Every step of the way

31Aug
And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.

- Matthew 28:29



My early Christian life was spent at Trinity Church. I served with my longtime friend John Hevron as an acolyte under the leadership of Canon Turner. My spiritual development was formed at Trinity.


 After completing medical school at Tulane and then residency training in California, I returned to NOLA for a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as well as training in surgery. My wife, Carol, and I felt the call to mission work. We worked closely with the Trinity staff in a discernment process. I had concerns regarding my lack of theological training and dearth of experience in the developing world, but Canon Turner comforted me by quoting Matthew’s gospel, “I am with you always”. Taking our hands in his, Canon Turner continued, “We will be praying for you two and will support you in any way that we can but remember that Jesus will always be alongside you, just ask for His guidance and all will be well.” 


With Trinity’s support and regular communications with Canon Turner, Carol, our one-year-old son, and I served for 2 ½ years in Nepal. The language customs and traditions of the Nepalis were challenging but we continued to reflect on “I am with you always” for our strength. Our time in Nepal was filled with joy and even resulted in another son being born there. When we returned to the US, I established a medical practice in California. We enjoyed our experience in Nepal so much that every summer we took a family vacation for a month or more to serve in a resource-poor setting of the world; typically, South America or Asia. 


Africa was not on our radar as Carol knew what diseases she could potentially contract from my sharing my tropical medicine studies with her. One summer, Episcopal Medical Missions Foundation offered us the opportunity to survey the medical conditions of the Batwa pygmies of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda. Carol’s reluctance was overcome by having a childhood fascination with the pygmies but also knowing that Jesus was with us every step of the way. Our studies indicated that Batwa were in extremis; their under-age-five mortality was 38%, with a life expectancy only to the age of 28. As we retired to our tent one night, Carol surprised me by stating, “I feel like I have come home.” A few nights later, she declared that we should pray about working in Uganda for a much longer period of time. She asserted, “When we return to the US, you should turn your medical practice over to your colleagues, we sell our house and possessions and return to assist these downtrodden people.” Noticing my dismay, she concluded by quoting, “Can we not trust in what Canon Turner affirmed, ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the age?’” With this conviction that Jesus is with us always, we did sell our possessions and a year later, as missionaries of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, we returned to Uganda. The challenges seemed overwhelming as there was no health care in the region. We spent many nights in a tent living near the Batwa learning their language, customs and traditions. I practiced mobile medicine under the shade of a tree, hanging IVs from its branches, treating 200 to 500 people daily. Soon, others came alongside to assist and over the last 20 years, we have built a 155 bed award-winning hospital, a hospital chapel which is packed with more than 400 people every Sunday and a 450-student nursing school. In the process, the Batwa are slowly extricating themselves out of their cycle of poverty, all to God’s glory.

Despite spending protracted periods in sub-Saharan Africa, my association with Trinity has continued; however, not in NOLA. I have served many summers with Trinity’s mission to Honduras, Nicaragu, and more recently in the Dominican Republic. My roommate for many of these excursions was John Eastman who continues to inspire me. Ivens Robinson and many of the folks from Trinity have been exceedingly encouraging in my path of following Jesus. What began with inspiration from Canon Turner, is continued by many of Trinity’s saints of God who place their trust in, “I am with you always”. 


Musical Reflection- Give me Jesus - Stellenbosch University Choir


This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

Mission

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