Why Togo?

One of the reasons I picked this residency program was because they have an elective month built into their curriculum.  This acutally doesn't happen very often in the world of OBGYN.  The other reason I picked this residency program was becuase I knew they were supportive of residents desiring to work overseas.  I am not the first resident here to do this.  Our elective month takes place in our third year and can be used either here or abroad to hone in on skills the resident would like to brush up on.  Knowing this opportunity was on the horizon I started praying over a year ago for where God would like to use me during this month. 

I have always had a heart for Asia and started pursuing opportunities to serve there for this elective. I wanted to go somewhere that an OBGYN was needed, somewhere that I could help take call and relieve the burn out and burden that missionaries often feel when serving long term.  As I investigated the possibilities it became clear that the opportunities in Asia for a short term mission trip were not set up for an OBGYN.  There seemed to be neither the resources for a labor and delivery nor a hospital where I could do surgery, or in some cases such a facility does exist, but is currently overwhelmed with volunteers wanting to help.

One of our head nurses here on Labor and Delivery has known about my desire to serve overseas.  Over a year ago she got me in contact with a General Surgeon named Dr. Cropsey.  He and his family are medical missionaries and have spent a substantial amount of time at a hospital in Togo.  He completed his own residency many years ago at my current hospital and now splits his time between here and Karolyn Kempton Memorial Christian Hospital in Togo.  He immediately started emailing me regarding the possibility of someday serving at Karolyn Kempton.  Between the two of us it took about a year to finally set up a time to meet for lunch.  Though a year delayed, the timing could not have been more perfect.  I was actively searching for a hospital I could serve at for this elective and felt like the doors around me were being closed for a variety of reasons.  I had contented myself to sit back and just pray about it, knowing that if God had somewhere specific in mind He would let me know.

I have to admit that I went into that lunch meeting at Applebees skeptical.  Where in the world is Togo?  I had never heard of it before.  I have a huge interest in serving in the 10-40 window and was doubtful Togo even came close.  Did they even need an OBGYN?  Applebees has never been so insightful.  As we sat talking and I began to hear about the mission and heart of this hospital as well as their desperate need it became more and more clear that this is exactly what I was looking for.  It is a small 40 bed hospital that serves as a major medical and surgical center.  It is the second busiest hospital in the entire country.  They have limited lab supplies and imaging capabilities and rely largely on staffing from missionaries.  This hospital also currently has no OBGYN physicians and a very busy Labor and Delivery.  As I thought and prayed about it I began to have a greater sense of peace about this decision.  I sent in the application and paperwork.  The next thing I knew I was buying my plane tickets.  The timing for all of this and the purchasing of my plane tickets is another incredible story all on its own....our God is so amazing.

Togo is in the horn of West Africa
and is located in the 10-40 window!

My Love Story

As a junior high student a sudden, dramatic turn of events left me on my knees, tears streaming down my face, asking... no, longing for the confirmation that there was indeed a God.  By the grace of my Lord that answer came quickly and it was from that moment on that my view of who I am in light of who God is rendered me with no other choice, no other desire than to serve Him with all of my heart.  That has been my quest ever since that truly life changing moment.  It has been and continues to be a long, exciting, challenging and incredibly rewarding journey.  Shortly after that time I felt drawn to missions.  That sense, that longing to serve the poor overseas through the love of our Lord has never left me.  The decision to go into medicine came much later.  Achieving this in all reality had very little to do with my own abilities and much more to do with God's prompting, pushing and paving the way for me. 

To this day I look back at that whole process in wonder at how it all came together.  Miracle after miracle has placed me where I am now, in residency as an OBGYN physician. I praise God for this.    Residency certainly isn't easy, but often when I am exhausted and driving home after a 24 hour shift I find myself so thankful that I have the opportunity to be trained in a profession that I love and in a program that I cannot speak more highly about. 

The life of a resident produces it's own set of unique challenges.  Some of these I was prepared for and some I most definitely was not.  As I have wrestled through these challenges, a verse from one of my favorite hymns "Be Thou My Vision" has become a constant reminder of where my focus needs to lie. 

"Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise. 
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art"

I went into medicine with the desire to serve the Lord overseas.  That desire has never wavered.  The day to day grind of a demanding residency program can threaten to be overwhelming.  I have returned time and time again to the words of this verse to set my priorities straight, clear my head and remind myself of whom I serve and why I am doing this.  When I decided years ago to serve the Lord with my whole heart I knew that would entail dedicating everything to Him.  I promised to go wherever and do whatever He asked me to.  This is what coined the name of the address for this site "To go wherever."  There is nothing that brings me greater pleasure than this.  I am so in love.  I am in love with my Lord and Savior and it is with pure joy that I get to serve Him.  The final words of "Be Thou My Vision" are so fitting. 

"Heart of my own Heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all."

I pray as this adventure continues that I will see and follow nothing else.