God Said Go—and She Did: Nurse Becky’s Leap of Faith

This story was lovingly written by Joanna Tschiffely based on the personal testimony of Becky Pius, RN, a full-time missionary nurse with God Said Go Missions.

I was born in Erie, PA, and grew up in South America. At age seven, our family moved to Peru, where my father served as a missionary pilot with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Three years later, Wycliffe began a work in Ecuador, and we moved there to serve. At high school age, I moved to the capital city of Quito, high in the Andes mountains. I attended high school there and lived in a dormitory with other missionary kids.

When I graduated from high school my parents were due for furlough, so we moved back to Erie, and I attended Nursing School. After graduation, I joined my parents in Miami, which was a nice relief from the cold. I spent the next 50 years nursing in various cities in Florida. I finished my professional career in a small Emergency Room outside Tallahassee, where God prepared me for my future calling. Since there were many Hispanic workers in the area who spoke Spanish only, and I was the sole Spanish speaking nurse, I got to evaluate them, translate for our doctors and give out discharge instructions.

Ever since I was a teen living in the Ecuadorian jungle, I knew I wanted to be a missionary nurse. Initially, I didn’t follow through on that, but God gave me a second chance. After retirement, I did some short-term mission trips in Zambia, Ghana and Cambodia but then COVID stopped all travel. So, I asked the Lord for something long-term where I could make a lasting impact on patients’ lives.  At one point, I registered with Mission Next, an organization that pairs Ministries with folks looking to do ministry. In late 2020, I received an email from Jeff with God Said Go, inviting me to serve in Guatemala.

In early 2021, I served with GSG Missions for two weeks and I was hooked!  I felt God calling me to full-time service with this medical mission, so I returned to Florida, sold my home, left everyone and everything behind and moved to Guatemala. My life has changed dramatically since entering full-time mission service with GSG. Several days each week I serve as an RN with our medical team in remote villages where access to medical treatment is limited or non-existent.  My days off from Clinic are spent updating and organizing supplies and materials in preparation for Clinic. Full-time missionary service has allowed me to focus totally on serving the Lord, and as a result, I have developed a deeper relationship with Him. With fewer distractions, I can spend more time in His Word and in prayer. I believe prayer is vital to our relationship with and service to Him.

My favorite part of serving with GSG in Guatemala is travelling to the remote areas where the road seems endless. Then, suddenly we arrive at a village and start building relationships with the villagers and assisting with their medical needs. The generational poverty and extreme need of these folks are truly remarkable.

Many Guatemalans suffer from diabetes. Every nurse visit with a diabetic involves personal education about dietary changes to improve their blood sugar level. One day at Clinic, I saw a patient whose blood sugar level dropped from 300 on her prior visit to 186 this visit. I asked her what had changed, and she said she had stopped eating bread and drinking sugary drinks. I was excited and very encouraged that she followed my instructions, and it resulted in improvement in her health. God has given me great love and compassion for these lovely people who have little hope and such great need. I serve with the goal of improving their health and sharing God’s love in tangible ways. I am privileged to serve His children with God Said Go Missions.