Christ Before Me...

July 13, 2017

“Christ with me; Christ before me; Christ behind me; Christ in me…” – St. Patrick

Baylor Nursing School espouses the idea that nurses are the hands and feet of Christ. To that end we strive to educate our students to have skill and compassion as they tend the needs of the whole person. We would hope that students participating in mission trips through the school would experience this in profoundly meaningful and tangible ways. While our students did bring Christ with them and are serving in His name, they have discovered that He is here in Zambia and they are encountering him in new ways and at ever turn. A resonating theme to our experience is the deep realization of our own privilege coupled with our profound appreciation for the joy we find resonating out of the people here. We are learning what it truly means to be content in all circumstances and that we are made perfect in weakness.

The students are eager to serve but are also learning the rhythms of this culture. It has been inspiring to observe the ways in which they make use of each circumstance in which they find themselves to learn, grow, and serve. We have had rich discussions with each other and with our new Zambian friends.

Tuesday found half of the team working in the Northrise NUCare Clinic as assistants to the dentist who is serving this week. The remainder of the team split their time between delivering supplies and equipment donated by Baylor’s Nursing School to the Northrise University simulation lab and taking advantage of an opportunity to play with the children at Mackenzie School. The children bring our students such great joy and inspiration. We are excited to continue our work with the children as we serve through providing health education and sports physicals.

The dental clinic affords our students opportunity to both practice skills they know and to learn new ones including autoclaving and x-ray development. They have also been allowed to observe cleanings and extractions!

On Wednesday, our team worked in rotations at the dental clinic and at Mapalo School. The clinic provided opportunity not only for the students to provide support for the dental appointments but also to support the clinic’s nurse in seeing patients in with other needs.

After providing health education and sports physical at Arising Light school (ALMS), the students had the privilege to tour the only children’s hospital in the northern province of Zambia. It was an eye opening experience that I’m sure we will be talking about and thinking about for quite some time.

Impact Ndola is a biennial effort on the part of Northrise University to outreach into the community through VBS programs; health education and services; and men’s, women’s, and pastors’ conferences. This year marks the third time Impact Ndola has occurred since its inception in 2013. Believers from the US come to Zambia to work alongside Northrise students and staff for a week of service and ministry. Americans and Zambians serve side by side as they bless this community with the love of Christ.

It has been such fun to experience so many Baylor connections here at Northrise. The hygienist graduated from Baylor’s dental program and other graduates and friends serve in various leadership roles at the university and in the program.

Pray for us as we move toward concluding our work here. It will definitely be hard to say goodbye. Be watching tomorrow for a guest blog post by one of our students!