August 30 - The Missionary of All Trades

From performing life-saving surgeries to fixing cars and helping students, Dr. Kristian Hogganvik used every skill to serve others. He was dedicated to serving God until his death in 1994 at the age of 83.

Kristian Hogganvik was a Norwegian
medical missionary in Ethiopia.

He was born in 1911
in a small town in southern Norway.

His family accepted Adventism
when he was about five years old.

After he finished twelfth grade,

Kristian received financial support
from the Adventist headquarters in Oslo

to study medicine and become a missionary.

When he finished his medical studies,

he was sent to northern Norway
by the Adventist Church.

There, he trained to become a surgeon.

When he received a call in 1949
to replace a sick doctor in Ethiopia,

he willingly left home
with his wife and two daughters.

Initially, Dr. Hogganvik
didn't have many patients.

Soon, he learned why.

People were afraid that if they died
in the Adventist facility,

they wouldn't be allowed to enter heaven.

One day, a young man came
to the hospital with a blocked intestine.

The family asked whether Dr. Hogganvik

could promise that
an operation would be successful.

The doctor could only promise
to do his best,

so the family didn't allow the procedure.

After two days, the patient was so sick
that he felt like he was going to die.

He asked Dr. Hogganvik to do something,
even if it meant an operation.

Dr. Hogganvik prayed for guidance
and then operated on the man.

By God's grace,

the surgical intervention was successful
and the man returned home.

News of the successful procedure
traveled quickly,

and Dr. Hogganvik
had many patients after that.

Dr. Hogganvik was not only a physician,

but he also worked as an electrician,
plumber, carpenter, builder, and mechanic.

Many times, he would lie
under a car he was repairing

and his hands would be covered
with black oil.

The nurse would come from the hospital

and tell him patients were ready
for operations.

He would scrub his hands
and operate on a large goiter

or a patient who was having
a difficult delivery.

Dr. Hogganvik loved the people of Ethiopia

and wanted to do everything
he could to help them.

He helped repair their sewing machines,
cars, and various mechanical devices.

He enabled many poor students
to get an education.

He liked to help people
learn to help themselves.

One morning in 1975,

after Dr. Hogganvik
had served for 26 years,

some 300 robbers looted
and destroyed the hospital.

They burned Hogganvik's house
and threatened to kill him and his wife.

They found refuge
in the home of a nearby friend.

The next day, a plane flew them

to the safety of the capital city,
Addis Ababa.

One could imagine
that Dr. Kristian Hogganvik

would like to go home
after this fearful experience.

Instead, he moved to Gimbie Hospital
in western Ethiopia,

where he worked until his retirement.

He continued serving God
until his death in 1994

at the age of 83.

For more stories
about pioneer missionaries,

visit encyclopedia.adventist.org