Show Notes
Host Kristy Graham introduces listeners to Dr. Ed Carns, who has been working with Samaritan’s Purse since 1999 when he first went to a remote hospital in Cameroon with World Medical Mission. Before this, Ed served in the military, but an injury forced his career path to change. His orthopedic surgeon at the time encouraged Ed to become a doctor, and this prompting changed the trajectory of his life.
Along the way, Ed accepted Christ as his Savior when he watched a Billy Graham movie, but his full surrender to the Lord happened later when he agreed to go to Cameroon to serve as a doctor with Samaritan’s Purse. Here, he was mentored and discipled by a long-term medical missionary. This was transformative in his life as he learned to trust God fully. Ed recalls learning to do surgery in Africa and trusting God to help him beyond his own skillset.
“When you look at these crazy things that happen, you work with what you have, and you trust God to prepare you for what you need to do. And He has never failed me.” – Dr. Ed Carns
Kristy asked Ed to share stories from his time in the field with Samaritan’s Purse. He recounts performing his first solo appendectomy, surviving a fire fight in Afghanistan, and learning the power of prayer. Each story demonstrates God’s faithfulness and how Jesus pursues each person individually.
“The journey for me has been just unbelievable, because it literally changed my heart and saved my life and, taught me how to live my life for the Lord.” – Dr. Ed Carns
Kristy reflects on how when we are in the middle of a difficult time in our lives, it’s nearly impossible to see God’s hand at work. But God creates a beautiful tapestry, and when you look back, you can often see God’s hand more clearly. This was the case for Ed. His military career ended unexpectedly as a result of an injury, but this opened the door for him to become a doctor, which changed his life and taught him what it means to live in full surrender to God. Kristy and Ed end the episode by talking about how important it is to remain alert and keep our eyes fixed on God no matter what is happening around you.
If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.
Dr. Ed Carns has served in the far corners of the world with Samaritan’s Purse both with World Medical Mission and the Disaster Assistance Response Team. He shares his testimony of how God used people in his life to point him to Christ and encourage him in his faith. The stories he shares with Kristy Graham demonstrate how God pursues each person individually.
Resources
· Find out more about World Medical Mission and how you can volunteer at a remote mission hospital.
· Learn more about God’s love and how you can accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
· Listen to Opening Our Hearts to God’s Word, an encouraging episode about how the Bible can help lift our eyes beyond our current situation and toward our eternal hope in Jesus Christ.