I received an e-mail this week from a dear friend who was commenting on how each of us had all said at different times things we could never see ourselves doing, and now all three of us have done exactly those things. I said I'd never come back here alone, and while I understand very clearly and am so thankful I am never truly alone, here I am half-way around the world from home as independent as I have ever been. Yet again I have to correct myself, because I have never been more dependent on Him.
The reason I bring this up is not only because of the recent e-mail, but because I was just promising you all updates over the coming week... and of course in this country's fashion, plans change and I am leaving here tomorrow for the home in the community once again. I will be back next week, hopefully finally able to post regularly and get some pictures up.
Along the theme of Never say never-especially to the One who is King of making the impossible nevers into probable possibilities- I also thought I'd never find myself in ER or ICU other than as a patient or visiting a friend or family member, but this past week I have been in both and seen more than I ever expected. Once again, that is our Mighty Father for us! He is just full of surprises and I am so thankful that I can depend on Him. I was reading in 1 Corinthians this morning, chapter 15, and found these words from Paul in vs 10 so relevant:"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." The first part of this is so true and so relevant, and my hope and pr for my life is that the second would be proved true... I have seen it in part already, but I believe there is more to come. I just know I could not have come here or be doing what I am now if it were not for this Truth! Praise Be to Him Indeed!
As I leave here again, ask for Him to make me useful in this time of need in the home, that Lakshmi would be able to attend her training, Deb go and smoothly bring back our new 5 yr-old boy at last, (both of them by a last-minute train still waitlisted) and me be able to come here for at least part of next week, and all of us return safely to the house, children and staff in tact! I am sure you can read between the lines here and I trust Him to lead you in your petitions on our behalf. He is certainly encouraging me with little ways I see Him at work in my heart and beyond my abilities to reach out to the people here in such great need. What a wonder it is to be kept in Him and by Him and above all else for Him!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I am back at the hospital this week again, so I am able to update you all. I am hoping to post some pictures as well to share soon. You all need to see our beautiful new home!
Briefly since I wrote last:
When I returned back to my home in the community, I returned to:
-one of they boys sick with a sinus infection, myself fighting a bad cold, and Mariam came down with the same one. Deb had a cyst on the back of her neck I cleaned out daily for about a week, and she now has the same cold. Thankfully, we got the children on antibiotics in time to fight off the infection and they are all doing much better-indeed Glory to Him who protected us and is giving us speedy recovery in the midst of everything happening.
As a results of cold, rainy weather after a week of very warm days, we are still trying to get out of the cycle of illness and settle into a normal as things are almost finished at the house-it seems I say this every time I write, but I do believe the final carpentry work and painting will be finished in the next two weeks, and the electrician has finally finished.
-the children with disabilities came back for school the past two weeks, and thanks to Him working in the family's hearts to consent, I have started vitamins and further assessments on the children. Two of them need some strong vitamins and medication due to chronic problems, so pray for them and that their families might continue the vitamins and medication after I leave.
-Continue to ask Him go give me understanding and wisdom as I am the only nurse in the community and don't have the resources I am used to relying on. He has been more than faithful and I know will continue to give me and all of us just what we need. Pray as I plan and give education to staff and families that they will understand it, receive it and apply it-and of course that they would see Him in me and in all of us at the home.
-The children living in the home need more attention than they have been getting lately, and they need to be discipled. They are exposed to the Word daily and encouraged to act in a way that pleases Him, but we certainly need prayer for patience, understanding and power to keep encouraging them in Him and that He would change and mold their hearts. These kids come from different environments, some more tragic than others, and are difficult to assess; number one answer is that they need Him.
Thank you for the encouraging responses I have received from recent e-mails and for all your prayers. He has certainly been answering them and blessing me in tremendous ways. As much as I look forward to returning home to share in person with all of you, He is revealing so much of Himself to me here. If nothing else is gained through this experience, I can rejoice in the fact that He has and is drawing me to Himself daily, reminding me that He is the Bread of Life and that all my labors should be for Him and Him to be known in me. There is so much need here that I can only begin to see, and I pray believing He will continue to equip me and train me to do more in the future, should He bless me by bringing me back again. In the meantime, I am learning to focus on one day at a time the ways I can remain in Him and let Him reign in me in a way that encourages the believers and non-believers around me.
That is all for now, but I hope to post a few more details and updates throughout the week to fill you in. This week the hospital is very quiet here, and the ICU just emptied out completely. I have seen more IUDs-intra-uterine deaths and suicide attempts here than anything else; both of these are such sad things and so preventable! I hope some day I can be a part of planning prevention programs here. I think in some way, I already am.
Love you all and will post again soon!
Briefly since I wrote last:
When I returned back to my home in the community, I returned to:
-one of they boys sick with a sinus infection, myself fighting a bad cold, and Mariam came down with the same one. Deb had a cyst on the back of her neck I cleaned out daily for about a week, and she now has the same cold. Thankfully, we got the children on antibiotics in time to fight off the infection and they are all doing much better-indeed Glory to Him who protected us and is giving us speedy recovery in the midst of everything happening.
As a results of cold, rainy weather after a week of very warm days, we are still trying to get out of the cycle of illness and settle into a normal as things are almost finished at the house-it seems I say this every time I write, but I do believe the final carpentry work and painting will be finished in the next two weeks, and the electrician has finally finished.
-the children with disabilities came back for school the past two weeks, and thanks to Him working in the family's hearts to consent, I have started vitamins and further assessments on the children. Two of them need some strong vitamins and medication due to chronic problems, so pray for them and that their families might continue the vitamins and medication after I leave.
-Continue to ask Him go give me understanding and wisdom as I am the only nurse in the community and don't have the resources I am used to relying on. He has been more than faithful and I know will continue to give me and all of us just what we need. Pray as I plan and give education to staff and families that they will understand it, receive it and apply it-and of course that they would see Him in me and in all of us at the home.
-The children living in the home need more attention than they have been getting lately, and they need to be discipled. They are exposed to the Word daily and encouraged to act in a way that pleases Him, but we certainly need prayer for patience, understanding and power to keep encouraging them in Him and that He would change and mold their hearts. These kids come from different environments, some more tragic than others, and are difficult to assess; number one answer is that they need Him.
Thank you for the encouraging responses I have received from recent e-mails and for all your prayers. He has certainly been answering them and blessing me in tremendous ways. As much as I look forward to returning home to share in person with all of you, He is revealing so much of Himself to me here. If nothing else is gained through this experience, I can rejoice in the fact that He has and is drawing me to Himself daily, reminding me that He is the Bread of Life and that all my labors should be for Him and Him to be known in me. There is so much need here that I can only begin to see, and I pray believing He will continue to equip me and train me to do more in the future, should He bless me by bringing me back again. In the meantime, I am learning to focus on one day at a time the ways I can remain in Him and let Him reign in me in a way that encourages the believers and non-believers around me.
That is all for now, but I hope to post a few more details and updates throughout the week to fill you in. This week the hospital is very quiet here, and the ICU just emptied out completely. I have seen more IUDs-intra-uterine deaths and suicide attempts here than anything else; both of these are such sad things and so preventable! I hope some day I can be a part of planning prevention programs here. I think in some way, I already am.
Love you all and will post again soon!
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