Katie's Journey...

My name is Katie McCullough, I’m from Northern Ireland and I’m in my final year of studying medicine in Dundee – getting scarily close to graduation! In January I began my five weeks of placement in Kenya alongside my fellow Dundee student (and best friend) Lucy. We were working with Mission Africa who had arranged for us to join the medical teams in Kikuyu hospital for 3 weeks followed by 2 weeks in Chogoria hospital. These hospitals were both founded by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa and have maintained their strong Christian values and ethos.

Our first weeks in Kikuyu hospital were spend rotating between Paediatrics, Internal Medicine and Surgery where we got to work alongside and learn from the Kenyan staff. During our time in Chogoria we spent more time in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Outpatient department. There were several American missionary doctors working in Chogoria who kindly shared with us their experiences of living and working in this environment and gave us a really helpful insight into life as a missionary doctor. Throughout my time on placement I got to spend time on ward rounds, speak to patients suffering from conditions I had never seen before, help with procedures and spend time with the pastoral team. Although it was very different in many ways to any placement I have had in the UK, many of the tasks of the doctors and the approach to assessing patients was similar, however they had more limited options when it came to investigations and treatment.

One of the things I found very challenging was the financial pressures facing many patients as, although the care was provided at a cheaper rate than private hospitals, it still had cost which was very significant for some of the patients. I saw several patients including young children and elderly people who had been in pain for months, but the family did not have enough money to justify attending hospital until it had got worse. This sometimes resulted in patients presenting when the disease had progressed and made treatment more challenging with potentially worse outcomes. Patients also had to travel to other facilities to access investigations such as MRI or CT scans as they were not available in Chogoria hospital. This has given me a much greater appreciation for how privileged we are in the West to have easy access to great medical care.

It was incredible to work in an environment where Christianity was central to everything that was done, from Monday morning chaplaincy services to prayers before ward rounds and surgery. One of my favourite experiences was joining the chaplaincy team in Chogoria for their daily ‘prayers rounds’ in the medical wards. I found the strong faith of so many of the patients so encouraging as they shared how even in their suffering and illness they were trusting in God and knew they could rely on him, and it was a privilege to pray for and with them. I also loved getting to have conversations with some of the staff about faith as it’s such an amazing reminder that although we have grown up in very different cultures so far away, we are united in Christ.

Whilst in Kikuyu we were able to spend some of our free time accompanying one of the Mission Africa missionaries to the various ministries she supports in the local community. We visited a girls rescue centre and local schools where we carried out a bible program, the home for the aged where we sang and chatted to the residents, and one of the churches youth groups where we got to know some of the young people and join in on their program. It was great to get to see firsthand some of the ministries that are taking place in that community - to be encouraged by the way God is working there and see the challenges so I can pray for God to work in those areas.

Overall, my elective was such an incredible experience as I had an amazing opportunity to live in a community and culture unlike any I had visited before. It was a privilege to get to see how God is working in this country and it has made me want to consider prayerfully if medical mission is an area through which I could be called to serve him in the future. Seeing the strong faith of some of the Christians I have met has made me reflect on my need to rely fully on God rather than trying to be self-sufficient. With the uncertainty of moving to a new place and starting a new job next year this is an important reminder for me; that God is completely control and will be with me wherever I go. I also have been challenged to pray for and take opportunities that arise to share the gospel in the situations where God has placed me. I recognise that the people I come across in the UK are in just as much need of hearing the gospel as those I met in Kenya, and I pray that I do this faithfully.

I am so grateful for your support, both prayerfully and financially. I would ask for your ongoing prayer, firstly for the areas which I had the opportunity to visit in Kenya. Pray for the missionaries that are there, that they are given opportunities to share the gospel as they provide medical care and support the local community. Please pray for the churches there, to faithfully preach the truths of the bible and welcome others from their community to come to know Jesus for themselves. Finally, I ask for prayer for myself, that I will use the lessons that I learnt whilst on elective to influence my practice here in the UK and that I live faithfully for him wherever he leads me.

Lucy's Journey...

Hi, my name is Lucy Sydserff. I am a final year medical student from Dundee University although originally I am from Edinburgh. I have just returned from my medical elective in Kenya. I was in Kenya alongside Katie, my friend and fellow Dundee student. We were both placed in Kenya for five weeks. Our time there was split, we spent three weeks in the Kikuyu hospital and then moved to the more rural Chogoria hospital for a further two weeks. Alongside our work in the hospital, we were also attached to a Christian charity, Mission Africa and so had to opportunity to see and be involved in some of the Christian work occurring in the communities and get involved in some of the local church work and youth groups.

To fully gain the most from the experience throughout both the hospital placements we rotated round the specialities. We were able to spend time in paediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology as well as in the emergency department. It was interesting to see similarities to practice in the UK as well as differences that exist. It was also interesting to note the differences between the more rural hospital and one closer to Nairobi. For instance, there was no access to a ct scanner in the Chogoria hospital whereas this was available in the Kikuyu hospital.

We found the local doctors so welcoming, a few invited us to their homes for meals and everyone was keen to make our experience useful. We got the opportunity to be involved in examining patients, practical procedures as well as lots of observation time. Many of the presentations of patients was similar to the UK however there was additionally communicable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis which are things in the UK we learn about much more theoretically. As such, this was an extremely good learning opportunity.

It was so great to see how Christianity and religion was something so integrated into holistic care of a patient within the hospitals in Kenya. Particularly during out placement in the Chogoria hospital, there was a weekly service on a Monday morening, every healthcare worker in the hospital worshipping, fellowshipping, and praying together. This was such an encouragement to be involved in as the hospital workers set their minds on God as they began their new weeks. There was also a bedside pastoral ministry in which there were a team of indivudals who each day went patient to patient, praying, giving encouragement and being there for patients in the hospital. This felt so different to what we might see in a UK hospital.

The placement and hospital experience were obviously extremely insightful, encouraging, and good learning opportunity. As well, additionally, attached to Mission Africa we had the chance to be involved in some of the work and charities in the local community. Again, seeing the gospel being shared to people young and old within the community was super. We were able to meet with particularly local youth groups, and children’s groups, learning from them and helping lead some sessions.

Overall, my experience in Kenya was great, to go somewhere so far away and yet be so welcomed into communities is an experience I would recommend to anyone. The thing I loved the most, even though so far away, I found brothers and sisters, all united by our faith in Jesus Christ. This was of such encouragement to me.