| A Tribute by Dr. Viriato Ferreira | |
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Marianne and I will always have Dr Marjorie Baldwin in our hearts and minds. We arrived at Wildwood in April 1998, for a short visit. Soon we realized that this was a different place, a place where we sensed God´s presence in the lives of many people. It was then that we met Drs Marjorie and Bernell Baldwin. Their zest for life, faith, dedication and love touched us deeply. Dr Marjorie´s frailty was quite evident but her gentleness, deep love for God and all of us and her unswerving consecration to His cause, quickly displaced any thoughts that we in the presence of someone "old". Her example as well as her husband´s and many other dear friends were instrumental in God´s hands to change our paradigms - of life, of our professions, of our calling. What was to be a short stay turned out to be a 2 and half year life changing experience and Dr Marjorie was a major contributor to that! One of our teachers at medical school told us that "we ride on the shoulders of our predecessors". As frail as Dr Marjorie was, God gave her strength to "carry us on her shoulders"! We want to see her again, on the resurrection day and for eternity. Until then, may our lives mean to others what hers mean to us. God will rejoice with that!
Viriato and Marianne Ferreira, MDs (MBChB) have been pioneering medical missionary work in Portugal since 2002, together with their children Muundja, Daniel and Clarisse. Other team members have joined them, on whom Dr Marjorie had a major positive impact - Blessie Cruz, Kim and Joyce Busl. Viriato also serves as Health Ministries Director for the Euro-Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. May God be with you Viriato |