H. Bervoets, a non-Mennonite physician, was a medical missionary in Java under the Dutch Mennonite missionary board (Doopsgezinde Vereiniging tot Evangelieverbreiding) 1907-1930. He and his wife made a very significant contribution to the missionary work there by their great love and devotion to the cause. Dr. Bervoets was the first doctor on the mission field; before his coming, the medical work had been done by the missionaries and nurses. He not only founded several clinics; on 7 January 1915 the central hospital was opened at Kelet, and on 30 April 1916, the leprosarium at Donorodjo, on the coast was opened to admit and care for lepers. Dr. Bervoets died 22 July 1933.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 300. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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