It is inevitable... every year we have always have huge challenges for our screening day. Some years it is multiple challenges. This year, in Togo, one of our greatest arch enemies appears to be the big, bad GI bug.
For all you non-medical people, GI stand for gastro-intestinal... so yes... you guessed it... tummy bugs! The vomiting or diarrhea (or both) have been running fairly rampant throughout the ship all week long. In fact, I am just now getting up and out of bed myself after having spent most of the past 30+ hours in bed not too far away from a toilet. Ohhh, GI Bugs... how I hate you.
So please, pray for our screening day tomorrow, February 1st. I'm one of the first crew members of the medical screening teams to arrive at a bright and early 5am!!! We have a night crew that is already at the football (soccer) stadium and will have many more arriving during the we hours of the morning to begin our screening at 5:30am. It will be a very LONG day tomorrow filled with so much wonderful opportunity. We would all covet your prayers for this day! Especially for:
-Health: that those who are ill, that they would be miraculously better. For those who are starting to feel ill, that God would touch their bodies and prevent any more illness from occurring
-Safety: safety for the Togolese people as they are waiting in line and safety for all of us crew involved, that there would be peace and order without anger or rioting.
-Divine appointments: That just the people we can help would come, and the others would simply not even show up.
-Grace, love, and compassion: That no matter whether our answer is "yes" or "no", that each and every Togolese person would leave our screening knowing that we love them and that, most of all, they are loved and treasured by God.
Thank you! Pictures to come!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Adventures of Melisa, Anna, Beau, and Greg!
Bon swa! Como Sava?
Greetings from Lome’, Togo! I’m again in West Africa and SO happy for some heat and humidity after the -10 F Minnesota winter I left last week!
Thank you all SO very much for your prayers for my travels! I had a wonderful time traveling with Melisa from Chicago to Brussels, then up for a quick Netherlands visit before arriving. We had nearly-flawless travels (with one 3-hr flight delay in Chicago) by plane, train, and car, managing to keep all of our luggage with us and be on time for our trains and flights. We had SUCH a lovely time with our Dutchie, old Mercy Ships friends: Corina, Timo, Berdien, Geke, and Johan. We traveled from Brussels --> Rotterdam --> Lisse --> Urk --> Dordrecht --> Brussels.
Along the journey Melisa and I decided to name our luggage. Her extremely large, rolling black duffle was affectionately named “Beau” (short for Buford or behemoth… whichever you prefer), and my large camping pack we called “Greg” (less imaginative; short for Gregory, the brand name). Soo… our trip was dubbed “ The Adventures of Beau, Greg, Anna, and Melisa”. Maybe sounds like we picked up some men on our journey, but no fear. They only refer to our outlandishly giant bags of luggage.
After hauling our 80+ extra pounds of luggage through train station after train station, we managed a number of amazing stops; one of which was in the “hiding place” of Corrie Ten Boom, a famous Dutch women whose family hid Jews in their home in Haarlem during the second World War. The Ten Booms had a secret room made of brick through which 6 people hid for 2 ½ days until they were able to be freed from the Gestapo. (Fitch and I in the hiding place; below).
We had a wonderful time visiting Mercy Ships friends and old roommates on our way to the ship. Thankfully, our awake-until-3am-jetlag happened in the Netherlands where we could better manage the side effects with some delicious Dutch coffee! We had SO many gracious hosts and hostesses! Melisa and I could not believe the warmth of Dutch hospitality. We both agreed that we have a lot to bring back home from the many examples of hospitality we received. Thank you SO much, all you Dutchies!
After hopping on our final train to Brussels , Melisa and I started to get excited… we were getting closer and closer to AFRICA!!! By the time we arrived to our gate in the Brussels airport, we realized we were late arrivals to the enormous group of nearly 40 crew sitting, waiting to board our flight. After we all flew into the Lome’ airport, we were all met by a huge welcome party of Mercy Ships landrovers! As we walked up that gangway, like we had so many times before, Melisa and I were met by huge hugs and “Welcome home!” greetings! Oh! It was SO good to see so many faces once again! I felt the span of the last 5 months since I had left the ship melt away and back into the dear friendships I had forged in Sierra Leone. But then the reality of a ship full of new faces started to settle in. The ship and everything about it was essentially the same, but so many of the people associated with the memories were gone. New faces with new opportunity for memories were approaching! So many lovely new nurses and crew had come to experience the ministry of mercy ships for the first time, and I was SO excited for them!
