I am a servant of the LORD from Japan, commended from my home assembly (Awaji assembly in Osaka) in 2003, to Chavuma Mission, Zambia, as a medical missionary. I am a licensed midwife, a registered nurse (RN) in Japan and I received a RN license in Zambia. One of the Bible verses which inspired, guided and led me to the mission field is ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go.’ (Joshua 1:9)

For the first few years I was very busy with language study (both medical English and the local language), hospital work and studying for my nursing examination. Senior missionaries had kindly helped me in my studies and many believers did so through their prayers. When the LORD helped me to pass the exam I was able to receive my work permit in 2004. At that time we had a few missionary doctors and other senior missionary nurses who helped guide me and teach me how to help the patients at Chavuma Mission Hospital where I was situated and I was able to go round to see patients daily and help them both physically and spiritually.

By August 2008, all of our missionary doctors had left Chavuma so we had no doctors at the 100 bed hospital. Chitokoloki Mission Hospital had started to help us with surgical cases and we referred many other cases to them which we couldn’t manage ourselves. Chitokoloki also sent doctors to undertake surgeries at the hospital every two weeks, which helped us to maintain the work. Later in 2008 there was an outbreak of measles in Angola, a neighbouring country, and many Angolan patients started to visit us at Chavuma, so that the hospital became like a refugee camp. The LORD helped and sustained us through these tough times.

In 2012, a Congolese doctor was guided to come to serve the LORD together with us and he brought his family with him as well. He was a very able surgeon and we really appreciated him. He needed to go through internship training under the Zambian government for two years, and he eventually completed his training in 2015. Sadly, he unexpectedly sustained a cardiac attack in June 2018 and went to be with the LORD. But God provided a Zambian doctor from July 2018, and he commenced work with us. In April 2019 we received another Zambian doctor from the government as well.

Then in October 2019, three unfortunate incidents happened in a week. First, a large tree at the hospital fell and a big branch hit the roof of the TB ward but mercifully no one was injured. The next day I was bitten by a snake but it was not a mamba or puff adder bite which would have caused me more harm. Then a sterilizing machine caught fire and many instruments and theatre linens were burned. Fortunately, the sterilizing room, which was made of wood, didn’t get burned down.

Sometimes, there are many other challenges, and there never seems to be time to deal with them and our planned schedules. Our medicines and medical supplies can quickly become depleted and we don’t always have sufficient staff to give the good nursing care to patients that we would wish. Patients suffer with terrible conditions and pain, and there are times when we fail to meet their needs both physically and spiritually.

Parcels from overseas need to be sorted in the store room and acknowledgements need to be made. We have to fight off the termites in the store room. Baby layettes are needed in maternity. Patients’ food runs out and we need to run to the market to purchase fresh supplies. Malnourished patients need prioritizing and require much attention. Sometimes our medical equipment becomes broken or damaged.

Very sick patients are regularly brought in from Angola and can die in a few hours if it is not possible to deal with them immediately. There are times when there is no blood in stock and anaemic patients die. Premature babies are born but we are not always equipped enough to help them breath, and sometimes we have no electricity supply to run the oxygen concentrators.

Frustration and overwhelming stress builds up and we lose focus, get upset, become depressed and can become bad testimonies as believers.

But the LORD protects us and when I reflect on these difficult situations I see the blessing of God with us throughout the difficulties. The LORD has put us in a hard situation to learn how to depend only on Him. We get disappointments when we depend on people around us. We get hurt or upset when we put high expectations on others and when they fail to do things. Our emotional distresses can cause trouble in our relationship with others. The LORD guided me to go in to the fields because I needed to learn how to be obedient to Him, how to be patient, how to depend on Him, and I have so much more to learn. If I am distressed myself, I cannot help patients spiritually.

If it was not for the LORD, I would have gone back to my home country a long time ago. But it was He who guided me to serve Him here in Chavuma. I have to stay focused on what He wants me to do. It is always helpful to read God’s Word to get spiritual nourishment and encouragement and prayers day and night help me to keep going. The Gospel is preached through the public address system at the hospital, and many sick people receive an opportunity to hear the Word of God.

Many believers overseas send us medical supplies and needed items which help our daily activities greatly. I recognize these as blessings from the LORD. The medicines we order from the UK with the support of MMN and Echoes International are a tremendous help to our small hospital in the bush. The loving kindness of the believers overwhelms and amazes me and, despite the difficulties and challenges, I feel very privileged, encouraged and honoured to serve the LORD here at Chavuma, together with other believers from overseas and with the faithful support of those who pray with us and who send us supplies.

Since 2010 the LORD has given me a desire to go into Angola to help the sick through our mobile clinic ministry. As Chavuma is only 10km away from the Angolan border we see many sick patients coming from Angola and they are often too unwell to recover and go home. Sadly, many delay getting prompt medical care by going to witchdoctors in the villages. After seven years of praying and waiting, the LORD provided the equipment and vehicle, and I started to go to Angola. We are encouraging Zambian workers to take more responsibility for hospital work so that we can extend our services into other areas where there is no medical care but a lot of witchcraft.

I want to become more effective in my service for the LORD; learn more languages and organise my time and schedules so that I am able to help the people of Chavuma and Angola in a much better way. I appreciate your prayers.

‘…. rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer’ (Romans 12;12)