The Lord is at work in the subcontinent of India. Despite the Evil One’s opposition to the spread of the Gospel, the Church is growing in numbers in the city of Bangalore. How thankful are my wife and I to have been able to see and experience His grace and mercy being poured out on the patients at Bangalore Baptist Hospital for an entire month. While working in the hospital, we were able to share our testimonies with the team of chaplains, the nursing school, and the patients themselves. As well, we had many opportunities to encourage the Christians receiving care at the hospital, which often times resulted in our being encouraged by the believers’ faith and sweet relationship they had with Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Expectations come with complexity. The mere word “expectation” connotes different emotions depending on your recent life experiences and relationships. An integral feature to our experience in India revolved around expectations. The role of expectations in any interaction or exchange is very important, especially when these are not clearly defined or developed. Julie and I realized early upon arrival that regardless of whether we were prepared to contribute clinically to patient care, this was not the Lord’s intended purpose for our trip. Due to issues with the Indian government and the fact that they do not recognize medical degrees obtained outside of the Indian medical system, we were not allowed to write orders or document in medical records. Although this initially was discouraging, we slowly realized this freed us to contribute our energy in other forms. We were allowed to take part in rounds and offer management suggestions; but, our time shaped itself in such a way as to provide windows into community health experiences, palliative care opportunities, and invaluable interactions with the chaplain team. Through this we learned not only the consequences of expectations (both ours and theirs) but also the importance of clearly defining these expectations with whom they are being held.
We also were reminded of God’s sovereignty in the big picture as well as the details. I am guilty of placing my trust in God with my “future”, in the vague sense of the word, but all the while I attempt to micromanage the minutiae. While in India, we were forced to let go of those details and trust God with our schedules, agendas, needs and in turn we were blessed as we experienced His provisions. I am reminded that the Lord has provided so perfectly in my life to bring me to this point, and subsequently I am called to trust He will continue to do just that as I look into an uncertain future.
Our calling as physicians to touch our patients, connecting with them on a spiritual and emotional level was reinforced in
India, especially when we were unable to communicate with them without an interpreter. I am challenged to bring that commission back to the US in my own practice of medicine when language is not nearly the barrier as it is overseas. The Lord has reminded us to look for the greater needs of our patients and not draw back when this requires emotional investment.
Another blessing we had was interacting with the team of chaplains that works full time in the hospital. They are a group of dedicated believers who recognize the role that prayer and encouragement have in sickness and hardship. They are fully dependent on the Lord in their own lives and in praying for their patients. The patients are brought light and hope when the chaplains sit down with them and share God’s grace with them. How refreshing and rejuvenating it was to be in their presence while they served the Lord in that place.
Although Julie and I do not necessarily feel called to India as our final destination with career medical missions, we see how the Lord is preparing us by opening our eyes to the challenges and rewards in overseas ministry. We recognize the importance of having ties with both an agency stateside as well as the local church where we will be serving. It seems extremely important to maintain a level of support from those that know you well and know where you come from in the US. While in Bangalore, we met a young missionary couple who spoke of the role that their sending agency had in maintaining their energy and diligence while far from home. As well, we know that so much of the world is culturally different from how we grew up, it is equally important to have close relations to local believers to help navigate all of the nuances to which we would otherwise be oblivious.
The Lord is at work in India. His grace is being received, His truth being held high. There is much to be encouraged by; but to be a part of what He is doing, there must be dedication, sacrifice, and trust. Julie and I desire to trust His calling in our lives. We are so thankful to have been able to go to India and experience the Spirit’s power in that place. We acknowledge the doors that He opened and the generosity of those that supported us. We know He has great plans for us, both while we are finishing our training here in the U.S. and then overseas serving others through medicine.
Posted on
Monday, August 17, 2009
by tmartin