I've been feeling restless lately. Restless with my job, restless with my ministry opportunities. Restless with where I am in life. I feel stuck. I'm not sure what to do. Then, a nurse at work was talking to me about how she travels and how much she loves it. She's about my age, no significant other, no children. She owns a house that she's trying to pay off and is wanting to go to grad school to be an ARNP. She worked in the ICU at Munroe, but when she gets to Virginia, she's going to work in the OR. She's thinking about doing PACU and ED in her next assignments.
This concept has been sitting on my mind for the last few days. While I think it's cowardly to run from your problems, and I know that there will be problems everywhere, I've been kicking around if this may not be a good idea for me. I've been praying about it and asked my mom to do the same, I'm still just not sure what to do. There are so many benefits to it- great pay, the companies pay for your rent and most of them pick up you utilities as well, they pay for your travel, health insurance, and most others have many other benefits as well. Even, being able to see family and friends across the countr. The disadvantages are many as well-being away from my family and friends here at home, not having "my" home, the great potential for being disconnected from my friends and church and the goings on here in Ocala.
I'm torn. I feel that God is closing doors here, and that He's opening doors as well. I'm just not sure where those doors are...
I'm just not sure
Friday, April 20, 2007
New Light
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned”
Isaiah 9:2
I just returned from Brazil last Monday. We had so much fun using the gifts that God has given us…whether they were doing medical work or doing construction or working with the children, we all worked hard!! It was a life changing experience to see they way that these people lived. To see the conditions that they thrive in, and that in so many ways the desires of the heart are universal. Every mother wants to protect her baby; every teenage want more than what their parents have. Every body needs to see the Light of the world.
One lady in particular that I remember really stole my heart. She came in and sat in the three hour line to be triaged. When it was finally her turn to be triaged, she came up and sat beside me. My translator, who had learned my routine, asked her why she had come to the clinic that day. She gave vague answers, reluctant to tell us much. She complained of an occasional headache, occasional joint pain. As I was writing down her vital signs and her complaints, she finally started to open up to me, and told us her story.
She has two daughters, both were married. Her youngest daughter’s husband left her and their 3 children, leaving them penniless and without anywhere to leave. So, they moved in with my patient. Her oldest daughter had also been married. Her husband murdered her and then disappeared, leaving their 9 children essentially orphaned. The grandmother, my patient, had taken them all in within the last year. She was unable to care for all of them on her own, so she gave the youngest three up for adoption. She doesn’t know where her own husband is, so she is doing this on her own. As she is telling me the story, I could nearly palpate the strain of the load she bearing. Everything she had hoped for her daughters had been thrown to the wind, and she is doing her best for her grandchildren. But, she felt like she was failing them.
I sent her back to the advance practice nurse that was with us. Before the patient got back there, I told Charlotte the story to prepare her. Unfortunately, nothing could prepare us for everything else that she shared with us. Not only is stressed to the max, but she is also depressed and suicidal. All of the women wanted to hold her in our arms and cry for her and with her. Instead, we called Alana, the missionary we were working with, over. Together we talked to her about God’s love for her and how he can be the salve to the wounds she’s been experiencing. We got her address so that the local pastor and his wife could call on her to check on her and the children. And the, we did the only thing left…we prayed for her. We prayed for her calmness, and for to be able to call upon God everyday, and for the healing of her and her family from all the tragedies they’ve experienced over the last year. While, there was very little we could do for her physical ailments, I am confident that we helped cleanse some of her spiritual wounds.
I think about this petite, stoic woman often. I pray whenever I do that God would give her strength to carry on the good battle. I pray that she would see the Light that is around her
Isaiah 9:2
I just returned from Brazil last Monday. We had so much fun using the gifts that God has given us…whether they were doing medical work or doing construction or working with the children, we all worked hard!! It was a life changing experience to see they way that these people lived. To see the conditions that they thrive in, and that in so many ways the desires of the heart are universal. Every mother wants to protect her baby; every teenage want more than what their parents have. Every body needs to see the Light of the world.
One lady in particular that I remember really stole my heart. She came in and sat in the three hour line to be triaged. When it was finally her turn to be triaged, she came up and sat beside me. My translator, who had learned my routine, asked her why she had come to the clinic that day. She gave vague answers, reluctant to tell us much. She complained of an occasional headache, occasional joint pain. As I was writing down her vital signs and her complaints, she finally started to open up to me, and told us her story.
