So today was my first day in Endocrinology. A lot easier to find the place this time around. I can't help but think (most likely correctly) that I somehow stand out.
Either way the clinic was busy- I saw an actual goitre and lots and lots of signs! Saw a patient with acromegaly- which is dead rare in the UK. A UK consultant I did a specialist module in- told me in his 30 year career he has only every diagnosed 3 cases of this disorder.
However, whilst the incidence is not greater in Sri Lanka- NHSL is a tertiary centre which receives all the specialist cases- who will go on to need treatment (pituitary surgery for most of these patients).
The endocrine room is absolutely tiny compared to what we have in the UK. 1 consultant and 3 registrars in parallel rows each seeing patient- no sense of confidentiality or privacy here. All the patients and all other doctors aside Dr Somasundaram were Sinhalese. I found that challenging.
I discovered I arrived in the middle of the Tamil and Sinhalese New Year. After having left soon after the family celebration in the UK, I was surprised to find that the Buddhist festival lasts absolutely ages. The staff has a celebratory meal which they kindly invited me to.
Despite trying my hardest to keep neutral about the racial issue, it is proving a lot more challenging than I thought. I have very rarely encountered anyone from the Sinhalese community back at home, and everything I have heard from my parents and other members of the Tamil community has been less than positive. I never realised how ingrained those things had become. As a Christian, it is challenging for me especially- however I also realised how difficult it must be for the separate(for they were separate for many years in Sri Lanka). I was pleased to discover via Rev. Ian Blake ( contact back in Thornton Heath- another long story) that actually a lot of the congregration are now deciding of their own will to have united services in both languages. Traditionally the services have always been held at different times (btw that is ludicrously early like 8.30am at least) in the alternate languages. I was surprised to find that a lot of churches here also hold services in English as well as the local languages. Either way, the idea of a united congregration united in Christ, really excited me :D
Our Lord is definitely the Prince of Peace and the ultimate Healer and there is still a lot of that needed in this country. I am very looking forward to my first service this Sunday.
Buddhism is the main religion in Sri Lanka, and then Hinduism. Muslims and Christians form a very small minority. The Muslims are also often considered an ethnic group of their own right. Which leaves Buddhism for the Sinhalese and Hinduism for the Tamils. The two warring groups have only ever been united together in peace in Church for many years- I am therefore incredibly excited as I can feel some major stuff is going to happen here.
Praise God! For it certainly was a long time coming :D
PS: At the end of the medical day, I went to a Baptist Church nearby to pray. Something interesting about Churches here- (1) there are incredibly beautiful (the old ones anyway) and there are a surprising number of denomination (2) There are nearly always open- most church have a wing about the size of a Lady's Chapel, which is linked but closed off to the main church and has a separate entrance. It is generally manned by a uniformed security person. It is such a great pleasure to have God' Church always open. I thought that the separate entrance thing was a really great idea- definitely something to keep in mind for the future. (3) The chapel had 3 bibles in the 3 languages which means that people could still hear the same message through the Word- I was really touched the idea of every tongue, every nation, that we are all one in Christ is certainly is highlighted here- not only that but churches here are not 'Tamil' or 'Sinhalese' like they are in the UK- people certainly forced to face their issues .
On a funny note, the sign at the front read-' Come to me....' and as it happened I was definitely heavy laden, and tired- another God joke.
PPS: I went to the Church to meet up with a Christian Law Student from the University. Dr Somasundaram put us in touch. It was great to meet with someone around my age and talk about God stuff. We went to the Focus (Christian organisation) office in Dehiwela- which is were I live. They have tons and tons of Christian books- I was like in a sweet shop. It was great to meet lots of Christians there. They organise lots of Christian Bible Studies and talks- which I've been invited along too :D They told me of a Christian Student Camp as well. However, I decided and I feel correctly that it wasn't right for me to go- but yh, I have my first Christian interactions here in Colombo, and it is only Day 2 :D
God is soo amazing! I'm so pleased every time THE plan becomes clearer.
My only sticking point is that I feel like I have deceived, although not lied, about where I was later in the day, to my relatives. I did not want to answer too many difficult questions, but I feel like bad in my Spirit about it- like you know when you were little and you did something really bad- well anyway- I'm not happy and I'm trying to keep the stress levels off for Sunday- I know I need to make a decision soon about what to tell my aunt and uncle.
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