It was a real privilege to spend nearly 6 weeks in Kenya on medical elective. I spent this time in two hospitals – in Chogoria and Kikuyu – and split the time across four departments (General Surgery, Paediatrics, General Medicine and Ophthalmology) as well as a couple of days with the hospital chaplaincy team. I was grateful to experience a range of clinical activities including observing clinics, ward rounds, surgical operations, and the ongoing jobs in the hospital wards. It was particularly interesting seeing the large ophthalmology department at one of these hospitals and the comprehensive service they offer to patients, who sometimes travel large distances for this service. It was amazing to see some of the gospel opportunities that came alongside caring for patients’ physical wellbeing in these hospitals.
When I joined the chaplaincy team, I was able to see what they described as the ‘heartbeat of the hospital’, which included joining with some bed-to-bed conversations with patients to encourage them and pray with them. A highlight was getting to meet some of the people dedicated to working and serving in these hospitals and I learnt a huge amount from the time spent with them. Alongside the hospital work, I was able to regularly attend a local church at each location, as well as join a church youth group, and visit a care home funded by the church.
Another huge highlight was the getting to know Christian family across the world – such a warm welcome from them! – and now be able to partner with them in prayer. I want to say a huge thank you to MMN for helping to fund this opportunity and pray for me as went. The elective gave me a great opportunity to gain some insight into what serving longer-term cross-cultural mission can look like which will definitely help me as I consider it for the future. Thank you!
Encouragements/Challenges
A significant encouragement was seeing what an open door for the gospel there was in a context where you can freely speak from God’s word with patients. When we spent time with the chaplaincy team, we were able to read from God’s word together and pray together with patients. This felt quite a contrast to the UK.
A challenge in relation to this, however, was that although most of the population would identify as Christians, there was a spectrum of understanding of the gospel. We encountered prosperity-gospel-type teaching at various points, and it was difficult to hear misleading teaching and consider how to navigate some situations when this came up.
Outside of the hospital environment, I was very encouraged by the time we spent with the local church youth groups. It was wonderful to join their time together (summarised as ‘fun, food and fellowship’) and see how they wanted to learn from God’s word together, be honest about the struggles they were facing, and spur each other along as Christians.
Prayers
- The continuing work of the hospitals as they provide physical care for patients and hold out the gospel to them.
- For the youth group, that they would continue to be able to meet and that they would grow in Christ-like maturity and in number.
- For my own medical practice, starting work later this year - that I would be able to provide good quality care for God’s glory, and that I would be a witness to those I work among.
