Seeing Malessa walk through the halls of Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia in his crisp, white medical coat, it’s hard to imagine that the 18-year-old was once a desperate beggar living on the streets. Crippled by polio from a tender age, the young orphan held onto the hope he received one night when he cried out to the Lord for relief from his suffering.

“I felt in my heart that God would send someone to help me,” he said. “When I heard about (hospital director) Dr. Anderson, I knew he was the answer to my prayer.”

The young man begged a ride from a sympathetic bus driver and arrived at Soddo with nothing but the clothes on his back.

“Malessa asked me for some new crutches,” said Dr. Duane Anderson. “I told him I could give him much more than that.”

Several surgeries later, Malessa’s twisted legs began working better than ever before. He was able to maneuver around the hospital grounds easily and could even take a few steps without crutches. During 18 months of treatment, he also invited Jesus to become Lord of his life.

“I loved my parents very much,” he said, “but I think of Dr. Anderson as my spiritual father.”

Malessa didn’t want to leave Soddo when his treatment ended.

“He cried,” Dr. Anderson said. “I realized he had nothing and no one to go back to.”

Dr. Anderson offered him a job and a home, and Malessa has made the most of the opportunity, even helping other patients with their physical therapy.

“He’s turned out to be my right-hand man,” Dr. Anderson said. “Because he has been in such a low place, he instinctively knows how to comfort the patients, and he is always excited to share the Gospel with them. He’s done more for us than we ever did for him.”

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