Today's thought is about making the most of your life, which amazingly ties in with yesterday's - Working for God and not for man.
One of the verses in my quiet time today was about a bloke called Bezalel. I have to admit I'd not heard of him before, but it turns out he's the chap who built the Ark. So a pretty important dude if you ask me! He was a sculpture, and 'made everything the Lord had commanded Moses' Exodus 38:22. He accomplished great things, and worked as part of a team, he was filled with the Spirit of God. There are many talented people out there in the world who don't have the Spirit of God, but how much greater would they be if they were? 'Hearts touched and lives changed.' Bezalel's key to success was his heart for God.
Mark 8:14-9:1 Is about taking up our daily cross, abandoning life into the service of God. 'Whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.'
A few years ago when I finished medical school, I went to Soroti, Uganda with a friends charity, TESS, (Teso Education Support Services). This charity finds sponsors in the rich world for the poorest secondary school aged kids in Soroti's surrounding area. The sponsorship money of these kids pays their school fees, to enable education and therefore a better future for them. Any extra money is spent on things they need like blankets, uniform, exercise and text books, medical care if they fall ill. Once a year a 'retreat' or get together of these sponsored children occurs. They learn life skills like how to earn money from a small business, how to make mud ovens, which last longer than burning expensive and hard to get charcoal/wood,they go to seminars teaching them about various life topics, which they don't get at school. The leaders of the charity take a team out every 6 months to visit the kids and ensure they are OK, and to take letters from their sponsors to each individual child.
When I was there, I helped by seeing each sponsored child (there were about 250 at the time) and ensuring they were healthy. It was my first outing as a real doctor (as I had passed medical school only a few weeks before!) I saw simple problems like malaria, typhoid, and pneumonias. I also saw the complicated - stuff I'd read only one or two sentences on in med school because they were so rare like Eisenmenger's Syndrome, and pituitary tumours. By the spirit and grace of God I was able to help even the sickest of the children by referring them to the big government hospital for specialist help.
Margaret, the leader of TESS, who took us out to visit the kids spoke to each group of sponsored kids patiently and kindly. Her purpose on this visit was to encourage the kids in striving for achievement in what they were really good at. Unfortunately in Uganda and many other African nations, when the children get to secondary school age they are pushed towards taking science subjects either by the teachers or parents since science jobs are where the money is. Not all are good at sciences. Margaret told them the parable of the talents. Using the gifts God has given you for his good. For some that was carpentry, metalwork, cooking, the arts, humanities, and not sciences.
God gives each of us different gifts, it tends to be the things we enjoy in life, and are 'naturally good at.' It does no good for me to lament I'm no good at languages when I have gifts of being a surgeon. I should make the most of my life, give it all back to God. With the help of others (who are good at building things!) I can create a hospital in Africa and heal the disabled. I don't need to be fluent in the local language (although it would help), I only need to be fluent in my practical skills as a surgeon to heal them. Bezalel had a team of people helping him, so the things he wasn't so good at could be done by someone who did have that particular skill.
2 lines from the song Your love never fails:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
God was faithful to Bezalel in his skills, he will be faithful to us.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Everything for God
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3
I still don't know quite how I'm going to get where I finally want to be, but if I continually commit my work to the Lord, then it will happen. The goal of being an orthopaedic surgeon still seems really far off, and I know the steps I have to take, but currently it all seems so slow.
To be an orthopaedics surgeon in Africa, I need at least a few years as a consultant/SMO
To be an SMO I have to have done at least 6 years as a registrar.
To be a registrar I need to have been accepted for a job somewhere in NZ.
To be accepted in a job I have to have applied for a job
To apply for a job I have to have residency
To have residency I have to have filled in the forms, get a UK police certificate, medical certificate, and chest XR - This is my current step.
It all seems so slow and frustrating sometimes.
But God is awesome, amazing, brilliant, and King of absolutely everything. I wasn't entirely sure what God was trying to say to me in my quiet time today, but suddenly just now, I know. It ties in quite nicely with the steps I have to take to be a surgeon that I wrote above.
Quiet time was about the word: Multiplication. 'What cannot be achieved by addition, God does by multiplication. We reap what we sow, only many times more. What we give to the Lord, he multiplies.'
