Allison Tjaden
Community Health Development
After graduating from UCSD in 1996, I entered the International Public Health program at Loma Linda University. Throughout the program, I became extremely excited as I discovered how I could connect my love for Jesus with helping people less fortunate than myself in other countries - exactly what I felt God calling me to do! I could help people spiritually as well as physically by teaching them ways to prevent diseases and thus, improve the overall quality of their lives. I went to Kenya and Tanzania in the summer of 1998 as part of a required class for the International Health program. It was at this time that I met Don and Amy Rogers, ELI International Directors, and worked in three villages with ELI for about three weeks. I was amazed by the effectiveness of ELI’s mission, put into action at the village level! Involvement in an organization like ELI that combines teaching God’s Word with action to help the sick and needy was an answer to my prayers. In 1999, I completed the final requirement for my Master’s degree by doing an internship with ELI in Kenya for five months. My task, in part, was to research and help establish a strategy for combating alcoholism at the village level in East Africa. It was such an exciting time - challenging, frustrating, growing, eye opening, rewarding, and most of all, absolutely worth the time, energy, risk, and resources that were invested! I discovered that with God’s help I truly could empower people physically as well as spiritually. After much prayer, in July 1999 I decided to accept a call to serve full time with ELI! I thank God for the journey He has brought me on and for allowing me to see how the passions He has given me can be used in a vocation. My passion is to see God change people’s lives, both physically and spiritually! It breaks my heart to know that many villagers are inflicted with diseases and illnesses which are preventable. Thus, my ministry involves training nationals how to effectively empower their people with knowledge of how to prevent diseases in combination with sharing the love of Christ with them. Currently I am living in Kipkaren, Kenya and working with nationals whom I have helped train in community health. My desire is to further encourage and motivate them in this area. We are moving forward with the implementation of a simple community health program in the area surrounding Kipkaren.