Faith Alive News

A Servant's Heart in Action: Biana Grogg Shares Her Story

4.2.2009 - After the fire destroyed Faith Alive Clinic in 2006, an urgent cry for help from patients, whose medical records were literally in ashes and desperate for medication, was heard by the Hope for West Africa Foundation. The situation seemed hopeless and the Faith Alive staff was demoralized. God did not abandon his precious faithful ones and through funding from the Hope for West Africa Foundation, Biana Grogg, a public health nurse answered the call. Biana was on ground within weeks to help. Now at the conclusion of her two year commitment she shares her experiences and perspectives. The Hope for West Africa "Give Back Campaign" seeks support for a full time medical director to build upon the foundation that Biana has built.

1. How did you first hear your calling to come to FA?

Some friends of mine from church heard about FA through friends of theirs. My friends came and visited FA and showed slides of their trip at our church and told some of the FA stories. I felt immediately that I had to go to FA and see for myself, and visited FA later that year. During that visit it was as if God broke my heart into little pieces and gave me back a new heart, filling me with a love for my new Nigerian friends and with a conviction that I had to do something to help. As I talked with others, prayed, and listened to God, it became clear that I needed to actually go to FA for a period of time and help out at the clinic.

2. What do you see as your greatest success in your time at FA?

The greatest successes I have seen must be the growth that has taken place in the lives of the leadership team at FA. My time at FA has been a small part in the process of God developing stronger and more capable Christian leaders at the clinic.

3. What aspects of your work bring you the most joy?

The greatest joy I experience while working at FA is when I am able to get out of the office/administrative things and actually spend time one-on-one with my partners/friends in the clinic, especially when I can help them in some small way to solve a problem or to move into a new area of ministry/service themselves.

4. In your experiences, what were your greatest challenges?

The greatest challenges have always been related to the cultural problems that are inherent in Nigerian culture and will probably take decades to change. While the aid from other countries to Nigeria is very needed (especially the ARVs), there are many times when these outside funding groups are expecting things to work a certain way and it is just not going to happen that way because of culture clashes. I learned over time that teaching someone a new way to do something and providing a few resources and doing a little ongoing monitoring is not able to overcome the fears, distrust, and despondency that have developed throughout the culture in response to all of the violence and poverty and disease they have experienced. The new ways of doing things are good and can gradually become a part of Nigerian culture and practice, but they will run smack up against many barriers for many years to come, and have to be re-taught and reinforced again and again. My greatest frustration has been the foreigners who expect things to change quickly. It just isn't reality.

5. How has your faith helped you through your challenges?

The only way that I found to cope with the day to day frustrations that are part of living in a culture of poverty and need, as well as with the pressures that are placed upon the community by the well-meaning outside influences from the international support groups, is to walk closely with God, listening to Him, and focusing on obediently loving and serving others as God provides opportunities to help others.

6. Differences between working in a clinic like FA and as a public health nurse in the US?

The differences in methods of working are immense, but the importance of relationships is the same in both settings. Treating others with respect and courtesy, putting others needs ahead of yourself, and loving others through service, helping, and empowering of others is the key to both a satisfying work experience and success/progress in the work.

7. What will I miss the most about FA and Jos?

The people - no question about it. Nigerians are some of the most caring people I have ever met. In spite of all of the struggles they experience daily, and the lack of progress they see if they look around them in their society, institutions, and government, they live with a hope and grace that is amazing.

8. What do you plan to do next?

I really have no clue what I will do next. I'm looking forward to being closer to my family and grandchildren - how great it will be to just be able to pick up a phone and hear one of their voices without having to maneuver through time differences and technology challenges. I know I will always be helping FA in some way, whether in the US or back in Jos - they are part of my heart and life now. My time with FA has changed me a lot, and I think that I will not be satisfied with just finding a job in some area of health care where I can work towards retirement. So, I'm going to spend some time listening to God and processing my experiences here in Jos, and we'll see the next adventure that the Lord leads me into.

News Archive

9.29.08 - Nativity Team Volunteers in August at Faith Alive and the Anawim Home
9.8.08 - Volunteer Shares his Experience at Faith Alive Hospital