On the Wings of Compassion

This article draws upon James and Ethel Twing’s biographies by Musa Gidion Mitekaro and Rachel Terwillegar published in the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists(ESDA), available at encyclopedia.adventist.org. It was prepared by Dragoslava Santrac, ESDA managing editor.—Editors.

James and Ethel Twing began their journey in the United States before serving in Tanzania’s remote regions. Committed to a life of service, they allocated personal resources to establish an innovative ministry, and persisted despite significant challenges. Their dedication to mission work transformed a personal calling into a legacy of healing and hope. Even in the face of tragedy, their sense of purpose persisted, underscoring the enduring impact of their mission.

A Shared Calling Takes Root

Both James and Ethel Twing developed a strong sense of mission from a young age. Their faith and desire to help others were shaped by Bible studies and Adventist stories of overseas mission work.

James Arthur Twing was born on October 6, 1921, in Vermont. In 1932, as a young boy, he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and was baptized at a camp meeting. This choice set him on a path of dedicated service.

Ethel Louise Hall was born on June 20, 1922, in Lake Lucerne, New York. She grew up in a faith-centered home and developed a deep compassion for others from an early age. No one was surprised when she later chose nursing as a way to live out her calling.

James and Ethel met while they were both studying at Loma Linda University in California. James pursued a degree in physical therapy, and Ethel was on her own educational path of becoming a licensed practical nurse. They quickly formed a strong bond and married on October 24, 1942. Together they started a family, welcoming three children: Alan, Bruce, and Sylvia.

During their early years of marriage, as their family grew and they balanced family life with their careers, their desire to become missionaries grew stronger. They sensed their true calling extended beyond their familiar surroundings.

Preparing for Mission Against the Odds

James and Ethel began actively seeking opportunities for mission service in other countries. But they soon ran into a problem: The church needed trained medical doctors more than physical therapists such as James. After finding this out, James decided to study medicine. But then he faced another challenge. Back then, medical schools in the United States had a maximum age limit of 30, and James was already older than that. Did this point mark the end of their dream of serving in the mission field?

James did not give up. He enrolled at the Universidad Autónoma in Guadalajara, Mexico. The entire family spent seven years living in Mexico. During that time they learned Spanish and built strong connections with local communities. This experience prepared them to accept change, stay open-minded, and appreciate other cultures while working in the mission field.

James’s hard work was rewarded. He completed his studies, passed his medical board exams on the first try, and earned his medical degree in 1963. What began as a challenge became proof of his determination and sense of mission.

The Call to Africa

After finishing his medical training and a year of volunteer work, James, along with Ethel and their children, settled in the United States. James finished his residency and joined a medical practice in Michigan. There a new opportunity arose that would connect their professional work with their dream of becoming missionaries.

The practice developed a rotation system in which one physician at a time would serve overseas for six months. In 1968 James’s turn came. He was assigned to Heri Mission Hospital, and the family went to western Tanzania on their first official mission assignment.

That experience changed their lives. James and Ethel realized that they had found their true vocation. When the short-term assignment ended, they resolved to return to Africa on a permanent basis.

In 1970 the opportunity finally came. James was officially called to serve as medical director and physician at Heri Adventist Hospital.[1] Together the Twings commenced the mission they had envisioned for decades.

Innovation in Service: A Flying Doctor

Mission work in Tanzania presented many challenges, especially reaching communities scattered across vast, underdeveloped areas. Poor transportation made regular medical care difficult for many people.

Seeing this need, James and Ethel made a bold decision. They used their personal funds to buy a Cessna 172 airplane, which could carry a patient, an attendant, and a pilot. To finance the aircraft, the Twings sold all their possessions and depended on donations for the rest.

With this aircraft James became a pioneering “flying doctor.” Finally he could travel across Tanzania to serve isolated communities. Through these efforts he helped establish and support 22 medical dispensaries throughout the country. These clinics became essential lifelines for many people who otherwise had little access to health care.

While James traveled extensively, Ethel made her own meaningful contributions. At Heri Mission Hospital she taught at the School of Health and trained future medical workers who would carry on the mission long after their time.

Together, they demonstrated that mission work could integrate innovation, sacrifice, and genuine compassion for others.

Tragedy amid Purpose

Just as their work was moving forward, a terrible tragedy struck.

In January 1972 James left to attend church committee meetings in Morogoro, in eastern Tanzania. On his way there he planned to stop overnight in Dodoma, approximately 200 miles from his final destination. When several days passed and he still had not arrived, people became worried. The director of the School of Health received word from one of the meeting attendees that Dr. Twing had never arrived. Concerned, the director informed Ethel, and together they traveled two hours to Kigoma to access a telephone and begin inquiries. They learned that James had refueled in Tabora, in central Tanzania, but there was no other record of his trip. Ethel and the director then contacted the police and anxiously waited for news.

