God laid it on my heart to serve people many years ago, but I started to serve their physical needs when I went to paramedic school and was certified in 2007. I have used my skills professionally through my job with Little Elm Fire Department where I am a firefighter/paramedic. I also work as a tech for Acute Kids Urgent Care - a pediatric urgent care clinic. I am so thankful that God has given me the ability to help people this way, and I enjoy doing it more than I can explain.
Over the past few years, I have heard God calling me to do mission work, and this is what started my passion for serving the people of Africa. In 2008 I went on my first medical mission trip to Uganda with a team lead by Brent Armstrong through our church, FBC McKinney. I went back in 2010 and the trip changed our lives forever. It was there, in Kampala Uganda, that the Lord made it clear that our next child would be adopted. And that child would be from Uganda! Four VERY short months later, we traveled to Uganda and then home with our son - Owen Mukisa.
This past year our good friends, the McBrides, left everything and everyone they know to answer Gods call. The family of five moved to Kitwe, Zambia to run a school for orphans and vulnerable children sponsored by Lifesong. Through lots of prayer and lots of listening, God has made it clear that I am to lead a medical team there this fall to provide medical and spiritual care for the students, their families and anyone else that can use our help.
I have been communicating with Shane McBride to discuss what their main needs are and have found that the most common are malnourishment, dehydration, and burn care. Of course, there is also always a need for antibiotics and acute care. That being said, our goal as Christ followers is to spread the Gospel and let them know that Jesus Christ is the ultimate healer first and foremost.
Please pray about joining me on this amazing opportunity to serve the less fortunate through medical care and showing the love of Christ. I have learned that there is much to learn from the people of Africa and the blessing they give us far out weighs what we bring them.
I would love to have anyone with medical experience but we are not limited to that - if you feel lead, please let me know! Thanks again and God bless.
ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD,
Josh Willis
