Four months before my elective I began to despair and asked my medical school for an extension on my project protocol deadline. I had started writing to various organisations 16 months before I was due to take my elective, but they had all replied that an elective was not possible. I left for Christmas and asked for prayer at my home church. Susan, a lady I had met once or twice, and who was married to a pastor in Sri Lanka, prayed for me and then said she had an amazing feeling I could stay with them. She was due to return there in a few days but emailed her husband who asked at the local hospital and they agreed.
So, in the spring of this year, I spent seven weeks in the beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya set 2000 metres high in the 'Hill Country' of the central province of Sri Lanka. Because of the altitude, the climate is similar to that of England in springtime, but with the addition of the cyclical monsoon rains. Staying with Pastor Vasanta Wettasinha and his wife Susan in their home, I had an amazing experience and was very sad to say good bye at the end. I know that the whole period was God-ordained and can only give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first six weeks were spent split between working in Nuwara Eliya Base Hospital and attending the Bible/Ministry training school run by the Pastor.
God had already prepared the way: although the Government hospital was basic and small (four consultants, eleven wards), everyone was tremendously friendly and welcomed me into their firms. The conditions were dramatically different to those in England: flies in theatre, birds flying through the wards, two (or more) patients sharing beds, dirt everywhere, but I was surprised how quickly I became familiar with this.
I divided the time between obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, medicine and surgery, accompanying the doctors on the morning ward rounds, going to clinics and observing in theatre. The doctors were well trained and competent in treating patients even though they had a limited range of drugs/treatments available. Medical notes were written in English and ward rounds were conducted in English, so I was able to understand what was happening. However, although I picked up a few words of the local language I felt sad that I could not fully communicate with the patients because of the language barriers (they spoke either Sinhalese or Tamil). I was emotionally and spiritually challenged by seeing a significant number of people die and realised that God was taking me to the very precipice of life. The doctors were extremely grateful for the medical equipment that I gave at the end of my attachment and they hope that I will be able to send more equipment and elective students to them in the future.
Each week the two days of Bible/Ministry training run by Pastor Vasanta were attended by approximately fifteen people. Some may have walked for miles over the hills to come to the classes; others may have worked for two hours in the morning to earn enough money to catch the bus (about five pence). The dedication and hunger to learn and understand God's word was immense. Susan also taught English and I really enjoyed being able to assist in the classes. Two of the Saturdays were spent conducting medical clinics in some of the most rural, and poorest, tea estates. A doctor from the hospital came with us on each occasion and was able to assess, treat and refer people as necessary. The clinics really touched the hearts of the people and were a great witness of Christian love, both to the village people and the doctors. Through the clinics and the time in the hospital I was able to conduct my research project into the prevalence of malnutrition in children under five years of age (results being analysed).
Saturday nights and Sundays were spent observing the Sabbath in prayer and fasting before participating in the Sunday morning church service. The people were wonderfully loving, caring and welcoming and I really felt part of their family. The church was planted in January and is growing quickly (now about 30 attending regularly). Pastor Vasanta and Susan have a busy ministry involving a lot of counselling/guidance, prayer support and witnessing. Living within the church meant that I was able to accompany Pastor Vasanta and Susan when they went out to pray with people or visit their homes and I was able to experience how people really live in Nuwara Eliya. The majority live in houses built from tin sheets or cardboard, and some do not have running water or electricity.
The final week was spent as a week of relaxation, touring the south coast and exploring the beauty of Sri Lanka. During my stay, I completely fell in love with both the people and the country of Sri Lanka. The elective was a truly life changing experience. If God taught me three things they were to trust Him completely, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with holy boldness, and to be aware of the ways in which the devil will try to attack God's work. I am truly grateful to God that He provided Pastor Vasanta and Susan to pastor me during my stay. They were amazing, at all times pointing me to God's word. I returned to England with a fresh thirst for God's holy word and discipleship. I also came back to start my final year of medical training with renewed desire to become a good doctor and let God direct me in this path.
I cannot imagine that this will be the last time that I visit Sri Lanka and I await with great anticipation how God is going to move! Strong links have been made with both the hospital and church and I aim to learn Sinhalese before I return.
