Suprised By Encouragement

I am surprised how important encouragement has become to us as we move into the unknown; really, it seems more important than any practical advice or information. My lack of faith has really been exposed! I have faced the fact that there is a lot of things that I can't and won't be able to prepare for; that really makes me uncomfortable. I'm used to planning things out and addressing uncertainty with contingency plans; well, that isn't really working either. So, I'm left with accepting the uncertainties and find myself praying more. What a concept!

This past month I went to Louisville, Kentucky where I was able to visit my sister Gena and attend the Global Missions Health Conference (www.medicalmissions.com); I really didn't want to take the time away from family,especially with so much to do, but Linda and others suggested it would be good and they were right!

While the talks were inspiring and informative, the best things happened in between- all the conversations and "chance" meetings. I met more people who had been to Kibogora and I was greatly encouraged to hear more about the situation there.

Every day someone, a patient, an acquaintance, or a colleague will strike up a conversation about our plans and give me encouragement and promises of support. It means a lot. For example, Pete, a surgeon who has been to Kibogora on a short term assignments since 1994, called me a couple of weeks ago; we had met on a trip to the DR when I was a resident many years ago. I was encouraged as he filled in more details about Kibogora; he plans to come next fall for several weeks - what a great resource he'll be with his experience. He is now 78 years old and goes on 4-5 trips a year like this!

This encouragement: I find it surprisingly uplifting. Why surprising? I guess I never thought that I needed it- you know, you just do the right thing, right? Who needs to be encouraged to do it? Maybe I have forgotten what it is like to really stretch my faith, to take a real risk, to do something without knowing the outcome exactly. Maybe I have gotten really boring and safe, somehow deadening; it really doesn't feel right.

While at the missions conference, I was really inspired to see literally hundreds of young doctors, nurses and students that were seeking a way to get involved in medical missions. So I was feeling like the old washed up guy there until I met Frank, an 82 year old surgeon, in line to get coffee; like Pete, his energy and enthusiasm astounded me! He was there to network and he took down my contact info on his new iPhone. He didn't seem too boring and safe. Then I realized: I want to grow up to be like him!

I want to live in such a way that I keep needing encouragement!