http://www.send.org Copyright 2012 SEND. All rights reserved Fri, 3 Jun 2011 09:39:00 EST Alain Haudenschild writes, “We mourn the death of a German missionary but celebrating the life she led. The news article in Puli, Taiwan, this week said,

‘Residents of Puli Township, Nantou County, are mourning the death of a medical missionary who spent more than three decades caring for people there.
Alfhild Jenfen, who first came to Taiwan in 1962, passed away in Norway on Sunday, the Puli Christian Hospital said. She was 92. She will be remembered most notably for her efforts to change the lives of children suffering with polio, the hospital said.

‘Jenfen arrived to work at the hospital as a surgical anesthetist at a time when polio was prevalent among Aboriginal children in remote areas of the country. Jenfen met her husband Bjarne Gislefoss, who was working as a senior nurse at the hospital, and the two devoted themselves to treating Aboriginal children and members of the local community. The couple collected donations from abroad to establish a special unit for children with polio in 1966.

‘They also invited specialist physicians to visit Taiwan to work in the unit and arranged classes for children whose long hospital stays meant they missed out on schooling. Their efforts helped the hospital become a pioneer in the treatment of polio in Taiwan.’

“We lived in Puli ourselves for four years and also went through the time of the century earthquake with the Giselfosses. We were privileged to hear them talk of their beginnings in Puli and enjoyed fellowship with them many times. Maybe their uncompromising devotion to the LORD and his will for needy people around them is one of the special marks they left in Puli and among the many they trained. 

“This woman finished her race and kept faith. She is also a reminder how much can be achieved with the Lord’s grace in ONE person’s life.”]]> Tue, 9 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST