Back to the Little White House

The story of Donna Bixby, 1996 & 1998 BJU Grad

It took 35 years for her to find her way back to the little white house.  In comparison to her comfortable surroundings in the US, the little house didn’t look like much.  But the stark lack of convenience couldn’t erase the captivating draw of this house.  It was her first childhood home.  Now it was to be her home again as she stepped into ministry with Jonathan’s House for Orphans in Central African Republic (CAR).

Donna Bixby was born at a small hospital in CAR in 1974 to missionary parents, Bonnie and Bob Bixby (’69 & ’67 BJU grads).  For many years, the Bixby family lived and served on this missionary compound that housed a Bible institute, a church, and a clinic.  At the age of 10, Donna and her family moved to Bordeaux, France to begin a new ministry- a ministry her parents served in for over 30 years.  In 2017, Bob Bixby unexpectedly died on the mission field doing what he was called and loved to do- teaching and preaching the word. 

Donna recalled how the Lord used both her father’s life and death as catalysts in her journey back to CAR: “His death made me realize how very real Heaven is and if Heaven is real, so is Hell. Life on this earth is very short. Suddenly, I realized that I had to do more. I missed my father’s impact on my life desperately, yet that very impact, in the way he lived and died, was pushing me out of my comfort zone. It was time for me to begin thinking about fulltime ministry.” 

In 2019, Donna searched for teaching opportunities in 3rd world countries and found Jonathan’s House for Orphans located in CAR.  Jonathan’s House (JH-CAR) was created a little over 10 years ago in response to the desperate spiritual and physical need in this part of the world. According to the World Index and Global Hunger Index, CAR has consistently been one of the most malnourished countries in the world. Due to hunger, disease, and violence, people rarely grow old in CAR. Over 85% of the population is younger than 45 years old and about 40% of the population is under the age of 15.  In short, there are thousands of kids in crisis in Central African Republic.   

Though a daunting endeavor, Donna stepped out of her comfortable life as a teacher in the US.  She reached out to Jonathan’s House and began organizing a 6-week exploratory trip for the summer of 2019.  Just 1 year later, she began full time ministry at JH-CAR!  Besides an orphanage, Jonathan’s House has a school serving over 400 students and a medical clinic with a maternity ward that serves the surrounding community. 

Donna’s days are packed with both routine and diversity.  Each morning starts early getting young kids and teenagers ready and out the door for school.  Another constant of her morning is staff devotions at 7:45 where they end the time by standing in a circle holding hands, “committing the day to the Lord.”  While she typically has a small child or infant to care for as she completes other tasks, those tasks vary wildly each day. She might be teaching kids or adults, transporting patients from the clinic to a hospital, leading a Bible study, handling finances, or fielding requests for food and shelter from members of the community.

Of course, none of Donna’s journey is a surprise to God.  Being born in CAR, reared on French speaking mission fields, earning 2 education degrees from BJU (Elementary Education in ’96 and Secondary Education in ’98), and professionally teaching for 25 years are all obvious points of preparation.  But God was also preparing her in the steady, less glamorous moments of life.  Active ministry in her local church from childhood to adult clearly helped cultivate a life of service.  At the age of 25, Donna remembers telling God, “I did not want to fall into the trap of “waiting” for the next thing. Wherever I was, whatever job he gave me, I wanted to live actively for him and minister however he allowed me.”  Even the most unlikely experiences readied her for life at Jonathan’s House. She humorously recalls how taking education classes in the low-tech 90s helped her tangibly in her ministry in CAR.  She has nothing but a blackboard to write on and no technology to help her with pre-made graphics.  Low-tech is how they roll in CAR, and she was ready to adapt!

From 1974 to 2022, Donna Bixby’s journey back to the little white house was clearly designed and not at all random. She sums up her current calling like many faithful BJU grads might: “I didn’t set out looking for this type of ministry, but God orchestrated each step throughout the years to such a degree that it was easy for me and others to see that God had prepared me for this life.” 

