Embarking on a medical elective in Uganda was a significant decision. Stephen, an NHS surgical trainee, took a year out for an ‘OOPE’ (out of programme experience), aiming to enhance his surgical skills and engage in gospel work. 

Inspired by friends in West Africa, our desire to serve the Lord in crosscultural mission led us to Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda, where we spent a fulfilling nine months in 2022-2023.

Life before Uganda found us in the West Midlands, active in our local Baptist church. Stephen, immersed in surgical training, and Grace, tending to Samuel and Elijah, both became deeply involved in church and community service. 

Concerns about finding a church and like-minded co-workers in Uganda were alleviated when God showed he had taken care of all our needs, even providing accommodation.

staff start each day in worship and prayer for patients

Surrounded by a tropical garden (complete with monkeys!), our days began early, often with our boys waking us before 6am. This was followed by hospital duties, homeschooling, community engagement, and evening meetings. The hospital’s motto, ‘We treat, Jesus heals’, was a lived reality, with staff starting each day in worship and prayer for patients. Even the pre-surgery checklist includes prayer being made for the patient. Ward ministry teams and the Chaplain regularly visit the patients and Christian workers are encouraged to share the gospel.

 

One gospel-minded colleague shared this thought: ‘Imagine if every patient who came through the gates heard the good news about Jesus’. The opportunity to speak to lost and needy souls is great at Kiwoko Hospital. The local St Luke’s church provided us with avenues for worship, preaching, and Sunday School service.

we already really miss this freedom to do ministry so openly

The greatest blessing was ministering in a culture open to the gospel. Examples include a police station Sunday service where 26 out of 50 detainees responded to the gospel, and a Christianity-explored course with nursing students.

Medical missions to local villages and one-to-one witnessing provided numerous other gospel opportunities. Since coming back to the UK, we already really miss this freedom to do ministry so openly! It has been really wonderful to witness the fruit of our labours in Kiwoko. However, we are also aware that God was doing a work in us. We’ve been under more stress than we’ve probably ever experienced before, we’ve felt out of our depth and out of our comfort zone, and we’ve been really humbled realising that there is so much we don’t know. 

we can say that God has been with us through everything

By God’s amazing grace, however, we can say that he has been with us through everything. There were multiple times, worshipping God in the meetings or in our quiet times, or taking in his creation, where we felt God’s love towards us personally and we truly felt that underneath were the everlasting arms. 

Returning to the UK, we had the chance to reflect on personal growth, humbled by God’s grace amid challenges. As Stephen re-enters NHS training, Samuel and Elijah start nursery, and Grace explores part-time work, the future is uncertain, but we remain open to God’s leading.

you can use your clinical training in a unique way for the Lord overseas

Our hearts long to return to Kiwoko, even if just to reconnect with dear friends. We would truly encourage anyone who is thinking of medical mission, that you can use your clinical training in a unique way for the Lord overseas and minister not only to physical bodies but to eternal souls.

Stephen and Grace spent just under a year at Kiwoko hospital in Uganda