Sharing God’s Light in a Dark Place

Shannon Hamilton, a physician assistant who served as the team lead for our Disaster Assistance Response Team, talked with Kristy about how God broke her heart for the people in Sudan, and how it was a miracle to gain access into the country.

“And I remember thinking, ‘God, there must be 10 people. There must be five people. There must be somebody in Sudan who's seeking You and asking for You to reveal Yourself to them. Won't You open the door to bring our teams in? Won't You open the door for more Christians to come?’ And then just a couple short months later, God just miraculously opened the door and we got 30 visas to take a team in.”— Shannon Hamilton

The Emergency Field Hospital is focusing on obstetrics and pediatric care. Many of the women and children who pass through the hospital tents are vulnerable and have fled violence, but the field hospital becomes a safe haven for them. Samaritan’s Purse staff showed these patients that there is a God who loves them. At the time Kristy spoke with Shannon, more than 300 babies had been born at the Emergency Field Hospital since its opening on Christmas Day 2024. That number continues to grow. When the podcast was published, the birth total at the Emergency Field Hospital was over 400 babies.

“We're in the middle of violence and the field hospital will become this holy ground of peace in the midst of the storm, and you see God's presence in these dark places.” — Shannon Hamilton

One patient, a little girl named Monira, arrived at the Emergency Field Hospital with two-month-old burns all across her upper body and arm. It was evident that God hand-picked the Disaster Assistance Response Team. He placed a surgeon on the team who knew how to take care of those burns and do grafting. He also placed a physician assistant on the team who knew the right therapy to get Monira’s arm working again. Now Monira is full of joy, and her life has completely changed by the time she spent in the field hospital.

This deployment to Sudan was challenging yet rewarding for Shannon. In the hard moments, Shannon clung to Scripture, which allowed her to continue shining God’s light in a dark place.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, ESV

Pray for Sudan that God’s light would pierce the despair there. Pray for our doctors and nurses who are serving as well as the local staff that are working alongside them. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit samaritanspurse.org.