She has two daughters, both were married. Her youngest daughter’s husband left her and their 3 children, leaving them penniless and without anywhere to leave. So, they moved in with my patient. Her oldest daughter had also been married. Her husband murdered her and then disappeared, leaving their 9 children essentially orphaned. The grandmother, my patient, had taken them all in within the last year. She was unable to care for all of them on her own, so she gave the youngest three up for adoption. She doesn’t know where her own husband is, so she is doing this on her own. As she is telling me the story, I could nearly palpate the strain of the load she bearing. Everything she had hoped for her daughters had been thrown to the wind, and she is doing her best for her grandchildren. But, she felt like she was failing them.
I sent her back to the advance practice nurse that was with us. Before the patient got back there, I told Charlotte the story to prepare her. Unfortunately, nothing could prepare us for everything else that she shared with us. Not only is stressed to the max, but she is also depressed and suicidal. All of the women wanted to hold her in our arms and cry for her and with her. Instead, we called Alana, the missionary we were working with, over. Together we talked to her about God’s love for her and how he can be the salve to the wounds she’s been experiencing. We got her address so that the local pastor and his wife could call on her to check on her and the children. And the, we did the only thing left…we prayed for her. We prayed for her calmness, and for to be able to call upon God everyday, and for the healing of her and her family from all the tragedies they’ve experienced over the last year. While, there was very little we could do for her physical ailments, I am confident that we helped cleanse some of her spiritual wounds.
I think about this petite, stoic woman often. I pray whenever I do that God would give her strength to carry on the good battle. I pray that she would see the Light that is around her
Saturday, April 07, 2007
There's no place like home!! The Tampa International Airport
Sul, my waiting companion in Sao Paulo
3000 people in a very tiny airport...
A mad hatters tour of Sao Paulo
How we all felt...note the red bag in the middle...
The ceiling of the Sao Paulo airport...the last thing I saw befor going to sleep on Saturday night...
Florianopolis
The Vera girls!!!
Sunset outside of our hotel...
Amy, Laura, Joy, me, Chad, and Jonathan at the yummiest pizza parlor I've ever had!!
Yummy...chicken heart!!!
Innocence
Brejaru
A house in the neighborhood...
Edison. He's why we went
Some of the local wildlife
Simply stunning
Joy, the old pro...
Me sand surfing...note the look of terror!
The young people at the beach in Florianopolis
Sunrise over Brazil, the way down...The Ultimate April Fool's
So, last Saturday, we started the trek back home. What we didn't know was how much of a journey it would, indeed be!!
Our plane was scheduled to leave from Florianopolis at 1630 (4:30) on Saturday afternoon. So, we got up early, did some last minute shopping and went sight seeing in the afternoon. We got to the airport right around 1430 (2:30). The first hurdle was when the lady at the ticket counter told me my tickets were cancelled. Not good. Steve was standing behind me and took over with Ron Greenwich, the missionary we were staying with. Apparently, our little unscheduled stop in Campos messed everything up...for everyone! So, that go settled and figured out. Then began the wait for the plane. About 3:30, we got word that the plane wasn't coming at 1630, but at 1830...two hours late!! So, we pulled out the iPods, books, laptops and traveling pillows to settle in for a long wait. At 1730, it got changed again to 1930. Another hour of waiting!! Yeah!!! So, we pulled out the second books and the iPod chargers and changed positions. Well, at 1900, the time got changed again to 2000 (8:00 pm). We finally took off about 2045. We were delayed yet again because they were having difficulty closing a cargo door. I felt every rivet turn and them turning every wrench...I was in the back row!! All of this should have been a good indicator to us of what exactly was going to happen.
We finally made it Sao Paulo, after we circled for another half hour. We landed in the industrial section of the airport and were bussed past the Fed-Ex airports to the international wing. Good grief. The Youngs and I rushed past the customs and left the rest of our group to run to the American Airlines terminal, hoping we could make our ridiculously delayed flight. We got there just as it was taking off...but it wasn't our plane anyways. It had left two hours earlier on time...