The story of Donna Bixby, 1996 & 1998 BJU Grad

It took 35 years for her to find her way back to the little white house.  In comparison to her comfortable surroundings in the US, the little house didn’t look like much.  But the stark lack of convenience couldn’t erase the captivating draw of this house.  It was her first childhood home.  Now it was to be her home again as she stepped into ministry with Jonathan’s House for Orphans in Central African Republic (CAR).

Donna Bixby was born at a small hospital in CAR in 1974 to missionary parents, Bonnie and Bob Bixby (’69 & ’67 BJU grads).  For many years, the Bixby family lived and served on this missionary compound that housed a Bible institute, a church, and a clinic.  At the age of 10, Donna and her family moved to Bordeaux, France to begin a new ministry- a ministry her parents served in for over 30 years.  In 2017, Bob Bixby unexpectedly died on the mission field doing what he was called and loved to do- teaching and preaching the word. 

Donna recalled how the Lord used both her father’s life and death as catalysts in her journey back to CAR: “His death made me realize how very real Heaven is and if Heaven is real, so is Hell. Life on this earth is very short. Suddenly, I realized that I had to do more. I missed my father’s impact on my life desperately, yet that very impact, in the way he lived and died, was pushing me out of my comfort zone. It was time for me to begin thinking about fulltime ministry.” 

In 2019, Donna searched for teaching opportunities in 3rd world countries and found Jonathan’s House for Orphans located in CAR.  Jonathan’s House (JH-CAR) was created a little over 10 years ago in response to the desperate spiritual and physical need in this part of the world. According to the World Index and Global Hunger Index, CAR has consistently been one of the most malnourished countries in the world. Due to hunger, disease, and violence, people rarely grow old in CAR. Over 85% of the population is younger than 45 years old and about 40% of the population is under the age of 15.  In short, there are thousands of kids in crisis in Central African Republic.   

Though a daunting endeavor, Donna stepped out of her comfortable life as a teacher in the US.  She reached out to Jonathan’s House and began organizing a 6-week exploratory trip for the summer of 2019.  Just 1 year later, she began full time ministry at JH-CAR!  Besides an orphanage, Jonathan’s House has a school serving over 400 students and a medical clinic with a maternity ward that serves the surrounding community. 

Donna’s days are packed with both routine and diversity.  Each morning starts early getting young kids and teenagers ready and out the door for school.  Another constant of her morning is staff devotions at 7:45 where they end the time by standing in a circle holding hands, “committing the day to the Lord.”  While she typically has a small child or infant to care for as she completes other tasks, those tasks vary wildly each day. She might be teaching kids or adults, transporting patients from the clinic to a hospital, leading a Bible study, handling finances, or fielding requests for food and shelter from members of the community.

Of course, none of Donna’s journey is a surprise to God.  Being born in CAR, reared on French speaking mission fields, earning 2 education degrees from BJU (Elementary Education in ’96 and Secondary Education in ’98), and professionally teaching for 25 years are all obvious points of preparation.  But God was also preparing her in the steady, less glamorous moments of life.  Active ministry in her local church from childhood to adult clearly helped cultivate a life of service.  At the age of 25, Donna remembers telling God, “I did not want to fall into the trap of “waiting” for the next thing. Wherever I was, whatever job he gave me, I wanted to live actively for him and minister however he allowed me.”  Even the most unlikely experiences readied her for life at Jonathan’s House. She humorously recalls how taking education classes in the low-tech 90s helped her tangibly in her ministry in CAR.  She has nothing but a blackboard to write on and no technology to help her with pre-made graphics.  Low-tech is how they roll in CAR, and she was ready to adapt!

From 1974 to 2022, Donna Bixby’s journey back to the little white house was clearly designed and not at all random. She sums up her current calling like many faithful BJU grads might: “I didn’t set out looking for this type of ministry, but God orchestrated each step throughout the years to such a degree that it was easy for me and others to see that God had prepared me for this life.” 

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