Why move to the poorest country in the world when you could be living the American Dream?
That’s the big question people have for doctors in African hospitals who give up their high-earning practices back home to live and work in Burundi.
And there’s a good answer, too.
While we were in Burundi last summer, we had the chance to meet many people who have done this very thing.
Burundi, according to gross national income measurements, is the poorest country in the world.
That’s just an economic measure, of course. It’s not a measure of natural resources, happiness, overall wellbeing, social health, satisfaction with one’s life, etc. Money’s not everything. But it does impact access to healthcare as well as the ability of people to pursue higher education that would lead to more nationals becoming healthcare professionals.
With a lack of access to healthcare, particularly in rural regions, many people suffer devastation from easily-treated diseases like malaria.
We’ve seen this happen even to our own family members, who, as expats with cars and insurance for medical evacuation, have far more access to medical treatment.
If you’ve been following our story for a while, you may have read about Ben’s near-death experiences growing up in sub-Saharan Africa.
In a nutshell, Ben nearly died twice in high school. In both cases, both expat and national healthcare professionals were able to save his life.
Because of these experiences, Ben recognized the need for more expat doctors as well as more opportunities for Burundian nationals to become doctors.
So, he spent the next decade-plus of his life preparing to fill that need.
Part of the reason for our trip to Africa was to tour hospitals and visit with doctors–both expat and national– to ask questions and see where Ben might be able to fit in the future, when we’ve paid off the student loans and are in a position to do medical ministry overseas.
Planning to move overseas is complicated.
Hoping to do medical work is even more so. There are a lot of questions to consider.
- What hospital/clinic has needs we can fill?
- What sending organization do we go with?
- Where will our family fit in?
- Do we work for an international NGO or a local-run institution?
- How much change can we handle right off the bat?
- Will our kids be OK here? (This is the one that really weighs on my mind)
We came away with a lot of great options. Still, we have a lot of unanswered questions. That’s OK, because we have a lot of unpaid debt, too, so we have some time to figure out the best fit for us when we’re able to go overseas.
We haven’t taken meaningful steps toward moving yet, and James 4:14-15 is always in the back of my head when I talk about our hopes for the future.
Still, we get asked all the time: Why? Why would you want to give up your life in America and move somewhere like Burundi?
The surface-level answer is that Ben is from there. It is home. It was the plan all along and the only reason that Ben had any interest in slogging through eleven years of medical training.
The deeper answer is that Jesus is worth it.
I’ve discovered that answer is a great testimony to our faith and God’s glory. People can argue with your apologetics. But not with your personal experience of Jesus’ worthiness and your willingness to press into that with your own life decisions.
Why struggle on with a difficult season in marriage? Jesus is worth it. Why become a foster parent? Jesus is worth it. Why forgive the family member who hurt you deeply? Jesus is worth it. Why choose a career walking alongside hurting people? Jesus is worth it.
Friends, I don’t know what choices you’re making or what seasons you’re walking through. But I pray that wherever you’re choosing obedience to Christ, you’ll have the chance to give his name glory by telling others that Jesus is worth it.
Africa Day 1: 30 Hours in Transit
Africa Day 2: Crossing Burundi
Africa Day 3: A Dowry Ceremony
Africa Day 4: A Burundian Wedding
Africa Day 5: Gisuru School for the Deaf