First week in England

            Well I've arrived safe and sound in England. After a week long bout of jetleg (worse than I've ever had before), my body has finally adjusted to the time change. The school is so far very interesting. It is a combination of curative medicine and preventative medicine. In other words, the school focuses on addressing the present disease and wound needs such as prescribing medications and wound care. However, the school has a large focus on health education. Since a majority of diseases that we will be dealing with are easily prevented, health education has the greatest ability to bring about change.

             There are four students in my school along with four staff: Chelan, a fellow Canadian; Kelda, from Switzerland; Linda, from England; Rose, Caroline, and Lyn - all British; and Lucena, Philippino.  We've decided to do the practical component of the school in Uganda.  Many of the staff have been to Uganda on previous occasions so they already have a good rapport with the locals there.

              Being back in Youth With a Mission (YWAM) was a bit of a shock for me since I have been away from it for the past 5 years.  I am used to the academic component of any schooling.  However, YWAM also has a huge emphasis on personal and spiritual development.  Therefore I often am spending a large portion of my time doing readings and devotions.  Having done solely academic before at University, I can see just how important personal and spiritual development is in regards to education.  YWAM is not only teaching, they are raising future leaders.  

               The base, like most YWAM bases, is an eclectic cultural soup.  There are individuals here from England, Scotland, Whales, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Norway, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Philippines, Canada, U.S.A, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, and Egypt.  Like a said, quite the mix!  I love being surrounded by all of the cultures.  Everyone is so different yet we are all here united by one God and one faith.  It is so crazy to see so many cultures working together - especially community living - in a manner that works!  

               I normally am busy from morning to night Mondays to Fridays.  This consists of classes, intercession, worship, work duties, meals, and devotions.  Every Tuesday or Wednesday we have a local doctor come in to teach us about various health things.  In addition, two of the staff members of the schools are nurses.  One has spent over ten years living in Africa!   

               This week we learned about Primary Health Care, what it is and what is its purpose.  In addition we started with human anatomy and physiology, health education, and taking vital signs.  I must say that wearing a stethoscope around my neck feels very natural.  During our health education class we were asked what we thought were some of the main causes of diseases were.  Every answer we stated was a typical western answer such as poor hygiene, infection, poor diet, overpopulation (not a lot of space), poisons etc.  We never thought to say things like sin, spiritual bondage, worry etc.  Yet these are biblical principles!  Not only that, but the people that we will be trying to educate and work with in Uganda are very spiritual.  It is so easy to get caught up in our own worldview.  In the west we tend to focus just on scientific and logic-based health methods.  How on earth are we to tend to the health needs of the malnurished if we come to them with an attitude of superiority or we dismiss many of their religious beliefs.  Many tribes have witchdoctors, therefore; often the individuals being treated will search out a physical cure (ie. medicine) as well as a spiritual cure.  Both cures have equal importance to these people.  This was an eye-opener to me.  If I am to truly have faith in God, then why would I dismiss such ways of thinking.  If God exists, then the spiritual realm must exist as well.  

           God is definately doing a work in me.  I am excited to see refreshment from God in my life as well as to see how he guides this school.