Jim Hodson, a family nurse practitioner at Health First in Fall River and a member of Crosswalk New England Church, traveled to Ethiopia in late April on a compassionate missionary and medical journey.
He was sent on this trip by Health First Family Care Center, along with It is Written and Pr. John Bradshaw.
After arriving in Addis Ababa, Hodson and his team drove to the city of Hawassa. During the day, he cared for approximately 70 patients requiring medical attention; at night, he preached the gospel in the village of Ke-gay.
The medical team’s achievements were remarkable: dentists removed over 2,000 teeth, distributed 300 toothbrushes, provided over 2,000 medical consultations, and performed over 900 cataract surgeries, restoring sight to the blind. The team also distributed over 200 pounds of clothing and 100 pounds of medicine and baptized 3,600 people.
In addition to medical care and missionary work, they partnered with RippleAffect to install free water purification systems in homes, giving over 7,500 people access to clean drinking water for the first time.
Hodson shared a memorable moment: the surprise and joy on the face of an 80-year-old villager who drank clean water for the first time.
Hodson said he plans to repeat the journey in 2026: “These trips humble me as a healthcare provider and enrich my experience, allowing me to better serve patients in Greater Fall River and at Health First on Quarry Street.”
