Like many others, I did not have the slightest clue of what this year would become due to the ongoing pandemic. I set out to begin my final year research at Chitokoloki Mission midway through December last year, after the University authorities graciously agreed to my request to make the former my research site. I got off to a good start with patient recruitment and then the pandemic came and prompted the Zambian government to impose restrictions, which affected the flow of patients for non-emergency procedures. This means the research will drag on for much longer than anticipated!

The delay, however, means I can stay on and be of help at Chitokoloki with the Lord's work, especially with all the visiting and some resident missionaries having left with no chance of getting back yet in sight. It has been a real joy to use my newly acquired surgical knowledge and skills to demonstrate the love of God to people seeking help for their bodies in order to help them realise the more important need for the healing of their souls.

So as much as it would be great to graduate on time, I feel already fulfilled just to be doing what I desired to do: to serve the Lord with my surgical skills. For they are the skills I desired to acquire, not so much for the certificate I will get on graduation day, which will only help me to stay registered with the local regulatory bodies.

This stay at Chitokoloki has given my wife and I a certain peace about the thought of the Lord calling us to serve Him here, as we have become more aware of the areas in which we could be of value. Pray for us as we continue to wait upon the Lord's guidance in this regard. We thank the Lord for your continued labours even amid the pandemic. We know that this is definitely not the last or the greatest of crises to hit the entire world so pray for believers in these parts: to also take a stand and continue to seek, rescue and care for the dying during future crises.