Reviewed by Rosie Houseman, a qualified nurse on our International Track

The Hospital by the River follows the journey of gynaecologists Reg and Catherine Hamlin, who find their passion working with fistulae victims in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This; inspiring book guides you through their Australian upbringing, to their; lives in Ethiopia, where they learn how to perform surgery on these unfortunate women and go on to build a dedicated fistulae hospital in which literally thousands of women are cured.

This amazing couple explored work in many places before moving to Ethiopia with their young son. They lived through the revolution and communist regime, and built their home, work and social lives there over many years. God had a clear vision for this couple. They worked tirelessly, spurred on by their love and compassion for these injured women. They trained many doctors in fistula surgery, and their cause has been acknowledged worldwide. At the start of the book, the Hamlin's had no idea what God would achieve through them, by the end Catherine, aged 77, commits their ever-expanding work into God's faithful hands.

It is impossible to read this book without being moved by the tragic an seemingly hopeless cases of fistula patients. However, these women's lives are restored through the loving and God-driven work of the Hamlins, whose patience and determination to do God's work is inspiring, and a challenge to us to live prayerful and faithful lives in whatever situation we find ourselves.