Together they demonstrated that mission work could integrate innovation, sacrifice, and genuine compassion for others.

The period of uncertainty concluded with devastating news: James’s plane had crashed in Kibati, Mvomero, Tanzania, on January 26. He did not survive. His mission was brought to an abrupt end after only two years of full-time service. James Twing was laid to rest on the grounds of the Tanzania General Field, a place that stood for the mission he had dedicated his life to.[2]

Faith Beyond Loss: Ethel’s Return

The loss of her husband and ministry partner was a major turning point in Ethel’s life. She returned to the United States with her children, carrying both grief and the weight of an unfinished mission.

Yet her story did not end there.

Following a period of mourning, Ethel remained convinced that her work in Africa was unfinished. Recognizing a practical need for registered nurses in mission service, she returned to school, obtained her R.N. degree, and prepared to resume her work.

Returning to Tanzania represented more than a continuation of her professional duties. It was an act of faith and love. Through her unfaltering commitment, Ethel honored her husband’s memory by advancing the mission they had initiated together.

Expanding the Mission

Back at Heri Mission Hospital, Ethel returned to her work and later became director of maternal and child health programs. In this role, she traveled extensively from village to village, bringing medical care, food, and education to mothers and children.

Her work included administering vaccinations, teaching about good nutrition, and ensuring families could access health care. With these efforts, she served some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

She also helped open the Twing Memorial Clinic in Kigoma, about 30 miles from Heri Mission Hospital. This project gave more people access to care and showed the vision she and James had.

Her service went beyond clinical care. Ethel became deeply involved in the church’s broader mission, helping to start the West Tanzania Field in 1990 and supporting local congregations as they grew.

A Mother to Many

Within the communities she served, Ethel was affectionately known as Mama Twing. This title reflected her role as a caregiver. She welcomed many young people into her home, often caring for 10 to 15 children at a time. They stayed for one or two years, receiving shelter, basic education, and spiritual guidance. Ethel provided instruction in English, Bible, science, and math, and stressed the importance of hard work and honesty. If she saw that a child was motivated and had potential, she paid for their education and other costs.

One such child, Musa Mitekaro, came to see her as a second mother. She involved him in her work, took him on village visits, and taught him how to support and maintain community projects. Mitekaro later became a pastor and church administrator and continues to serve the church. Through these relationships Ethel’s influence extended beyond providing care. She helped shape future leaders and further strengthened the communities she served.

Building for the Future

Ethel’s vision included both health care and education. With the help of those she mentored, she worked to start an English-speaking Seventh-day Adventist school in Kigoma.

The journey was not easy. Money was tight, and progress was slow. But with persistence and faith, resources slowly came together.

Ethel did not witness the completion of the project, but her efforts made Twing Memorial School possible. Today the school serves hundreds of students and continues Ethel’s mission of education and community care.

After decades of service, Ethel stayed in Africa until after her eightieth birthday. She returned to the United States only after a stroke in 2002. Yet her heart remained in Tanzania. She often spoke about the children she cared for, calling them her “African children,” and wished she could be with them.

Ethel spent her last years at the Life Care Center in Kennewick, Washington, looking back with gratitude on a life guided by mission.

On July 30, 2014, Ethel Twing passed away at the age of 92. She was laid to rest by her husband at the headquarters compound of the East-Central Tanzania Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Morogoro, Tanzania, the land that was at the heart of their joint calling.

A Legacy of Faithful Service

The legacy of James and Ethel Twing is remarkably profound and enduring. James is remembered as a pioneering flying doctor who brought medical care to remote areas, setting up 22 dispensaries. Some of these clinics still operate today (for example, Morogoro Seventh-day Adventist Dispensary).

Ethel is remembered as a devoted nurse, educator, and spiritual mentor whose influence spanned across the generations. Her work in maternal and child health, education, and church growth made a big difference in the communities she served.

Their lives together tell a story of love shown through service and sacrifice. Their faith inspired them to set aside their personal ambition for the good of others. They kept going through hardships and loss, trusting that their work was part of something incredibly greater, namely, God’s unfolding plan to save a lost world, a plan that cost Christ His life. Years later their enduring legacy affirms that their trust was justified.

[1] “Dr. James Arthur and Ethel Twing,” appointee file, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Archives, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

[2] Rachel Terwillegar, “Twing’s Legacy of Service in Tanzania: Continues With Training Lay People to Spread the Gospel,” Gleaner, August 2007, pp. 10-12.