GMHC

 

McCropder Team at Global Missions Health Conference November 2011.                            From left to right: Jason, Heather, Anna, & Abi Fader; Jessica & Samuel Cropsey; Alyssa Pfister; Carlan Wendler; John Cropsey; Rachel, Ben, Eric, & Maggie McLaughlin

Last week I attended the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, KY. This annual conference has been very influential in my life and is something I look forward to every year and I missed in Kenya. During residency I even arranged my vacation requests around this event. Through this conference in medical school, I explored opportunities for an international rotation and subsequently spent two months at Tenwek during my fourth year. In residency, I pursued another international rotation in Togo. I also continued to pray and seek God’s direction for after residency and through this conference I learned of the post residency program with Samaritan’s Purse. I applied and was accepted into the program my third year of residency, and while attending the conference during my fourth year in 2008, I decided to serve at Tenwek in Kenya for 2 years. I also first met most of my McCropder teammates at that time – needless to say, a good first impression!

Through listening to speakers such as John Patrick, Dave Stevens, Steve Saint, David Thompson, & many others, I have wrestled with ideas of sustainability, calling, development disparities, suffering, the Great Commission, limited resources & even martyrdom. I’ve thought through issues of families and singleness. I’ve learned about malaria, HIV/AIDS, the millennium development goals, and even photography.

And the highlight, this year more than previous years, was reconnecting with friends from around the world. The medical missions community seems to grow smaller as I recognize more and more people at this conference of 3000 people. What a blessing to be surrounded by friends from college, medical school, residency, Togo, Ethiopia, Kenya, and beyond – all with a shared vision of caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the “least of these” around the world. One of my teammates once described this conference as being the place in the world where he feels most at home, and I’m tempted to agree with him. Especially now as I’ve been living out of a suitcase for two months traveling around the U.S., processing my experiences in Kenya, Burundi, the States, and not feeling fully at home in any one place.

But then, as has been expressed many times before, none of us are fully at home on this earth. But we do have a home and I look forward again to the day when most everyone I love will be in one place and we will fully rest in our comfortable, glorious home with our Heavenly Father.

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland…But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:13-16

Precious

 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

Grandan, Grandma Chris, and me (2009)

Grandan and his two children - my mom and my Uncle Chris (2007)

On Saturday night my grandfather entered into the presence of His Lord. I am so thankful for God's perfect timing that I could be here now. I visited with Grandan 6 weeks ago at his home in Indianapolis before his health began to seriously decline. He has always been an enthusiastic vicarious participant in all my adventures. He read the "Miracle at Tenwek" book more than once and was thrilled when I came to know characters in the book. He bought a detailed African map and marked out exactly where I was in Kenya and where I will be in Burundi. He checked the Nairobi weather daily in the paper. :) He cared about all the specifics of my journey and clearly had read and remembered my many blog posts and update letters from Kenya and Burundi. He was the first person to commit to supporting me financially in Burundi. Even in the hospital last week as he struggled to breathe at one point he looked over at Grandma Chris and me and remembered, "We haven't yet opened the Burundi coffee Alyssa gave us last month!"

My Grandan was the epitome of thinking of others above yourself - he always expressed interest in others, listened carefully, and made others feel special. He loved to laugh and frequently made jokes - even in his hospital bed last week. As a voracious reader, he could converse on most any topic but he did so in such a humble way that did not draw attention to himself. As my father stated in the service today, he embodied the fruit of the Spirit extremely well. 

What a blessing that I am in the country now and was even available to drive my mother to the hospital last week and help sort out the medical information. These occasions certainly are bittersweet as it was a joy to be with family I haven't seen in years, though sad under these circumstances.

Extended family - Pfisters, Conlins, Lutz's, Wongs

Grandan would have been so proud of his great-grandson Samuel, age 3, who led us in reciting the Apostle's Creed - he saw the live version a couple weeks ago when Samuel used Grandan's oxygen tank as a pulpit and led church in his living room. :) Grandan was an amazing grandfather to little ones and to grown grandchildren. :)

Pfister family - special congratulations to my littlest sister Lauren on her engagement to Wei Chi on Saturday!

