Anna LovettMedical/Dental Clinic Volunteer
In the summer of 2006, I found myself asking God countless questions about my future. I was a recent Furman University graduate who had been placed on the waiting list at the University of Mississippi Medical School. In the midst of uncertainty, one of the few things I knew with certainty was that God had a future for me in medicine, and one aspect of that future was medical missions. I did not know how or even when that vision would come about, but for whatever reason, God wanted me to be in the medical field and He wanted me to wait before going to medical school. So, what was I going to do in the meantime?
Prayerfully, I considered serving in international missions, but nothing seemed to fit. A friend from Colonial Heights connected me to Mission First and encouraged me to volunteer at the medical clinic. I figured it couldn’t hurt to at least volunteer until God showed me where He wanted me. Therefore, I called Mission First in September 2006. Lori (the Clinic Director) told me how the medical clinic worked, and I committed that I would do anything if they taught me.
The following week, I showed up at Mission First, excited to be there in spite of not having the slightest idea of how to even check vital signs (they don’t exactly teach you all the practical, hands-on application in undergraduate pre-med courses). Lori taught me how to fill in the patient charts, check blood pressures, use the scales, etc. On my first day, I did not exactly master all of the different skills, but Lori was patient. One thing I could do, from my volunteer and mission experience, was talk to patients. So that’s what I did exactly that. I talked, or mostly listened, to what they had on their minds. I was able to volunteer whenever the clinic was open, and after the first month or so of Lori’s extreme patience, I had finally learned how to take patient vital signs. It was so exciting to learn how to take a blood pressure, find a pulse, and check a patient’s blood sugar. I came as often as I could because it was a joy and privilege to serve patients at Mission First.
God is also very present at Mission First…when you walk in the door, you just know there is something different. If you ask the patients, they notice the difference, even if they do not have a relationship with the God. One of my favorite patient quotes was this: “I don’t want to offend you, but are ya’ll Christians?” God had provided me with the time, the financial circumstances, and the place for me to serve while gaining experience in missions and medicine. And, I didn’t even have to leave the country…I was serving in my “Jerusalem.” (Acts 1:8) What more could I ask for!
Over two years I learned how to handle a variety of patients and their medical complaints, and how to communicate better by listening more. I also learned so many practical clinical skills: taking blood pressures, learning medical terminology, weighing patients (everyone’s least favorite part), and so much more. And, I learned how to depend on the Lord even more…whether I was praying that I wouldn’t pass out when I was around blood for the first time or checking a patient’s vital signs for a routine check-up. As I depended on God more, He helped me find a way of life that combined the passions He had given me.
Furthermore, interacting with some of the best doctors, nurses, and phlebotomists I have ever met showed me that there really are health care professionals who are mission-minded in Jackson, Mississippi; they aren’t all on the foreign mission field. The doctors and nurses who volunteer do a wonderful job of balancing compassion with the objectivity needed to address patients’ health concerns. They are also very good teachers, which I experienced first-hand. As a pre-med volunteer, they took time to point out interesting cases. They also provided examples for me to look to, knowing that there are really medical professionals in this world that combine their faith and medical practice in a way that glorifies God.
As I continued pursuing medical school, taking the MCAT again, applying, interviewing, and waiting for my acceptance at UMC, the staff and doctors encouraged and prayed for me. There is something special about being able to celebrate a victory with those who have helped you along the way, and I will always have sweet memories from Mission First as I gained acceptance into medical school. Now, as I begin medical school this fall of 2008, I can see how God used my two years at Mission First to mold and make me a little stronger and wiser. God provided more than I could have ever asked or imagined through the “hands and feet” of Mission First, and I have been blessed beyond measure.
Posts