We should give what we have, and watch as Jesus multiplies the resources.
This of course should be applied to all of life, and not just work!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Proverbs 16:3
I still don't know quite how I'm going to get where I finally want to be, but if I continually commit my work to the Lord, then it will happen. The goal of being an orthopaedic surgeon still seems really far off, and I know the steps I have to take, but currently it all seems so slow.
To be an orthopaedics surgeon in Africa, I need at least a few years as a consultant/SMO
To be an SMO I have to have done at least 6 years as a registrar.
To be a registrar I need to have been accepted for a job somewhere in NZ.
To be accepted in a job I have to have applied for a job
To apply for a job I have to have residency
To have residency I have to have filled in the forms, get a UK police certificate, medical certificate, and chest XR - This is my current step.
It all seems so slow and frustrating sometimes.
But God is awesome, amazing, brilliant, and King of absolutely everything. I wasn't entirely sure what God was trying to say to me in my quiet time today, but suddenly just now, I know. It ties in quite nicely with the steps I have to take to be a surgeon that I wrote above.
Quiet time was about the word: Multiplication. 'What cannot be achieved by addition, God does by multiplication. We reap what we sow, only many times more. What we give to the Lord, he multiplies.'
We should give what we have, and watch as Jesus multiplies the resources.
This of course should be applied to all of life, and not just work!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Hearing God
I grew up in a Christian environment. Went to church most Sunday's and learnt that Jesus loved me and if I believed He was rue I'd go to heaven. but it wasn't until I was 15 that I really understood the message a 'properly' became a Christian.
Even then after that amazing week at a youth camp in Wales, I was never too sure what 'hearing God' meant. Did that mean I would actually hear a booming voice from heaven when He wanted to say stuff? I just didn't get it.
I have since learnt, which took several years to understand (I'm slow I know!), that God is the still small voice in the craziness of life. You have to sit and listen...quietly...which I'm REALLY bad at! I always need to be doing stuff, on the go, except when I'm tired, then I just fall straight to sleep! God will speak directly to your heart. Mainly through the words you read in the Bible, which is why quiet time is paramount!
God also talks through coincidences, or if you want to be a little but cheesy...God-incidences =) Mainly for me this is what other people say either at church up front, or in conversation, and suddenly it's WOAH! That spoke right into my situation, how did you know?! Mostly they don't know, but God let you hear that person for a reason.
I still struggle sometimes believing whether it's God I'm hearing or not. But that's the Devil poking his nose in, trying to discourage and wangle his way into what isn't ever his, nor ever will be. The devil tries to create distrust, worry, guilt, and anxiety. I have to remind myself that what God says will always be good, and not for evil. Psalm 25:
We can be sure that God will only ask us to do ‘what is right’ (v.9a). The test of whether the guidance comes from God is whether what we are being asked to do is ‘loving and faithful’ (v.10a). God will never ask us to do something that is unloving or unfaithful. ‘All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful’ (v.10a).
God will always send us in the right direction, we just have to LISTEN.
This entry is based on my thoughts about my quiet time today. I'm reading through Nicky Gumbel's Bible In A Year website. It's only the second day on Lent, but I feel God's presence closer than I've felt for a while. Why? Because I'm doing a quiet time when I wake up =)
'It is often when we fail to spend time alone with Jesus that we more easily succumb to temptation.'
Today I pray I will seek God's still small voice earnestly and hungrily every day, that I will know Him more, and love Him with all my heart, through my actions as well as in my head. I want to experience this, not just know the knowledge.
Even then after that amazing week at a youth camp in Wales, I was never too sure what 'hearing God' meant. Did that mean I would actually hear a booming voice from heaven when He wanted to say stuff? I just didn't get it.
I have since learnt, which took several years to understand (I'm slow I know!), that God is the still small voice in the craziness of life. You have to sit and listen...quietly...which I'm REALLY bad at! I always need to be doing stuff, on the go, except when I'm tired, then I just fall straight to sleep! God will speak directly to your heart. Mainly through the words you read in the Bible, which is why quiet time is paramount!
