"Christ is my Role Model"

Dr Johanna Goldbach, former ELM employee, receives the Cross of Merit, 1st Class, of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

"Dr Johanna Goldbach is a good example of a person who follows her calling. Her whole life is a testimony to her faith and mission," said Dr Emmanuel Kileo, Director of the ELM, praising the former employee who was awarded the Cross of Merit,1st Class, on 16 January 2025.

She worked for 23 years at the Bamalete Lutheran Hospital in Ramotswa, Botswana, which was part of the ELM at the time. She was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit in 1995 for her work at the 100-bed hospital. She and her colleagues also cared for around 200 outpatients there every day. In addition to general medicine, she also contributed her expertise as a paediatrician, with a great deal of obstetrics (including caesarean sections) and many special operations (for children with hydrocephalus). She was also active nationwide with paediatric consultations at the two neighbouring mission hospitals and - with the support of the "Flying Mission" aircraft - at health stations in the Kalahari and the Okavango region in northern Botswana. In addition to medical work, Dr Goldbach's duties as a missionary doctor also included morning prayers, Bible study groups and pastoral care for patients and staff. In this way, she helped to shape the character of the hospital.

After her return from Botswana, she continued to be very committed to helping others. This corresponds to her confession: "I am a Christian because I have Christ as my role model." She then continued her experience of accompanying dying people in Botswana in the outpatient hospice service in Germany. She has also supported many refugees who sought refuge here after 2014 and still looks after a family with a severely disabled son.

This tireless commitment has now been honoured with the Cross of Merit, 1st Class. As ELM, we would also like to thank her for her long service and commitment to people, which is a good example of God's care for us humans.