January 2014

January 2014

These last 10 years have been an adventure: I’ve gone through medical school, switched from family practice to obstetrics and gynecology (women and babies), and I’m currently working just north of Detroit. I’ve been blessed with multiple opportunities to practice medicine in both India and Africa, and I’m ready for this to be my last year of residency (graduate September 2014!).

As I look to the near future, continuing to prepare for a life in long-term medical missions, I’m excited to be able to share with you that I’ve been accepted to a two-year Post-Residency Program that will be sending me to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This past May, when I was back in Niger, I found out about Samaritan’s Purse. It’s part of the Billy Graham organization -- a reputable and transparent organization devoted to sharing the gospel and meeting basic human needs -- and its goal is to help people like me get into the mission field without delay.

They’ll first be sending me to an immersive French language program in Switzerland. I leave a year from now, will be there three to six months in order to gain a basic proficiency, and then I’ll be headed to the town of Nyankunde in Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a place you won’t find on Google Maps but that has significant physical, emotional and spiritual need. I’ll be working in an established mission hospital and paid a basic salary for two years with the hope I will develop long-term financial support in order to continue working past post-residency.

As my plans have begun to settle into reality, a lot of people have been asking, “Why Africa?” Simply put, God has given me a passion to go there. I can remember as a child listening to a faithful missionary couple share their life and work during a missionary conference at the church where I was raised, and from that point I’ve always known that I wanted to do the same. When I became a follower of Jesus Christ, I knew that my purpose wasn’t just to be a good person doing good works, something temporary, but to be loving and help others while sharing his gospel and encouraging the church, something with an eternal purpose.

Many of you have the same mindset, and I want you with me as I take this next step.  Money is nice, but the faithful prayers and encouragement of people like you are more vital. So, if you’re interested in continuing on this adventure with me (or just getting updates), I would like to stay in touch: medoran82@aol.com. I plan on sending out quarterly updates and anticipate e-mail will be the best approach when I’m overseas.

Prayer needs:

1.     Studying for and passing my board exams: May 3, 2014.

2.     Being deliberate with my time and energy in this next year.

3.     That God would change my heart and mind to be more like his.