I
am sitting in the beautiful green mountains of North Carolina at Samaritan’s
Purse headquarters learning the ins and outs of working with the organization
and how to live and work in Nyankunde, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). There
are 20 other physicians, nurses, dentists, and their spouses preparing with me,
each heading to a different part of the globe.
We’ve all had extensive training for
our chosen professions, but we’re also all in need of a little direction on how
to navigate cultures so different from our own. Thankfully, seasoned
missionaries have been on hand to share invaluable, practical advice, such as keeping
your toothbrush locked up so it doesn’t become the housecleaner’s toilet brush,
ironing your laundry so that you don’t get infested with Mango flies, and how
to build a bathtub out of bricks.
This
orientation has also been an encouragement to me spiritually because we’ve
spent time in prayer, offered advice to each other, and built a sense of
community around our shared vision to help others in the name of Jesus.
These last few years I’ve often felt like
the writer in Psalm 63:1: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul
thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where
there is no water.” But Jesus’ answer to this thirst comes from John 7:37-39: He
“cried out,” making sure that the people in the crowd around him could hear, “
‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who
believes in me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost
being will flow rivers of living water.” ’ He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to
receive.”
He doesn’t say to work harder, look for
a better solution, or try to make it on your own: He says to come to him. And this
time in North Carolina has been like the discovery of a cool stream of water
after the long, dusty road of residency. It’s allowed me to step back from
myself and remember that Jesus is the source of life and refreshment. I’m
grateful for this time away, for the encouragement and support you’ve given me
all these years, and I can’t wait to get started on the next leg of my journey.
Michelle Doran
P.S. I do have some time off from mid-October to December,
so please let me know if you’re up for a visit. And, as requested, attached is
information on how to send supplies or funding to me in Nyankunde.
Recent events
1.
Moved out of my apartment and
downsized. Living with my sister Sarah.
2.
Passed my board exams!
3.
Went to orientation in Tennessee and
North Carolina.
Prayer requests
1.
Finding part-time work in Michigan for
October to December.
2.
Preparing for language school in
Switzerland. Being able to learn French.
3.
Wisdom to know when to take the last
step of my board exams.
Time Line
Sept
25th: End of residency.
October-December:
Work, travel, visit.
Jan
2015: Begin language studies in Switzerland.
April
2015: Anticipated end of studies. Move to the Congo.