I did find out I will be Charge Nursing again in the General ward, and am so excited to be able to settle back into that routine from last year. We will be starting out the year, however, with just Max-fax (maxilo-facial) surgeries the first 2-3 weeks, so a little variety will be nice! I was actually secretly hoping to be in Max-fax this year, so in a way, I get my wish!
Ways you can be praying:
1) Continued transition and bonding for all the new crew; especially us nurses as we will be grouping together and meeting our day volunteers who we will be working with all outreach.
2) Our Screening Day is scheduled for February 1st- planned for an intense morning screening to hopefully schedule the remaining patients we need for our various surgeries. I found out that I’ll be the Team Leader of Escorts (I’ll talk more about it later), so if you could pray for that, that would be great! I’m not quite sure what I will need to do or manage yet!
3) Personally, for continued direction and leading from the Holy Spirit to know and see people and opportunities where God wants me to reach out and bless others. Also, a heart that is active and not reactive to the things around me.
Thank you so much! Love to you all!
Greetings from Lome’, Togo! I’m again in West Africa and SO happy for some heat and humidity after the -10 F Minnesota winter I left last week!
Thank you all SO very much for your prayers for my travels! I had a wonderful time traveling with Melisa from Chicago to Brussels, then up for a quick Netherlands visit before arriving. We had nearly-flawless travels (with one 3-hr flight delay in Chicago) by plane, train, and car, managing to keep all of our luggage with us and be on time for our trains and flights. We had SUCH a lovely time with our Dutchie, old Mercy Ships friends: Corina, Timo, Berdien, Geke, and Johan. We traveled from Brussels --> Rotterdam --> Lisse --> Urk --> Dordrecht --> Brussels.
Along the journey Melisa and I decided to name our luggage. Her extremely large, rolling black duffle was affectionately named “Beau” (short for Buford or behemoth… whichever you prefer), and my large camping pack we called “Greg” (less imaginative; short for Gregory, the brand name). Soo… our trip was dubbed “ The Adventures of Beau, Greg, Anna, and Melisa”. Maybe sounds like we picked up some men on our journey, but no fear. They only refer to our outlandishly giant bags of luggage.
After hauling our 80+ extra pounds of luggage through train station after train station, we managed a number of amazing stops; one of which was in the “hiding place” of Corrie Ten Boom, a famous Dutch women whose family hid Jews in their home in Haarlem during the second World War. The Ten Booms had a secret room made of brick through which 6 people hid for 2 ½ days until they were able to be freed from the Gestapo. (Fitch and I in the hiding place; below).
We had a wonderful time visiting Mercy Ships friends and old roommates on our way to the ship. Thankfully, our awake-until-3am-jetlag happened in the Netherlands where we could better manage the side effects with some delicious Dutch coffee! We had SO many gracious hosts and hostesses! Melisa and I could not believe the warmth of Dutch hospitality. We both agreed that we have a lot to bring back home from the many examples of hospitality we received. Thank you SO much, all you Dutchies!
After hopping on our final train to Brussels , Melisa and I started to get excited… we were getting closer and closer to AFRICA!!! By the time we arrived to our gate in the Brussels airport, we realized we were late arrivals to the enormous group of nearly 40 crew sitting, waiting to board our flight. After we all flew into the Lome’ airport, we were all met by a huge welcome party of Mercy Ships landrovers! As we walked up that gangway, like we had so many times before, Melisa and I were met by huge hugs and “Welcome home!” greetings! Oh! It was SO good to see so many faces once again! I felt the span of the last 5 months since I had left the ship melt away and back into the dear friendships I had forged in Sierra Leone. But then the reality of a ship full of new faces started to settle in. The ship and everything about it was essentially the same, but so many of the people associated with the memories were gone. New faces with new opportunity for memories were approaching! So many lovely new nurses and crew had come to experience the ministry of mercy ships for the first time, and I was SO excited for them!
