Jessica Update

Hi everyone

Just got my US exam results today, and I passed. Thank You, Lord! I was definitely anxious to get them, since last week I started having dreams that I'd gotten 34% on it... Thanks again for all the prayers that went up as I prepared for that day, as well as on that day. Someone asked me today what this actually means, so to clarify for anyone who's wondering, it means that I don't have to write this one again, and that I've passed the first of MANY such exams that I'll have to write over the next few years. But I'm not thinking about those other ones quite yet.

One thing at a time. The next thing on the agenda is my applications for residency. The application process starts in a couple weeks. Now comes the dreaded "CaRMS" time (that's the Canadian Residency Matching Service), during which senior medical students all get stressed out and start panicking about where their lives are going, etc. I figure the best way to not get stressed out about it is to not talk to any of my colleagues going through it right now. And the other way (probably an even better way!) is to trust that the Lord has my future in His hands, that He knows where He wants me next year, and that He will continue to lead and direct me in it all. I'm in the process right now of looking at what some of the different programs offer, and to start to get an idea of where I might like to do my surgical training. I'd appreciate prayer through this process, that I would continue to be at peace and that the Lord would guide me through it.

I had a wonderful holiday after my exam was finished. I had about 1 1/2 weeks completely off, and it was a very nice time. I spent a few days during the first week camping with some friends, and over the following few days was able to spend time with different people that I don't necessarily get to see as much when things are really busy. Then I finished my holiday off with 3 days up in Muskoka at a lovely resort, where I was treated royally and was refreshed and renewed in body and spirit. Although I sure could have used a longer holiday, the time that I had was wonderful, and I felt like I had new strength to continue once I started back in.

I've now finished 2 of my 6 weeks of family medicine (actually, the first week was in the emergency room, but it counts as part of this block). The doctor I'm working with is a good teacher. He is also quite laid back and doesn't have a super-busy practice, which results in my having a lot more time off than I'd anticipated. So I feel like I'm still getting a break in some ways. It has been encouraging over the past couple weeks to reflect back on past placements I did in the emergency room (last summer) and with a few different family doctors (during my first year of med school) and to realize how much I've learned in the past couple years. I feel a lot more functional and confident than I did in my past placements, and it's nice to know my time hasn't been wasted!

I also continue to be blessed by the people I'm living with, as well as by the group of young people from my church that meets regularly at our house for worship, prayer, etc. It's exciting to be part of a group of people who are seeking and following hard after God. We're all longing to see His Kingdom come in our city, our nation, and beyond. He is at work in people's hearts and lives in these days, and I love being part of it! It helps to ease some of the longing in my heart to be back in China or someplace similar, because I know that God is at work here and that I am called to be part of it. (Having said that, I'd be back overseas in a heartbeat if the Lord told me to go!)

So that's the latest news from here. Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and your prayers. I definitely don't feel like I'm walking through this journey alone.

Blessings

Jessica