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2006 SMI Testimonies
"I’ve never been so tired, but it was worth every second of it. The hardest summer I ever loved. A glimpse of what heaven is like. Intimate fellowship with Christian med students 24-7. I came into SMI thinking that I would be the one serving others, but I think I ended up being the one who was served, in terms of being fed the Gospel and experiencing what true fellowship is all about.
Before SMI, I never really had any Christian doctors to model myself after, but after getting to know Dr. Leibert and the residents at Valley Baptist Family Practice Residency, I’m starting to understand what it means to integrate my Christian faith into medicine."
Dan Shue - Tufts 2nd year medical student
"I have learned that in a lot of ways I was limiting what God could do in my life because I was trying to do it on my own and wasn’t trusting in Him. I have learned that I had been going about things all wrong for I was still trying to make my own righteousness and was not relying on Christ’s righteousness. Being here at SMI has shown me so much about God and His character and all that He’s done for me, and is still doing. I have come to a lot of new understandings here at SMI. The teaching has been amazing.
God has used SMI to clarify and begin to teach me what it means to be a Christian physician. He had already told and shown me that I am in medicine to serve Him and His people and to do it in a way that glorifies Him and allows Him to draw others near to Him. SMI allowed Him to let me experience it and get an idea of what He is calling me to. God has really used SMI opened my eyes and ears to hear Him clearer."
Jessica Wilson - Jefferson 2nd year medical student
"I learned not to underestimate God’s ability to change people’s hearts in an instant through one conversation. I also witnessed God’s power in healing those who are suffering emotionally and physically. God reminded me of His abounding compassion, mercy, grace, and that He sees the Christ in us when all we tend to focus on is our sins and flaws.
My most memorable patient interaction this summer was with a sixteen year old boy who lost many family members to unexpected deaths (father, aunt, uncle, and close cousins). When I asked him if he went to church, he exclaimed that he didn’t believe in God because God had taken away too many from his life. I could tell there was a lot of pain, sadness, and anger within him. In some ways, I was at a loss for words, and just prayed that God would give me wisdom. I shared my own experience of encountering death and how I dealt with it with the help of God. But most importantly, I shared the Gospel (by drawing a picture) and how God has the ability to provide peace, joy, and happiness in place of his sadness, anger, and pain. I shared 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 and Jeremiah 29:11. In the end we prayed the sinner’s prayer and he accepted Christ. It was a wonderful experience witnessing a physical transformation – he had a smile on his face and kept shaking my hand thanking our team."
Ji Yong Kong - UMDNJ-MS 2nd year medical student
"I think one thing I learned about God was how much he loved me. I always knew intellectually but during this trip it really hit me how great his love is. I don’t have to be a good person and follow all his commands and do all the right things to earn his favor… he already is perfectly pleased. And that frees me to want to do good and want to follow Him. I also learned a lot about the Holy Spirit and how he works in our lives. It was amazing to see him work in the people we prayed with…. Our simple testimony and sharing God was able to use through the HS to change people’s lives."
Neil Christopher - SUNY Downstate 2nd year medical student
"I now see the great need to pray for patients and share the gospel, because patients are so hungry to be supported, encouraged and nurtured spiritually and physically. It has given me a passion to pray with my patients, for my patients and love patients just as Jesus did for us. My desire to go into missions has undoubtedly been confirmed."
Nzingha White - UMDNJ-SOM 4th year medical student
"SMI has greatly encouraged me. Before this trip I did not know many Christian health care workers. But now I see that integrating medicine and faith is not only possible, but can also be very powerful and beneficial to the patient. I am encouraged by seeing physicians who have been passionate in both preaching and healing integrate the two into their careers."
Timothy Zee - UVA 2nd year medical student
"The institute times and the hours spent on working and living with each other really reveals the sinfulness of your heart. This year’s SMI reaffirmed for me my desperate need for a savior. At the same time, by being placed in situations that I found extremely difficult, I saw that God can accomplish things through me that I never thought possible for. I appreciate much more than before that in Christ, all things are possible.
It confirmed my desire to be more than a mere doctor. Making a career out of simply postponing people’s death does not appeal to me. However, medicine indeed is an extremely useful tool which will allow me to share “la palabra de vida,” the words of life. It further confirmed my desire to be engaged some sort of teaching/discipleship ministry with young people. I find it a great privilege that I am learning all these things so early in my life. I pray that the rest of my life would reflect it."
Paul Han - Drexel 2nd year medical student
"I’ve learned that my life is rampant with idols. I need to repent of my righteousness and all my unrighteousness. I’ve also learned that I put my worth in the opinions of others rather than Jesus. I’ve also noticed that I’ve learned much more how to approach strangers and be comfortable speaking the name of God/Jesus and how He’s present and active in my life continuously.
SMI has normalized prayer as a part of health care for me. It has put Christ into my previously strictly academic and secular schema for medicine. There is a place for Jesus to provide healing, hope, and love in the office."
Daniel Chen - Jefferson 2nd year medical student
(C) 2005 The Summer Medical Institute