Sverige - Sweden!

Last weekend I had the great pleasure of teaching and preaching at the Swedish Christian Medical Student conference.  I was made to feel really welcome and greatly encouraged by my time with the students and doctors there.  Together we looked at the Bible verses Matthew 6:31-33 and Colossians 2:6-7, considering the treasure found in knowing, trusting and growing in Jesus.  We thought about what it means to 'walk in Christ' as a medical student and as a doctor, as well as what this might look like when working abroad.  There was also time for food, walks, (extreme)games, relaxing and praising God.  The concept of 'Fika' (swedish cake, coffee and conversation) was also introduced to me. Liz was also able to come with me, another blessing :-) Sweden is a really great place!

Matthew 6:31-33

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

In other news, I finally managed to enable comments on my blog without needing to register with Blogger.  Hence, your thoughts are greatly welcome!

 

Slow progress?

Ever find that time is moving on, that organisating things is perpetual and that little of substance is being achieved?  It's been about 5 weeks since my trip to Germany.  I seem to have been on-call often, with my sleep-wake cycle being sent into disarray.  When opportunites come emails are sent, phone calls are made, answers are few...  Progress with paperwork has been at times frustrating.  It's also been four months since I was last in Eastern Europe.  Masters studies have been squeezed into free time, however, each week seems to run into the next.  Where has the time gone?

Where are things going, what am I achieving?

Stop.  Reflect.  Perspective check.  I think I sometime struggle due to defining personal success (and thus to some degree self-worth) in terms of achievement and overt productivity.  The outworkings of such a philosophy can be quite dangerous.  If I 'fail' to achieve, does my worth diminish?  Do patience, planning, contemplation and relationship building have no worth?  Does God's love for me change depending on how 'productive' I am (or what I would personally deem as productive)? 

Comforting to know however, is that God's plans will come to fruition regardless of my efforts.  He has saved my be his grace, not through my own worth.  Even if I were infirm and immobile, God's grace and love shown to me (and thus my worth in his eyes) would not change.  Jesus' death and resurrection has made this certain.  All work and service for Him should be as an outpouring of thanks, not as a definer of self-worth.  The funny thing is, things seem to happen when you entrust the efforts to God.  The results are often different to expected, yet more praiseworthy in hindsight.  Afterall, he is creater and sustainer of all.  Reflection makes it plain that it is far better this way - just need to be daily reminding myself of this!

So, planning and preparation over the last two months:
- Further discussion with the medical council of Saarland, list of required documents formalised
- Teaching schedule for the Eastern European Congress of Christian Medics provisionally written
- Key note speech offered to PRIME at said conference
- Provisional offer to teach medical communication skills at a medical school in Ukraine in May
- Potential for a further trip to Romania to teach medical communication skills to medical students later in the year
- Masters coursework on epidemiology (part one) completed [means a 1/6th of the course is done now!]
- Medical rota for next rotation finally obtained (many swaps will be required however...)
- Getting to know people better at church.  Feeling that fellowship and being able to encourage others is improving as a result! 

Lets see what the next few months hold!

Return to Saarland

So, this is it, the return to Saarland.

After a somewhat eventful and prolonged journey; DHL lost my train tickets; my plane was cancelled at short notice; booked online tickets with Eurostar / TGV / Deutsch Bahn whilst on my way to London; telephoned and booked a hotel room in Paris; I can greet you from Germany.  Highlight of the journey was definitely the TGV driver appologising that the train could only manage 280km/h due to the icy weather and then deciding to travel at 310km/h anyway!

I've come back to Saarland (south west Germany) for several reasons.

Firstly, I made some really great friends here back in spring 2011, when I had the opportunity to complete an exchange semester here.  This was a truelly blessed and influential time, and I am extremely grateful for it.  It's been fantastic to be able to catch up with some of these including those from church (instant warm welcome and lunch invitation - love it!), friends from work, and friends from halls ('gudd Gess' has been shared!). 

Secondly, I've had a job interview here.  The interview was for the department of Nephrology (kidney medicine), one of the departments I studied within whilst here on placement.  I sent off an application a few weeks back and they said that they were interested in hearing more - hence my determination to get here!  Thankfully, the interview went really well and I've been accepted!  The head of department was approachable and open, telling me more of what to expect and the challenges and opportunities ahead.  My previous supervisor also came and put in a good word for me (I have retrospectively rewarded him with fine scotish whisky and M+S shortbread).  So, I've got a few formalities to sort out with the administration, however once that's sorted I'll be able to receive the contract.  Unexpectedly, my second year of the UK foundation programme may also count towards my speciality training, shortening the process by a year and letting me enter at a higher pay-grade (score!).

