Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, Papua New Guinea: Dr. Erin Meier has just returned to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea, after being on home assignment. She shares here insights of coming back to the Highlands.
One of the questions people often asked while I was home was, “What is your favorite part about being a missionary physician?” The best answer I could give… “I like the variety of what I get to see and do everyday.”
I enjoy attending to patients in the hospital, in the clinic, in the Emergency Room, delivering babies, doing procedures, C-sections, and more. I love that no two days are the same because each patient has their own unique set of problems that I get to be a part of helping, whether they are physical or spiritual problems.
One of my patients – Maggie.
In the last two weeks, I have been back on the medical ward and my patients have had HIV, TB, terminal cancer, strokes, and COPD just to name a few. Some of them we are helping to get better and back home, others we are scratching our heads trying to figure out medically what is happening, but praising God as they continue to improve clinically. Maggie is one of those patients with a medical condition that I am still trying to sort out. I am not sure what is wrong with her, but Praise God, she is getting better and as she does, her smile is getting bigger and bigger. Hopefully, she will be able to go home soon.
Children injured in accidents with cars is all too common.
As one patient leaves my room and the next one walks toward my open door, I never know just what I will be facing. In just one day I saw patients who had liver cancer, fractures, infection of the bone and muscle, diarrhea, cervical cancer, back pain, arthritis, leukemia, HIV, pneumonia, seizures, high blood pressure, tuberculosis and more. The variety makes it interesting, challenging, and keeps me on my toes as far as my clinical skills and knowledge.
Dr. Jim sews up a wound.
The Emergency Room also offers lots of variety from procedures like suturing and draining of fluid from lungs or abdomens, to treating children hit by cars, to adults with seizures or strokes.
Yesterday, while treating a child, Dr. Jim walked in and asked if he could help. I took him up on his offer, but stopped and quietly thanked God that Jim is here, that he is back in PNG, back serving and working at Kudjip after going home last summer and having heart surgery.
Dr. Jim Undergoes Open Heart Surgery
When Jim got on that plane last summer, I wasn’t sure I would see him back in PNG again. But we serve a God who answers prayer, and who made it possible for Jim to return. I am so thankful that I have the chance to work and serve with him again. Jim may have had surgery to repair his heart, but having a big heart for the people of Papua New Guinea sure hasn’t changed!
Click this link for more stories from Dr. Meier.
—- Regional Communications Coordinator’s Note —
During my visit to Papua New Guinea last year, I quickly observed that from the Pharmacy to Central Supply, the Chaplains to Custodians, Nurses to infrastructure engineers and teachers, there was a tremendous heart and passion to touch lives for Christ and the Kingdom.
As I interviewed one patient at the hospital, I asked why he would travel hours and hours, passing other medical outposts, to come to Kudjip? His answer was immediate, “Because they really care for people here!” Kudjip is a beacon of God’s light in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
Thank you for your continued prayer and partnership for Nazarene Health Ministries!
If you are a doctor and would like more information on how you could answer God’s call to medical missions, fill out the contact form below.
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