On a Mission

When I signed up for the Rural Primary Care Track (RPCT) at Quillen, I just wanted more clinical experience than my peers the first two years and some extra "away" elective time my fourth year, not expecting my 4 month RPCT rotation to be anything more or less than the rest of the third year. I got more than I bargained for; I got a mission trip minus the cost of plane ticket, minus Guatemalan stomach guest (though I did pick up a nasty cold but what else could I expect from working in a peds clinic during the month of January?), and complete with an opportunity to practice my Spanish and a chance to meet some wonderful Christians.

Though thousands of miles away from Guatemala, I'm continually surprised at the similarities I see between those of rural Guatemala and those of rural Appalachia. It seems like even though we live in a land of the free and are "richly blessed" there are still those of our own country who are imprisoned by sins of addiction, trapped by lack of resources, and struggling to make a living. These past few weeks have brought me face to face with some of the rawest, roughest forms of humanity and some of the newest, purest forms of life about to be cast into that rough and raw world.
With all this being said, I think I've done more thinking, questioning, praying, and praising than I've done in a long time. I think these months are going to be about finding God in all circumstances. Finding God in an encounter with a patient with a small complaint, but large wounds of domestic violence on their body and fearful for their life b/c of their spouse's anger. Finding God in the 30 something year old patient whose 4 pack/day addiction to tobacco is literally taking years from his life. Finding God in the fellowship of those of a small, coutnry church. Finding God in the tiny life of the first baby I helped deliver, and whose Guatemalan mother seems indifferent to her existence, already having multiple mouths to feed.

Though I'm only a few hundred miles from the place I call "home" instead of a few thousand, there are definitely more spiritual and material needs than what I ever expected to find in my own state. Now, I'm just praying to see how God can use me in these situations and in this seemingly endless world of need, praying that I won't just focus my eyes abroad but take each day to open my eyes to my "neighbors" and their needs.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Eph. 3:20