I am extremely grateful to everyone who provided support for the elective (prayer, words of wisdom, finances, medical equipment, supplies to take out) and recognise that ultimately it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is to be praised.
'Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known to the nations what he has done.' Psalm 105: 1
So, in the spring of this year, I spent seven weeks in the beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya set 2000 metres high in the 'Hill Country' of the central province of Sri Lanka. Because of the altitude, the climate is similar to that of England in springtime, but with the addition of the cyclical monsoon rains. Staying with Pastor Vasanta Wettasinha and his wife Susan in their home, I had an amazing experience and was very sad to say good bye at the end. I know that the whole period was God-ordained and can only give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first six weeks were spent split between working in Nuwara Eliya Base Hospital and attending the Bible/Ministry training school run by the Pastor.
God had already prepared the way: although the Government hospital was basic and small (four consultants, eleven wards), everyone was tremendously friendly and welcomed me into their firms. The conditions were dramatically different to those in England: flies in theatre, birds flying through the wards, two (or more) patients sharing beds, dirt everywhere, but I was surprised how quickly I became familiar with this.
I divided the time between obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, medicine and surgery, accompanying the doctors on the morning ward rounds, going to clinics and observing in theatre. The doctors were well trained and competent in treating patients even though they had a limited range of drugs/treatments available. Medical notes were written in English and ward rounds were conducted in English, so I was able to understand what was happening. However, although I picked up a few words of the local language I felt sad that I could not fully communicate with the patients because of the language barriers (they spoke either Sinhalese or Tamil). I was emotionally and spiritually challenged by seeing a significant number of people die and realised that God was taking me to the very precipice of life. The doctors were extremely grateful for the medical equipment that I gave at the end of my attachment and they hope that I will be able to send more equipment and elective students to them in the future.
Each week the two days of Bible/Ministry training run by Pastor Vasanta were attended by approximately fifteen people. Some may have walked for miles over the hills to come to the classes; others may have worked for two hours in the morning to earn enough money to catch the bus (about five pence). The dedication and hunger to learn and understand God's word was immense. Susan also taught English and I really enjoyed being able to assist in the classes. Two of the Saturdays were spent conducting medical clinics in some of the most rural, and poorest, tea estates. A doctor from the hospital came with us on each occasion and was able to assess, treat and refer people as necessary. The clinics really touched the hearts of the people and were a great witness of Christian love, both to the village people and the doctors. Through the clinics and the time in the hospital I was able to conduct my research project into the prevalence of malnutrition in children under five years of age (results being analysed).
Saturday nights and Sundays were spent observing the Sabbath in prayer and fasting before participating in the Sunday morning church service. The people were wonderfully loving, caring and welcoming and I really felt part of their family. The church was planted in January and is growing quickly (now about 30 attending regularly). Pastor Vasanta and Susan have a busy ministry involving a lot of counselling/guidance, prayer support and witnessing. Living within the church meant that I was able to accompany Pastor Vasanta and Susan when they went out to pray with people or visit their homes and I was able to experience how people really live in Nuwara Eliya. The majority live in houses built from tin sheets or cardboard, and some do not have running water or electricity.
The final week was spent as a week of relaxation, touring the south coast and exploring the beauty of Sri Lanka. During my stay, I completely fell in love with both the people and the country of Sri Lanka. The elective was a truly life changing experience. If God taught me three things they were to trust Him completely, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with holy boldness, and to be aware of the ways in which the devil will try to attack God's work. I am truly grateful to God that He provided Pastor Vasanta and Susan to pastor me during my stay. They were amazing, at all times pointing me to God's word. I returned to England with a fresh thirst for God's holy word and discipleship. I also came back to start my final year of medical training with renewed desire to become a good doctor and let God direct me in this path.
I cannot imagine that this will be the last time that I visit Sri Lanka and I await with great anticipation how God is going to move! Strong links have been made with both the hospital and church and I aim to learn Sinhalese before I return.
I am extremely grateful to everyone who provided support for the elective (prayer, words of wisdom, finances, medical equipment, supplies to take out) and recognise that ultimately it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is to be praised.
'Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known to the nations what he has done.' Psalm 105: 1