God also talks through coincidences, or if you want to be a little but cheesy...God-incidences =) Mainly for me this is what other people say either at church up front, or in conversation, and suddenly it's WOAH! That spoke right into my situation, how did you know?! Mostly they don't know, but God let you hear that person for a reason.
I still struggle sometimes believing whether it's God I'm hearing or not. But that's the Devil poking his nose in, trying to discourage and wangle his way into what isn't ever his, nor ever will be. The devil tries to create distrust, worry, guilt, and anxiety. I have to remind myself that what God says will always be good, and not for evil. Psalm 25:
We can be sure that God will only ask us to do ‘what is right’ (v.9a). The test of whether the guidance comes from God is whether what we are being asked to do is ‘loving and faithful’ (v.10a). God will never ask us to do something that is unloving or unfaithful. ‘All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful’ (v.10a).
God will always send us in the right direction, we just have to LISTEN.
This entry is based on my thoughts about my quiet time today. I'm reading through Nicky Gumbel's Bible In A Year website. It's only the second day on Lent, but I feel God's presence closer than I've felt for a while. Why? Because I'm doing a quiet time when I wake up =)
'It is often when we fail to spend time alone with Jesus that we more easily succumb to temptation.'
Today I pray I will seek God's still small voice earnestly and hungrily every day, that I will know Him more, and love Him with all my heart, through my actions as well as in my head. I want to experience this, not just know the knowledge.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Just Surrender...
So it’s the beginning of Lent.
Every Lent, for the past approximately 10 years I have always tried to take up something rather than the ‘traditional’ give up something. This something has always been attempting to dig deeper into God and really persevere with a daily quiet time and really listen to God. As always it seems to work well for the 40 days, and then slowly fades over the year till Lent comes round again.
How apt that Nicky Gumbel’s Bible in one year website, which I have been using as my quiet time (on and off!) over the last year, has ‘The Quiet Time’ as the title of the first day of Lent. It goes through Psalm 25, verse 5&7 says: ‘Take me by the hand; Lead me down the paths of truth ... plan only the best for me, God!’ Also Mark 6:30-56 which is the story about the feeding of the five thousand, and brings an aspect I haven’t thought about before. We all know the story of how God provides for the crowd, but what about afterwards? Jesus teaches the disciples the priority of having alone time with Him. They were in the boat after, getting away from the crowd and it describes how the sea was a bit choppy and windy. Jesus gets into the boat and everything calms down:
‘As Jesus climbed into the boat with them, ‘the wind died down’ (v.51). We see a picture of the difference Jesus makes to our lives. It is a real uphill struggle unless we are conscious of Jesus’ presence with us.’
Over the past few months since not long before Christmas I have felt particularly far from God. Now I know this is my doing not His. I know in my heart He is right there, but it doesn’t feel like it sometimes. Last Sunday at church the sermon spoke right to me. I have a CHOICE. Follow, or not to follow. I’m never too brilliant with words and constantly struggle to express how I feel. This is why I love music so much – it tells the world how I feel either with words or just through the sheer beauty of notes combined into chords. It also has the added bonus that if I realise ‘those words are exactly what/how I feel’ I’m not the only one! That’s kind of reassuring! I bought 2 new albums yesterday from a couple of favourite bands (Christian of course!) and here are some lyrics which have captured my heart, and tells the world how I’m feeling:
There’s a me that I don’t really like, a me that says I’m in control till the day that I die, and I don’t know why I push I pull I fight I fall, I end up crawling back to that place where I figure it out that I, that I, that I:
I’m second to one: redeemer, the way, the light. I’m second to one: The Saviour, no compromise. I’m laying everything at the foot of the cross my pride, my life, my all. I am second to one, and He is second to None.
There’s a change when I swallow my pride, and I surrender. There’s a peace when I open my eyes, cos I remember to live is to die, to fall’s to rise, to kneel is to find the Saviour. Here I am and I’ve figured it out tonight, tonight, tonight…
He said “You come alive when you lose your life,” So I lay it down, yeah I surrender all.
