There is so much I could say about what I have seen and been involved with here. It is hard to express the number of emotions I have felt all at once, and how much I really do love these kids.
We were so blessed this week to receive packages of school supplies sent by my life group just in perfect timing for our Christmas celebrations this week. This enabled us to prepare gifts for the Sunday school children and a children’s home that my roommate grew up in. Since we are in the midst of moving, we are not able to do a Christmas outreach program, but we are doing small events with the children who come daily during the week, this children’s home and the Sunday school children. We had 33 children for the Sunday school today and during the story of Jesus’ Birth, our pregnant goat gave birth to a health baby! The baby’s name is Mary.
I have started to do assessments on the children with disabilities and hope to develop a vitamin schedule for them that I can leave with the staff here. I will also be putting together some teaching tools that explain the natural food sources that provide these vitamins and how to prepare foods so that their vitamins are preserved, and things to watch for in vitamin deficiencies and excesses. As I have been studying vitamin deficiencies and preparing resources for them, I have learned that many of the disabilities these children have are probably due to vitamin deficiencies of their mothers, effecting their development during and following birth. I would love to be able to do some education for the community that would raise awareness about food preparation, but I have to take one step at a time.
Though I have learned a few Hindi phrases I can use, it has been hard to find the time and energy to practice Hindi so that I can understand more. Most of the kids in the home speak Hindi and a fair bit of English, so communication is not so difficult there; it is more a barrier to my confidence in working with the staff and the children with disabilities, but all of them have been very helpful and patient with me in spite of my shortcomings.
Right now we are just trying to take one day at a time in preparation for the Christmas celebrations (3 down, 1 to go!), and trying to get things ready for the big move the end of this month. My one week at the hospital last month was eventful, giving me several opportunities for trach care, to encourage staff to remember sterile technique and help them out when things get quite busy in an ICU, with only 2 staff nurses on duty.
Every day I am reminded of who God is and that even though I feel completely inadequate at times, and like I am making such a small difference and want to do so much more, I know He is at work in even the little things. He is increasing my faith daily and revealing so much to me. There is so much more to be said, but for now I will leave you with this. I can't wait to tell you about these holiday celebrations and the miracles unfolding. Hopefully, I will be able to post some pictures to share with you as well. Thank you for joining me in this journey!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
New opportunities: Part 2 of many
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, Fools despise wisdom and instruction."
-Proverbs 1:7 (NASB)
Following up from my last post... here's what I know now.
On my job/work: by the end of this month, April, I will be an ortho nurse- still working the night shift. Due to changes beyond my control and most of my administrators control, our numbers have been low enough on our unit and on others that changes have to be made. What has been decided is that the gyn/uro patients I have been working with are being moved to another floor where numbers are low and the nurses are or will be trained to work with these patients. To provide for the growing population of orthopedic patients (mostly bone and joint injuries/surgeries, some trauma injuries) coming into the hospital, our unit will combine with the other half of our floor as an ortho unit. Over the next few weeks I will be involved with some training and education from more experienced nurses to be an Ortho and EENT (eye, ear, nose, and throat) nurse, but still mostly working with surgical patients (pre and post-op).
As difficult as it has been to accept this change-ortho nursing has never been something I am interested in-I realize that it is the best for the hospital to continue to meet the needs of our changing patient populations, succeed as a healthcare provider, and continue to provide jobs for all of our staff. I am just thankful to be keeping my job and be able to continue to learn and grow, while working with the same staff I do love to work with.
Meanwhile, my hopes and dreams of returning to India are still driving me forward and motivating me every day. Concerns over the specifics of what I would be doing there and whether or not my specific training and education would be best suited for the needs there, and whether or not it is the best use of my education and training at this stage in my life are the big barriers and questions here. I really feel and believe that I am called to return to India at some point, the question is when, where and in what capacity. My hope is that it will be sometime in the next year, for about a year commitment, working with some of the same people I met before-this is the opportunity ahead of me that stands as an open door, that I hope and pray is God's will for me now. No doors have been closed yet, but much still needs to be decided and details to come together before I can make a decision. This is a decision that could possibly change my life, and I honestly hope will. I need wisdom, guidance, discernment, and understanding only He can provide.
