Here on Mission from Africa

Rob Perry recently sat down with our board chair, Dr Norman Musewe.  Listen in on their conversation.

IAFR Canada’s board chair Norman Musewe was born in Harare, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia).  After medical school in Zimbabwe, he moved to England due to the war and trained in Pediatrics, before finally settling in Canada.  In 1984 he was trained as a Pediatric Cardiologist at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, where he remains to this day. 
 
When describing his spiritual journey, Norman tells of years of internal turmoil prior to 1992 when he began to follow Jesus.  It is this faith in Christ which defines his life, choices, and character to this day. 

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HPIC Highfield Polyclinic Medical Supplies, Zimbabawe, with Dr Norman Musewe (left).

Africa in My Heart
Another defining characteristic in Norman’s life is his passion for Africa.  Norman visits Zimbabwe and many other countries in Africa regularly.  When asked where this passion for Africa comes from, he says,
“It is not just because I was born there, but because Africa has been born in my heart! There is something which is difficult to explain about the beauty and vibrancy of Africa and its people.  I identify with the poorest of the poor in Africa because I know what hunger and disease feels like.” 
 
He continues: “As a Cardiologist I go to different parts of Africa to conduct clinics and facilitate shipments of medical supplies from Health Partners International Canada.*  I look forward to being more involved in the welfare of the displaced in Africa.”

Parking Lot Team, The Peoples Church

Mission Powered by Faith

Norman holds his credentials and experience with humility.  When asked how he prioritizes all his various involvements, he says,
 
“There is a hierarchy…

• There is my family, from which I receive much joy. 
• Being a believer fuels all these things.
• Being part of Peoples House leadership (a home for newly arrived refugee claimants to Canada) feeds into the debt of service I owe to those who are trying to find a ‘home’ and community (I have experienced that too).
• Being part of IAFR seems to me to logically follow that compassion for the displaced. 
• As a board member at Peoples Church, I have the privilege of simply giving back. 
• As an African in the diaspora, it seemed reasonable to me to form a group where African leaders can gather and perhaps be a bridge between Africans in Canada and leaders on the continent - we need to join hands and contribute to Canada our new home since it is God Himself who brought us here for His purposes.  I believe we are here on mission from Africa.”

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Norman’s prayer for IAFR Canada
 “My prayer for IAFR is that we will connect with more and more congregations in Canada to foster outreach to the refugees that are ‘lucky’ enough to get here. But that in the process, I pray that we expend more resources and energy in reaching out to those who cannot get here, in the many refugee camps, because that is where I think the real work is - bringing Christ and hope and new life to those trapped in these camps.  I also hope we will recruit more people to our staff and board who have themselves experienced displacement.”

IAFR Canada Board

*Health Partners International Canada (HPIC) works to supply medicine where most needed around the world.  IAFR Canada, along with IAFR USA and our partners on the ground, is working with HPIC to provide Humanitarian Medical Kits of essential medicines. Norman’s relationship with HPIC helped open doors for us to begin doing so.