Sometimes the most meaningful opportunities arrive with very little notice.
A few weeks ago, Pat received a call through Samaritan's Purse asking if she would consider serving as a volunteer surgeon at a Christian mission hospital in Angola. The hospital needed temporary medical support while some of its regular physicians were away, and because Pat had previously helped train one of the surgeons there, it seemed like a natural fit.
This will be our first time serving in Angola, and we're looking forward to learning about a new country, meeting new people, and working alongside the dedicated staff at a Christian hospital that provides vital medical care to communities with limited access to healthcare. The hospital serves a large region where quality medical care is not always readily available.
While Pat will spend her time in the operating room and mentoring local medical professionals, I'll be putting my engineering background to work. Every hospital depends on reliable infrastructure, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to help wherever practical needs arise. Whether that's troubleshooting equipment, solving electrical problems, or simply lending another pair of hands, I'm excited to contribute in ways that support the medical team.
One quote has been on my mind lately:
“Scripture is filled with examples of men and women whom God used late in life, often with great impact—men and women who refused to use old age as an excuse to ignore what God wanted them to do.”
We certainly don't see ourselves as people making a "great impact." Most of the time, it feels much more like simply helping where we're needed. But if we can make life a little easier for the doctors, nurses, patients, and families we'll meet, then the trip will be worthwhile.
As with any international trip, there are countless details to prepare—vaccinations, paperwork, travel arrangements, packing, and making sure everything at home is in order before we leave. We would appreciate your prayers that all of these preparations come together smoothly.
Angola has faced tremendous challenges throughout its history, including decades of civil war and the subsequent rebuilding process. Yet it is also a country filled with resilient people, growing communities, and opportunities to serve. We look forward to learning from the people we meet as much as we hope to be of help ourselves.
Thank you for following our journey and for praying for everyone involved—patients, healthcare workers, hospital staff, and the many people who quietly serve behind the scenes every day.
We'll share more after we arrive and, as circumstances allow, update you on what we're learning and experiencing.
Blessings,
Fenton & Pat Rees