The word that came to mind when I first landed in Nepal was “wow!” I remember walking off the plane with a big smile on my face, spinning around to look at everything surrounding me. I thought that maybe my feelings of awe and wonder would go away once I was here for a week or two. Boy, was I wrong. Every day we’ve done something that shows the beauty of the Lord. I see evidence of His hand in the creation, people, and culture of Nepal.

The main goal of this trip was to experience healthcare in a different setting and use those experiences to grow. I was incredibly nervous walking into the United Mission Hospital for the first time. For good reason, I felt like an outsider. Growing up in West Michigan, I’ve always looked and talked like everyone else around me. Here I was in Nepal, a full head taller than everyone (which felt nice because I’m normally the short one), only knowing three Nepali phrases, and having a completely different complexion.

I learned quickly that Nepali people love to stare. Both children and adults were fascinated with me and our whole group. Kids would look sheepishly up at us with the cutest grins on their faces. Some of them knew English and would yell “WELCOME TO NEPAL!!” as we walked passed. It’s almost as if they could tell we weren’t from here. At the hospital, patients would ask where we were from in broken English, followed by a face of wonder once we answered them. The nursing students I was with would always encourage me to talk to patients in Nepali. When I did, patients would laugh and laugh. Although I started off being afraid of being different, I learned to love it by the end of my week of shadowing at the hospital. I could tell that my attempts of Nepali, genuine smiles, and many “namastes” meant so much to the patients. It gave them a distraction from their pain and suffering. 

I also learned a lot about Nepali culture in the healthcare setting. There were subtle snippets of their culture I saw in their practices, such as giving a newborn baby rupees as a gift for arriving into the world. I also noticed how women always covered their shoulders and legs, no matter how hot it was that day. Being in the healthcare setting allowed me to witness larger cultural beliefs as well. The hierarchical system was extremely evident among the staff members. The nursing students were always afraid of their instructors and the doctors. When they gave handover at the end of the day, which is when they had to tell the next shift of students about their patients, they had to greet everyone with “Hello my respected brothers and sisters.” This was a huge shock for me. I have never once had to speak like that to my classmates or professors. The nursing students were shocked when I told them my professors wanted to help us succeed. It made me grateful for the wonderful professors I have back home. 

The part of the culture I admired the most in the hospital setting was community. In America, patients either have their own room or share with one other person. Each individual keeps their health issues to themselves and closest family/friends. It couldn’t be more opposite in Nepal. There are often five to ten patients in one room. All of them listen to the problems that the others are experiencing. Family members of one patient will advocate for the care of a different patient. Family will help the nurses with basic care, get food for their loved ones, and share stories with everyone in the room. They bring smiles to each other’s faces and become invested in the lives of the people around them. One hospital stay turns Nepali people from strangers to family. 

Going into this trip, I thought spirituality would have a bigger impact on patient care. The Hindu religion is very prominent here, but I didn’t see patients actively practicing prayer or worship. I am still not sure if this was because the hospital is Christian based or if religious practices in the hospital aren’t a priority for most people. The mission statement on the outside of the hospital reads, “We serve, Jesus heals.” I saw this mission fulfilled by many people throughout this week. The hospital offers pastoral care if patients want it. The doctors who travel from around the world shared their stories about God leading them to Nepal to serve the people who need it most. And, when I told a student I was a Christian, she looked at me with wide eyes and a huge smile exclaiming that she was one too! I loved watching the hand of God work through everyone to show His healing of the beautiful Nepali people.

It is hard to put what I have learned from this experience into words. I could probably write ten pages and still have more to say. Luckily for everyone reading this, I’m writing this reflection on my phone so I’ll have to shorten it a bit. The first thing I thought of when reflecting on how this trip will transform my vision for the future is learning how to make momos. Momos are these delicious dumplings that have become a food I don’t think I can live without. In all seriousness though, Nepal has taught me many things about how I want to live my life. It has taught me to be grateful for the healthcare system we have in Grand Rapids. We are overflowing with resources that we don’t understand the value of. Here, care is based on what drugs and units of blood are available that day, and which two patients are in the worst condition so they can be placed on ventilators. Resources vary from day-to-day, but they have learned to use creative measures to try to help whoever they can. Next time I find myself complaining about something that isn’t stocked in the supply closet at Butterworth, I hope to catch myself and express my gratitude that all I have to do is walk to a different floor to get it. 

Another piece of Nepal I want to carry with me into my future is their overwhelming sense of community. Everyone here takes time out of their day to talk with each other, help each other, and show care. They place the needs of others above their own. Oftentimes, if I feel overwhelmed and pushed for time, I don’t want to talk to people. I race through my day as fast as I can, and still feel like there’s no time to connect with others. A verse that comes to mind when thinking about how to slow down comes from 1 Corinthians 13:4. It states, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” It can be easy to place ourselves above others. It can be easy to boast about all of the amazing things that we have done to serve others. Yet, it isn’t easy to love patiently like the Nepali people do. Loving patiently means taking time out of your day to care for others who may not feel seen. It means loving persistently, even if we aren’t getting the recognition we believe we deserve. This trip has pushed me out of my comfort zone more than anything else I’ve done in my life. Because of Nepal, my faith has grown immensely. I’ve never felt more confident praying with others, sharing my stories, and worshiping God. God sent me on this journey for a reason. He wanted me to learn from these beautiful people around me, and I’ll be the first to say that I have. I cannot wait to adopt the loving Nepali spirit and share it with those around me wherever I go. Praise be to God!