In 2013, Dr. Jun Xu—a physician, born-again Christian, and passionate photographer—traveled to Senegal for the first time with an Assemblies of God mission team. He was the team’s only physician.
At that time, he did not go because he loved missions.
He went because he loved photography.
He imagined returning home with remarkable images of Africa—photographs few people would ever have the opportunity to take. He thought he might tell his friends, “I treated patients in Senegal,” while showing them scenes from a place they had never seen.
But God had a very different plan.
During those first few days, Dr. Xu saw more suffering than he had ever imagined. Although he was the only physician on the team, 200 to 300 patients came to the clinic each day seeking care. Many had lived with untreated illnesses for years because they had little or no access to medical care. They were poor, desperate, and waiting for help.
He felt completely overwhelmed.
He prayed, “Lord, I am only one person. How can I possibly help all these people?”
The conditions were difficult. The heat was intense, sometimes reaching 120°F (49°C). Resources were limited. Food and clean water were scarce. Unlike in his clinic at home, Dr. Xu had no assistants and very little logistical support. There was no easy way to meet the overwhelming need before him. Every day, he worked until he was physically exhausted.
Yet one night, despite being completely exhausted, Dr. Xu could not fall asleep. At around one o’clock in the morning, he stepped outside beneath the stars of rural Senegal. With little electricity in the village, countless stars filled the night sky. Sitting alone beneath that African sky, he wrestled with God.