NEWSBOYS
Life is hard and I know you're trying; you wear a smile but inside you're crying. When will you admit, you'll never make it on your own. You build the walls up all around you to protect you from the hurt you've been through. I'm the only one who can bring the walls to the ground. Lay down your defences; put your trust in Me.
I can heal your heart, I can comfort you. Don't resist my love, just surrender. I see your scars and I feel your fear, let me rescue you. Just Surrender, Just Surrender.
You keep denying my advances, but you'll never be out of chances. My love will follow you no matter how far you run, let me show you what you can be what it's like to live this life free. Will you take my hand and let me lead you my child?
STARFIELD
Nothing can separate even if I run away, Your love never fails. I know I still make mistakes; You have new mercy for me every day cos Your love never fails.
You stay the same through the ages, Your love never changes. There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning. And when the oceans rage, I don’t have to be afraid because I know that You love me, Your love never fails.
The wind is strong and the water’s deep, but I’m not alone here in these open seas cos Your love never fails. The chasm is far too wide I never thought I’d reach the other side, but Your love never fails.
You make all things work together for my good.
NEWSBOYS
You are good; You are good, when there’s nothing good in me. You are love; You are love, on display for all to see. You are light; You are light, when the darkness closes in. You are hope, You are hope, You have covered all my sin. You are peace, You are peace, when my fear is crippling. You are true; You are true, even in my wandering. You are joy, You are joy. You’re the reason that I sing. You are life, You are life, in You death has lost its sting.
Oh, I’m running to Your arms, I’m running to Your arms. The riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace, Light of the world, forever reign.
You are more; You are more, than my words will ever say. You are Lord, You are Lord, all creation will proclaim. You are here, You are here, in Your presence I’m made whole. You are God, You are God, of all else I’m letting go.
My heart will sing, No other name, Jesus, Jesus.
NEWSBOYS
It’s been a whirlwind adventure since deciding in that muddy Welsh field to follow the One true God, and I wouldn’t change it. It’s not over. I’m constantly learning (mostly slowly!) more of God, and I know how AWESOME He is. I need to just surrender to Him.
HOW?!
Just Be Still and KNOW that I am God. I can do all things through you, I AM here. Right beside you. Look and see, I am always here, just be still and KNOW. I have plans, GREAT plans for you. Plans to prosper and NOT to harm, your dreams will come true. I promise. Dry your tears my Child, Oh how I love you, ALWAYS. I am well pleased with you, my daughter.
Every Lent, for the past approximately 10 years I have always tried to take up something rather than the ‘traditional’ give up something. This something has always been attempting to dig deeper into God and really persevere with a daily quiet time and really listen to God. As always it seems to work well for the 40 days, and then slowly fades over the year till Lent comes round again.
How apt that Nicky Gumbel’s Bible in one year website, which I have been using as my quiet time (on and off!) over the last year, has ‘The Quiet Time’ as the title of the first day of Lent. It goes through Psalm 25, verse 5&7 says: ‘Take me by the hand; Lead me down the paths of truth ... plan only the best for me, God!’ Also Mark 6:30-56 which is the story about the feeding of the five thousand, and brings an aspect I haven’t thought about before. We all know the story of how God provides for the crowd, but what about afterwards? Jesus teaches the disciples the priority of having alone time with Him. They were in the boat after, getting away from the crowd and it describes how the sea was a bit choppy and windy. Jesus gets into the boat and everything calms down:
‘As Jesus climbed into the boat with them, ‘the wind died down’ (v.51). We see a picture of the difference Jesus makes to our lives. It is a real uphill struggle unless we are conscious of Jesus’ presence with us.’
Over the past few months since not long before Christmas I have felt particularly far from God. Now I know this is my doing not His. I know in my heart He is right there, but it doesn’t feel like it sometimes. Last Sunday at church the sermon spoke right to me. I have a CHOICE. Follow, or not to follow. I’m never too brilliant with words and constantly struggle to express how I feel. This is why I love music so much – it tells the world how I feel either with words or just through the sheer beauty of notes combined into chords. It also has the added bonus that if I realise ‘those words are exactly what/how I feel’ I’m not the only one! That’s kind of reassuring! I bought 2 new albums yesterday from a couple of favourite bands (Christian of course!) and here are some lyrics which have captured my heart, and tells the world how I’m feeling:
There’s a me that I don’t really like, a me that says I’m in control till the day that I die, and I don’t know why I push I pull I fight I fall, I end up crawling back to that place where I figure it out that I, that I, that I:
I’m second to one: redeemer, the way, the light. I’m second to one: The Saviour, no compromise. I’m laying everything at the foot of the cross my pride, my life, my all. I am second to one, and He is second to None.
