At the end of January, I (Rick) went on a 3 week trip to Africa. My goal was to do as much as possible to prepare for a return to Liberia in 2013, when I hope to get involved in training Family Physicians for Liberia. I spent the first 12 days or so in Nigeria, learning about the Family Medicine Residency Training programs there—how they structure their curriculum; how they do their testing; and how they evaluate their trainees. The training in West Africa is quite different than the training here in the U.S. Another SIM doc, Dr. Laura Smelter, was there preparing to begin work at Egbe Hospital and she needed to learn a lot of the same things I did—so it was great to get to know her and to have a fellow learner along to compare notes with. Dr. Musa Dankyau was our main teacher and guide—he was very generous with his time and has a wonderful and Godly perspective on his work as a physician. Here is Dr. Dankyau with his two trainees…
I then spent a week in Liberia. I had some wonderful visits with family friends; Ben and Natalie Colby graciously hosted me. One day, I had an appointment get cancelled, but instead got to observe at an important meeting on post-graduate education in Liberia, which is exactly what I am most interested in!
Finally, I was to leave on Wednesday February 8th, but my flight was cancelled due to a dust storm blowing off the Sahara. The pilots could not see well enough to land the plane. My departure was delayed by 3 days. When God clears my schedule like that and gives me a free day—after all, no one knew I was even still in Liberia—I figure it is an opportunity to spend some time with Him. Thursday morning I went on a long walk on the beach, and before long the Lord gave me a picture to inspire me. ELWA (the ministry umbrella which operates ELWA Hospital, ELWA Academy, and ELWA Radio) has about 300 staff. Right now there are many challenges—ministry challenges, financial challenges. As I looked at one of the huge rocks along the beach, I got to thinking—if we have 300 people, and we want to move the rock, what is the best way to do it? Should we choose the strongest individual from among us, and give them the task of moving the rock, as our "champion"? Or should we choose the 10 most intelligent, most dedicated members of the staff to move the rock? Should we just pray and ask Jesus to move the rock? In my devotions that morning, I had been reading (Ephesians 3:10) how God wants to use the Church "to make known the manifold wisdom of God" to the Angels! I came to the inescapable conclusion that the only way to move that big rock would be to get a big rope around it and have ALL 300 of us pull with all our might as we prayed. God wants to use the body of Christ to overcome obstacles—when every member of the body is fully functioning and working in unity, then we will see results. I shared these thoughts with the Hospital Staff on Friday morning, and I continue to pray for more unity and fellowship to draw us all together in the task God has called us to. Thanks to all who prayed for my trip—I saw God's hand at work in so many ways! Yours, Rick
