’s mission is to follow the example of Jesus by bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor. 

The Rollands will continue their careers on the 499-foot ship, which acts as a floating community. John will serve as a photographer, and Jenny — a surgical nurse who first expressed her desire to join this program in a journal entry 20 years ago — will be the assistant manager of the vessel’s six operating rooms. Meanwhile, Joey, Bethany, and David will attend school at the Mercy Ships Academy, alongside the families of other crew volunteers.

“A lot of people think we’re doing something sacrificial or out of the box,” John says. “But God has put this in our hearts for a number of years and now we’re finally able to act.”

“This is just another step in our family’s life,” Jenny adds. “We see it as our next great adventure.”

From the staff of Winston-Salem Monthly, we’d like to wish you all “bon voyage!”    

For information about Mercy Ships, go to mercyships.org. To view the family’s blog, go to 5rollands.blogspot.com.