Civilian Nurse Abroad?

April 11, 1978

Amazingly, I have now completed my required one year of general hospital experience before one can specialize. The Lord continues to lay upon my heart a desire to reach the German-speaking people with the Gospel in some way, so I decided to book a flight there in June for three weeks. I’m going alone to see what it is like to maneuver in a foreign country as a single lady. This will also force me to speak German and meet people. I will visit missionary couples in Austria and France who are supported by the Bible church I attend. My German friend gave me the name of her two cousins to visit, so I’m waiting for a reply to my letter.

I am investigating the possibility of being a civilian nurse in a US Army or Air Force hospital in Germany. I met a nurse at the hospital who worked in Germany ten years ago as a civilian nurse. She encouraged me to apply, so I did. I feel unchallenged at work and would welcome a change.

God blessed me this morning when I read John 4 about the woman of Samaria and how God used her mightily.

Come, see a man, who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?…And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, who testified, He told me all that ever I did.  John 4:29, 39

What a comfort and joy to know that the Lord is able to use the one lonely testimony of a single woman to change a whole city. I keep thinking of living in Germany alone with joy and yet fear and trembling and wonder if the Lord can really do effective work through me who am nothing. And then I remembered Hudson Taylor’s statement who founded the China Inland Mission,

The Lord was looking for someone weak enough to use, and He found me.

April 14, 1978

I received this letter from Mrs. K, who labors with her husband who is a pastor in France.

Dear Pam,

These are very difficult countries to live in compared to the USA because of the loneliness. But I know that the Lord has prepared you if He sends you here. I really do not know how to put it into words, because you have to be in this circumstance to understand. Month after month, year after year, without seeing anyone come to receive Christ as their Savior – this is the hardest thing to bear. I pray that the Lord will give you someone to help you if you go. I am so afraid for you alone. Forgive me my earthly concern. We will talk about all this when you come to visit.

Love in Christ, Mrs. K.

I can’t believe that almost the exact time I was writing about the woman of Samaria and rejoicing in going alone to Germany, Mrs. K. wrote this letter stating how much she was praying for someone to go with me. I just feel all mixed up now. My sister, Marsha, said no mission board would ever send out a woman alone. I agree I have never heard of one doing that. I will just go forward with the trip and see what the Lord does. I truly just want to follow Him. I am willing to go, and I am willing to stay right here.

Dear Lord, I give my life to You and ask that You use me for Your glory and honor in whatever way You want and wherever You want. Amen.

In rereading my journal, I now recognize the romantic notions I had about the mission field, even though I tried hard to dispel them. But yielding my life to Him at that time still holds true today. It is wonderful to trust in Him and let Him choose the path of our life. The Lord taught me so many valuable lessons through that first trip abroad alone in Europe. I will share those lessons with you in my next posts.

Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 6:13