Fall

I love fall! And though I was only out of the U.S. for 2 years and the weather in Kenya is lovely year round (70s and generally green with lots of blooming flowers), I did miss the seasons - especially fall. It has been such a beautiful time of year to be driving around the Eastern U.S. - I've enjoyed leaves in 16 states these last 8 weeks! 

I love this Nathaniel Hawthorne quote: "Our Creator would never have made such lovely days, and given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal."

We were meant to be immortal! And I think we glimpse that eternal home with our Creator through the beauty of fall leaves, picking apples and painting pumpkins, cool, crisp days shared with friends and family, and even through pumpkin spice lattes!

Word & Deed

Many of you know the title of our team blog is "Word and Deed" (linked on the left). We truly believe that God calls us to share the gospel both verbally and through our actions in caring for "the least of these". The last couple weeks, I've been encouraged through several "Word" opportunities here in the U.S. As I've shared about our experiences in Kenya and our future plans in Burundi, I've known the joy and strength of Christ in giving me the words and encouraging me through the response of others. I've even felt further confirmation that God has equipped me and called me to this work and is continuing to guide me as I process the joys and challenges of these past two years.

Speaking on Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the Missionary Medicine Seminar associated with Prescription for Renewal at The Cove in Asheville, NC

Missionary Medicine Seminar speakers - Our team spoke on several topics such as Suffering and the Christian Physician, HIV in pregnancy, Surgery as a Public Health Measure, Medical Education in Missions, and our team's Vision for Ministry in Community

We're so thankful for the enthusiastic and ever-present support of Scott Reichenbach and Mary Elizabeth Jameson with Samaritan's Purse's Post Residency program over the last 2 years.

George Beverly Shea, age 102, made a surprise appearance at the conference and even sang a song and made a few jokes

Myself, Heather, Jason, & Eric (Rachel not pictured as she was with the kids) with Mike & Ann Kendall, friends we met at Tenwek

Radio appearance on Charlotte's NPR!

I met Naphtaly Matta (on left) while working on Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria. He was visiting Charlotte, NC as was I, and Mike Kendall arranged for him to be interviewed on Charlotte's public radio station about his work with orphans and Bible translation. The radio station requested a medical perspective to be included as well, so that's were Mike and I come in!

 If you'd like to listen to the hour long radio broadcast (recorded live), click here.

Honestly, my most interesting speaking engagement of the past week was to the 4th grade students at High Point Christian Academy in High Point, NC! These students displayed such a heart for the world as they asked insightful questions and even prayed for me. I look forward to hearing how God continues to work in each of their lives as they share His gospel with the world.

Memory Lane

Last week I visited my alma mater Wheaton College for my 10 year reunion. I had the opportunity while there to speak to the pre-med students about my journey from being in their shoes to now. I remember thinking as a college student that this journey towards medicine was forever - would it really be worth it? But ten years has flown by; there has been lots of joy along the way; and I so enjoy using the gifts God has given me in medicine to serve His people around the world. I thought I'd share a little bit of that journey (and of my presentation) with you through this post.

Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

My medical ambitions began young. At age four I decided I wanted to be a doctor and drive a bulldozer to work. Somehow the first goal was easier than the second because I have yet to find someone willing to let me drive their bulldozer! My medical journey continued and the interest grew greatly through my experience with Transverse Myelitis at age 10. I woke up one morning paralyzed from the chest down from a virus in my spinal cord. Through two years of physical therapy, God healed me completely and gifted me with the ability to walk again and even run and climb mountains. My interest in other peoples and cultures began as a young child listening intently to stories of missionaries in Sunday School. Our family embarked on a life changing cross cultural experience when we moved to the Mexican border as I was entering 8th grade (picture on the right is my mother, my sisters, & I with a friend in Reynosa, Mexico). During the three years we lived there, I grew to love learning Spanish and learning about other peoples and cultures.

I truly believe all these formative childhood events occurred so that the work of God would be displayed in my life.

