Interlude

The pic is of one of my all-time favourite patients, precious little Anna :) She's one and a half years old and was admitted for just over three weeks. She came to us severely malnourished (weight under 5.5kg!) and near death with severe malaria complicated by severe anaemia (Hb under 4.0g/dL!). After much intensive therapy involving IV artesunate, whole blood transfusion, therapeutic feeds, and lots of hugs and kisses (she was everyone’s darling), she was sent home on Friday.

Dear Lord, please watch over her; we may not understand her social situation and why she got so sick in the first place but You do. You know how her parents are separated, how she lives with her abuba (grandmother), and how she may not have enough to eat at home. I know You love her so much that You gave up Your own life for her; I trust that You know best how to take care of us, even though we may not comprehend the whys and whereofs.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,“ says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Job 42:2-3 “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counsellor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to Him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

When tragedies occur, it’s natural – even expected – to ask where was God in all this and why He would allow it to happen in the first place, given that He is indeed sovereign and a good God.  I don’t have any glib answers to this thorny question; I don’t believe anyone on earth does. There have been many theologians and philosophers over the centuries that have attempted to unravel this mystery of mysteries. All I know is that one day, we will find out; if not here, then in the hereafter when we shall see Him face to face. In the meantime, all we can do is trust that yes, He is omniscient (all-knowing), yes, He is omnipotent (all-powerful), but at the same time, He has been, is, and always will be goodness itself.

Isaiah 29:16 Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

After all, can we truly say that our lives are in total submission to His will? Are we so sure that the blame for whatever malady that befalls us can be laid at the feet of His whims and fancies rather than that of our own desires or the consequences of a fallen world badly in need of an overhaul?

P.S. The title refers to my upcoming break where I will probably not be blogging for a few weeks; see you all back in December!

Strength in weakness

This photo was taken by one of my favourite kids around the compound, a 10-year-old boy who's discovered how to use the camera (or rather, the Photo Booth app) on my iPad mini in more ways than I previously realised even existed.

Not much to update this time but I do have to confess how immensely grateful I am to our heavenly Father and to our excellent missionary nurses here for bringing me through the past two weeks safe and sound of mind. Words cannot express the dread and trepidation with which I was anticipating being the sole doctor at our hospital when my colleague went on his (much-deserved) leave. Our God knows our far our capabilities can be stretched and never allows us to be tested past them; or else, He gives us the strength to go that extra mile.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

In the aforementioned two weeks of working solo (so to speak), I have had more nights of unbroken sleep than while the other doctors were around. The women in labour were considerate enough to present during daytime hours more often than not and I could call another missionary doctor for advice over the phone. Contrast this with the week that has just past: three sets of twins were delivered just yesterday (including one set via C-section and one set at 22 weeks' gestation, i.e. not viable in our context) as well as two babies with severe birth asphyxia (one from likely chorioamnionitis in the setting of preterm premature rupture of membranes and the other from cord prolapse). I am so, so ready for my own break - coming up in just over a week's time, hallelujah!

The following song is dedicated to my longsuffering family who has had to put up with my obstinacy and stubbornness, from my decision to come here (although to be fair, it wasn't my decision per se but rather an attempt to follow what I have perceived as God's calling) to other petty issues I'll reserve for another time. I miss and love you all dearly.

Eloquent by Sanctus Real
I'm as eloquent as an elephant
About as headstrong as the mighty King Kong
On a rampage throwing airplanes
I can't believe you haven't gone away

I'm difficult, argumentative
About as thick skulled as the dinosaur bones
On a display in a glass case
I can't believe you haven't run away

[Chorus]
It must be different through your eyes
Because you look at me like it's the first time
That you've ever seen my face

I'm preoccupied with a crowded mind
I get off track like a train rolling back to the future
Never too sure who'll be here when I come back around
But I'm finding out

I see you the way that you see me
I don't understand the way you see me
- From the album The Face of Love - (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1qXj4XOt8w)

As a footnote (although this news deserves more than that), please find out more about how you can help those recently affected by the catastrophic Typhoon Haiyan, which has already laid waste to areas of the Philippines and is currently heading towards Vietnam and Laos. Apparently there are 10,000 estimated dead in one city alone! You can start here:
World Vision - http://worldvision.com.au/Issues/Emergencies/Current_Emergencies/Typhoon-Haiyan-Philippines.aspx
Compassion - http://www.compassion.com.au/content/typhoon-haiyan/gkkegp
Samaritan's Purse - https://www.samaritanspurse.com.au/typhoon-in-philippines/
OM - http://www.om.org.au/give/find-a-project/philippines-appeal
Barnabas Fund - https://barnabasfund.org/Poor-Christian-communities-hit-by-Typhoon-Haiyan-in-Philippines.html