I did find out I will be Charge Nursing again in the General ward, and am so excited to be able to settle back into that routine from last year. We will be starting out the year, however, with just Max-fax (maxilo-facial) surgeries the first 2-3 weeks, so a little variety will be nice! I was actually secretly hoping to be in Max-fax this year, so in a way, I get my wish!
Ways you can be praying:
1) Continued transition and bonding for all the new crew; especially us nurses as we will be grouping together and meeting our day volunteers who we will be working with all outreach.
2) Our Screening Day is scheduled for February 1st- planned for an intense morning screening to hopefully schedule the remaining patients we need for our various surgeries. I found out that I’ll be the Team Leader of Escorts (I’ll talk more about it later), so if you could pray for that, that would be great! I’m not quite sure what I will need to do or manage yet!
3) Personally, for continued direction and leading from the Holy Spirit to know and see people and opportunities where God wants me to reach out and bless others. Also, a heart that is active and not reactive to the things around me.
Thank you so much! Love to you all!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Let the Countdown Begin!
So... I'm not usually a big countdown, time-tracking person. My childhood best-friend Ali (R), however, definitely is! It seems she is always counting down something on her facebook page. Days till Christmas... days till the next weekend... hours until she gets to leave on a trip... you get the idea. For me, I think I've just never been detailed enough to bother counting down minutes, hours, or days. However, in memory of Ali (and all you other count-downer's out there)... here goes!
-15 hours until I get to see my dad, brother, brother-in-law, and niece for one last weekend family bash!
-4 days until I fly from "home" (Minneapolis) to Chicago where I'll get to visit family and friends at a one-day layover. :)
-5 days until I meet up with Melisa and we board out red-eye international flight from Chicago-Brussels, Belgium!
-6 days until Melisa and I get to hop aboard the European train system for a 4-day visit to reunite with Dutch Mercy Ships friends Corina, Timo, Berdien, Geke, and Johan (while getting over jet-lag, I might add)!
-10 days until we board our final international flight from Brussels and arrive in Lome', Togo!
My excitement (and the growing reality of my trip) is increasing as I pack and prepare. To be honest, it really hasn't hit me that I'm going back the the place that I love with so many people I love to do something that I love. It almost seems to good to be true. I am truly in awe of God's work in this whole situation; bringing me here; providing me with so many faithful prayer warrior and financial donors... I am just brought to tears without words to describe my heart. All I can say is thank YOU.
Yes, YOU.
For if you are reading this blog, you no doubt have played a significant role in my life. Whether you are a complete stranger stumbling upon these stories of one pilgrim's journey, or a life-long friend of family member, I truly believe that God's timing of our life-collisions is perfect. You haven't stumbled across my blog for no reason, neither have you been an active (or inactive) part of my life without cause. God knows exactly what we need, when we need it. I just pray we would all have eyes to see each of those collisions and recognize them as moments prepared and set aside by Him.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Going "Home" Once Again! :)
Home. It is one of those words that I never know what to do with anymore. There is my real home, the place I was born that holds all of my childhood memories, the Northern Minnesota area. I am reminded, as I am home for the Christmas holiday, of all the baking, sledding, and Christmas-traditions my family has practiced and celebrated for so many years. My family is what makes up the most prominent sense of "home" that there can be. However, I feel that word "home" describes so many other places and people in my life.
Dear friends (both childhood and new), my Bible Study small-group, and places like Deeper Life Bible Camp all hold a feeling of "home" to me as well. Places of community and belonging where you've been a part of other people's lives, and they've been a part of yours. The most recent "home" I've found myself missing, however, has been the Africa Mercy. A big, floating metal box that most of the crew jokingly say is made of glass, "like a big fish bowl". Everyone sees everything and knows everything with any form of a secret being difficult to keep. This large, white hospital ship has been my home for 9 months of the past 2 years of my life. Despite the negative aspects of living in close community with 400+ other people, the depth of friendships, memories, and multi-cultural experiences both on and off the ship make is difficult to forget.
