My husband Jeff and I moved to Asia ten years ago by invitation from other Interserve Partners, who saw the need for people with our medical qualifications.
Even before we made initial contact with the people there, we were advised that flexibility and patience were essential as things change.
And they certainly did change.
Just before we arrived, we were advised that the hospital administration had changed, and Jeff might find himself doing a completely different role if we proceeded. We came anyway, trusting that as God called, he would supply the work.
Sure enough, once we had completed some language study, the doctor at the local hospital told Jeff that his support was no longer needed. So he was referred to a different hospital department. There he did some consultations, only to find that none of his recommendations were being followed. Instead, the patients were simply being shipped out to another hospital.
I remember the first time I was asked to conduct training at a local NGO. Unbeknown to me, I was the second person to present that day. I arrived early to set up, but the room was in use with another speaker. I waited 40 minutes, after which my training was cancelled. The first trainer went overtime and it would have been disrespectful to stop him.
So despite a warm welcome, Jeff and I did not feel valued. But we persisted in being available.
“As God called, he would supply the work.”
While I continued to support local NGOs, my husband began work in a community clinic, where another Interserve Partner had already demonstrated competence and established trust with the staff and local people. Jeff started working half a day per week, and increased his involvement as more people began to appreciate his work and seek him out. He demonstrated good clinical care, while showing respect and support for his patients and their carers.
There was one God-given opportunity where Jeff’s clinical expertise saved the life of a young woman. He was able to recognise her underlying medical problem, which had been missed by other doctors, and recommended a simple yet effective treatment which saved her.
He did not know it at the time, but the young woman’s mother was an important and influential doctor in her own right. She was very grateful and recognised both his expertise and his care for her as the mother.
“She recognised both his expertise and his care for her as the mother.”
After about two years of meeting with colleagues, demonstrating competence and establishing trust, we gradually began to gain the respect of the local people. This allowed us to have a positive influence in people’s work as well as their attitudes.
Over time, Jeff was given the opportunity to train many local colleagues in two of his fields of expertise. The training was useful because the information was up to date and the program was interactive, requiring trainees to solve problems and demonstrate competence.
His opinion became valued and he was consulted on difficult cases. With the support of local and international colleagues and partners, he was able to conduct regional clinics and commence a project for the prevention of a serious health condition, which is gradually being extended community by community across the nation.
It was important for Jeff to present the difficulties he identified, together with their solutions, without placing blame on current healthcare practices. So he worked with local doctors, showed respect and gave them encouragement.
He also helped to raise the status of mothers by listening carefully to them and answering their questions, showing them concern and respect. He explained the nature of the serious health problems their children faced and how to address them.
“Our pastor told us that his country needed more people who could demonstrate their faith by their works.”
I began counselling in a women’s shelter and training a local NGO in counselling and health topics. So many people did not have a basic understanding of health and disease. So I provided training in areas such as basic hygiene, managing simple infections, managing high blood pressure, and having a healthy lifestyle.
Training in violence prevention was taken up eagerly. And the NGO I worked with began their own violence prevention project, which has been well-received in local communities year after year.
Over these last 10 years, we have discovered that not only are patience and flexibility necessary, but so are availability, consistency, credibility, persistence and relationship building. The Christian values of doing good to all, showing love and respect to all, and doing competent work based on truth are readily accepted in places where preaching is not.
Our pastor told us that his country needed more people who could demonstrate their faith by their works. For by God’s patient and enduring grace, He is well able to use these acts of faithfulness to bless a nation.
Neralie and Jeff are Interserve Partners serving in Asia.
Names have been changed for security purposes.
