Over the past fourteen years, Jan and Tabitha Kieviet, members of the MDW, have served the people in (and around) Dakar, Senegal, as a doctor and an evangelist. Since 2018, their work has been supported by diaconal deputies. As their eldest child is going to university, the family returned to the Netherlands last July following a handover period. How do Jan and Tabitha look back on their work in Senegal, and what do they hope to do next?
Work in and around Dakar
Tabitha worked as a tropical medicine doctor and trainer at a missionary clinic. Together with other doctors, she also set up a Christian training institute. She was also involved in establishing a knowledge network for healthcare workers in the region and helped to set up palliative care, in collaboration with a hospital.
As part of a team, Jan and Tabitha worked to build up the church amongst unreached peoples. The team is now active in eight Fulani villages. Jan and Tabitha worked in two house churches.
How do you look back on your time working in Senegal?
“Thanks to your support, we have been able to make great progress in recent years in training and mentoring Christian healthcare staff. Training is being provided throughout the country, including on how to bear witness to Christ in a culturally sensitive and professional manner. The nursing school that has been established currently has around 40 students. We are grateful to see how the quality of care is improving, particularly in places where there is currently almost no healthcare available. These Christian nurses, dentists, doctors and midwives are often the first people from whom people hear the Good News. Thanks to your support, both physical and spiritual needs are being met in Senegal.
”We can therefore look back with great gratitude on eight years of collaboration with the CGK: their support has been a great blessing for medical mission work and for the Church in Senegal. And the compassion and warm relations with the diaconal deputies and CGK congregations have done us a world of good.”
Can we continue to support the work in Senegal?
“Tabitha’s work has been taken over by her colleagues, and the church-planting work is also continuing. The CGK Diaconate remains the mission clinic and the training institute support.”
What are your plans in the Netherlands?
“We are pleased to announce that Jan has been appointed as a parish pastor at the Christian congregation De Wegwijzer in Almere. He hopes to start there on 1 September. Tabitha hopes to find a job as a researcher in global health, or as a doctor.”.
Our daughter Maria passed her final exams last academic year. She has just started the foundation year at the Evangelical University of Applied Sciences in Amersfoort. Our son Simon is in moved up to Year 4 of the VWO.
”The Lord has provided a loan in a special way, thanks to which we hope to move into our own home in Almere-Haven soon."
May we invite you to our church?
“We’d be happy to share stories about God’s work in Senegal, for example through a presentation. Please get in touch with us via jan@kieviet.org"
What can we pray for?
- “The Senegalese government has tightened the rules governing the registration of mission clinics and foreign doctors. This is causing problems with the registration process. Please pray for God’s blessing and perseverance as the foundation for Christians in healthcare works to resolve this issue.”.
- A continued growth in the fruits of medical mission work and church planting.
- A smooth transition period, so that we can settle back in to life in the Netherlands.
- ”Blessings on the work in and around Almere."
