I would not describe myself as an avid reader but I often have
at least one book on the go. Recently I have been reading one called ‘Crash the
Chatterbox’ by Steven Furtick and a few days ago I read this,
“If you call your
schedule busy, hectic, and overwhelming, that’s how it will feel. Your words
will give weight to the very dread and discontent that the enemy intends to use
to discourage you. But if you call your schedule full and challenging yet
fruitful, it will begin to take on those dimensions, first internally and then
externally.
I have noticed that
certain seasons of my life that had the potential to be the most stressful
turned out to be the most joyful and productive because I disciplined myself to
think about them in terms of opportunity, not obligation.
I have also
experienced the opposite far too many times.”
Last month I wrote about ‘Learning the unforced rhythms of
grace’, and so it seems the theme has continued. “full and challenging yet fruitful”.... What a wonderful phrase and
perfect to sum up the last 7 months and fill my heart with thankfulness as I
finish my last 5 weeks here in Madagascar.
Seven months ago, in September 2014, after multiple changes of plan due to the Ebola crisis in west Africa, we announced we would be
sailing to Madagascar. Mercy Ships
hadn’t been here for 18 years, we had no assessment reports like we normally do
with which to plan our programs, and even if we had those reports there was
little time to plan - we would be there
in 6-7 weeks. And if that wasn’t enough pressure /obligation (or as Steven Furtick would say, ‘opportunity’), there were sudden and
unexpected changes in the leadership structure of the hospital. Within a matter of
weeks, there was a new Hospital Director (responsible for nearly 200 staff), a
new Ward Supervisor (responsible for about 100 nurses and rehab staff), and a new
Patient Selection Supervisor (responsible for finding and screening literally 1000's of patients). I had been promoted to Deputy Chief Medical Officer and so together, as a brand new team, we faced, what could be described as "busy hectic and overwhelming" or “full and challenging" times. And we prayed it would be fruitful.
The new Hospital Director, Kirstie was a good friend of mine
so that helps in situations like this. I can vividly remember sitting on the
beach in Tenerife just before we set sail for Madagascar. Kirstie and I, plus
two other friends who we had asked to pray for us for wisdom and courage for us
to face the season ahead. They then left us, and we sat, gazing towards the
ocean, and prayed , asking the God of heaven to give us vision for the
forthcoming field service to Madagascar. We wrote down several spiritual and
medical goals that we felt God gave us. One goal was that we would not move
ahead on any major decision without unity. So immediately we returned to the
ship we shared these with Dr Gary the Chief Medical Officer, and veteran of 27
years with Mercy Ships. The 3 of us comprised the Hospital Executive Team.
Unity would define us, and from there would spring other goals and the vision
we felt God had put on our hearts.
Maybe another time I can share these goals with you, but for
now I want to share the ‘fruitful’ part.
The hospital opened early November, so in almost 5 months (which would normally simply be the Advanced preparation and set-up phase) here are the
statistics - the fruit of "full and challenging" times:
4,245 dental patients treated
1007 surgeries performed (671 adults; 238 children under 14
years)
44 participants in healthcare education mentoring projects
269 participants in 8 different healthcare education courses
WHO Safe
Surgical Checklist
Lifebox /
pulse oximeter
Primary
Trauma Care
Basic
Surgical Skills
SAFE
Obstetric Anesthesia
Introduction
to Ponseti
Newborn
Resuscitation
Helping
Babies Breathe
Now at short notice, that is ‘full and challenging yet
fruitful’. Very fruitful. And that is a reason to be thankful.
At this stage in the field service with less than 2 months
of surgeries left, people start to get tired, but I have found stopping to draw
breathe and reflect on all that we have achieved brings joy and thankfulness,
and that strengthens me. Especially this year, as I look back. No wonder I am
tired, but wow – what an incredible field service. This week, Kirstie asked the 10 key hospital
leaders to review their goals for this field service – a standard management
task as time draws to a close on projects. But this was not to just to see where/what we had achieved or failed – but to stop
and reflect and be thankful. To actually make, and take, time to be thankful
because it is in that posture that I believe new vision is birthed, even
bigger dreams are conceived, and more fruit is ultimately produced. Thankfulness is the key to finishing this field service well - with hearts full to
bursting instead of exhausted, dry and burnt-out .
And it is not over yet.
This week we are running yet another healthcare education
course, this time in Paediatric anaesthesia, in the capital city Antananarive,
and the following week a shorter version back on the ship in Tamatave. I am
excited to be welcoming friends from Canada, US, England and Kenya to help me
as one of my dreams is to make sure every child has access to safe surgical
care and in particular safe anaesthesia. Our other healthcare education
mentoring projects continue for several more weeks and surgeries on the ship run until May 22nd. Plenty
of time for more lives to be touched and transformed.
I am thankful for a ‘full and challenging yet fruitful’ time this year. I am birthing bigger dreams and visions for next year - an expanded
surgical program, and country-wide plans for a number of healthcare education
courses……but - more about that another time - till then....
