The Interrupted Life: The Last Day

My last day at Mukinge was bitter sweet.

On the one hand, I was excited to go home to my husband.

On the other hand, I was sorry to leave behind the work here, and the amazing doctors and nurses and students.

Me and sister Linda, one of the OR nurses

Me and Sister Mwansa (spelling?) the OR charge nurse

Me and sister Rebecca, one of the OR nurses

Me and Jolene, who keeps the OR spotless

Me and Sister Masowi (spelling?), another OR nurse

Mr. Fumpa, the Executive Director of Mukinge, who also happens to be an eye surgeon

Monday, my last full day in the OR, was probably the day where I actually felt like I was supposed to be here. The Lord gave me such enthusiasm and joy for the work. We set multiple fractures, did a skin graft on a hand, performed a C-section, and repaired a perforated peptic ulcer. And also rounded on about 30-50 patients on the wards.

Me and Dr. Missy after an emergency C-section
That is our own sweat on our scrubs-it was a hot day

An amazing Zambian lunch,which was interrupted by said C-section

I love the OR. I am never happier or closer to God than when I am in the OR. It’s a strange feeling, having your hands in someone’s abdomen. It’s strange holding a knife to skin, knowing you’re going to cause damage but the damage caused internally is far greater.

For the first time since coming to Mukinge, I felt peace being here. I felt God smiling down at me, saying, “Now you get why I brought you here.”

I probably still do not fully understand why He brought me to Mukinge. I’m sure in many years down the road He will make it clear.

However, for now, I am content to say He brought me here to humble me.

My last day at Mukinge brought its fair share of craziness. Emergency C-sections while I was left to round on the wards. Long, long hours of rounding as we had some complicated patients. Then yet another C-section while I was lecturing to nursing students.

Then the good-byes. I had to say good-bye to the OR staff. To the charge nurses of the surgical wards. To all the nursing students on male surgical ward that I had grown so fond of. Their desire to learn was infectious. It rejuvenated my desire to learn.

Me and some of the nursing students form male surgical ward

I walked around the area surrounding Mukinge today after I said my good-byes. It was hard to hold back the tears. I had just finished reading the book “To Africa with Love.” It’s about one of the surgeons, Jim Foulkes, who served here for so many years. To think that I was probably walking the same grounds as so many amazing, godly men and women who came before me was almost overwhelming.

I pray that one day, Lawrence and I will be serving the Lord somewhere like those brave doctors, nurses, teachers. Wherever the Lord calls us, I pray we do it all for His glory. For His name. For His Kingdom.

May God bless Mukinge. May God bless Zambia.