Chicago - John Hancock building, Lake Michigan

 In college, I grew to love missions more through a summer working with a community development project in Bolivia. Despite suffering from significant reverse culture shock on my return to the U.S., the people and the place of Trinidad, Bolivia still hold a special place in my heart. My first medical missions experience encouraged me greatly during my first year of medical school. I loved leaving the textbooks behind and observing firsthand how amazing it was to serve the impoverished people of the Ecuadorean Andes Mountains with medicine and the gospel, word and deed. My journey in medical missions continued through experiences in medical school and residency in Kenya, Trinidad, Togo, and the Dominican Republic.

My sister Lauren and I both graduated from Wheaton and now she works there! I so loved getting to spend quality time with her last week. 

 

Two of my college roommates - in 10 years the three of us have added two husbands, 3 1/2 kids, 2 additional degrees, criss-crossed the U.S. multiple times, lived overseas, and traveled to at least fifteen countries! I'm so thankful for these and other friends God has given me who know my history, know my weaknesses, and love me anyways no matter the physical distance between us!

The Wade Center at Wheaton with the actual wardrobe which inspired C.S. Lewis as he wrote, "The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe" - one of my favorite books

I've referenced this quote before on the blog, but it continues to capture perfectly my feelings towards the work ahead of me: now with support raising, in France with becoming fluent enough in French to be able to lecture medical students, & in Burundi with working at a hospital with no running water and extremely limited resources. I'm so glad that where I am most weak and insufficient, God's strength shines through all the brighter.

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   surely I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16:6

I'm so thankful for the heritage God has blessed me with - what a joy it is to have parents and others who have been discipling me and praying with and for me all my days. 

Thank you, too, for journeying with me!

Sam & Emma

I love being Aunt Alyssa! Or "Aunt Wynssa" as Samuel calls me. Sam is 3 years old now and has changed dramatically in the two years I've been gone. He now plays soccer (sort of :)), is very into imaginative play (especially "playing church"), and loves trash trucks and Cars. He's still as adorable as ever!

 Emma is 9 months old and very busy! I just met her for the first time 2 weeks ago and I have loved getting to know her. She crawls everywhere and just started pulling up to standing in the last week. She's a bit of a daredevil and loves to be thrown in the air or to ride the rocking giraffe that belongs to Samuel. She adores her big brother and is pretty adorable herself! :)

Sam next to his finished train puzzle - completed all by himself.

Here's Sam "playing church". This is the "music scene" where he sings "Glory Be to the Father". I haven't yet captured his preaching or reciting the Apostle's Creed on video, but it's pretty entertaining. Maybe he'll follow his Aunt Alyssa into missions. :)

World Harvest Mission

McCropder Team (left to right): John (ophthalmology) & Jess (teacher) Cropsey, Jason (surgery) & Heather (teacher) Fader, Carlan (emergency medicine) Wendler (with Ben McLaughlin), Rachel (OB/Gyn) & Eric (Family Practice) McLaughlin, Alyssa (med/peds) Pfister

Our entire team of 6 doctors, 2 teachers, and 7 children was welcomed into the World Harvest Mission family on Wednesday. We've spent the week in Philadelphia at WHM's headquarters learning about the organization, being interviewed, and then being oriented as new missionaries. We are the Burundi Team and we're thrilled to be joining a mission agency that fits perfectly inline with our vision and goals.

World Harvest's mission statement reads:
Laying down our lives to proclaim the Kingdom of Jesus Christ through preaching, healing and equipping.

This is exactly what we feel called to do! World Harvest also expresses core values that line up with our own - I'm especially excited about reflecting more and more the two core values of "Centrality of the gospel" and "Ministering from weakness".  

We desire to share Jesus' message from Isaiah 61:1-2 in word and deed as we serve the people of the poorest country in the world, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn..."