It is a place all of it's own that I often find my heart longing for.
It's almost a cruel trick of Mercy Ships, that they bring crew members from all over the globe to one place to have you come together, deeply invest in one another's lives, share life-changing experiences as you work side-by-side bringing about the healing and restoration of so many, and then sent back home hundreds, or even thousands of miles away from those dear friendships and memories.
However cruel or loving their gestures really are, I have decided to head back to the Ship for the Togo, 2012 outreach! Thanks to SO many generous gifts from many who contributed to my Sierra Leone trip in 2011, I had left over funds equal to the cost of 2 months of crew fees on the ship. I struggled with the idea of going back to the ship as I've been in Minneapolis the past few months, wondering if my desire to go back was selfish in nature, or really was what God was putting on my heart. To be honest, I never really felt a specific direction from the Lord, but eventually decided to apply and see what happened. Needless to say, I was accepted back (officially)not more than a week and a half ago (see what happens when you wait till the last minute), but already had most of the details of travel and preparation organized and ready to go. :) It's beginning to be a bit routine, which just makes me laugh to think about. Who ever thought I'd end up where I am today? I definitely never did. :)
So, January 23-March 19th I will be onboard the Africa Mercy again serving in the wards and helping with outreach set up. I'm not sure what specific capacity I will be serving in or in what specialty I will be working, but I anticipate that I will be asked to be a charge nurse again. As far as which specialty- I'll just have to wait and be surprised! :)
The special joy of going back for this outreach is the fact that this will be a return trip for me to Togo, West Africa. Togo holds a special place in my heart as it was the first country I traveled to with Mercy Ships. I have already had multiple Togolese friends who are returning to work on the ship email me or facebook me, telling me how excited they are to see me! It will be a wonderful reunion! I cannot wait! Not only are the day volunteers (local Togolese workers) going to be cause for reunion celebration, but many dear friends are still onboard who I will see again, including my very first Mercy Ships friend I made, Laura Coles. She actually is working in my old role as one of the Clinical Ward Educators! I will admit I am glad to have passed the baton onto her. Not that I didn't enjoy the teaching and orientation aspect of Clinical Ward Educator; it's just that through that experience I realized that details and secretarial work were NOT my forte! :) She will be fabulous! And I can't wait to "help out" if needed as well. :)
Not only that, but I will be traveling back to the ship on January 17th with an old roommate from Sierra Leone, Melisa, who will again be my roommate for the 2 months I'm on the ship this outreach! Woo-hoo! :) We'll fly to Europe together and then spend a few days there visiting Mercy Ships friends and getting over jet lag before heading to the ship on the 23rd. :)
As I've been preparing and tucking money away to pay for my plane ticket and costs at home while I'm gone, God has financially provided in 2 huge ways for me that only served as evidence of His heart for my return:
1) As I was calling to re-order my extremely expensive anti-malaria medication (expecting the cost of my 2-month prescription to run around $250-$350), the pharmacist informed me that Malarone (the medication), had recently gone generic, and so the cost of my 2 month prescription would be $10. WHAAAATTT???!!! What a HUGE blessing from the Lord!
2) About a month ago I talked with my landlady about the possibility of going back to the ship for 2 months. As I was describing my potential plan to her, she immediately offered, without hesitation, to waive my rent and, instead, charge me a small fee to not only hold my apartment, but also keep my things all set up and ready for me when I returned. My eyes filled with tears at her generosity and support. In all honesty, her offering became one of the biggest financial factors enabling me to go due to the unforeseen inconsistency of my temp nursing job. I didn't know what to say except a heartfelt "thank you".
I'm still working to raise the last bit of funds to cover all my costs for this trip, but if I have learned anything from the last 2 years of my life, it is that God is the Great Provider; faithful and loving beyond our wildest imaginations. There is no one like Him.
