Eight years ago I gave up a very comfortable medical practice in Clearwater, Florida, to become a medical missionary and founded New Frontiers Health Force, a medical mission organization that provides free health care in developing countries.
As a little girl I knew I was going to be a doctor. As early as I can remember, I would pretend my Barbie doll was a doctor taking care of all the other dolly patients in our little makeshift cardboard clinic. That is how sure I was of what I would be when I grew up.
My relationship with the Lord began when I was eight years old with a firm commitment to do whatever He asked of me throughout life, much like the prophet Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me.”
During high school, while preparing for the premed program at Florida State University, I felt the Lord redirect my life. Even though it was very painful, I laid aside the desire to become a doctor and attended a Bible college where I became aware of God’s calling to missions. I was reminded that I said I would do whatever He commanded.
At age 19 I accepted my first missionary assignment, teaching at a school for hearing impaired children in the Philippines. The following summer I organized a group of students to backpack throughout Europe, assisting missionaries wherever they needed us. I fully expected that I would graduate and go to an overseas field for the rest of my life.
What a shock it was that in my senior year, God again began to speak to me about becoming a doctor. Can you believe that after four years of preparing to become a missionary God would say, “Now I want you to go on with your education to become a doctor?” That command translated into three and one-half additional years of undergraduate work before I was finally accepted into medical school for another four years of study and then an additional three years of family practice residency – a really, really long time in school.
During my residency training in 1993, I was given the opportunity to work in a mission clinic in the Dominican Republic for a month. That was it for me: the culmination of all those years of education and training coming together so God could now say, “Go forth.” I was reminded of that young girl who promised God she would go anywhere, do anything, and be anyone for Him.
Many times during those years of schooling I did not understand the Lord’s plan. But now, 8 years, 25 countries, 46 teams, and more than 70,000 patients since the final day in my office, I can say that I am truly walking out the God-directed destiny for my life. My life is measured in smiles, hugs, and expressions of sincere gratitude from people of all colors, races, and creeds.
People often ask, “How could you do it and give up the life you could have had?”
My reply is simple, “If not me, then who?”
The mission of New Frontiers Health Force is to take primary care medical teams on a short-term basis to underdeveloped nations, partnering with different agencies and organizations. NFHF has traveled to many nations, participated in disaster relief around the globe, given away millions of dollars of medications and hygiene supplies, and brought hope to thousands
