20 Feb Jane Baker’s Return to Sierra Leone
The medical team and national workers. Jane Baker is in the middle (red top), with Ron right behind her.
Ron Baker performing surgery at Mattru Hospital.
Jane Baker sharing Scripture with a Sierra Leonean.
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries
Dr. Ron Baker led a team to Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone, January 18-28, 2011. While Ron has made several trips back to Sierra Leone over the years, this was the first time his wife, Jane, has returned since they left the field in the 1980s. Accompanying them were Luke and Shannon Brown and Roger and Denise Cable. Ron and Shannon were the only medical personnel on this team.
I wanted to share a bit of what I heard from Jane Baker. Jane is legally blind, and so returning to Sierra Leone was a particular challenge for her. She and Ron had talked about it a number of times, but she was both nervous and concerned that she would be a burden. Then one Sunday morning the message was from Isaiah 6, and when the pastor read, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Jane knew in her heart that the Lord was speaking to her. So she responded, “Here am I, send me.”
While some of the team did medical work at the hospital and others helped with maintenance, Jane was led from house to house to encourage, admonish, and share God’s Word with everyone she met. She was able to catch up with old friends, meet some who had come to faith in Christ since they left Sierra Leone, and share the Gospel with those still on a journey of faith.
I’m reminded again of the old adage, “God doesn’t care as much about our abilities as he doees about our availability.”
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