Ghana Medical Mission: Summer 2017

Reflection: Ghana Mission Trip 2017

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

            Indeed, it is beautiful to preach the good news of God. This past summer I traveled with an amazing team of health care providers and students for my first ever medical mission trip to Ghana. Although this wasn’t my first trip to Ghana, this experience was very different from my prior trips. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is an inspiring and uplifting mission, yet it was no easy task. Often, I wrestled with myself as to whether I was doing enough, whether I was truly making a difference. These are some of the questions that I asked myself throughout the week serving with my team in the Volta Region. One of the most profound spiritual growths in my life came after much reflection concerning these questions.

            When you operate on our own strength and wisdom while serving God’s people, you start to question who really is getting the glory? Certainly not God! When I reflected on this journey that God had brought me through I realized that those times during the trip when I completely surrendered to God’s will were the times when I wasn’t thinking about how I was “performing,” but I was more concerned about the gospel of Christ and how God could be glorified. I think as a medical student it is always engrained to provide the best care that is medically and ethically appropriate for the patient, but many schools never teach about the spiritual change that occurs through serving. It is a huge sacrifice when you are a vessel of the Living God, but the good news is that God never intends for us to carry out this great commission alone. The Holy Spirit is there to remind us of the importance of this great work we do; to pour out fresh anointing when our well starts to dry, and to provide direction so that we just aren’t there to “perform” but rather we are serving for a greater purpose and that is the gift of salvation.

The ministry of missions is a walk we should never pursue alone. If God has provided you with this specific calling, then He will equip you to do his work. The moment that it becomes about you and how you can please God should be a sign to regroup and reflect on what is ultimately most important and that is saving souls for Christ.