Why do I do what I do?

For example – why am I working in Health Care? I help facilitate a large Medical Missions team at YWAM Perth. It’s a dream job! I get to lead teams of medical professionals, students, and volunteers with a whole range of experience and health care focuses. We run clinics, work in hospitals, educate on life-saving issues, and reach the poorest of the poor. I love it!

I didn’t grow up wanting to be a doctor or a nurse. In fact, the thought of breaking someone’s skin with a needle was terrifying to me! I still gag at the smell of vomit, and a deep wound turns my stomach. The last thing I want to do is sit by a sick-bed and hold someone’s hand as they suffer… Sure, I can pull myself together and take care of someone who’s sick, but do I LOVE these things? No!

So why am I here?

If you’d asked me that just a couple of weeks ago, I would have said something along the lines of “I have experienced God’s love, and want to share it with others.” But in thinking more about it, I realised, there’s more.

I love the power of influence.

Growing up as a missionary kid in Peru, I saw a lot of need. I saw people helpless in their ignorance and poverty. I saw people suffering because of a lack of basic health care. Often corruption or ignorance was so prevalent, even in the medical system, things were missed. Even though no one in my family had any training or background in health care, we would end up giving people health care because we had a basic understanding of hygiene, wound care, or taking care of a sick person.

When I saw the gap in mother and child health, I started getting excited about midwifery. I searched and found a school called the Birth Attendant School, and completed this training at YWAM Perth. I was fascinated by the incredible potential for good that Health Care has. When you look at a poor community, the needs are obvious. There are things that aren’t quite right. But when I look down at my hands, I see abilities that change that! And oh, boy, does that get me excited!

As the family of God, we have such an incredible opportunity to influence people with something that will actually work, that will actually bring change, life, joy, hope…! A fellow student once said,

 “I used to watch the news and see the people overseas in desperate situations. But now I’ve been there in person. I’ve made a difference in the 5 o’clock news!”

The ability to go into a situation and change it from bad to good, from devastating to hopeful, from impossible to done… that’s the power of the Gospel. That’s the power of health care surrendered to the Holy Spirit. That’s what God, our Healer is about.

And that’s why I’m in Health Care.                                            Sarah Lenz - Health Care Leader at YWAM Perth