All PAACS programs overcome hurdles, challenges, obstacles and tests in order to open. Our new Nkinga General Surgery program has been no exception, right up and into our Grand Opening ceremony. As I reflect on the journey that God has brought us through just to begin this program, all the Biblical references to refining fire seem to be appropriate.Perhaps this one is the best from Malachi 3:2,3 (NRSV) “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.” In some ways this prefigures the day of Pentecost: “Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:3-4a, NRSV).
Perhaps the symbol of fire is particularly apt for us here at Nkinga. Visitors from other parts of Tanzania will commonly remark that “this is a hot place”. Many of us have old Swedish woodburning stoves in our houses, making us remember that controlled fire is very useful for cooking something wonderful. When the power goes out and the generator is slow to kick on, we are reminded that it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. We often wish for more and better cautery machines at our place, because fire can stop the world’s hemorrhage and we see alot of bleeding (trauma, obstetrical complications, GI bleeding) here. Even some of our faculty have been particularly known for their fiery nature. And perhaps lastly, Nkinga Referral Hospital is a ministry of the Free Pentecostal Church of Tanzania.
I cannot tell you all the fires that we as a team have walked through together already. Some, for kindness sake, should remain nameless; and some, as yet, are too precious to be spread abroad and must be contained in the firepot. I will tell you, however, that the program director arrived on site barely 36h before the Grand Opening, our transplanted resident was detained at the border and could not attend the ceremony, and the welcoming meal went cold as the majority of important guests were extremely late to arrive. And yet, when the Grand Opening was over, one of the witnesses to the ceremony (a hospital board member) told the program director that she had felt the Holy Spirit descend on all of us. Many others have said that the beauty of what the Lord had done and was doing was evident to them in Bishop Batenzi Hall on the 16th of January, the Year of our Lord 2026. You could tell that some were a bit shocked and still pondering.
So here at Nkinga, we rejoice in this Holy Fire and we ask you to pray with us that we here at Nkinga will “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in (us) through the laying on of… hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Tim 1:6-7 NIV).
Wendy Willmore, BSc, MD, FRCSC
Program Director
Nkinga Referral Hospital, Tanzania
