I have just returned from a six week elective at LAMB hospital in Dinajpur, North-West Bangladesh. This is a rural area known as ‘Mission Bazar’ due to the market which surrounds the hospital’s gate. Beyond this are beautiful sweeping rice fields and a network of mud hut villages. I spent most of my time in the neonatal and paediatric departments at the ~150 bed hospital, although I also visited other departments, the rehabilitation centre and the chaplaincy team.

One key learning point for me was the transformational power of prayer. As I was observing I generally felt limited in what I could contribute, especially given the language barrier, with all consultations in Bangla. However, I felt God was reminding me that I could pray for each patient, and make sure the children felt loved and seen. I prayed over and over that God would give me grace and that I would share this. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘But [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”’ 2 Cor 12:9.

I was able to build some lovely brief connections with some of the children, especially in the outpatient department. In one case, I smiled at a child with epidermolysis bullosa, and he looked over his shoulder, to his baby brother. I smiled again so he knew I was smiling at him and half his face lifted to meet me with a smile. Another encouragement was a seriously unwell baby who I prayed for and who improved. We had daily prayer meetings which were a great way to start the day, in which we sang and prayed in a mixture of English and Bangla so that everyone was involved. Joining the Easter services and events was a helpful time of reflection and happy celebration.

Another experience was seeing how healthcare is delivered in a more resource-limited setting. Initially I found the lack of continuous monitoring at the beds surprising. I saw how doctors had to make decisions with comparatively minimal investigations and be resilient to environmental challenges like power cuts. I held my breath when the oxygen concentrator also powered down in the emergency department, before the generator kicked in. However it was amazing to see how resources were maximised and waste minimised. Higher resource settings can learn from this sustainable practice I think.

I saw the role of Christian values in shaping the direction and work of the hospital. LAMB’s vision is that ‘People of Bangladesh, transformed by the love of God, experience abundant life in healthy and just communities’ so holistic healthcare is emphasised. It was a joyful experience to visit the rehabilitation centre and spend time getting to know the families, children and staff there. It was lovely to form simple relationships through the basic Bangla I had been learning. LAMB hospital is a beautiful place, with the hospital nestled around a garden with bright flowers. It is cared for by local men and women with physical and mental disabilities, who are trained and paid to undertake plant management. Attending their morning devotion, I saw how much joy these colleagues shared within the team, and also how this was shared with everyone on site through the uplifting landscape.

I also really enjoyed my day with the chaplaincy team, seeing how they provide spiritual and emotional support. All patients are offered counselling and/or prayer. Someone had told me how a patient they met chose this hospital specifically to receive prayer. I saw how patients valued being listened to and accompanied, and took great comfort in the visits and prayer they received. For example I saw the chaplain come alongside a mother as her child was dying. I was also encouraged to hear the chaplains’ own testimonies. I saw how LAMB’s vision of being transformed by God’s love and helping all people live fully, has helped shape the work of LAMB in providing whole person care.

I felt warmly welcomed into local culture, loved taking Bangla lessons and enjoyed living in the area and getting to know local people. The paediatric team (pictured) made a huge effort to be kind and share their culture with me. I got fed lots of different nasta (snacks) from Shingara (savoury egg, peanut, potato pastries) to Am Makha (spicy unripe grated mango), and on one rainy day we all shared Khichuri. There was a real sense of community. I was also kindly taught basic symptoms and medical phrases in Bangla which helped me gradually follow more of the gist of consultations. The team also explained conditions I was less familiar with like severe acute malnutrition and typhoid fever, as well as rarer congenital conditions.

A group of us who were visiting short term held a worship evening, singing praise songs in different languages. It was a particular encouragement to me when one of the staff members I had invited came along, as well as a local family alongside the missionaries. We were also able to share at a women’s Bible study in one of the village churches about the story of the woman healed from bleeding and Jesus’ statement “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:34

I now have a greater understanding of cross-cultural mission. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to get to know LAMB, and grateful for the funding contribution from the Medical Missionary News. The people of Bangladesh and the country now hold a special place in my heart and I will continue to pray for them.

‘Jesus looked at them intently and said “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible”’ Matthew 19:26