Tansen Mission Hospital (TMH), as its name indicates, is a hospital with a mission. The hospital logo states, “We Serve, Jesus Heals.” One of ways TMH serves is through the Pastoral Care Team, a group of dedicated Christians who provide prayer, counseling, and financial assistance to patients and families. I had the privilege of spending two days with the pastoral care team, possibly the best two days I have had here in Tansen.
The team starts their day with worship and prayer in the hospital chapel. Then they make rounds on the wards. I joined Silas as he visited patients who were due to have surgery that day. Silas asks patients how they are feeling, tells them that the doctors in the hospital serve Jesus and believe that ultimately he is the one who heals the patients, and explains that we pray in Jesus’ name, knowing that God hears our prayers and will grant us the peace and joy that only he can give. He then asks the patient if they will let him pray for them, that their operation would go well and that they will have peace in their hearts. Most patients accept prayer, with varying attitudes - some grateful, others skeptical.
The team starts their day with worship and prayer in the hospital chapel. Then they make rounds on the wards. I joined Silas as he visited patients who were due to have surgery that day. Silas asks patients how they are feeling, tells them that the doctors in the hospital serve Jesus and believe that ultimately he is the one who heals the patients, and explains that we pray in Jesus’ name, knowing that God hears our prayers and will grant us the peace and joy that only he can give. He then asks the patient if they will let him pray for them, that their operation would go well and that they will have peace in their hearts. Most patients accept prayer, with varying attitudes - some grateful, others skeptical.
We visited one little girl, about 10 years old, who had fallen from the roof of her house and needed surgery to set her broken arm. Her father was with her, an older man of very humble background by appearances. He told us that this was the youngest of his ten children, and as he spoke, he got choked up and turned his face away to hide his tears. Silas was able to talk with him and pray for him. I think he was worried about his daughter, about the costs of the surgery and hospitalization and about his family back home. The prayer seemed to have a calming effect, and who knows what seeds were planted in this man’s heart regarding Jesus’ love for him and his family.
Next Silas counseled a young lady who had attempted suicide by swallowing agricultural pesticides. She explained that she had been angry with her father because he beat her when he was drunk. Silas talked with her about the perils of anger, shared some verses from the Bible and talked about God’s power to help us control our anger. Then he called her parents in and talked with them, explaining that their daughter’s suicide attempt was a cry for help – she longed for a close and loving relationship with her father. He pointed out that the father’s drinking was hurting the family and could have (almost had) tragic consequences. Silas encouraged the girl to tell her father how she felt about his drinking, and he admitted to having a problem with alcohol. Finally, Silas invited the family to the hospital prayer service (held at noon daily in the chapel), where he gave a message about how Jesus provides a better way of dealing with anger and stress than liquor or other vices. I don’t know if the message made any impact on the family, but they came and heard, and now at least the father knows there is someone who can help him stop drinking.
In the afternoon, I joined Seti, another pastoral care team member, as he interviewed patients to assess their financial need. The hospital has a charity fund to help patients who cannot afford to pay for the care they receive. The pastoral care team is responsible for deciding who is eligible for social services. They ask patients about the number of family/household members, employment and income, land holdings, number of oxen, goats and other animals, debt burden, and other possible sources of assistance (e.g., from relatives or community members). When patients are approved for charity funds, the pastoral care team explains to them that the funds come from Christians around the world who support the hospital and pray for the doctors and patients because they love Jesus. So everyone hears about the love of Christ before they leave the hospital.
During my time with Seti, we visited an elderly woman, 78 years old, who was admitted for heart failure and emphysema. She told us that her husband died 10 years ago, though in fact he had married a second wife 30 years earlier and had not provided well for her since that time. Her only son left her three or four years back and she has not heard from him since. Although she has land, it lies uncultivated because she has no one to help her farm it. She works as a day laborer when she can get work, carrying loads of firewood or other supplies for 50 Rupees a day - about 80 US cents. However, for the past month, she has been unable to work due to worsening heart failure and difficulty breathing. Currently, she lives with neighbors and depends on them for food. She does get a small “old age” pension from the government – 500 Rupees a month, about $US 80. As it turns out, she is a Christian and goes to church in her village. When we prayed with her, she literally wept with joy.
