I have always wanted to set foot on the African continent to see the running wild animals, the starry sky, and the baobab trees…but I have never been able to make the trip. This time I learned about the free clinic organized by Africa Cries Out and thought it would be meaningful to not only help others but also experience the local culture in Africa. But because I wasn’t sure whether this move came from God’s guidance, I didn’t dare to act immediately. Only God’s love could give me the courage to act.

 

The courage to set off

The decision to go on the African trip was a great challenge for me. But the decision-making itself also gave me a deeper understanding and trust in God. As a medical graduate who was in the middle of preparing for the application of resident physician in the United States, my hospital internship was scheduled after March, which means that I must immediately engage in internship after participating in the free clinic in Africa. However, I heard that there are many infectious diseases in Africa, and the free clinic period may coincide with the presidential election in Senegal, and social riots may occur. Any mistake may affect the possibility of my hospital internship to be carried out. These uncertainties make me worry about my future career and gave me a lot of stress. I have prayed to God many times about my decision of traveling to Africa. When I turned my eyes and looked up at God, I gained peace in my heart, and I also had a strong desire to go to Africa and witness the medical ministry myself. I wanted to see what empowers Dr. Xu to Implement a medical ministry that occurs every year, a ministry that puts God’s call into implementation and helps the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

 

His love never fails me

I finally decided to join this medical ministry, but I never thought that I would miss the flight that the rest of the group took. At that time, I felt very guilty and faced the inexplicable panic of traveling alone for a long distance. With mixed feelings, the voice of doubt rang out in my heart again, doubting God’s guidance on this journey. The worries from before came up and almost overwhelmed me. I couldn’t imagine what I would face if I went there. Thanks to Dr. Xu’s concern, he prayed for me at the airport, asking God to help me take steps of faith and run straight towards the goal (Philippians 3:14). After that, I gained peace in my heart. I particularly admire Dr. Xu for running the team smoothly and carefully taking good care of the physical and mental needs of each member. I also realized from this experience that I should not doubt God’s guidance just because some difficulties occur but should rely more on Him and do all things through Him, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

                                                  Group photo with Dr. Xu and other volunteers members at the airport.

 

With the anticipation of the journey and the warmth of being loved by God, I bravely bought my ticket again and started my African adventure. Pastor Paulo and his friends came to pick me up at the airport. When we arrived at the base, I found everything was better than I imagined. It would have been a shame to miss my flight, but after I arrived, I sensed everyone’s sincere encouragement and praise. I felt that this was a warm group like home. I was inspired by God’s love, and I felt no regrets.

                                                                                       The Africa Cries Out Team Week 2

 

Response to love and our medical service

After arriving at the base, I was not assigned a clear task. Because I did not have a U.S. medical license, I was not in the medical group. My age did not meet the youth group, so I became mobile personnel. I worked as a doctor’s assistant along with the youth group members, helped the pharmacy organize drug distribution, helped in the kitchen, and worked as a translator for the obstetrics and gynecology team for a day. I also experienced triaging under the guidance of Dr. Chris.

 

                                                                  Practicing blood glucose testing and drug sorting with adolescent volunteers.

 

The most challenging and rewarding experience is to shuttle between different clinics to respond to everyone’s needs. They are just small things, but when you go around, different people will have different requirements. It feels very nice to be needed. But I am also aware of my own weaknesses of being in a hurry. To complete the task quickly, I sometimes ignore people’s mood and inadvertently convey anxiety. I also learned the true meaning of “being reliable”. I come to realize that one person may subconsciously judge the importance of things and ignore those that seem to be unimportant. things that you think are not important. But what really matters is how the patients look at their own situation. And everything must be settled.

                                                        Helping taking a patient’s blood pressure.

 

Experience Go’s unfailing love in teamwork

What I enjoy most is watching different doctors see patients, and I am impressed by the diverse differential diagnoses and humane care of the senior doctors who are truly concerned about their patients. I asked Dr. Shao why she keeps coming back to Africa again and again. She said that every time she comes, she would find new needs and bring more medicines that fit them the next time she came. It was her love for the patients that kept her coming back. The experience gained from a trip to Africa allowed the group to continue to grow. I see in the doctors their unfailing love for the African patients.

 

The connection between hearts

I once questioned whether the short-term diagnosis and the team’s two-week stay here would really find out the root causes of the diseases. Would it be of much significance to the patients? After visiting the leprosy village, I found the answer: Doctors treat patient as a person not just as a disease.

We took a bus for a day and then squeezed into an open truck and staggered into the village, just to see dozens of patients. I felt it was not a bit worth it, but when I got there, I was moved by the enthusiastic villagers. They seem to be used to a group of people visiting them every March with medicine and food. They took the initiative to help carry the medicine and gave their only piece of ice to one of our volunteers who had heat stroke. In the exciting scene where Dr. Shao and his wife reunited with last year’s patients, I felt the deep friendship between the team and the villagers. Even though we are unable to cure their diseases, a group of people coming to this seemingly isolated primitive tribe-like village every year to visit friends is also a kind of spiritual help. During this long journey, I have experienced God’s unfailing love.

                                                     The volunteers, doctors, and the villagers.

 

In my interactions with African people, I felt a special spiritual connection with them. Once, after lunch, I was chatting with a group of girls next to the bus. They enthusiastically expressed their love for us in simple English. They were very curious about my hairband, showing me their curly braids and tying my hair for me, as if we were best friends separated by the oceans. On the other hand, I was worrying about trivial matters in life of the Senegalese – kids rummaging through the dirt for a bottle of Coke, and they might have to face the pain of circumcision. This makes me more grateful for the life I have and makes me do more for them. I have been touched so much here and received so much. I need to better prepare myself to respond to this love.

                                               Beautiful African girls.

 

The call of God’s love

Through Dr. Xu’s introduction of the history of the base and its free clinic services, we can see God’s work in his life. Dr. Xu said: If you have a call from God, stick to it and everything will come. That power is God’s call and unfailing love. God’s love attracts us to run and follow Him (Song 1:4). This community of God’s presence attracts everyone to spontaneously want to do more to make it better, to work tirelessly and enjoy in helping those in need.

                                                             Being acknowledged by the Pastors and Dr. Xu

 

We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). We convey our love through our action, and are moved by people’s dedication to their work, and being moved by God’s grace is the greatest blessing one can possibly have. (Colossians 3:16). Everybody goes home with sweet memories. Before Passover, Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to depart from this world and go to the Father. Since He loved His own in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

                                                            With Pastor Ana and another volunteer for Africa Cries Out 2024

 

 

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If you feel moved to support our ministry in Africa, please contact us：

Xu Jun’s WeChat: jun9174343767

电子邮件：Africacriesout@gmail.com

Public WeChat account: LifeExploring (人生天路)

Website: https://africacriesout.net

 

Editors in charge: Cao Juanjuan, Zhang Kun

Translator： Xiao Liang Wang

English editor: Xi Wang

Editor: Doris Cruz