Peter Armon writes

Sitting at the Overseas Desk is proving to be both interesting and challenging with all sorts of requests and intriguing items of interest arriving.

'Can you find a doctor who would be willing to accompany a group of elderly war veterans on a reconciliation trip to Japan, next week, all expenses paid?' (Could I take compassionate leave, I asked myself?)

'Do you know of a surgeon who would be willing to work for a month or two as a locum in a country in the midst of civil war?' (He might have difficulty entering the country as most flights in have been cancelled!)

'I have a garage full of surgical instruments - do you know of anyone who might need them?'

'What can I do with a case full of old spectacles?'

'I'm just clearing out my Office and have a large number of old BMJ's, does anyone need them?'

'We need 20 BNF's to give to our students, can you find a source of supply?'

Life is full of interest and I am beginning to find the answers to some of the questions that are put my way.

Advising those trying to make life-changing decisions about working abroad is even more of a challenge. I need your prayers for wisdom. Is there a need to be radical and push the challenge to 'forsake all and go', trusting in a God we say is fully able to meet all our needs (including the problems of re-entry into the UK medical scene at a later date), or should we be more 'careful' and 'sensible' in our advice. There is a balance to maintain but are we in danger of erring too much on the side of caution? What is God saying in a situation where it is getting increasingly difficult to answer 'the call' to mission overseas because of the rules and regulations imposed upon us and the 'impractical' nature of our training. Or is it just that the difficulties of today are of a different nature. At least today's missionaries or their children are unlikely to die within a month of arriving and communications with loved ones back home take seconds rather than months.

Current needs

Opportunities overseas abound and specific job vacancies are to be found both in Triple Helix and the MMAHealthServe Magazine. There are plenty of calls for those with the years of experience who are about to retire as well as those in the flush of youth and with the eagerness to serve God 'where ever'. Why not read up on the issues involved.

Retyred?

MMAHealthServe have recently produced a small booklet entitled Re-tyred - not retired. It contains some articles by medics who have taken up the challenge.

Locums and Locums for locums?

Would you be willing to undertake a locum for an overseas member returning on home leave? Or would you be willing to undertake a locum in this country for someone else who is off to do an overseas locum. Either way, please drop me a line and let me know. I would like to build up a database of such folk.

Travelling to exotic places?

I was greatly encouraged by the number of folk I met at the recent CMF National Conference who had made 'incognito' visits overseas recently to help out in a variety of ways. Such work is greatly appreciated by our overseas members. If you are planning a trip abroad and there is the possibility that you could include a visit to one or some of our members working in that country, do please let me know so that I can try and put you in touch. Like Paul we should be eager to encourage one another in the faith (Romans 1:12) and it can be a time of mutual blessing to both visitor and overseas worker.

Mentors

We are also looking for folk in the UK who would be willing to link up with overseas members working in their Speciality, to act as 'mentors' and encouragers to them in the work that they are doing. If you are interested in being available for such work, do please let me know.

Eagerly sought items

What to do with your old books, magazines, unwanted instruments and spectacles? I'm still working on the instruments but I can give you addresses where your old spectacles, books and BNF's would be greatly appreciated (not to Partnership House I hasten to add)

Refugee doctors

'The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself…' (Leviticus 19:33) Over 600 refugee doctors in the UK are known to the BMA, and it is estimated that there may be over 2,000 in total. Most are not yet fully registered to work in the UK but given support to get through the appropriate exams (PLAB etc), most would love to work here, and could make a valuable contribution. We would love to help. Please let me know if you are a refugee doctor, or are already involved in helping refugee doctors, or would like to help them with exam preparation and clinical placements.

Dates for your diary

Overseas Update - the Residential Refresher Course July 7th-18th 2003
Global Health Care Forum. A meeting to consider 'The role of the mission hospital in the 21st century' at Partnership House, London - November 27th 2002