There’s a change when I swallow my pride, and I surrender. There’s a peace when I open my eyes, cos I remember to live is to die, to fall’s to rise, to kneel is to find the Saviour. Here I am and I’ve figured it out tonight, tonight, tonight…
He said “You come alive when you lose your life,” So I lay it down, yeah I surrender all.
NEWSBOYS
Life is hard and I know you're trying; you wear a smile but inside you're crying. When will you admit, you'll never make it on your own. You build the walls up all around you to protect you from the hurt you've been through. I'm the only one who can bring the walls to the ground. Lay down your defences; put your trust in Me.
I can heal your heart, I can comfort you. Don't resist my love, just surrender. I see your scars and I feel your fear, let me rescue you. Just Surrender, Just Surrender.
You keep denying my advances, but you'll never be out of chances. My love will follow you no matter how far you run, let me show you what you can be what it's like to live this life free. Will you take my hand and let me lead you my child?
STARFIELD
Nothing can separate even if I run away, Your love never fails. I know I still make mistakes; You have new mercy for me every day cos Your love never fails.
You stay the same through the ages, Your love never changes. There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning. And when the oceans rage, I don’t have to be afraid because I know that You love me, Your love never fails.
The wind is strong and the water’s deep, but I’m not alone here in these open seas cos Your love never fails. The chasm is far too wide I never thought I’d reach the other side, but Your love never fails.
You make all things work together for my good.
NEWSBOYS
You are good; You are good, when there’s nothing good in me. You are love; You are love, on display for all to see. You are light; You are light, when the darkness closes in. You are hope, You are hope, You have covered all my sin. You are peace, You are peace, when my fear is crippling. You are true; You are true, even in my wandering. You are joy, You are joy. You’re the reason that I sing. You are life, You are life, in You death has lost its sting.
Oh, I’m running to Your arms, I’m running to Your arms. The riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace, Light of the world, forever reign.
You are more; You are more, than my words will ever say. You are Lord, You are Lord, all creation will proclaim. You are here, You are here, in Your presence I’m made whole. You are God, You are God, of all else I’m letting go.
My heart will sing, No other name, Jesus, Jesus.
NEWSBOYS
It’s been a whirlwind adventure since deciding in that muddy Welsh field to follow the One true God, and I wouldn’t change it. It’s not over. I’m constantly learning (mostly slowly!) more of God, and I know how AWESOME He is. I need to just surrender to Him.
HOW?!
Just Be Still and KNOW that I am God. I can do all things through you, I AM here. Right beside you. Look and see, I am always here, just be still and KNOW. I have plans, GREAT plans for you. Plans to prosper and NOT to harm, your dreams will come true. I promise. Dry your tears my Child, Oh how I love you, ALWAYS. I am well pleased with you, my daughter.
Been away for a while!
It's been far too long!
Life update: Living in New Zealand, working towards residency and a training orthopaedic job, since I didn't get one in the UK.
Long term plan still the same: To be an Orthopaedic surgeon, bringing healing and hope through Jesus, to those without the access to affordable healthcare. To be married, one day to the one God has set aside for me, and provide a Godly home for our children.
This Blog is now going to be my (hopefully daily) ramblings and prayers, a public devotion to God, a way of accountability, and a way of letting people know how God is being so awesome in my life.
This is a big step, of letting go, and sharing that which has always been difficult, expressing the things going on in my head and life. God is teaching me surrender, faith, and promises.
Feel free to read or not, comments and prayers are always welcome.
To God be the Glory, Forever! =)
Life update: Living in New Zealand, working towards residency and a training orthopaedic job, since I didn't get one in the UK.
