This realization has intensified over the past two years. As the OCI Regional Vice President for the EUD territories, we traveled to countries with substantial potential but few or no Adventist medical institutions, recognizing the urgent need for support and development in these regions.

In the past 30-40 years, numerous untested ideas about the ideal model for sanitarium operations have been discussed globally and in Europe. One common belief has been that large sanitariums, such as Herghelia, are not suitable for Western countries, and that smaller, “home-sanitarium” sized facilities should be established instead. This perspective led to various small, wellness and educational initiatives being labeled as Lifestyle or Wellness Centers. However, this approach often faced challenges. Small facilities struggle to hire qualified health professionals, which affects the quality of services provided. Without high-quality services, they have difficulty attracting enough patients, resulting in incomplete occupancy and financial instability. This makes it challenging to pay staff adequately and maintain service quality, often requiring continuous donations for operation and salaries.

This situation sometimes leads to yielding to the temptation to offer services in unproven areas and providing unfounded hope to patients with serious or terminal illnesses. Another issue frequently encountered in Europe is the use of healing methods and therapies that are not recognized by either the Church or science. Educating people to understand physiology and using only evidence-based treatments that enhance the body’s natural healing mechanisms remains an ongoing challenge.

In January 2025, we traveled to France and Italy. In France, we visited three properties (two in Southern France and one near Paris) that are potential future sanitarium sites. We also met with the president of the Franco-Belgian Union near Paris. There is a group interested in starting a sanitarium, which was the reason for our visit. Most of them attended training on “How to start and manage a sanitarium” at Herghelia in June 2024. The two main issues encountered were confusion about the scope and size of a sanitarium and uncertainty about effective therapeutic methods, which affected team cohesion. However, working with the prospective team in France has shown positive developments: the project is closely coordinated with Union leadership, a dedicated physician committed to advancing the project has joined, several experienced professionals are willing to be part of the team, and many laypeople in the construction business are enthusiastic about the project. We need your prayer for France, this is a very, very secular country in great need of the Hope of a Redeemer. A Sanitarium would be a perfect entering wedge, a natural bridge to connect with the otherwise unreachable strata of society. Please pray for France, God loves “Egyptians”, too!

In Rome we have been the guests of the Italian Union president and his wife. He invited us to advise a family who intends to buy a former hotel and run it like a Wellness Center in Northern Italy, near Milano. Spending a long weekend with the Italian Union President’s family was an excellent occasion to share the vision about the Adventist Sanitarium System Accelerator and to know each other’s visions, a time so useful to lay a good foundation for a balanced, mature, forward looking Sanitarium project in Italy.
Please pray for Italy also, it is long overdue in both countries, France and Italy, to start a Adventist Health Institution as a center of influence. Along with Spain, these three countries are the only countries of EUD Division without a Sanitarium. Between the three of them there are a combined 170 million people living there – France 65, Italy 58 and Spain 47 million! Imagine how many precious souls are going to be touched by the genuine medical missionary work of at least one sanitarium in each of these countries. We trust that this is possible – Lord, let it be so, soon!

Yours in His Service, Nick & Valentina Dan