On the 25^th of August I flew out of the UK bound for Nepal. After months of planning, it felt surreal to finally be on the plane. I spent a few days in Kathmandu upon arrival, this time was precious in allowing me to find my feet in a new environment – remembering to bin toilet paper, rinse toothbrushes with only safe water, fall asleep to the sound of cicadas and dogs barking.

I then flew deeper into Nepal arriving in a hillside city, with narrow colourful streets, steep steps, and lush green jungle. It was at one of the most famous buildings in the area (the hospital) that I set up “home” for the preceding six weeks. The hospital is nestled into the hill in the north of the city with views all the way down the valley and on a clear day’s views north to the white peaked Himalayas.

I spent the first three weeks in the obstetrics department, shadowing theatres, clinics and ward rounds, seeing many conditions I had previously only seen in textbooks. Weeks four, five and six were spent in the paediatrics department where alongside the common coughs and colds I also saw enteric fever, dengue and other tropical diseases. However, my time was not just spent walking hospital floors. In the background I was also working on a project to evaluate the outcomes of induction of labour at the hospital. In the second last week I then presented these findings to the doctors working at the hospital to allow them to review current practice and make changes to improve outcomes long term.

It was encouraging and inspiring to see the doctors and pastoral care team show God’s love to the patients and to meet people who had radically followed Gods call for their lives and moved around the world. It was also a spiritual blessing to be able to worship with many brothers and sisters from Nepal and to see how God sanctifies my heart and calls me to trust when I am outside of my comfort zone.

As I reflect on my time in Nepal, I am so grateful for each of the doctors who gave up their time to teach me, talk to me or even have me round for dinner! This trip allowed me to gain more medical knowledge, but it also allowed me to better understand the world and the critical role that global health plays.