If you would consider praying for my time onboard, as well as the entire Togo, 2012 outreach, I would greatly appreciate it. I can't wait to send you more stories faces of beautiful Africans whose lives have been touched and changed forever.
Dear friends (both childhood and new), my Bible Study small-group, and places like Deeper Life Bible Camp all hold a feeling of "home" to me as well. Places of community and belonging where you've been a part of other people's lives, and they've been a part of yours. The most recent "home" I've found myself missing, however, has been the Africa Mercy. A big, floating metal box that most of the crew jokingly say is made of glass, "like a big fish bowl". Everyone sees everything and knows everything with any form of a secret being difficult to keep. This large, white hospital ship has been my home for 9 months of the past 2 years of my life. Despite the negative aspects of living in close community with 400+ other people, the depth of friendships, memories, and multi-cultural experiences both on and off the ship make is difficult to forget.
It is a place all of it's own that I often find my heart longing for.
It's almost a cruel trick of Mercy Ships, that they bring crew members from all over the globe to one place to have you come together, deeply invest in one another's lives, share life-changing experiences as you work side-by-side bringing about the healing and restoration of so many, and then sent back home hundreds, or even thousands of miles away from those dear friendships and memories.
However cruel or loving their gestures really are, I have decided to head back to the Ship for the Togo, 2012 outreach! Thanks to SO many generous gifts from many who contributed to my Sierra Leone trip in 2011, I had left over funds equal to the cost of 2 months of crew fees on the ship. I struggled with the idea of going back to the ship as I've been in Minneapolis the past few months, wondering if my desire to go back was selfish in nature, or really was what God was putting on my heart. To be honest, I never really felt a specific direction from the Lord, but eventually decided to apply and see what happened. Needless to say, I was accepted back (officially)not more than a week and a half ago (see what happens when you wait till the last minute), but already had most of the details of travel and preparation organized and ready to go. :) It's beginning to be a bit routine, which just makes me laugh to think about. Who ever thought I'd end up where I am today? I definitely never did. :)
So, January 23-March 19th I will be onboard the Africa Mercy again serving in the wards and helping with outreach set up. I'm not sure what specific capacity I will be serving in or in what specialty I will be working, but I anticipate that I will be asked to be a charge nurse again. As far as which specialty- I'll just have to wait and be surprised! :)
The special joy of going back for this outreach is the fact that this will be a return trip for me to Togo, West Africa. Togo holds a special place in my heart as it was the first country I traveled to with Mercy Ships. I have already had multiple Togolese friends who are returning to work on the ship email me or facebook me, telling me how excited they are to see me! It will be a wonderful reunion! I cannot wait! Not only are the day volunteers (local Togolese workers) going to be cause for reunion celebration, but many dear friends are still onboard who I will see again, including my very first Mercy Ships friend I made, Laura Coles. She actually is working in my old role as one of the Clinical Ward Educators! I will admit I am glad to have passed the baton onto her. Not that I didn't enjoy the teaching and orientation aspect of Clinical Ward Educator; it's just that through that experience I realized that details and secretarial work were NOT my forte! :) She will be fabulous! And I can't wait to "help out" if needed as well. :)
Not only that, but I will be traveling back to the ship on January 17th with an old roommate from Sierra Leone, Melisa, who will again be my roommate for the 2 months I'm on the ship this outreach! Woo-hoo! :) We'll fly to Europe together and then spend a few days there visiting Mercy Ships friends and getting over jet lag before heading to the ship on the 23rd. :)
As I've been preparing and tucking money away to pay for my plane ticket and costs at home while I'm gone, God has financially provided in 2 huge ways for me that only served as evidence of His heart for my return:
1) As I was calling to re-order my extremely expensive anti-malaria medication (expecting the cost of my 2-month prescription to run around $250-$350), the pharmacist informed me that Malarone (the medication), had recently gone generic, and so the cost of my 2 month prescription would be $10. WHAAAATTT???!!! What a HUGE blessing from the Lord!
