For those of you who follow my blog and don't read e-mails... (there are some added bonuses hidden here as well :-)
We are all safe and doing relatively well-at least were until I left the house for the week. Now that I am gone for the week, a few health concerns have come up; ask for His hand in the following things:
-Debbie has a large cyst on the back of her neck and has had a lot of pain from a couple falls.
-Anmol, the youngest boy-age 7, has come down with a cold and was recently exposed to mumps-so tomorrow they will be coming here to check things out just in case.
-Mariam gained the weight she lost back and seemed to be doing very well, but all week since the morning I left she has had bouts of reflux in the middle of the night. There are a couple of things that could be causing it and we just hope and pr it isn't anything serious! You can also pr that the medication I suggested to Debbie would help tonight.
On a more personal note...
Oh if only I had time to tell you all in detail about what I witnessed today!!! All I can say is that we all should be so thankful if we have not been sick here or had to deliver a baby here ( I know I am)! You also can ask Him that somehow my presence and way of interacting with people would in even some small way make a difference in the lives of the patients and the way the staff here veiw health care. As I was discussing with my roommate (she is from S India but has been here for several years, and oh how wonderfully thankful I am for her!), the nurse-pateint relationship here is so very different... her response was, "yeah, there is none!" It is so sad, but so true. I can't change it, but I do hope that the way I interact with patients and families, even though I speak and understand so little of their language, would somehow represent Him.
I have been so encouraged and blessed by the people He keeps bringing into my life here. Just when I am feeling alone with no one who understands what I am witnessing for the first time, He brings along someone who understands it exactly! Not only has He blessed me by the staff at the home in the past couple weeks, opening doors for friendships there, He has blessed me in huge ways in just a couple days here. My roommate here, for one, is just one of those people who is always brightening your day-and we relate on so many levels! We listen to music and sing every morning and night, and reason through our philosophical and psychological debates. On top of her presence and friendship, we met another girl who is a med-student here from Wisconsin. Meeting someone from home who is here on her own and come for a similar purpose is so refreshing! His timing could not have been better!!
Other than that, my request for you all is pr for my heart to be willing to apply myself and focus on what He wants me to do in the remaining time here, not being distracted with anticipation of returning home, but to focus and see His will accomplished in me for this time. Ask that I would open my mouth and let Him fill it and speak through me. I have been struggling a lot lately to understand His ways and have peace in what's next; to be honest every day is a battle to trust where He is taking me and what I am doing here, and yet every day He shows me clearly I am right where I belong!
I hope my updates reflect in some small way how much I am learning and being blessed here. I could probably write a novel every week, but then you would all be so tired of me. I know they are always filled with requests, but truly we are so thankful for His provision in every day, and I think in the midst of the daily battle, He has been drawing me into closer relationship with Him and teaching me so many things that will carry on far beyond this year-no matter where He leads!
I am so thankful for every one of you! I miss you all, but I know He wants me here and is giving me what I need for each day. Hope to update you before I am here again the end of February, but please do not be concerned if it is until then. April is just around the corner!
With love and gratitude, Nikki
P.S. Luke 9:23 is our verse of the week in our study, and boy is it hitting home! I was having a conversation with my roommate here at the hospital yesterday (Republic Day in India) about human rights and forgiveness. She is planning for a seminar where she has to address people who are trying to fight for their own rights, and she was trying to reason where one minoritiy here has to draw the line for another's rights; I can't quite recall where the two got started or connected, but it ended with me saying "that's why we are called to bear each other's burdens..." and she added, "and carry our crosses." Just some food for thought....
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