AN AMERICAN SURGEON GAVE UP MY CAREER FOR MINISTRY TO CHILDREN IN KENYA

In 2010, Eric Hansen gave up a lucrative medical career in America to fulfill his dream of serving the poorest of the poor. He Packed his bags, took his wife and four children and went for 13, 000 miles from Texas to a remote part of Africa, where he now serves as a medical missionary. Check out this inspiring story from Kenya!

Dr. Eric Hansen spoke Swahili before moving to Kenya. Moreover, he and his family never planned to live on the African continent.

“In fact, when we met, future wife asked me if I was going to devote himself to long-term missionary work in other countries, and I said “no”. It was the right answer. Thus it I would like checked. What brought us here seven years ago? God really changed our hearts,” — says the doctor-missionary Eric Hansen.

The hansens moved to Kenya from Texas specifically to work in the hospital, “kijoba,” which is about an hour drive from the capital Nairobi.

Hansen is the leading pediatric surgeon in “kijoba”. By definition, it is considered to be a medical missionary, but now that definition is changing.

“In the past model was assumed in which the missionary hospital was staffed almost exclusively by the visiting missionaries. Maybe somewhere it is effective, but it is not the best model. Therefore, we train local doctors. Here in “kijoba” is becoming more and more Kenyans. Half of the doctors here are Africans, says Hansen. — If this leads to the fact that in 10, 15, 20 years I’ve been here is not required, it will be wonderful. If not, then also good.”

To assess the scale of services provided by these Christian hospitals need to look at the statistics. For example, here in Kenya, 40% of health services are provided including Christian hospitals.

Twice a day doctors, staff and patients have the opportunity to attend services in the chapel of the campus.

If Hansen was just a surgeon, he would have probably treated hundreds of children each year. But he is also a teacher, so covers more kids.

“We educate people who then will teach others. So we are talking about tens of thousands of children. That’s more than I could do in my life. So I think that is a great testimony of the love of Christ, — he says. — We hang these labels with the names of all children in the headboard of beds, “Jesus loves you”. Any opportunity to care about someone is the opportunity to show His love.”

This opinion is shared by many in the hospital including chief of surgery Dr. Peter bird.

“For example, I can very well remove an Appendix, but someone like mercy or other pastors are very good at sharing the gospel. And this is very important. It makes no sense to fill hell with all these kids with perfectly sewn hernias. To do something more than this”, says Peter bird.

However, there are a lot of problems.

“Sometimes I think that we could pack up and go somewhere from here. But still, I think we would anything else is not exchanged this life. Surprisingly, we happy here. We understand that we have a purpose and a calling,” says Amanda Hansen.

“I think that all our problems are ultimately pale in comparison to the opportunities that we have. Each operation is a great honor for us. From the point of view of the surgeon it is a great experience. From the point of view of the patient — we hope that we will actually be able to help the child and family. And from the point of view learning is the most wonderful,” says Eric Hansen.

Hansen and bird could easily earn millions in their countries.

“I come from Australia, and there are a lot of surgeons. So another surgeon there do not really need it,” laughs Peter bird.

Instead, they chose a different life, another vocation with a unique reward.

“Living here, we feel as if we won the lottery. But the main thing here is obedience to God and love. We show love and get love in return from other people. We love all the people here, trainees, colleagues and patients,” says Eric Hansen.

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