2) About a month ago I talked with my landlady about the possibility of going back to the ship for 2 months. As I was describing my potential plan to her, she immediately offered, without hesitation, to waive my rent and, instead, charge me a small fee to not only hold my apartment, but also keep my things all set up and ready for me when I returned. My eyes filled with tears at her generosity and support. In all honesty, her offering became one of the biggest financial factors enabling me to go due to the unforeseen inconsistency of my temp nursing job. I didn't know what to say except a heartfelt "thank you".
I'm still working to raise the last bit of funds to cover all my costs for this trip, but if I have learned anything from the last 2 years of my life, it is that God is the Great Provider; faithful and loving beyond our wildest imaginations. There is no one like Him.
If you would consider praying for my time onboard, as well as the entire Togo, 2012 outreach, I would greatly appreciate it. I can't wait to send you more stories faces of beautiful Africans whose lives have been touched and changed forever.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Big-City Girl
Ok... so not really. :) I've had a lot of friends ask if I've fully integrated into "city life" here in Minneapolis, and my answer is usually two-part.
Yes. In many ways I've thoroughly enjoyed all the people, the diversity of culture and fact that I can walk down the street or in the grocery store and hear languages other than English being spoken. I have also seen some of the most breath-taking city views of my life driving across the many bridges within Minneapolis and St. Paul at night. (I still think they should allow full-stops along the I35W bridge for tripod set up and photos at night):) I've pretty well adjusted to the traffic and big-city safety mentality of always locking your car, being aware of your surroundings at all times, etc, but that's kind of been my normal with the traveling I've been doing the past couple of years.
On a separate note, I desperately miss the fresh air, and places where you can just go and swim or fish or be by yourself in nature. I miss the small farmer's markets, favorite little Bemidji shops and restaurants, and the ridiculous way you run into everyone you know while shopping at Walmart. :) Most of all, I think I miss the community of a smaller town/area. Maybe I just miss my Bemidji community, but loneliness has honestly been one of my biggest struggles while I've been here. Don't get me wrong, I've been making new friends and connecting with friends I already had down here, but it just seems that the loneliness is more pervasive with living alone and not having friends to just do life together with. It's definitely left me, again, more and more reliant upon God's faithfulness to my heart, giving me peace and comfort in His presence as I've sat here wondering, "What am I suppose to do next?".
It's left me thinking a lot about what it means to live a faithful life to God. Trying to make sense of the unknown seems to be sewn throughout all ages and walks of life, and so what is the difference between someone just living, and someone living in an eternally-impacting way? Really, I suppose all it means is living obediently to God in what He is calling us to do. I feel like many, however, would further expound on that and say to "follow your heart" because what we feel, God put there and so we should just go with that.
I understand that thought process and agree to it to a certain sense, and yet where do our desires fit into all of that? If I WANT something, does that mean that I should assume it's from God and pursue it (assuming it's not illegal or against Biblical standards)? But then I think about Biblical examples... I don't remember Jesus asking the disciples what they wanted to do, or asking them what was on their bucket list, and yet that is how I think many of us live (including myself!).
I guess in this season, I'm just trying to process through my life; how my desires and goals fit into seeking God, desiring His heart, and obeying Him.
On a more practical note, my agency nursing work has been very challenging not only with trying to get enough work hours, but also with the constant moving from hospital to hospital, and unit to unit with little consistency. Thankfully, I got a 3-week agreement to work on Gillette's NeuroScience unit 3 days/week and am in my final week there and have LOVED it! It has been INCREDIBLE to get back into pediatrics and I have learned SO much just being there! :) On a similar note, I'm hoping to start for some shift coverage at Shriner's Children's Hospital this next week! Yaaayy!!! God has been SO good! I'm SO blessed and excited to be going there!
But, I'll keep you all updated with some more pictures soon! :) Just wanted to write a little life-update for now. :)
Yes. In many ways I've thoroughly enjoyed all the people, the diversity of culture and fact that I can walk down the street or in the grocery store and hear languages other than English being spoken. I have also seen some of the most breath-taking city views of my life driving across the many bridges within Minneapolis and St. Paul at night. (I still think they should allow full-stops along the I35W bridge for tripod set up and photos at night):) I've pretty well adjusted to the traffic and big-city safety mentality of always locking your car, being aware of your surroundings at all times, etc, but that's kind of been my normal with the traveling I've been doing the past couple of years.