Our group of newly accepted missionaries on the Burundi and South Sudan Teams pictured with Bob Osborne (center), the executive director of World Harvest Mission

Calvary Church in Bristol, PA

So, now what? Well, I'll be traveling all over the U.S. for the next year speaking at churches and at other groups, sharing about my experiences in Kenya and Burundi, and recruiting partners who share my passion for this work to join me in prayer and giving. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, contact me here. I've also added an online donation link on the left side of the blog.

Back in the States

After 2 days of travel across three continents with 3 adults, 2 small children, 14 checked bags, 6 carry-ons and a guitar, the McLaughlins and I were thrilled to finally greet our families at the Nashville airport.

During my first week back in the States after two years away, I’ve been surprised by some things that have changed and some things that are familiar.

1) Driving. I didn’t drive at all in two years. In Kenya, they drive on the left side of the road and the right side of the car. Defensive driving is the name of the game – read this description by Jason Fader of all the variables involved in driving in Kenya. Even as a passenger, road travel is stressful in Africa. So I have certainly enjoyed the freedom of getting in a car and driving to the store, stopping at a drive-through on the way, air conditioning, radio, no exhaust, no motion sickness, cars staying in their lanes, predictable traffic flow, road signs. I have accidentally walked to the wrong side of the car to get in, though!

2) Greetings. In Kenyan culture, greetings are very important. Everyone receives a handshake, even the small children. If your hand is wet or occupied, offer your arm. If you want to convey special respect or friendship, use both hands for a hand shake by placing the left hand on the right wrist. On the rare occasion someone is too far away to shake their hand, offer a two handed wave. When I welcome the interns to my house for Bible study, I shake each of their hands as they walk in. This took some adjusting to at first but became familiar by the end of two years to the point that I didn’t think it strange. But my dental hygienist in Nashville gave me a funny look when I shook her hand on Tuesday!   

3) Anonymity. Given that I look and act differently than most any Kenyan, it’s impossible to blend into the surroundings. I was pretty good at being a wall flower during my middle school years, not so anymore! Anywhere I traveled in Africa, I was greeted by the children shouting “Mzungu!” (white person) and practicing their one English phrase, “How are you? I am fine.” In Ethiopia, they call out “Ferengi!” (foreigner). Children walk up to touch my skin. Adults stare and even take pictures on their cell phones (yes, cell phones are ubiquitous even in Kenya). All of this is done in a friendly way – visitors bring blessings according to African proverbs. But even so, I thoroughly enjoyed running in my parents’ neighborhood this week with anonymity.

4) Language. Even me, my English has somehow changed in Kenya – click here if that sentence doesn’t make sense to you. I’ve certainly made some language errors. My favorite one was told at one of my goodbye parties by the Kenyan intern. I was trying to tell a mother that her child shouldn’t eat because he was going to have surgery. I said, “Usikule mtoto leo, utakula kesho.” Translation: “Don’t eat your child today; you will eat him tomorrow.”  I loved learning other languages, though – which is a good thing as French and Kirundi are next!

5) Food. Cherry Coke Zero is just as good as I remembered as are raspberries and Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte. My mom was so excited to have me home, she bought four kinds of ice cream! And my dad grilled steak and salmon. I really enjoyed chai time every morning at Tenwek – when everyone stops to drink chai together in the hospital. But other than that, I can’t say that I miss Kenyan food. Let’s just say there’s a reason why there aren’t many Kenyan restaurants in the U.S.! But that means I need to be a lot more careful to not eat constantly with all the choices available to me.

Reconciling the differences between these worlds is certainly a challenge. Especially when I feel comfortable in some aspects of each. I appreciate your continued prayers as I navigate reverse culture shock and adjust back to my home culture. I pray that I will be able to say with the Apostle Paul (Ph 4:12), "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation," (i.e. in any and every country). It’s been such a blessing to be with family this last week and I look forward to visiting with many of you in the next few months. Next stop: Philadelphia to see my sister, brother-in-law, and 3 year old nephew Samuel for the first time in two years and to meet my 9 month old niece Emma. While in Philly, I also look forward to attending Assessment and Orientation for a week at World Harvest Mission – my prospective long term mission agency for Burundi.