Long term plan still the same: To be an Orthopaedic surgeon, bringing healing and hope through Jesus, to those without the access to affordable healthcare. To be married, one day to the one God has set aside for me, and provide a Godly home for our children.
This Blog is now going to be my (hopefully daily) ramblings and prayers, a public devotion to God, a way of accountability, and a way of letting people know how God is being so awesome in my life.
This is a big step, of letting go, and sharing that which has always been difficult, expressing the things going on in my head and life. God is teaching me surrender, faith, and promises.
Feel free to read or not, comments and prayers are always welcome.
To God be the Glory, Forever! =)
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Update on my life!
Wow, it's been over a month since I last posted!
Well I wasn't supposed to leave it that long, but never mind, I'm here now!
Well I'm back in the UK. Malawi was AMAZING! I can't believe it's already been a month since I'm back. Still can't get used to the cold, the way water is available straight out of a tap, no one greets you in the streets, driving is a relatively risk free activity (as is being a pedestrian/cyclist!)
The flight back was relatively entertaining (afterwards of course!) Got delayed in Joberg due to mechanical fault on plane, which meant that AFTER sitting on the plane going nowhere fast for 4.5 hours, the captain let us off to the nearest airport hotel for 2 hours sleep in relative comfort before having to be back at the airport to check in again at 6am! All this meant I was delayed by 12 hours, but luckily since Loughborough is on a mainline rail track, there was a train out of London to home at 10pm!
Well now I'm in Liverpool, home of the mighty Reds (who just sold Torres to Chelsea - traitor! Grrr!) I start my diploma in tropical medicine on Monday, so have a weekend to settle in. The flat is nice as student accommodation goes, but for a postgrad who's been out of uni for 3 years it's weird being back amongst students! Seem to have the flat to self at the moment anyway, which is cool.
I had interviews at both Yorkshire/Humberside deanery, and West Midlands deanery for surgical training posts starting in August, will find out at the end of this month if I get to have a surgical career in the NHS - big prayers please! :-)
If I don't get a job then I'm highly tempted to emigrate to New Zealand where they actually appreciate young surgical doctors and give them jobs. I imagine it's going to be even harder now to get jobs as doctors in the NHS due to the government screwing with us, but look on the bright side, at least we have free healthcare to offer the peasants, even if it does cost us in taxes. I love the NHS and what it's done for this country, but it's increasingly difficult to stay positive with all the changes at the moment. Take me now while I'm still young and enthusiastic NHS, there aren't many like me, I don't grumble about my work, I love it and wouldn't change it for the world, even if I end up working over my regulated 48 hours a week for free. This is what we do - we heal, and care, and no government should want to put boundaries and hurdles in place to prevent us from doing that!
As for putting GP's in charge of the money - idealistic is the word you're looking for. Yes a good idea, in principle, but if the GP's are in charge of the money, when the hell do they get the time to do their primary job and care for their patients?! The PCT jobs of managing the money, handing it out in relevant proportions to the GP's is a FULL TIME job, as is caring for the patients. So Mr Cameron, you're going to give TWO full time jobs to ONE person (and probably not give them any increase in pay)?! I thought you wanted to CUT DOWN on clinical errors?!
Meh! Rant over!
Looking forward to finding a new church this Sunday :-) Praise God, for He alone is worthy, and He alone has a plan for my future, a plan to prosper, and not to harm. AMEN!
H x
Well I wasn't supposed to leave it that long, but never mind, I'm here now!
Well I'm back in the UK. Malawi was AMAZING! I can't believe it's already been a month since I'm back. Still can't get used to the cold, the way water is available straight out of a tap, no one greets you in the streets, driving is a relatively risk free activity (as is being a pedestrian/cyclist!)
The flight back was relatively entertaining (afterwards of course!) Got delayed in Joberg due to mechanical fault on plane, which meant that AFTER sitting on the plane going nowhere fast for 4.5 hours, the captain let us off to the nearest airport hotel for 2 hours sleep in relative comfort before having to be back at the airport to check in again at 6am! All this meant I was delayed by 12 hours, but luckily since Loughborough is on a mainline rail track, there was a train out of London to home at 10pm!
