Allison Tjaden

In June 1996, I graduated from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. When I entered college in 1993, I had a strong desire to be a marine biologist, and specifically work with dolphins. Since then, I have been to Africa seven times and am serving full time with ELI. So, how did I get here? My answer to that question is…GOD! With His nudging, I spent a semester studying at a University in South Africa in 1996. During this time, God filled my heart with an even greater passion for the poor and serving Him by serving the poor in other countries. I returned home knowing I did not want to spend my entire life in the U.S.; I was determined to venture out of my comfort zone and go wherever God led me.

After graduating from UCSD, I entered the International Public Health program at Loma Linda University. Throughout the program, I became extremely excited as I discovered how I could connect my love for Jesus with helping people less fortunate than myself in other countries-exactly what I felt God calling me to do! I could help people spiritually as well as physically by teaching them ways to prevent diseases and thus, improve the overall quality of their lives. I went to Kenya and Tanzania in the summer of 1998 as part of a required class for the International Health program. It was at this time that I met Don and Amy Rogers, ELI International Directors, and worked in three villages with ELI for about three weeks. I was amazed by the effectiveness of ELI’s mission, put into action at the village level! Involvement in an organization like ELI that combines teaching God’s Word with action to help the sick and needy was an answer to my prayers. In 1999, I completed the final requirement for my Master’s degree by doing an internship with ELI in Kenya for five months. My task, in part, was to research and help establish a strategy for combating alcoholism at the village level in East Africa. It was such an exciting time-challenging, frustrating, growing, eye opening, rewarding, and most of all, absolutely worth the time, energy, risk, and resources that were invested! I discovered that with God’s help I truly could empower people physically as well as spiritually. After much prayer, in July 1999 I decided to accept a call to serve full time with ELI! I thank God for the journey He has brought me on and for allowing me to see how the passions He has given me can be used in a vocation.

My passion is to see God change people’s lives, both physically and spiritually! It breaks my heart to know that many villagers are inflicted with diseases and illnesses which are preventable. Thus, my ministry involves training nationals how to effectively empower their people with knowledge of how to prevent diseases in combination with sharing the love of Christ with them. Currently I am living in Kipkaren, Kenya and working with two Kenyans whom I have helped train in community health. My desire is to further encourage and motivate them in this area. By the end of December, my goal is to have an action plan, which we have created together, for their implementation of a simple community health program in the area surrounding Kipkaren. I will also be working with Don and Amy Rogers as they continue with some of the ministry in Kaptuktuk (Which was my home in 2003).

allisontjaden@empoweringlives.org