Cameroon Update #4

Folks,

I hope this email finds you well.  I have been back in the States for a couple of weeks now, and I am just now getting the chance to send out another update.  I came back to a beautiful wife, two excited little girls, and a busy hospital call schedule.  I was really happy to see three of the four above.

Although I was taking care of pediatric patients in a busy hospital in Cameroon too, returning to Carolinas Medical Center felt distinctly different.  The pace of life here is different.  Not bad...just different.  I appreciate having many of the resources here that I didn’t have in Cameroon.  I appreciate having the ability to order the lab tests I need to make definitive diagnoses.  I appreciate the luxury of being able to obtain a CT scan of a patient’s head.  Heck, I appreciate the luxury of being able to obtain a CT scan of anything.

There are also quite a few things I miss about practicing medicine in Cameroon.  I miss being humbled by the generosity of my patients who were often too poor to afford a shirt without holes but still gave freely to make me feel appreciated and welcome.  I miss snotty-nosed Cameroonian children grinning from ear to ear (while wearing said holey shirts) running up and touching the “white man” doctor on a dare from a friend.  I miss the simplicity of not having a lot of lab tests and CT scans to cloud my medical decision-making.

Apart from the amazing memories, stories, and photos, my trip to Cameroon cemented a few things in my life.  First, God reaffirmed my decision to commit my life to serving Him through providing healthcare to children.  I love kids.  All colors, shapes, sizes, and ages.  Kids are fun.  They like to have fun.  They don’t care who is watching.  They just want to smile and laugh (and make fun of the crazy white doctor).  If you want to see something in its purest form, watch a child experience it.  Being a pediatrician can be tiring, frustrating, and even just sad sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

My desire to continue to serve God on the international mission field was strengthened.  I’m not exactly sure what that looks like for me and my family, but I trust God has a plan.  God can absolutely use you where you are.  There are absolutely people right here in the U.S. who need help and who need to hear that God loves them.  I will never dispute that, but there is also an undeniable way in which God uses a change in scenery/country code to teach you new things about himself.  God is at work EVERYWHERE.  So many times we like to think that we are at the center of any and all importance.  It is incredibly refreshing to get a new perspective when God flips your world on end and puts you flat on your face.  There is so much need for help, medical treatment, and ultimately God’s love that you just cannot begin to grasp it until you see it first hand.  I know not everyone is in a position where they can just pickup and go overseas for a few weeks.  It will always be easier said than done.  With that being said, I encourage each of you to  consider taking a trip of some kind where you can serve.  I have found that this process generally tends to work better (understatement) if you pray and ask God where you can join Him at work.  You won’t be the same.

Next, God taught me what an amazing body of believers, friends, and family I have who love me and support me.  I am not sucking up here.....I already have your money. ;)  God encouraged me greatly and also humbled me with the generous way in which you all freely offered your prayers and money to make my trip possibly.  There was an undeniable sense throughout my entire month that everything I was doing was covered in fervent prayer.  The finances of my travel were a big concern to me prior to leaving.  Simply put, we could not by ourselves afford for me to go.  It is difficult to ask for money from other people.  I mean.....pediatric residents are paid really well, right?  (Survey says??....  XXX  Ohhhhhhhh, I’m sorry!  We have some lovely parting gifts for you.)  If you want God to humble you and teach you about his provision, make a commitment to something he has called you to do and watch how He provides.  It will blow your mind.  You guys were incredibly generous and helped us maybe more than you will ever know.  We aren’t talking about pretend Monopoly money here.  You gave from your hard-earned paychecks in a tough economy when I know you have a lot of other expenses.  I greatly appreciate it, and I know God will bless your obedience.  Thank you.

Lastly and maybe most importantly, God taught me about His love and sovereignty.  It was not easy for me to leave my wife and children for a month.  I want to protect and care for them, so naturally there were times when I worried about how they would fare without me around to help.  I returned from my trip with the overwhelming realization that God is much more capable of loving and protecting my family than I am.  That takes a lot of pressure off of me but also speaks to the depth and breadth of Christ’s love.  As much as I might try to love my wife and girls, ultimately my love does not have even a fraction of the capacity of God’s love for them.  I’ve heard it said that the center of God’s will is the safest place to be.  I used to think that was just a cliche.  Wrong.  That is Biblical truth, and I have learned to rest in that truth.

In conclusion, our God is so much more amazing than I can even begin to grasp.  Thank you for helping me to be able to serve him in Cameroon.  Thank you for praying for me and my family, and please continue to pray that we would seek God with our lives.  I would love to talk more about my trip with anyone who is interested.  Please let us know how we can support and pray for you in any way.

I am going to go to bed now.  I am on-call again tomorrow.  Sounds fun, right?

In Him,

Stephen