I found a book on Amazon (4 bucks if you download to kindle) by Dieter Lemke entitled man no be god. It's a relatively quick read and is about a Canadian doctor who worked with the North American Baptist Conference at Banso Baptist and Mbingo Baptist Hospital (my future place of service) during the 2nd half of the 20th century. I'm sure a lot has changed since his retirement back to Alberta but his insights regarding what his practice looked like and the cultural barriers/taboos he had to grapple with is quite fascinating. It is helping me with context for when I arrive this upcoming October, and I am sure it will help you all better understand what I'm stepping into as well. Enjoy if you have the time and/or interest.
Warmest regards this blustery January morn
~Glenn
Monday, January 4, 2016
Sunday, January 3, 2016
If two of you agree...so shall it be done.
James 5:16 KJV "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I am never more enthralled by this promise as when I ponder it's enactment in God's dealing with Abraham concerning Sodom and Gomorrah and regarding Lot's plight (Genesis 18) And the Bible is filled with similar stories. The conversation between Abraham and the Lord is such an incredible interaction reiterating how we can impress God's heart with our prayers and petitions because of how He cares for us. Who are we that He is mindful of us!?! And can I really ask such questions knowing fully well that Jesus gave up everything to free us vile, destitute sinners. Alas, Christ did just that, so how can I ever question His awesome love especially when approaching his throne room in prayer?
So, yes, above all, I want your faithful prayers to be covering me in Mbingo Baptist Hospital. I want to be the most effective pediatrician and ambassador of Christ that I can be (as I press into the Great Physician), and I want my successes to be His glory. I want to be filled to overflowing with His Spirit that rivers of living water will continually flow from my heart (John 7: 38) that I may be an absolute blessing to the people at Mbingo, both to my colleagues and staff as well as the patients. We are called to be servants as Christ was a servant, and may I never forget this during my time in Cameroon (or my time as a doctor in general). My prayer is that there would be awesome unity among the missional community and hospital staff, that outsiders would see we are Christians because of our Christ-like love for one another. I want to never lose my expectations of the BIG God that I serve, expectations of His miraculous healing and provision, no matter how impossible the circumstances might seem.
And I am sure I can think of a thousand other requests, but this is at least a start...
I would be lying if I told you that I didn't have fears and reservations regarding this opportunity to Cameroon. Firstly, did I learn all I needed to learn in these 3 short years of residency to make it as a pediatrician, to serve my patients well, above all else do no harm? How will my US training translate into central west Africa where the diseases and patient population are far different from anything I've dealt with in El Paso TX? How will I adjust to being one of the only pediatricians in a sizeable community without outside coverage and what will the life-work balance look like? (There is no 80hr/wk max average limit as is the custom in residency training.) And then I am reminded of Luke 12 and the famous passage about laying down anxieties...
As I referenced in my previous post, World Medical Mission has sent me prayer magnets that I am preparing to drop in the mail so that you all can have a reminder to pray for me and all that God is doing at Mbingo Baptist Hospital.
Again, thank you for your support, and as always I will keep you posted on developments as I approach final departure.
So, yes, above all, I want your faithful prayers to be covering me in Mbingo Baptist Hospital. I want to be the most effective pediatrician and ambassador of Christ that I can be (as I press into the Great Physician), and I want my successes to be His glory. I want to be filled to overflowing with His Spirit that rivers of living water will continually flow from my heart (John 7: 38) that I may be an absolute blessing to the people at Mbingo, both to my colleagues and staff as well as the patients. We are called to be servants as Christ was a servant, and may I never forget this during my time in Cameroon (or my time as a doctor in general). My prayer is that there would be awesome unity among the missional community and hospital staff, that outsiders would see we are Christians because of our Christ-like love for one another. I want to never lose my expectations of the BIG God that I serve, expectations of His miraculous healing and provision, no matter how impossible the circumstances might seem.
And I am sure I can think of a thousand other requests, but this is at least a start...
I would be lying if I told you that I didn't have fears and reservations regarding this opportunity to Cameroon. Firstly, did I learn all I needed to learn in these 3 short years of residency to make it as a pediatrician, to serve my patients well, above all else do no harm? How will my US training translate into central west Africa where the diseases and patient population are far different from anything I've dealt with in El Paso TX? How will I adjust to being one of the only pediatricians in a sizeable community without outside coverage and what will the life-work balance look like? (There is no 80hr/wk max average limit as is the custom in residency training.) And then I am reminded of Luke 12 and the famous passage about laying down anxieties...
As I referenced in my previous post, World Medical Mission has sent me prayer magnets that I am preparing to drop in the mail so that you all can have a reminder to pray for me and all that God is doing at Mbingo Baptist Hospital.
Again, thank you for your support, and as always I will keep you posted on developments as I approach final departure.
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