So, we started camping out again, completely oblivious to the fate of the rest our group. I called my parents here in the states, after a week and a half of not hearing from them. I got a little emotional at this point. I wanted to do nothing but cry. That isn't an option, though. We finally found someone that works for the airport at the international connection counter. They told us to stay put and someone would be with us and the growing crowd shortly. About two hours and a nap later, they came back. They called our names and told us to wait about 50 feet from where I was lying down. My hopes were raised that this is it...we're going home now! No such luck...we were taken down to baggage claim and instructed to get our bags.
Down there, we all found our bags. And discovered we weren't the only Americans. We met up with a group of very...vocal women from New York on vacation in I think Argentina. There were also 3 Army Reserve guards who had been on assignemnt in Salvador--they didn't even have Brazilian visas!! We were then taken upstairs to the TAM counter (the Brazilian international airline) and were told that we would be given vouchers to go to hotels and get dinner as well as vouchers for taxis. At this point its about 3:00 in the morning. It was at this point we realized...it's Aprils Fools!! Then, we were told that TAM wouldn't be furnishing our vouchers because technically, we wer on an American Airlines flight, so they would be responsible. Sheesh!! So, we stood in the American Airlines line and realized that everyone was being told a different story, and was getting different information. The joys of international traveling... The army guys were given guaranteed flights out (together) two days later and put up in the equivalent of the Swan hotel at Disney. We were told there were no available confirmed flights for over a week and the only way out was to take standby flights... we took what we could and went to find a taxi to take us to the hotel. We promised to meet Victoria, our new traveling buddy there.
We pulled up to the Novotel at about 4:30 in the morning. It was all lit up and there were bellhops waiting on us at the door. We felt like we had died and gone to heaven! There were fresh beds waiting on us and breakfast would be ready in an hour. Glorious!!! We were taken upstairs and shown into our rooms. Feather pillows and the best shower I've taken in a long time were waiting on us. While Joy showered, I went scavaging for food...in my pajamas. We ate breakfast and crashed. For a few hours. It was so difficult to sleep...kids runnig up and down the hallways, the anxiety of not know what was going on next. Around 1:00 we gave up and got up. We both another shower and went exploring. I was attempting to call my parents again, when we got a phone stating that we had 10 minutes to get out, or we'd have to pay for a half day's use of the room. We ran to get Steve and Janna (Joy's parents) who were leisurly relaxing in the pool, unaware of the time limit we had. We hurriedly checked out and waited on Victoria as she checked out. Then wen to the dining room to eat dinner. But, wait sorry! You've checked out. You can't use your voucher... Thanks Tam!!!
So, we did the only thing we could do. Went back to the airport-home away from home. We got there and learned that most international airlines are mobile!! Where American had been the night before, is South African airlines. American doesn't come until 5:30 in the afternoon! Yeah. So, Joy and I went exploring...again. We found Pizza Hut and ordered pizza and paid too much for drinks. And, we found the rest of our group! They were even worse off than we were. Flying Delta, they hadn't even been given vouchers and were paying for everything themselves. Because, Delta isn't operated by TAM, therefore there is no obligation to help them out. They were attempting to get out via United, but nothing was guaranteed. By 6:00 they had left to go back to the hotel. So, we stood in a line with about 500 people waiting to see what our fate would be. We got our names put on a list and told to wait to the left of the counter. On the ground. No chairs. Right where the baggage carts are taken back out, so watch any appnendages you want to keep!
Nothing was available on the 8:30 flight, so we sat some more. At 9:00, my name was called!! I got the last availble seat on the second flight out to Miami... Hallelujah! There were angels singing with me!! It was 9:06, and had to get on American Airlines flight 906 in twenty minutes. There was still 2 security stops and customs and airlines to get through. Plus a long run down the terminal. The gate was in the very back of the terminal. This was going to be fun! I took off running. I was a little bit rude to the people in line with me, whispering "vamanos, vamnanos" under my breath. "I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone, why should you? Just walk!!" Then, here comes the American Airlines guy...my savior out of this line!! He rushed me through security, and customs and gave me one piece of advice...run!!!!!!!!! And run, I did. Like I haven't done in long time. With two carry ons flailing behind me and my passport, tickets, boarding pass and customs declarations in my hand. Praying that no elderly people would bust out in front of me in those little motorized scooter thingies. Success!! I got to the gate with no hesitations or difficulties. The little guy even told me that I hadn't needed to run so fast...they weren't going anywhere without me!!
