What I Will Remember Most
By: Nathan Lindsey

“Just wash the cut out a little bit-wow, you can see his scalp.”

I meant skull, but then again, it's been a long day and everyone knew what I meant. We finish stitching up his head and toe and call it a night. The toe was split wide open when this young boy fell off a brick wall. It is kind of different having a child with a problem that has not resulted from falling out of our mango trees, after stealing our mangos!

I go back to the house and finally get some water and something to eat. It's March in Chad. Temperatures range from the low 90s (Fahrenheit) to mid 130s. My days are mostly filled with all sorts of odd jobs around the hospital and the nights are a chance to quit sweating (maybe). And although I've assisted with a few surgeries and done plenty of things I have no license to do, I've also done a lot of menial stuff, too. People here are always amazed to see me picking up trash. After all, that's someone else's job, right?

At this time last year I was trying to graduate: 19 credit hours (mostly upper division biology), working, and studying. So by all respects, this year as a volunteer should have been a breeze. Take a little time off and experience a new culture. Learn a new language.

Almost exactly a year ago I decided to do a year of missionary service. It's something I always thought about but was never quite sure if I would or should. After all, medical school calls, right? Well, although Chad has allowed me to experience a lot of medical things, that's not what I will remember most about this year.

My eyes have been opened to a whole new culture and I will never view the world the same again. I was blessed to be born into a Christian family in the wealthiest nation in the world. And no matter how much I thought I didn't have at home, I have experienced more than the majority of the world ever will.

Have you ever had malaria? talked to an Arab nomad and realized you have more in common with Muslims than you knew? met Christians who still sacrifice goats to their dead relatives? watched someone work all day in the hot sun for a dollar? had to argue with someone to pay for quinine to treat their dying child but watch them walk away to spend the money on a chicken at the market? seen a woman demon possessed? watched someone die most likely because they were cursed?

Okay, maybe you'd rather not think about those things. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually believes anything I write. But really, every missionary in every part of the world will experience something different. When I signed up I certainly didn't foresee most of the things that would happen to me. And really, this place could use a few more teachers.

But of all the troubles I have faced here, the biggest was deciding to GO. And now that I am here, I am eternally grateful. Life has not always been what I would have liked. But then again, God doesn't call us to an easy life. He just calls us to GO.

Nathan Vaughn Lindsey is from Bozeman, Montana. He represents Southern Adventist University.