This trip to Egbe, Nigeria was my very first mission trip, and what an incredible experience it was! Samaritan’s Purse walked me through the process every step of the way, ensuring my safety and health. Every detail of my trip was masterfully planned.
The Journey to ECWA Hospital Egbe
The drive from the airport to Egbe was an adventure in itself. Parts of the road were smooth and well-paved, while other stretches reminded me of the high mountain dirt roads in the back hills of Montana. Along the way, I caught glimpses of Nigerian community life, commerce, infrastructure challenges, and the environmental impacts on health. That drive set the stage for everything I would later experience at the hospital and with the nursing students.
A Lesson in Faith and Nourishment
One of the most striking things I learned is that hospitalized patients are responsible for their own nourishment. If a patient has no family member, friend, or neighbor to bring food, they may go without. Seeing this reality was eye-opening.
But God is faithful to provide. Long-term missionaries Carine Malikidogo and her husband Dr. Ben live in Egbe, and Carine has been a role model of faith in action. Among her many responsibilities, she began a nutrition program for patients, stepping out in faith to deliver meals once a week. Much like Moses stepping into the water before the Red Sea parted, Carine offered her time, talent, and heart, and the Lord continues to supply the resources needed to prepare and serve food for patients. Her obedience and trust in God deeply inspired me.
Teaching and Prayer with Students
As a nursing professor, students are my heart, my passion, and my calling. Spending time with the nursing students at Egbe felt like coming home. It was a joy and an honor to pray with them before class.
One memory that will always stay with me is the way their prayers flowed, nearly every sentence ending with “in Jesus’ name.” At first, I mistakenly thought the prayer was concluding dozens of times before it actually ended! But as I reflect, I realize how beautiful that pattern is: a way of honoring Jesus as our source of help in nearly every breath.
Advice for Future Volunteers
My encouragement to future volunteers is this: try not to travel with preconceived ideas of what you will or will not do. The Lord may surprise you with the ways He chooses to use you. Be open to every role He places before you, you may find unexpected blessings in the assignments you never anticipated.
– Dr. Rebekkah H., Medical Volunteer
