As she ventured into the villages of rural Zambia, fourth-semester nursing student Jane Hansen took note of the humble circumstances surrounding her. Her group had been working in a small clinic, and now they were bringing aid directly to those who couldn’t make it to the hospital.
For some of her peers, the scenery was a tremendous change of pace. Jane remarked that “some people literally lived in homes made of mud and straw.” Yet, the people were happy. The people were united.
Why? Because of an underlying faith in God. Zambia is officially a Christian nation. Not only does this faith strengthen the Zambian people from day to day, it is the foundation of many aspects of their lives, including healthcare.
Led by professors Cheryl Corbett and Cori Reynolds, Jane and 11 other nursing students spent their time in Zambia exploring the healthcare and the culture. They saw firsthand how common beliefs can unite people and break down barriers of prejudice.
The students got to observe firsthand how clinical medicine works in a rural Zambian hospital. They got a feel for the alternative strategies and equipment used to give people the best care possible despite limited resources.
For example, Jane recalls one med student who showed them a “pinard horn.” In the absence of ultrasound technology, healthcare workers use this small instrument to monitor a fetus’ heart rate by putting their ear to it and holding it against a mother’s abdomen.
In addition to hospital work, the students got to care for patients more personally by working in small villages. Here, they could work directly with patients, getting to know them better as they cleaned wounds and administered treatment.
Through interactions with the people, the BYU students became intimately aware of the Savior’s love for the people of Zambia. Fourth-semester student Mya Showalter considered a powerful witness of the Spirit she’d received while working:
“I was doing wound care on a man who had a large wound on his foot, and part of that process required cleaning the feet. And while I was cleaning his feet, the Spirit brought to mind an image of Christ cleaning my own feet. And in that moment, I was just filled with a lot of love and charity for this man, and I saw him as Christ sees me.”
The nursing students strived to see everyone as a child of God, and they quickly realized that such an attitude was reciprocated by the people. They could feel love radiating from each community they worked in, and faith in the Savior was almost tangible in the air.
Jane spoke about religious culture in the hospital, saying that “at 8 o’clock every morning, [staff] would meet in the hospital chapel and do a morning devotional.”
Reading scripture, listening to a pastor, and singing hymns with the Zambian nurses proved to be an amazing way to start the day.
The light of Christ also shone brightly in the villages, where the students constantly heard the phrase “you are welcome.”
The students were truly welcome in Zambia, welcome in peoples’ homes, and welcome in their culture. The consistent effort to show appreciation and be kind left a genuine impression on the students.
The group finished their stay with a better understanding of how faith can bring joy in hardship and unity in commotion. As BYU College of Nursing students return to Zambia in future years, they will be met with the same attitude of love and genuine care.