p. 21 | More Workers for the East by W. A. R.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 14, 1907

More Workers for the East

By W. A. R.

For more than a year, ever since Dr. J. M. Keichline left the field, we have had no medical missionary representative in Egypt. The recent death of Dr. A. W. George has deprived us of a valuable medical worker in Turkey. It has been a perplexing question to the Board how to provide workers for these needy fields. We are happy to announce that a physician who has had years of experience in these fields and speaks several of the languages of these lands, has just been appointed to labor in one of the countries mentioned, or in some other territory thereabout. Dr. Robert G. Edib, a native of Syria, who has completed a five years’ medical course, preparatory to medical missionary work wherever needed, has accepted a call to go to one of these countries. In response to the invitation to go to this field, after attending the coming European council, in company with the other workers from the United States, Dr. Edib writes:—.

“You ask me what I think about going to Egypt. In reply I will say this: Place, distance, or climate are of no consequence to me whatever. I have consecrated myself to the Lord’s service, therefore wherever the Lord directs me to go, I will go without hesitation. I am well acquainted with the principal towns in Egypt; namely, Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, and Port Said, and I have some influential friends in Cairo. I can read and speak the Egyptian language as fluently as I can English, if not even more so. I received my preliminary education in the American school at Abeih, Mount Lebanon, Syria, and completed my college education at the American University, Beirut, Syria. I went afterward to live for a short time with my four sisters who were engaged in missionary work in different parts of Syria and Palestine under the Church Mission Society, and the British Syrian Mission of England. After several years’ service as telegrapher in the large cities of Palestine; assistant collector of customs under the English government in Zanzibar; acting British vice-consul, in which capacity I liberated one hundred and sixty slaves, I resigned the last position with the purpose of preparing for medical missionary work.

“With reference to the matter of practising medicine in Egypt or in Constantinople, I am almost sure that in Egypt no examination is necessary, but I can go and practise at once after having my diploma registered. In Constantinople an examination is required in any of the foreign languages,—French, Turkish, or Arabic,—and I think I can pass the examination in any one of these languages. Therefore at the close of the council I shall be ready to sail either for Egypt or Constantinople as may be directed by the conference.”

Mrs. Edib is a nurse and a noble Christian woman, and will be able to be of great assistance in the medical missionary efforts of her husband. We wish these workers God’s richest blessings in their work. W. A. R.