I got on the plane and was informed by another passenger that my seat was changed so the he could sit by his wife. Uug. So, I walked back up the aisle and across in front of the big screen and back down again. I sat down next to the ever primping wife and took a deep breath. I was going home!!! I watched Miss Potter and ate dinner, only the 3rd meal I'd had in nearly two days, and listened to Josh Groban and slept as best as I could on a plane.
We landed in Miami at 5:30 in the morning on Monday. I got a phone call from Joy saying they were an hour behind, me and should be on the connection with me. So, I drank a real diet Coke and pulled out the book...again. Then, I got another phone call...the Youngs had gotten stuck in customs and weren't going to be able to make the connecting flight. :-( I was on my own again...
I got on the plane to Tampa. I was seated next to a mom and her little boy flying from Miami to Tampa, headed to vacation with her family. It was fun to see flying through the eyes of a little kid, again. I read more Jodi Piccoult and noticed the 3 empty seats a row ahead of me. We landed in Tampa a mere 45 minutes later. We disembarked and I waited the hour it was taking my mom to finish the drive from Ocala to Tampa. And was oh so happy to be in the States again.
Joy and her family made it a few hours later and Joy was back in her condo by 4:30. The rest of the group didn't make it back to Alabama until late Tuesday afternoon. As Laura Ingalls-Wilder would say... Alls well, that ends well...
Our plane was scheduled to leave from Florianopolis at 1630 (4:30) on Saturday afternoon. So, we got up early, did some last minute shopping and went sight seeing in the afternoon. We got to the airport right around 1430 (2:30). The first hurdle was when the lady at the ticket counter told me my tickets were cancelled. Not good. Steve was standing behind me and took over with Ron Greenwich, the missionary we were staying with. Apparently, our little unscheduled stop in Campos messed everything up...for everyone! So, that go settled and figured out. Then began the wait for the plane. About 3:30, we got word that the plane wasn't coming at 1630, but at 1830...two hours late!! So, we pulled out the iPods, books, laptops and traveling pillows to settle in for a long wait. At 1730, it got changed again to 1930. Another hour of waiting!! Yeah!!! So, we pulled out the second books and the iPod chargers and changed positions. Well, at 1900, the time got changed again to 2000 (8:00 pm). We finally took off about 2045. We were delayed yet again because they were having difficulty closing a cargo door. I felt every rivet turn and them turning every wrench...I was in the back row!! All of this should have been a good indicator to us of what exactly was going to happen.
We finally made it Sao Paulo, after we circled for another half hour. We landed in the industrial section of the airport and were bussed past the Fed-Ex airports to the international wing. Good grief. The Youngs and I rushed past the customs and left the rest of our group to run to the American Airlines terminal, hoping we could make our ridiculously delayed flight. We got there just as it was taking off...but it wasn't our plane anyways. It had left two hours earlier on time...
So, we started camping out again, completely oblivious to the fate of the rest our group. I called my parents here in the states, after a week and a half of not hearing from them. I got a little emotional at this point. I wanted to do nothing but cry. That isn't an option, though. We finally found someone that works for the airport at the international connection counter. They told us to stay put and someone would be with us and the growing crowd shortly. About two hours and a nap later, they came back. They called our names and told us to wait about 50 feet from where I was lying down. My hopes were raised that this is it...we're going home now! No such luck...we were taken down to baggage claim and instructed to get our bags.
Down there, we all found our bags. And discovered we weren't the only Americans. We met up with a group of very...vocal women from New York on vacation in I think Argentina. There were also 3 Army Reserve guards who had been on assignemnt in Salvador--they didn't even have Brazilian visas!! We were then taken upstairs to the TAM counter (the Brazilian international airline) and were told that we would be given vouchers to go to hotels and get dinner as well as vouchers for taxis. At this point its about 3:00 in the morning. It was at this point we realized...it's Aprils Fools!! Then, we were told that TAM wouldn't be furnishing our vouchers because technically, we wer on an American Airlines flight, so they would be responsible. Sheesh!! So, we stood in the American Airlines line and realized that everyone was being told a different story, and was getting different information. The joys of international traveling... The army guys were given guaranteed flights out (together) two days later and put up in the equivalent of the Swan hotel at Disney. We were told there were no available confirmed flights for over a week and the only way out was to take standby flights... we took what we could and went to find a taxi to take us to the hotel. We promised to meet Victoria, our new traveling buddy there.