On a separate note, I desperately miss the fresh air, and places where you can just go and swim or fish or be by yourself in nature. I miss the small farmer's markets, favorite little Bemidji shops and restaurants, and the ridiculous way you run into everyone you know while shopping at Walmart. :) Most of all, I think I miss the community of a smaller town/area. Maybe I just miss my Bemidji community, but loneliness has honestly been one of my biggest struggles while I've been here. Don't get me wrong, I've been making new friends and connecting with friends I already had down here, but it just seems that the loneliness is more pervasive with living alone and not having friends to just do life together with. It's definitely left me, again, more and more reliant upon God's faithfulness to my heart, giving me peace and comfort in His presence as I've sat here wondering, "What am I suppose to do next?".
It's left me thinking a lot about what it means to live a faithful life to God. Trying to make sense of the unknown seems to be sewn throughout all ages and walks of life, and so what is the difference between someone just living, and someone living in an eternally-impacting way? Really, I suppose all it means is living obediently to God in what He is calling us to do. I feel like many, however, would further expound on that and say to "follow your heart" because what we feel, God put there and so we should just go with that.
I understand that thought process and agree to it to a certain sense, and yet where do our desires fit into all of that? If I WANT something, does that mean that I should assume it's from God and pursue it (assuming it's not illegal or against Biblical standards)? But then I think about Biblical examples... I don't remember Jesus asking the disciples what they wanted to do, or asking them what was on their bucket list, and yet that is how I think many of us live (including myself!).
I guess in this season, I'm just trying to process through my life; how my desires and goals fit into seeking God, desiring His heart, and obeying Him.
On a more practical note, my agency nursing work has been very challenging not only with trying to get enough work hours, but also with the constant moving from hospital to hospital, and unit to unit with little consistency. Thankfully, I got a 3-week agreement to work on Gillette's NeuroScience unit 3 days/week and am in my final week there and have LOVED it! It has been INCREDIBLE to get back into pediatrics and I have learned SO much just being there! :) On a similar note, I'm hoping to start for some shift coverage at Shriner's Children's Hospital this next week! Yaaayy!!! God has been SO good! I'm SO blessed and excited to be going there!
But, I'll keep you all updated with some more pictures soon! :) Just wanted to write a little life-update for now. :)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Minneapolis Move!
I'm here!
The Minneapolis move has finally been complete! :) I've been here now for about 2 1/2 weeks and it's been a wild ride! The move started on October 1st to this little Minneapolis neighborhood, and thanks to my wonderful family, we packed 2 cars full and moved down in one day! :)
To jump back to the month of September, after I survived Hurricane Irene (literally) in upstate New York on my way home from Europe, I jumped back into small town life in my hometown; Bemidji, MN, staying with my parents and enjoying catching up on all the lives of my dear family and friends. While it was a great adjustment time going through Europe and New York on my way home, it took me nearly that whole 4 weeks home in Bemidji to feel like I was adjusting back to small town life. To me, Bemidji seemed almost like a ghost town after living in Freetown (a city with 2 million people), and then Europe. However, the warm faces and amazing conversations with Bemidjians soon warmed me up to that culture once again. And then just when I felt like I was acclimating back to Bemidji, BAM! Time to move to Minneapolis.
Why Minneapolis, many of you may ask? In short, because I didn't feel the time was right to move back into Sanford or take a permanent job there. There is still a lot of transition happening there and I didn't have peace about taking a more permanent job. So... with Medical Staffing Network (MSN-my old travel company I went to NY with), I was able to get a position as an agency nurse- essentially a temp Medical-Surgical nurse in the Fairview health hospital system. So, over the past couple of weeks I've learned an entirely new computerized documentation system, new health system, and have floated to about 10 different units in 3 different hospitals (a different unit every day except for one repeat day). I thought I was pretty flexible on the Africa Mercy... but nooo! This job has been teaching me the epitome of flexibility! I don't know how much more flexible Jesus wants me... I feel like Gumbee would have some significant competition at this point. ;) But either way, it was very apparent through God's provision of this job and the apartment I am in that he wants me here for now.
