Ellen White: Woman of Vision

Medical Missionary Work At Cooranbong

In the vicinity of Cooranbong the medical missionary work was getting under way with a slow and humble beginning. First there was the selfless and dedicated work of Miss Sara McEnterfer, Ellen White's traveling companion, nurse, and private secretary. Sara, a graduate nurse from Battle Creek, involved herself in caring for the sick and injured in the community for some miles around. The nearest physician was 20 miles (32 kilometers) distant and charged £5 ($24) to make a visit. WV 343.2

Daily there were urgent calls for help. Many times it was children who had had accidents of various kinds. Sometimes the patient would be brought to either Ellen White's or W. C. White's home and nursed back to health. WV 343.3

A few excerpts from Mrs. White's diary through the early part of September 1897 yield a picture of this work of community ministry: WV 343.4

Wednesday, September 1: While I was reading the mail, a woman from Dora Creek came up with her baby for instruction on what to do for the child. WV 343.5

Thursday, September 2: We went to see the child that was brought to our house yesterday that was sick. Sara prescribed for her, and the mother followed the prescription. We learned today the child was relieved.... WV 343.6

The father of the first child that had appealed for help asked me if we did not receive pay for our trouble. We told him no, we did not do the work for pay, only to relieve suffering humanity as Christ did when He was in our world. They seemed very thankful. WV 343.7

The Ellen G. White-sponsored medical missionary program right there in Cooranbong went quietly on. This was made possible because Sara McEnterfer was willing to serve as community nurse without charge, and to help families in which there was dire need of food, clothing, and bedding. But Mrs. White, in letters, and at times in her oral presentations, continued to call for a hospital at Cooranbong. WV 343.8