Dear Reader,
Let me give you a little bit of background about myself. I am a 30-year-old recently graduated dermatologist who has a heart for serving and loving on others. At the end of medical school four years ago, I had the privilege of going with CMDA GHO to El Salvador and helping to provide medical care while also proclaiming the gospel. When I returned from that trip, all I knew was this: God is amazing, and how can I not serve in this way again? Since then, I have been working hard in residency to learn dermatology while also praying and waiting for another opportunity to serve like that again.
Thankfully, on that trip four years ago, I met two men who serve with CMDA who regularly reach out to invite me on upcoming GHO trips. And this August, God allowed the timing to work out perfectly. And so I signed up, not knowing what to expect as a newly licensed physician, but willing to be used by God for his purposes.
And then Day 1 of the clinic came, and I felt inadequate. Most of my patients that day were there for general medical care, from coughs to headaches to chest pain to chronic medical management. Conditions that, while they may sound simple, have been on the back-burner of my brain over the past three years of residency while I specialized in dermatology. (I hadn't used a stethoscope in the last 3 years!) And through these feelings of inadequacy and a need for more than I thought I could offer, I prayed for God’s wisdom and relied heavily on his help. And God showed up. As He always does. He showed up by bringing me amazing and wise co-workers to help when I felt out of my depth. He showed up by bringing old medical knowledge I thought I had forgotten back to the forefront of my mind. And He showed up by bringing me peace and strength and patience regardless of who walked through the doors.
I think of all the times in my life I have felt inadequate, and I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." God is perfect in every way and he has the power to make up for any weaknesses we have (and we have a lot!). Praise God for allowing us to feel inadequate, needy, in pain, trials, etc. so that we can know more fully Him, our Lord, and our strength.
What is the ending of my story, you may ask? The week continued and I saw patients who had medical and dermatological concerns. One girl with severe acne came, and along with providing medical care for her acne, we were able to minister to her and encourage her. We shared verses about how much she is loved by God and that He created her as a masterpiece. And she came back the next day and told us she and her mom are now planning to start going to the church we were serving out of! We all had shed more than one tear by the end!
In the week, our team saw over 700 people, and more than 70 dedicated their lives to Christ! Praise God for inviting us into the work he is doing all around the world, I look forward to continuing to be a part of his work and mission. I encourage you to sign up and go, and let God show up.
Love in Christ to all my brothers and sisters,
A Dermatologist on Mission
Let me give you a little bit of background about myself. I am a 30-year-old recently graduated dermatologist who has a heart for serving and loving on others. At the end of medical school four years ago, I had the privilege of going with CMDA GHO to El Salvador and helping to provide medical care while also proclaiming the gospel. When I returned from that trip, all I knew was this: God is amazing, and how can I not serve in this way again? Since then, I have been working hard in residency to learn dermatology while also praying and waiting for another opportunity to serve like that again.
Thankfully, on that trip four years ago, I met two men who serve with CMDA who regularly reach out to invite me on upcoming GHO trips. And this August, God allowed the timing to work out perfectly. And so I signed up, not knowing what to expect as a newly licensed physician, but willing to be used by God for his purposes.
And then Day 1 of the clinic came, and I felt inadequate. Most of my patients that day were there for general medical care, from coughs to headaches to chest pain to chronic medical management. Conditions that, while they may sound simple, have been on the back-burner of my brain over the past three years of residency while I specialized in dermatology. (I hadn't used a stethoscope in the last 3 years!) And through these feelings of inadequacy and a need for more than I thought I could offer, I prayed for God’s wisdom and relied heavily on his help. And God showed up. As He always does. He showed up by bringing me amazing and wise co-workers to help when I felt out of my depth. He showed up by bringing old medical knowledge I thought I had forgotten back to the forefront of my mind. And He showed up by bringing me peace and strength and patience regardless of who walked through the doors.
I think of all the times in my life I have felt inadequate, and I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." God is perfect in every way and he has the power to make up for any weaknesses we have (and we have a lot!). Praise God for allowing us to feel inadequate, needy, in pain, trials, etc. so that we can know more fully Him, our Lord, and our strength.
What is the ending of my story, you may ask? The week continued and I saw patients who had medical and dermatological concerns. One girl with severe acne came, and along with providing medical care for her acne, we were able to minister to her and encourage her. We shared verses about how much she is loved by God and that He created her as a masterpiece. And she came back the next day and told us she and her mom are now planning to start going to the church we were serving out of! We all had shed more than one tear by the end!
In the week, our team saw over 700 people, and more than 70 dedicated their lives to Christ! Praise God for inviting us into the work he is doing all around the world, I look forward to continuing to be a part of his work and mission. I encourage you to sign up and go, and let God show up.
Love in Christ to all my brothers and sisters,
A Dermatologist on Mission