Speaking of which... many of you (yes, you, Mom and you, Aunt Noreen) have been wanting to see pictures of my homey little apartment... so please join me on my whirlwind tour with the photos below:
To start... come into the African living room!
Now come into the European kitchen (with the lovely window)!
The beautiful "bedroom" (curtained off area)...
And two snapshot of beautiful Lake Nokomis- only a couple miles from my house! :) Is Minnesota beautiful or what?
So far I have been enjoying Minneapolis, the people, the cultures, the restaurants (they have sushi places here!), and old and new friends. :) I've been attending a few churches and am hoping to settle on one here in the next few weeks. I've found a young adult Bible study group and am really praying for some good time for reflection with the Lord during this season of living alone and more change. It's not what I thought I would be coming home to, and that has been difficult for me to cope with, but I want to continue struggling with the Lord through those things.
I hope all is well with you this season and pray for God's revelation within your hearts as well as my own! :) Blessings from the Twin Cities!
The Minneapolis move has finally been complete! :) I've been here now for about 2 1/2 weeks and it's been a wild ride! The move started on October 1st to this little Minneapolis neighborhood, and thanks to my wonderful family, we packed 2 cars full and moved down in one day! :)
To jump back to the month of September, after I survived Hurricane Irene (literally) in upstate New York on my way home from Europe, I jumped back into small town life in my hometown; Bemidji, MN, staying with my parents and enjoying catching up on all the lives of my dear family and friends. While it was a great adjustment time going through Europe and New York on my way home, it took me nearly that whole 4 weeks home in Bemidji to feel like I was adjusting back to small town life. To me, Bemidji seemed almost like a ghost town after living in Freetown (a city with 2 million people), and then Europe. However, the warm faces and amazing conversations with Bemidjians soon warmed me up to that culture once again. And then just when I felt like I was acclimating back to Bemidji, BAM! Time to move to Minneapolis.
Why Minneapolis, many of you may ask? In short, because I didn't feel the time was right to move back into Sanford or take a permanent job there. There is still a lot of transition happening there and I didn't have peace about taking a more permanent job. So... with Medical Staffing Network (MSN-my old travel company I went to NY with), I was able to get a position as an agency nurse- essentially a temp Medical-Surgical nurse in the Fairview health hospital system. So, over the past couple of weeks I've learned an entirely new computerized documentation system, new health system, and have floated to about 10 different units in 3 different hospitals (a different unit every day except for one repeat day). I thought I was pretty flexible on the Africa Mercy... but nooo! This job has been teaching me the epitome of flexibility! I don't know how much more flexible Jesus wants me... I feel like Gumbee would have some significant competition at this point. ;) But either way, it was very apparent through God's provision of this job and the apartment I am in that he wants me here for now.
Speaking of which... many of you (yes, you, Mom and you, Aunt Noreen) have been wanting to see pictures of my homey little apartment... so please join me on my whirlwind tour with the photos below:
To start... come into the African living room!
Now come into the European kitchen (with the lovely window)!
The beautiful "bedroom" (curtained off area)...
And two snapshot of beautiful Lake Nokomis- only a couple miles from my house! :) Is Minnesota beautiful or what?
So far I have been enjoying Minneapolis, the people, the cultures, the restaurants (they have sushi places here!), and old and new friends. :) I've been attending a few churches and am hoping to settle on one here in the next few weeks. I've found a young adult Bible study group and am really praying for some good time for reflection with the Lord during this season of living alone and more change. It's not what I thought I would be coming home to, and that has been difficult for me to cope with, but I want to continue struggling with the Lord through those things.
I hope all is well with you this season and pray for God's revelation within your hearts as well as my own! :) Blessings from the Twin Cities!
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