Dr Paul White
Dr Paul Hamilton Hume White was an Australian missionary, evangelist, radio program host and author. He was born in Bowral, NSW Australia in 1910 and moved to Sydney with his mother as a child on account of his poor health. Paul's father had passed away in an army camp at the outbreak of the Great War, leaving him as an only child.
Paul committed his life to Christ when he was 16 and later studied medicine as the next step towards missionary work in Africa. Together with his wife Mary and son David, he left for Tanganyika (modern day Tanzania) in 1938 to be a medical missionary. He always thought of this as his life’s work but Mary’s severe illness forced their early return to Australia in 1941.
Dr White began writing on his return journey from Africa, fictionalising his work amongst the staff and locals of the Mvumi Hospital where he was based. The books became the Jungle Doctor series and tell of the work of the medical staff to bring hygiene, healing and truth to the locals in Dr White's unique and often humorous way. The work of the Jungle Doctor was a constant struggle with ignorance and evil, and the stories feature the powerful message of Jesus Christ as the only way for true life and salvation.
The hugely popular series have been translated into more than 80 languages and also featured on a long running weekly radio broadcast. Dr White also authored a series of Jungle Fables, African tales with the moral message of Christ woven into them. Dr White saw that although his plan to work in Africa for life was turned on its head, in God’s better planning he was able to reach more people through his latter work. It was a great joy for him to meet people who told him they were on their way overseas to work in missions because of the books.
Dr White died in 1992, but his work lives on to touch the lives of many, including myself.
Fore more details about Dr Paul White's life, I would recommend reading his autobiography, Alias Jungle Doctor.