Meet Board Member Linda Davidson
Supporting Physical and Spiritual Health in Haiti and the U.S.
Linda Davidson recently retired from the nursing profession, devoting 41 years to women’s health, the last 21 years as a certified nurse midwife. Retirement has allowed her to contribute to CHP in a new way, as a board member, although she has been involved with CHP from its beginning.
Linda and her husband have lived in Loveland for 35 years. They have three children, a son and two daughters, and three grandchildren. One weekend early in their life in Loveland, they were worshipping at All Saints Episcopal Church when Father Ed Morgan came to speak about getting a project going in Haiti that would link to a community where they would start a church and school. At the time, Linda was a practicing nurse so she volunteered to go on the first organized mission trip. She loved the experience so much she went every year for three years. Her adventures with CHP inspired her to get her masters degree and become a nurse midwife.
Right after Linda retired, she was able to go to Petit Trou in January 2019 for the 30th anniversary celebration of St. Paul’s school. “That trip was not anything like any of the others I’ve gone on,” Linda said. “There was no particular service set up in the community; it was just about seeing what’s happening currently. I hadn’t been there in almost 15 years, and it was very interesting to see what has happened. When I first went, it was just an empty field and we camped out in tents. Now, there’s a school, clinic, agriculture program and particular support for empowering girls and women!”
Linda believes in CHP because of the focus on individual people and relationships. “The personal connection that I was lucky enough to forge by going every year when our partnership began was important because it was no longer a concept of a place called Haiti and something to do, but instead it was getting to know individual people,” Linda said. “It was person to person, not a list of projects that had nothing to do with human caring.”
Because Linda has been with CHP since the beginning, she has seen the long-term goals become reality. “As I watched CHP continue to grow and thrive, I knew things were being accomplished, so the long-term commitment that people hoped would happen did in fact come to pass. It doesn’t get more inspiring than that,” she said. “When I reengaged recently, going with some folks who are very involved now, like Teresa Henry and Wynn Walent, I was really inspired by their devotion and dedication. I feel very privileged to be involved in this way when there is such diversity of board membership and shared commitment.”
“It’s no longer medical work and supporting the school only, it’s a vision of how everything about daily life relates to health and education.”
Linda continues to feel committed to the roots of the project, a view of the world that is from a Christian perspective of respecting the dignity of all persons. She remains committed to what others need. “I feel strongly that local initiative remains a strength of CHP and I’m hopeful that folks can receive the kind of inspiration and hope for the world that I have received.”
Fun Facts about Linda!
She loves to camp and be outdoors with her husband.
She plays the oboe and mandolin.
She is learning to fly fish.
She is quiet, but has an off-beat sense of humor.
