bare foam mattress and mosquito net provided. The cool concrete floor would be covered with the grass mat of a family member who would stay to provide all of your necessary non-medical care (called the ‘guard de’ malade’). Your food would be cooked over an open fire. Your laundry would be done in a bucket at a communal spigot and spread on the grass to dry. A bucket of water splashed over your head would serve as a shower while a metal-sheeted outhouse with a bare hole in the floor would be your toilet. Privacy would be virtually non-existent. During the day, you would share your space with cockroaches, ants, giant centipedes, while hearing the sound of thousands of weaver birds nesting outside. As quickly night falls at 6pm, the suddenly blackened sky would be filled with bats darting after malaria-laden mosquitoes while frogs croak and insects thrum. Although there is a skeleton crew of full- time missionaries and native health care workers to help manage your care, they are often overwhelmed by the sheer number and complexity of patients needing care. Medicines, medical supplies and diagnostic tests would be hit and miss. When there is electricity, donated blood can be kept cold, and respirators and oxygen can be used. It is amazing to see the resiliency and healing power that God has given the native folks who have endured great trauma, disease, and poverty, but all too often the sound of wailing is heard as another loved one succumbs to death.

I was stretched medically as I managed difficult obstetrics cases and found myself in the operating room quite frequently, which was pressing my limits as a physician, since I am not a trained surgeon. The stifling heat, humidity, frequent headaches and language barriers all made these things even tougher. But I was able to see Proverbs 3:5-6 come alive as I did indeed not lean on my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledged my utter dependence on God, and God truly did make my paths straight. I found the strength to make it through difficult and uncomfortable situations, both through the Lord’s help and the provision of other doctors there to help. We would see and treat many tropical diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and malnutrition on a daily basis, as well as deal with many trauma cases either from work injuries in the jungle, or more frequently, motorcycle accidents due to the large number of these vehicles traveling on the limited roads making money by using them as taxis. I was also able to teach my son Zachary some clinical skills as we worked together on some patients, which was exciting as he was heading towards entering his final 27 months of education to become a physician assistant once back in the states. By the way, I will add that there was no Ebola in the Congo, as many of my patients quickly jumped to that question when discussing our opportunity to travel to Africa.

Although the Bible came to life for us in many ways, we were all challenged and blessed by “living out ” Matthew 25:35-40: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”