Emotionally, living without a salary is a strange phenomena in today's world and I have found the experience very humbling. Clearly it is impossible to raise your own living costs, but with the support of family, friends, organisations and other charitable donations who give in many ways it has been possible. And over the last three years I have been frequently moved to tears and humbled by people's gifts. A friend of mine recently wrote a blog about gifts and she quoted this definition:
Gift [gift] noun
1. Something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. Something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned.
Often people's gifts have come at just the right time, when I am struggling, or wondering how something will work out, or simply feel exhausted and in need of encouragement. The gifts don't have to be large or even financial, sometimes a simple cup of tea or glass of wine, a short chat, has lifted my spirits in ways some of you wouldn't even know. A timely email has the same effect. I thank you as friends for every gift, large or small you have given.
Professionally, many medical colleagues of mine have also given me additional gifts. Gifts of encouragement, good advice, and metaphorically speaking, you have held my hand part of the way. We have shared the joys and the trials of teaching and training in low income settings, we have wrestled with the difficulties and tried to make a difference. You have stretched me and introduced me to people who have challenged and shaped my thinking. And you continue to support me, and encourage me to think about the future and the inevitable question, ‘what will I do next?’
Spiritually, my faith in God who can provide and who can do the impossible has grown beyond measure. I have seen God provide for my needs, financially, emotionally ,and I have witnessed many miracles in the wards of our hospital. Translators who couldn't speak a local dialect being able to speak it to a certain patient who needed it but not to others, a lady with a vesicovaginal fistula which was not amenable to surgery was prayed for and her ‘leaking’ stopped, someone else who was HIV positive was prayed for and then said to be HIV negative, several intensive care patients have gone from being medically speaking ‘at deaths door’ to suddenly extubated (off all life support machines) and back on the ward in less than 24 hours – phenomena I have never seen before. Also, individual crew members coming to the ship have seen their own lives transformed through prayer and encounters with the love and power of God. Not to mention, the God-inspired ideas that I feel I have had. Ideas that have defined the creation and the current strategy of our healthcare education program. The favour we have had with contacts at home and abroad. I see Gods’ hand at work everywhere and I am grateful for your gifts – your prayers that open doors in the heavenly places and afford protection and strength to continue.
But it hasn't all been easy. I can't say I have loved every minute of it. There have been tough times. I miss family and friends, I miss playing golf, sailing, simply walking down the street alone and sitting in a café, I even miss running in the cold and rain. Living and working in a small community isn't always easy either, relationships are easily strained and life can feel very intense. I shared a room with two others for two years, but now have my own room which makes huge difference, but others I work with and rely upon are not so fortunate.
However, as a Christian, I believe that since God has called me to work with Mercy Ships he will provide whatever I need (physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, professionally) because that is what the bible promises. And that truly, has been my story. I have witnessed God provide through so many of you in a miriad of various gifts. Gifts….those things, ‘given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned’.
Whether you believe it or not, The bible says we are all made in God’s image, so it doesn't much matter what you believe, you, each of you do in fact exhibit parts of God’s character - generous gift giving for one. I know – I have seen it and experienced it from you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I wish you a very Happy New Year, and may God bless you more than you expect or deserve.