As I walked through the hospital wards with the pastoral care team, I saw the patients and families with new eyes. Sometimes on medical rounds, we focus on the physical problems – vital signs, wound infections, how the lungs sound – and don’t see the spiritual pain and sickness written in the faces of patients and their loved ones. These past few days, I have been more aware of the spiritual side. When I look around the wards, I see curiosity in the eyes of onlookers as they see us pray with patients. (Side Note: the hospital wards are very open with up to ten beds per room and little privacy. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. At times this is a good thing – parents in neighboring beds can look after each other’s children and encourage one another. But when doctors are visiting with one family, the entire room listens and watches, which is a little awkward.) Sometimes I see desperation and despair, weariness, depression, loneliness, pain, and longing. A kind word (even if I don’t speak Nepali), a gentle touch, even a smile can bring comfort to a patient who is alone and scared. I pray I never lose sight of the importance of this ministry and that I will never be afraid to enter into the spiritual side of my patients’ lives.
The Pastoral Care ministry at Tansen Hospital is special. Few hospitals in Nepal have a pastoral care department and even fewer have such a devoted Christian staff to carry out the vital task of bringing spiritual healing to the patients. It is a tremendous witness to patients, families and even the Nepali doctors and nurses.
In the afternoon, I joined Seti, another pastoral care team member, as he interviewed patients to assess their financial need. The hospital has a charity fund to help patients who cannot afford to pay for the care they receive. The pastoral care team is responsible for deciding who is eligible for social services. They ask patients about the number of family/household members, employment and income, land holdings, number of oxen, goats and other animals, debt burden, and other possible sources of assistance (e.g., from relatives or community members). When patients are approved for charity funds, the pastoral care team explains to them that the funds come from Christians around the world who support the hospital and pray for the doctors and patients because they love Jesus. So everyone hears about the love of Christ before they leave the hospital.
During my time with Seti, we visited an elderly woman, 78 years old, who was admitted for heart failure and emphysema. She told us that her husband died 10 years ago, though in fact he had married a second wife 30 years earlier and had not provided well for her since that time. Her only son left her three or four years back and she has not heard from him since. Although she has land, it lies uncultivated because she has no one to help her farm it. She works as a day laborer when she can get work, carrying loads of firewood or other supplies for 50 Rupees a day - about 80 US cents. However, for the past month, she has been unable to work due to worsening heart failure and difficulty breathing. Currently, she lives with neighbors and depends on them for food. She does get a small “old age” pension from the government – 500 Rupees a month, about $US 80. As it turns out, she is a Christian and goes to church in her village. When we prayed with her, she literally wept with joy.
As I walked through the hospital wards with the pastoral care team, I saw the patients and families with new eyes. Sometimes on medical rounds, we focus on the physical problems – vital signs, wound infections, how the lungs sound – and don’t see the spiritual pain and sickness written in the faces of patients and their loved ones. These past few days, I have been more aware of the spiritual side. When I look around the wards, I see curiosity in the eyes of onlookers as they see us pray with patients. (Side Note: the hospital wards are very open with up to ten beds per room and little privacy. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. At times this is a good thing – parents in neighboring beds can look after each other’s children and encourage one another. But when doctors are visiting with one family, the entire room listens and watches, which is a little awkward.) Sometimes I see desperation and despair, weariness, depression, loneliness, pain, and longing. A kind word (even if I don’t speak Nepali), a gentle touch, even a smile can bring comfort to a patient who is alone and scared. I pray I never lose sight of the importance of this ministry and that I will never be afraid to enter into the spiritual side of my patients’ lives.
The Pastoral Care ministry at Tansen Hospital is special. Few hospitals in Nepal have a pastoral care department and even fewer have such a devoted Christian staff to carry out the vital task of bringing spiritual healing to the patients. It is a tremendous witness to patients, families and even the Nepali doctors and nurses.
"that I'll never be afraid to enter into the spiritual side of my patients' lives." Very impactful. My prayer along with you is that I won't be afraid to enter into the spiritual side of neighbors'/friends' lives. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHey Pam! I've taken the past few days to get caught up on your time at NMH. My how time flies--I can't believe you only have one more month! Nepal looks beautiful! I'm so glad you were willing to go on all your "adventures" even though some of them have been rather painful :) Thanks so much for sharing. I definitely couldn't handle dying children--so sad. But what a wonderful opportunity for you to have to get to experience such an amazing team witnessing to their patients! I pray with you that they will come to know their Creator! How powerful when those in need have their debts paid--what a testimony and connection for them to see the One who paid our eternal debt. Wow!
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