Well now I'm in Liverpool, home of the mighty Reds (who just sold Torres to Chelsea - traitor! Grrr!) I start my diploma in tropical medicine on Monday, so have a weekend to settle in. The flat is nice as student accommodation goes, but for a postgrad who's been out of uni for 3 years it's weird being back amongst students! Seem to have the flat to self at the moment anyway, which is cool.
I had interviews at both Yorkshire/Humberside deanery, and West Midlands deanery for surgical training posts starting in August, will find out at the end of this month if I get to have a surgical career in the NHS - big prayers please! :-)
If I don't get a job then I'm highly tempted to emigrate to New Zealand where they actually appreciate young surgical doctors and give them jobs. I imagine it's going to be even harder now to get jobs as doctors in the NHS due to the government screwing with us, but look on the bright side, at least we have free healthcare to offer the peasants, even if it does cost us in taxes. I love the NHS and what it's done for this country, but it's increasingly difficult to stay positive with all the changes at the moment. Take me now while I'm still young and enthusiastic NHS, there aren't many like me, I don't grumble about my work, I love it and wouldn't change it for the world, even if I end up working over my regulated 48 hours a week for free. This is what we do - we heal, and care, and no government should want to put boundaries and hurdles in place to prevent us from doing that!
As for putting GP's in charge of the money - idealistic is the word you're looking for. Yes a good idea, in principle, but if the GP's are in charge of the money, when the hell do they get the time to do their primary job and care for their patients?! The PCT jobs of managing the money, handing it out in relevant proportions to the GP's is a FULL TIME job, as is caring for the patients. So Mr Cameron, you're going to give TWO full time jobs to ONE person (and probably not give them any increase in pay)?! I thought you wanted to CUT DOWN on clinical errors?!
Meh! Rant over!
Looking forward to finding a new church this Sunday :-) Praise God, for He alone is worthy, and He alone has a plan for my future, a plan to prosper, and not to harm. AMEN!
H x
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Things to remember when returning to England from Malawi:
1.The phrase ‘I will flash you’ is no longer appropriate wording! (In Malawi it is the phrase used for miss calling someone on their mobile phone).
2.It is no rongel applopliate to intelchange the rettels ‘l’ and ‘r’ in wolds!
3.It is no longer acceptable to walk around the streets with no shoes on.
4.You can no longer buy any type of medication over the counter; prescriptions are needed for the harder drugs!
5.Azungu is no longer an acceptable word for a white person, they are just people.
6.You should no longer assume nurses will write out x-ray forms, blood forms, and put drips on patients – this is now a DOCTORS job!
7.No one will understand you if you say Zikomo, or Muli Bwanji?!
8.You cannot barter for a better price of tomatoes or onions!
9.It will no longer be acceptable to pray out loud for the patient about to undergo an operation or on the ward round.
10.On calls at night will consist of more than being able to sleep soundly in your bed without being disturbed because the nurses know what they are doing and only call the doctors for the real emergencies. It will be back to the days of ‘doctor? Shall I wake up the patient to give him his sleeping tablet?!’
11.People will understand you when you say Ta, eh up me duck, and nowt!
12.The thrice weekly scramble for the matches and candles at the 6pm power cuts will be put behind you.
13.The daily ritual of putting a tentative toe under the freezing shower before getting up the courage to stick your head under will also be put behind you.
14.Praying before even the shortest journey on public transport will no longer consist of ‘please get us there alive’ instead it will be more along the lines of ‘please get us there on time’!
15.You can no longer bribe a policeman with a bottle of water or a newspaper!
16.It is no longer acceptable to call your consultant boss by his first name.
17.It is no longer acceptable to sing worship and praise songs at the top of your lungs in theatre when operating; instead revered silence is insisted upon.
18.Reusing scrub gowns, and gloves will, from now, on get you killed by the infection control nurses.
19.On sending a patient to x-ray you no longer have time for a cup of tea and reading the paper whilst the radiographer develops the film by hand.
20.Showing your knees will no longer be the height of indecency, but showing your breasts will be!
21.Shrugging your shoulders and saying ‘TIA’ (This is Africa) is no longer an appropriate answer to why things are going wrong.