We pulled up to the Novotel at about 4:30 in the morning. It was all lit up and there were bellhops waiting on us at the door. We felt like we had died and gone to heaven! There were fresh beds waiting on us and breakfast would be ready in an hour. Glorious!!! We were taken upstairs and shown into our rooms. Feather pillows and the best shower I've taken in a long time were waiting on us. While Joy showered, I went scavaging for food...in my pajamas. We ate breakfast and crashed. For a few hours. It was so difficult to sleep...kids runnig up and down the hallways, the anxiety of not know what was going on next. Around 1:00 we gave up and got up. We both another shower and went exploring. I was attempting to call my parents again, when we got a phone stating that we had 10 minutes to get out, or we'd have to pay for a half day's use of the room. We ran to get Steve and Janna (Joy's parents) who were leisurly relaxing in the pool, unaware of the time limit we had. We hurriedly checked out and waited on Victoria as she checked out. Then wen to the dining room to eat dinner. But, wait sorry! You've checked out. You can't use your voucher... Thanks Tam!!!
So, we did the only thing we could do. Went back to the airport-home away from home. We got there and learned that most international airlines are mobile!! Where American had been the night before, is South African airlines. American doesn't come until 5:30 in the afternoon! Yeah. So, Joy and I went exploring...again. We found Pizza Hut and ordered pizza and paid too much for drinks. And, we found the rest of our group! They were even worse off than we were. Flying Delta, they hadn't even been given vouchers and were paying for everything themselves. Because, Delta isn't operated by TAM, therefore there is no obligation to help them out. They were attempting to get out via United, but nothing was guaranteed. By 6:00 they had left to go back to the hotel. So, we stood in a line with about 500 people waiting to see what our fate would be. We got our names put on a list and told to wait to the left of the counter. On the ground. No chairs. Right where the baggage carts are taken back out, so watch any appnendages you want to keep!
Nothing was available on the 8:30 flight, so we sat some more. At 9:00, my name was called!! I got the last availble seat on the second flight out to Miami... Hallelujah! There were angels singing with me!! It was 9:06, and had to get on American Airlines flight 906 in twenty minutes. There was still 2 security stops and customs and airlines to get through. Plus a long run down the terminal. The gate was in the very back of the terminal. This was going to be fun! I took off running. I was a little bit rude to the people in line with me, whispering "vamanos, vamnanos" under my breath. "I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone, why should you? Just walk!!" Then, here comes the American Airlines guy...my savior out of this line!! He rushed me through security, and customs and gave me one piece of advice...run!!!!!!!!! And run, I did. Like I haven't done in long time. With two carry ons flailing behind me and my passport, tickets, boarding pass and customs declarations in my hand. Praying that no elderly people would bust out in front of me in those little motorized scooter thingies. Success!! I got to the gate with no hesitations or difficulties. The little guy even told me that I hadn't needed to run so fast...they weren't going anywhere without me!!
I got on the plane and was informed by another passenger that my seat was changed so the he could sit by his wife. Uug. So, I walked back up the aisle and across in front of the big screen and back down again. I sat down next to the ever primping wife and took a deep breath. I was going home!!! I watched Miss Potter and ate dinner, only the 3rd meal I'd had in nearly two days, and listened to Josh Groban and slept as best as I could on a plane.
We landed in Miami at 5:30 in the morning on Monday. I got a phone call from Joy saying they were an hour behind, me and should be on the connection with me. So, I drank a real diet Coke and pulled out the book...again. Then, I got another phone call...the Youngs had gotten stuck in customs and weren't going to be able to make the connecting flight. :-( I was on my own again...
I got on the plane to Tampa. I was seated next to a mom and her little boy flying from Miami to Tampa, headed to vacation with her family. It was fun to see flying through the eyes of a little kid, again. I read more Jodi Piccoult and noticed the 3 empty seats a row ahead of me. We landed in Tampa a mere 45 minutes later. We disembarked and I waited the hour it was taking my mom to finish the drive from Ocala to Tampa. And was oh so happy to be in the States again.
Joy and her family made it a few hours later and Joy was back in her condo by 4:30. The rest of the group didn't make it back to Alabama until late Tuesday afternoon. As Laura Ingalls-Wilder would say... Alls well, that ends well...
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