Thirdly, I needed to figure out the German equivalent of the General Medical Council.  This has proven to be the challenge of the trip so far...  They required 13 legal documents, after a lengthy discussion I managed to persuade the administration to accept 2 of the documents I had brought with me.  Turns out I need to become good friends with a notarist in order to legally recognise and translate my certificates, scripts and legal forms into a legislatively acceptable format.  I think there may also have been further miscommuncation during the meeting, as I had to spend several minutes persuading them that I was infact a real practicing doctor inspite of not having an MD.  Definite character building experience!!!  (although nothing that a combination of pray with coffee + german cake can't fix).  I have admin lady's email address and will be in further contact.  I seems possible to get everything together, it'll just involve quite a bit of hassle, time and expense.

So, it's great to be back in Germany.  Job is set and the language skills are coming back.  Sadly, lots of the students are away or in exams at the moment.  Encouragingly my church pastor tells me that quite a few new christian medics have started this year.  A christian medical group has also recently been founded.  Also, incredibly excitingly, I have discovered that a russian speaking congregation have started to meet in the town - Mega Awesomah!!!  Looks like there will be plenty of opportunies for Christian medical fellowship and improving my russian language skills!

In summary - I'm seeing many opportunities as to how I can serve here in Germany.  There will be many opportunities to learn more about people, my strengths and waekness, langauge(s) and cultures.  The present frustrations are useful to me as they will prepare me for what is to come.  It's also a great humbling experience and will allow me to serve others much better and to learn to rely on and work hard to honour God.  Just need to remember this when they say in the administration tells me in their direct manner - Nein, das ist unmoeglich!

Russian Testimony

So, here it is!  I set myself the challenge of writing down how I became a Christian in Russian...  It took a while and is somewhat simplified, however the milestone is reached.  A friend has kindly corrected some of my endings for me - need to work on my grammar!

я стал христианином, когда мнe было пятнадцать лет. я должен был xoдить в церковь, потому что средняя школа былa христианскoй школoй. Нe многиe студенты верят в Бога. Пo вокресеньям я слушал БиблиЮ  в церкве. на христианскиx молодежныx группax я видел настоящиx христиан, кoтopыe верят в Бога. они знали Иисусa. я не знал Иисусa. они говорили о грехе. я yвидeл, что это правда. я Зaхотел yзнaтЬ Иисусa, однако я не верил в Бога и я не понимал многих вещeй. я молиллcя Богy, что если ты правда, пожалуста yдaли мое невериe. я не знаю как, однако oн сделал это. я не понимал многих ответов, однако я знал Oн иcтинa. с тех пор, он научил меня многих вещeй!

I recommend copying and pasting to Google translate for a rough idea of the English.

Sounds familiar...

I was listening to a Russian Christian radio station (новая жизнь - new life) this evening when a familiar tune started - words were however in Russian.  Looks like Delirious, or at least their songs, have made it to Russia!

John Piper in Russia

An interesting and wise insight into the challenges facing the church in contemporary Russia and the USA, given by John Piper (translation in Russian).  The personal and pastoral advice are immensely valuable.

From Britain, contemplating east

I am British, I live in Britain, I am surrounded by a British worldview.

There are however many other countries and languages in the world.  Strange as it may seem, the members of these nations don't always share conclusions with my countrymen.  Their worldview is different, shaped by differing external influences, challenges and resources.

There is immense richness and value in metaphorically stepping into a pair of foreign shoes.  Doing so you opens the door to a whole new perspective, not necessarily the right or wrong one, however doubtlessly different.  This has huge currency when considering what's important in life.  Seeing how another language and culture perceives the gospel - the core of Christian faith - shows me ever greater the immeasurable riches that are found in being part of God's family.

The opportunities I have had (and hope to have in the future) of visiting central and eastern Europe have been incredibly valuable to me in enhancing my outlook, service, knowledge of and for Jesus.  The aim of this blog is to be a reflection on these and my contemplations east, as I continue to gain and learn from the world outside of the shores of "jolly ol' Blighty"!


So, to quote scripture:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God - Colossians 1:9-10  

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Colossians 2:1-3