Having heard from many Christian medics about how they had been impacted by similar placements, I went out to Chitokoloki in anticipation of gaining experiences and learning which would do me a great deal of benefit both medically and spiritually. I found my time in Chitokoloki delivered on this front exactly as I had hoped, and I can confidently say that I am much better off for the time I spent there.

Upon heading to Chit, one of the main things I was hoping to better understand was the way in which the medical and spiritual components of the mission complement one another. I feel that being involved in both and getting to spend time and chat with the missionaries out there fulltime really helped me to come to grips with that concept.

Medical work took up most of day-to-day life in Chitokoloki for me. I managed to gain experience in a wide variety of work; from anaesthetics, to orthopaedics surgery, to physiotherapy, to community healthcare. Doing all this knowing I was impacting the collective testimony of the mission was a tremendous encouragement and challenge. No two days are ever the same in Chit, and I found this variety both of medical content and pace to be very stimulating. I enjoyed learning from a whole host of different staff members as I sought to help wherever I felt I could be most useful each day.

As well as hospital work, I was given the opportunity to be involved in village gospel outreach, church preaching, children’s work, and bible studies with church plants. I am indebted to the missionaries for their kindness involving me in the works the Lord has given them to do in that locality, and I am immensely grateful for so many different works I was able to be a part of and learn from. I was really encouraged to be a part of outreach works run by local christians as well as missionaries - many people with a burden for the gospel, working together with that focus. To be a part of this was a privilege. I was also shown much kindness in friendship and hospitality by the missionaries, who opened their homes to me freely and regularly during my stay, for which I am very grateful.

Although the work of daily life in Chit is tiring and intense, I have no regrets about the energy put into serving there - I felt it an honour to have been so involved and working alongside them. However, at times continuing to serve in such tiredness became a real struggle, and I got an insight into the daily sacrifice required by those working in Chit permanently for the gospel. I again commend their consistency to you and pray for continued strength for them.

For myself, having recently gotten married upon my return, I ask for prayer as I enter this new chapter of life while also reaching the end of my medical studies. As I seek to navigate these life changes I’m sure much wisdom will be needed.