My time in Nepal has been absolutely incredible, offering me countless valuable lessons and enriching experiences. I have learned so much about the culture, healthcare system, and the way the Lord is actively at work here in Nepal. I feel confident that this experience will profoundly influence both my future in healthcare and my daily life. 

I came into this trip feeling very unsure and anxious. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was met by such incredible and welcoming people. The culture of Nepal is extremely kind and welcoming to foreigners. From the moment we stepped out of the airport and were greeted with flower leis and excitement to the hospitality of the staff at the places we stay to the excitement and welcoming spirit of the nursing students we followed in the hospital, we have been overwhelmed by kindness our entire time here in Nepal. The nursing students were very impactful to me. They graciously allowed us to follow them around all day, answered our questions, interpreted for us, taught us their language, and showed genuine interest in our lives. The instructors took time to teach us personally, which was very kind. I got to learn how they do med pass which is shockingly different from what I am used to and was able to do my first dressing change on an appendectomy incision. I am deeply grateful for these opportunities. The students and instructors were such a blessing. 

I learned so much about the Nepali culture, and it was interesting to see how that interacted with the healthcare system. Hierarchy is much more pronounced in Nepali culture than in the United States, with age, gender, and status playing significant roles.Doctors are above nurses (and nursing instructors), who are above nursing students, who are above cleaners. The nursing students have to show great respect for their instructors, always calling them “Ma’am”. There is also a gender hierarchy, and men are generally above women. It was only in recent years that men were allowed to become nurses because of issues with respect. I found it interesting how harsh nurses are to the patients and their families. I feel like in the United States, healthcare staff have to go above and beyond to insure their patients comfort and ease, but that does not appear to be the case here. The staff are much sharper with patients, and they do not help them with things like going to the bathroom or feeding, but rather have the family do it. It is not a bad thing, just very different from how I have seen it done. Here, the family is much more involved, with relatives constantly present to provide care and bring food. 

Resources in Nepal are poor. They do not have access to many things, and a lot of times patients cannot afford what they need. The hospital in Tansen for example does not have access to a CT scanner, any cancer resources, or many cardiac resources. Patients requiring these types of care have to take a journey (8+ hours of bumpy roads) to cities like Kathmandu, if they can afford to do so. Many patients cannot afford the hospital costs, and some choose to go home to suffer or die rather than accumulate crippling debt. This is very hard to hear about, and from what we have been told there is not a great insurance or government system in place to help these people. The hospital staff is much more conservative with what resources they use. They do not use gloves if they don’t have to because of lack of supplies and to avoid charging the patient with them. They reuse many resources like all of the sterile equipment, gloves, syringes, etc. It was astonishing to me how much they cleaned and reused. I think the United States healthcare system could learn a lot from this practice to help reduce our waste. Nothing in the Nepal hospital was new and flashy. All the beds, equipment, and rooms in Nepal would not be readily accepted or used in the United States due to their appearance and age. I was also shocked by the lack of electronic healthcare records. All the charting and records are done on paper and given to the patients upon discharge to bring with them the next time they go to the hospital/doctor. Despite the disparity in resources, the care in Nepal is still good care. They make the best with what they have, and do the best for their patients. 

The Lord is most definitely at work here in Nepal. Nepal has a predominantly Hindu population and strict regulation of evangelism. The hospital in Tansen is founded and run by Christians, and many of the staff are Christian. The hospital offers pastoral care to its patients, which provides social services, counciling, financial assistance, and faith care. They offer prayers, but never force it upon people. They have helped many people come to faith in this way which is just incredible and shows evidence of God’s hand at work. There are a large number of missionary doctors here from all over the world. We have met with people from Sweden, Australia, Michigan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands (special shoutout to Dr. Beels). It is so cool to meet and worship with people from all over the world and see their passion for care here in Nepal. I have been so blessed to see how their joy radiates off of them when they talk of their work in Nepal. It is so visible how passionate they are, and how God has used them and been at work in their lives. It was inspiring to see how their faith influences their work and how their joy for the Lord and their profession remains strong, even after years of challenging service. In a field often marked by burnout and despair, it is heartening to witness healthcare workers who remain passionate about their careers. 

I am deeply grateful for my time in Nepal, and I am excited to see what more this country and the Lord have in store for me. This experience is sure to leave a lasting impact on my future as it has given me a broader understanding of cross cultural health care. Observing healthcare practices in another country has been incredibly beneficial, and I have learned many lessons that I will take with me in the future. The welcoming spirit and the conscious use of resources are two of my main takeaways. I also feel as though God has been at work in me throughout my time here. Witnessing the passion that others have for Christian based medical care has been so inspiring, and I am excited for my own future in this field. I have had more time for reflection and prayer than I usually would, and I love the intentionality of our group. I know that I still have much to learn, both during my remaining time here in Nepal and in the years ahead, and I am excited to see what God has planned for me.