22.Shirts will no longer be lovingly washed by hand and ironed so well since the washing machine is not named Alfred and the owner of her shirts hates ironing!
23.Kids in clinic will no longer be petrified of the Azungu white doctor because he is told by villagers Azungu’s steal souls and doctors give big nasty injections!
24.Journeys on public transport will be free of chickens, goats, dried fish, and at least 5 people to every seat, oh and there is now NEVER room for one more!
25.Using the right hand indicator on the car as a warning for the car behind not to overtake as there is an oncoming car is no longer appropriate – it is used for telling people you are turning right only.
26.Not knowing that there is a dip function on your headlights and blinding every incoming car with full beams is now hugely impolite and quite frankly dangerous!
27.Stopping at a zebra crossing when there is a pedestrian on it is now law and not just an act of kindness.
28.They are now called traffic lights and not robots, and they will not be turned off at night to save power, and obeying them is NOT optional!
29.When the kettle leaks get a new one, do not just tape it up with gaffa tape and hope it will last another 3 months!
30.England is not Malawi and I will miss it :-(
2.It is no rongel applopliate to intelchange the rettels ‘l’ and ‘r’ in wolds!
3.It is no longer acceptable to walk around the streets with no shoes on.
4.You can no longer buy any type of medication over the counter; prescriptions are needed for the harder drugs!
5.Azungu is no longer an acceptable word for a white person, they are just people.
6.You should no longer assume nurses will write out x-ray forms, blood forms, and put drips on patients – this is now a DOCTORS job!
7.No one will understand you if you say Zikomo, or Muli Bwanji?!
8.You cannot barter for a better price of tomatoes or onions!
9.It will no longer be acceptable to pray out loud for the patient about to undergo an operation or on the ward round.
10.On calls at night will consist of more than being able to sleep soundly in your bed without being disturbed because the nurses know what they are doing and only call the doctors for the real emergencies. It will be back to the days of ‘doctor? Shall I wake up the patient to give him his sleeping tablet?!’
11.People will understand you when you say Ta, eh up me duck, and nowt!
12.The thrice weekly scramble for the matches and candles at the 6pm power cuts will be put behind you.
13.The daily ritual of putting a tentative toe under the freezing shower before getting up the courage to stick your head under will also be put behind you.
14.Praying before even the shortest journey on public transport will no longer consist of ‘please get us there alive’ instead it will be more along the lines of ‘please get us there on time’!
15.You can no longer bribe a policeman with a bottle of water or a newspaper!
16.It is no longer acceptable to call your consultant boss by his first name.
17.It is no longer acceptable to sing worship and praise songs at the top of your lungs in theatre when operating; instead revered silence is insisted upon.
18.Reusing scrub gowns, and gloves will, from now, on get you killed by the infection control nurses.
19.On sending a patient to x-ray you no longer have time for a cup of tea and reading the paper whilst the radiographer develops the film by hand.
20.Showing your knees will no longer be the height of indecency, but showing your breasts will be!
21.Shrugging your shoulders and saying ‘TIA’ (This is Africa) is no longer an appropriate answer to why things are going wrong.
22.Shirts will no longer be lovingly washed by hand and ironed so well since the washing machine is not named Alfred and the owner of her shirts hates ironing!
23.Kids in clinic will no longer be petrified of the Azungu white doctor because he is told by villagers Azungu’s steal souls and doctors give big nasty injections!
24.Journeys on public transport will be free of chickens, goats, dried fish, and at least 5 people to every seat, oh and there is now NEVER room for one more!
25.Using the right hand indicator on the car as a warning for the car behind not to overtake as there is an oncoming car is no longer appropriate – it is used for telling people you are turning right only.
26.Not knowing that there is a dip function on your headlights and blinding every incoming car with full beams is now hugely impolite and quite frankly dangerous!
27.Stopping at a zebra crossing when there is a pedestrian on it is now law and not just an act of kindness.
28.They are now called traffic lights and not robots, and they will not be turned off at night to save power, and obeying them is NOT optional!
29.When the kettle leaks get a new one, do not just tape it up with gaffa tape and hope it will last another 3 months!
30.England is not Malawi and I will miss it :-(
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