I am in awe of the Lord’s kindness and goodness He has shown me in the wonderful six weeks I got to spend serving in AIC Kijabe Mission Hospital. I was apprehensive at first due to coming on my own and not really knowing what to expect whilst on my medical elective, but I had full trust that the Lord would go above and beyond my imagination and He did not disappoint.

I chose to do my hospital placement in the Internal medicine wards which consisted of a men’s ward, a woman’s ward, two high dependency units and an intensive care unit (ICU). This is because I wanted to be able to help treat and manage a wide range of acute and long-term medical conditions that can be presented in the rural hospital. The days on the wards were long and tiring due arriving in the country where there was a doctor’s strike happening. This meant that people were not going to public hospitals but rather coming to mission or private hospitals instead. This meant the wards were constantly full and struggling to have enough beds to meet the demand. I truly found strength in the Lord as working 6 days a week and for some days for 11 hours was not easy but I felt privileged to be working alongside some amazing people and know that our work was not in vain.

During my time in ICU, I was given one patient to care for. With lots of the patients there being critically ill, I learnt about how to treat and care for them. It consisted of lots of talks with the family to update them and answer questions they had about their loved ones. I learnt that honest and open communication whilst considering the family’s needs and wants were essential in maintaining a good relationship with the family. Whilst there were many deaths during my time there, I could feel the peace of God sustain the team as well as how His wisdom guided us to make decisions that allowed the patients to die with dignity. The chaplaincy team were also brilliant and being available during difficult discussions and provide excellent spiritual support for the families.

I also spend time in the accident and emergency department. The ward would usually start off quiet with few patients in the morning then suddenly be full by lunchtime – normally all coming at the same time! I learnt how to not become overwhelmed but rather ask Holy Spirit for help on who to prioritise and who to call for more senior help. The A&E team worked well together to treat the patients come in acutely unwell.

Every Wednesday morning, the hospital gathered at the chapel for a morning service, and this was so encouraging to begin the day surrounded by hundreds of other hospital staff praising God and hearing from His word. Each department I worked in also had team devotionals and I was honoured to be able lead one on my last day in Kijabe. These devotions help us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who is the Healer and helped see the patients through His eyes as people loved dearly by Him.

One day I will never forget was being able to participate in an outreach day in Kibagare – a large slum in Kangemi, Nairobi. We had the privilege to touch over 500 lives through free medical outreach that included general consultations, dental, nutrition, cancer, psychology and screening services among others. I enjoyed being able about to care for the various people and children by doing general consultations. It was honouring to see people come in distressed yet received medical care from us and spiritual care then leave feeling hopeful.

All in all, the first five adjectives that come to mind when thinking about my time in Kijabe are satisfying, enjoyable, stretching, smooth and memorable. My experience in Kijabe helped me grow in my faith as well as in areas of resilience, generosity and boldness. Having this experience as strengthened my desire to do long term medical mission in the future and shown me that the Lord will always make things work out for His good so I need not be afraid but to trust in His ways. I plan to tell my friends and church family, how God can use the skills you have (what He has given you) to work in any context you allow Him to put you in if you take the step of faith to follow His calling.

Until I move overseas, I will use what I have learnt here to be a better witness to Christ and deliver compassionate healthcare for God’s glory. I am confident that the best is yet to come.