Small children have a way of seeing things from an idealistic point of view. Have you ever taken the time to speak with a small child and asked them what they want to be when they grow up? Unless compelled by an adult to answer differently, it is not unusual to hear a child say that they want to fly into space, be a superhero… or save the starving and hurting people from around the world. That’s not unusual for a child but, as adults, our dreams and values may seem to change. Do adults remain idealistic? Perhaps, international speaker and humanitarian, Doctor Mark Ottenweller, might shed some light on the subject. After all, in many ways, Doctor Ottenweller spent three decades living out some of our child-like dreams.

“If you put people who have good hearts together with a need that they are willing to meet and, if God is in the picture, then that is where the magic happens!”

As I press on in my interview of Doctor Mark Ottenweller, the question is posed, “How did you ever go from living in the U.S. to going over to Africa some thirty years ago in order to serve the poor and needy?” His response, “I always wanted to do something to help others.” It was always there.

It Was Always There

According to Doctor Ottenweller, the part of him that wanted to do something to help people was always there. It didn’t somehow disappear as he got older or somehow get left in the past along with his childhood.

It was the late eighties when Doctor Mark Ottenweller was part of the first Aids clinic planted in Africa. From 1989 to 1994, he served as Director of Centre d’Assistance Sociomedicale (AIDS) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Later, he served as Director of HOPE worldwide, out of Johannesburg, South Africa from 1994 to 2006 and then as Director for Development from 2006 to 2007. He continued as Global AIDS Coordinator until 2012 and then as Director of Development for Africa & Senior HIV/AIDS Advisor until 2017.

How did this man do this? According to Doctor Ottenweller, a friend, Steve, asked him if he’d be willing to go to the Ivory Coast. Doctor Ottenweller researched it together with his wife. (He was married with three children at the time.) But he also paints a sobering picture, and says that it wasn’t easy at first. He temporarily moved into a two bedroom apartment with another family. He didn’t speak French or any native languages. He continues, “I was the one who sort-of became unglued at first but, I had a lot of support with my wife and friends who encouraged me. And we had God.” His wife had an adventurous spirit so she supported the idea of making a difference while living out a real life adventure. The desire to help others was always there and he just did something. But can that be the same of other people? Apparently, according to Doctor Ottenweller, it is certainly true of other people based on his experience. “If you put people who have good hearts together with a need that they are willing to meet and, if God is in the picture, then that is where the magic happens!” says Doctor Ottenweller.

Your dream to make a difference can be reality. It may seem unrealistic and maybe taking the first few steps towards change will be hard. But, just do something.

We are now in 2019 and where has “doing something” taken this man? Between the Aids clinics, early childhood development centers, travels back and fourth to the USA and meeting with donors, working with large-scale grants, and helping orphans…I guess you might say, it’s taken him pretty far. His cooperative work to make a difference on the world stages have garnered much attention including project features on international news media such as CNN, ABC News, NBC News (USA), Reuters, TF-1 (French), SABC (South Africa), ZDF (German), BNN (Netherlands), CBC (Canada), Boston Globe, LA Times, USA Today, and Vogue Magazine. As a part of the HOPE team that presented President Nelson Mandela with the HOPE Unity Awards, he has been in the presence of many leaders including hosting Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Oprah Winfrey, Graca Machel, and others in visits to Soweto. But that’s not why he did it. It is only a testament that being idealistic can take you places you weren’t even planning on going to.

Speaking year after year since the late eighties and early nineties and how did this get started? Doctor Mark Ottenweller answered the call and did something. Apparently, for some people, if that desire to help others was there at childhood then it could very well still be in there. It was always there… waiting to answer the right call to make a difference.