International
International Track update
We are delighted to report that 24 medical and nursing students have joined this new programme tailored for people who feel called to medical mission. CMF has a rich heritage of supporting health professionals in crosscultural mission. Over 200 members work in various forms of cross-cultural work in resource poor contexts. International Track seeks to provide a more coherent strategy for students at the end of their studies. The 17-month programme will progress students to more advanced considerations of mission applied specifically to medicine and nursing. Each participant is being mentored by an experienced person with crosscultural mission experience. Participants will experience an international mission trip as part of the programme. The first meeting took place on 20 May where participants met their mentors.
Why go alone?
Fi McLachlan reports on the gatherings in Belarus and on the Isle of Man
BELARUS:
Our brothers and sisters in Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus held a conference from 6-9 May. They had invited me [Fi] along to share on international issues. But why go alone? A small team of us went over, meeting in Warsaw and travelling across the border into the still very much state-controlled Belarus. It was great to work alongside Iain McDonald, who has spent eleven years working in the region and speaks Russian (a definite advantage), Aaron Poppleton, part of CMF's International Committee with a keen interest to support those in Eastern Europe and Maarten van Brekel, studying psychiatry in the Netherlands and a participant in a CMF Sydenham course.
We ran seminars on how Christian healthcare professionals should respond to homosexuality and gender dysphoria; whether corruption can be overcome in medicine; how Christ's love motivates us as doctors and nurses; how Christians have succeeded and failed to influence recent healthcare development in the UK; and global health needs across the world.
ISLE OF MAN:Spearheaded by CMF member Dave Moore this four day event took place on the Isle of Man at the start of May. The short learning and reflection time together was an opportunity for those who have perhaps had a taste of overseas work, not done formal missiological training, but want to consider and have time to think about their journey into this work with other healthcare professionals. All who came really appreciated the time out to think, learn, talk and pray about their possible future service.
In addition we had great food, courtesy of Graham and Jenny McAll, and time out on the beautiful and (fortunately) sunny coastline of the island. If you wish to participate in another such event please let Fi McLachlan know: fi@cmf.org.uk
CMF's membership of ICMDA opens up many international opportunities. If you are interested in such a trip please contact Fi McLachlan: fi@cmf.org.uk
Members
Returning
Adrian Delport (May 2017)Going
Rory Wilson to Uganda (April 2017)Emma Todd to Uganda (April 2017)
Obituaries
Caroline Dunn (q St Mary's, 1957) was a retired rheumatologist. CMF was informed in April 2017.Huw Wesley Stephen Francis (q Cambridge,1952) was a Medical Officer of Health to many local authorities and served on government committees. Died on 30 March 2017.
Paul Mackenzie Bremer, former President of ICMDA and friend of CMF UK, died on 11 June 2017.
Alan Wilson (q St Mary's, 1954) was a retired psychiatrist. CMF was informed in May 2017.
