UNION COLLEGE
time of spiritual growth and making my relationships and my religion my own,” she said. “Union is very mission-oriented, and the spiritual atmosphere was strong. It fostered growth in me. The relationships we built there changed our lives.” After graduating, the two married and moved to Loma Linda University so James could complete medical school. With overseas missions their ultimate goal, they signed up for the Deferred Mission Appointee program, which matches graduates with mission opportunities. The program repays a portion of participants’ student loans, making it possible for recent graduates to pay Photos Courtesy James and Rachel Fernando for their education and live their calling. Shortly after James completed his residency, the Fernandos received a call. They signed on for an Union grads follow their calling to an African hospital initial five-year stint, and within weeks they were on orking at a hospital hospital, sometimes helping didn’t initially share James’ a plane to their new home in Sierra Leone is a on the children’s ward. yearning to be a missionary. in Sierra Leone. far cry from the well-funded Their journey together In fact, she recalls watching Both say that the edumodern medical facilities began at Union. friends embark on student cation they received while in America, but for gradJames wanted a way missionary journeys. at Union has made their uates James and Rachel to turn his passion for “I have very clear memprofessional lives easier. “A Fernando, Union College mission trips into a career. ories of thinking that was lot of the things I learned planted a seed that grew So he enrolled in Union not for me—I was not called in the IRR program that into a calling the two now College’s International to go overseas,” she said. may not have been useful live out daily while serving Rescue and Relief program But, over time, serving as stateside have really helped, this African community. on the pre-med track, a missionary became her and I’ve found good use for The Fernandos work at knowing that being a doc- dream too. my education here,” James Waterloo Hospital, where tor could help him reach She credits James’ excite- said. “Practicing medicine James is a family medicine his missionary goals. ment for the mission field in this environment is a doctor. Rachel is a partWhile at Union, he met and her college experience whole different world than time physician assistant physician assistant stufor helping shape her plans. so much of what we learned in the female ward of the dent Rachel O’Hare. She “My time at Union was a in medical school.”
Serving Sierra Leone
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24 OUTLOOKMAG.ORG APRIL 2020