I know with all my heart I Want to go and serve Him in India in this specific way at this time, but I must be certain this is His best for me and the people there as well. Please pray with and for me that I would be listening carefully to His Word and trusting completely in His provision, following Him... not impulsively running ahead.
I do not consider myself an impulsive person, but when it comes to going back to India, I would jump on a plane to Delhi tomorrow if I knew God wanted me to-knowing He would provide all the way. No words can express the love and compassion in my heart and mind for India; a gift God planted in me several years ago that has only grown with time, knowledge, and experience. Please pray with me that I would follow after Him first, trusting Him to redirect my steps should I ever step out of rhythm.
Once I have made a decision to pursue this opportunity with everything I am and have, I will be sending out letters, posts and e-mails with details of what will be involved and all that needs to happen before I can go. In the meantime, I ask that you pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. I trust that He knows best and will work with anything you offer.
Thank you for following, reading and praying with me!
"Then I said, 'Alas, LORD God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.' But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,' declares the LORD." -Jeremiah 1:6-8
-Proverbs 1:7 (NASB)
Following up from my last post... here's what I know now.
On my job/work: by the end of this month, April, I will be an ortho nurse- still working the night shift. Due to changes beyond my control and most of my administrators control, our numbers have been low enough on our unit and on others that changes have to be made. What has been decided is that the gyn/uro patients I have been working with are being moved to another floor where numbers are low and the nurses are or will be trained to work with these patients. To provide for the growing population of orthopedic patients (mostly bone and joint injuries/surgeries, some trauma injuries) coming into the hospital, our unit will combine with the other half of our floor as an ortho unit. Over the next few weeks I will be involved with some training and education from more experienced nurses to be an Ortho and EENT (eye, ear, nose, and throat) nurse, but still mostly working with surgical patients (pre and post-op).
As difficult as it has been to accept this change-ortho nursing has never been something I am interested in-I realize that it is the best for the hospital to continue to meet the needs of our changing patient populations, succeed as a healthcare provider, and continue to provide jobs for all of our staff. I am just thankful to be keeping my job and be able to continue to learn and grow, while working with the same staff I do love to work with.
Meanwhile, my hopes and dreams of returning to India are still driving me forward and motivating me every day. Concerns over the specifics of what I would be doing there and whether or not my specific training and education would be best suited for the needs there, and whether or not it is the best use of my education and training at this stage in my life are the big barriers and questions here. I really feel and believe that I am called to return to India at some point, the question is when, where and in what capacity. My hope is that it will be sometime in the next year, for about a year commitment, working with some of the same people I met before-this is the opportunity ahead of me that stands as an open door, that I hope and pray is God's will for me now. No doors have been closed yet, but much still needs to be decided and details to come together before I can make a decision. This is a decision that could possibly change my life, and I honestly hope will. I need wisdom, guidance, discernment, and understanding only He can provide.
I know with all my heart I Want to go and serve Him in India in this specific way at this time, but I must be certain this is His best for me and the people there as well. Please pray with and for me that I would be listening carefully to His Word and trusting completely in His provision, following Him... not impulsively running ahead.
I do not consider myself an impulsive person, but when it comes to going back to India, I would jump on a plane to Delhi tomorrow if I knew God wanted me to-knowing He would provide all the way. No words can express the love and compassion in my heart and mind for India; a gift God planted in me several years ago that has only grown with time, knowledge, and experience. Please pray with me that I would follow after Him first, trusting Him to redirect my steps should I ever step out of rhythm.
Once I have made a decision to pursue this opportunity with everything I am and have, I will be sending out letters, posts and e-mails with details of what will be involved and all that needs to happen before I can go. In the meantime, I ask that you pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. I trust that He knows best and will work with anything you offer.
Thank you for following, reading and praying with me!
"Then I said, 'Alas, LORD God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.' But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,' declares the LORD." -Jeremiah 1:6-8
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