June 30, 2012

The day has come. It's 12:45am and I think I've finished packing. I'm not sure what the total count is for the entire team as I've just been keeping up with the 13 nursing student from UA. Anyway, everyone is checking in one bag 1/2 full of supplies, taking one carry-on and one personal item. I came in at 44 lbs with the supplies given to me by e3, UA, and my own supplies. I managed to put all my clothes in the carry-on AND my hiking boots and miscellaneous electronics...impressive, huh? My personal item is a backpack and just contains my laptop and one huge Serta memory foam pillow that I compressed in one of those neat space bags "As Seen on Television." I have no idea what I'm going to do when I take the pillow out for the 7hr flight then have to put it back in the bag with no vacuum handy. I need my rest, though, as I've not had adequate sleep the past two weeks. I mean really. Right now I'm going on 36 hours straight. I will go to bed soon though and try to get a few hours.

In my last blog I rambled a bit just as I did in that interview. I was a little anxious as I had so much on my mind. I was focusing so much on the medical part, which honestly I'm still somewhat nervous about. I don't know why though because what we will see is going to be so much simpler than what we deal with in MICU. Maybe it's because this time I'll say "this is what you need and this is what I'm going to give you and do for you"...it doesn't always happen that way at the hospital though because frankly, I'm not the doctor writing the orders. Really, though, we will probably see a lot of effects from a lack of infrastructure as well as a lack of access to healthcare. We will do fine medically and the students will do fine as well. They are a smart bunch with big hearts.

So now we come to what I was really anxious about. I've been on many mission trips. I call them service missions sometimes because I'm there to serve those in need. And by service, I mean building a house, putting down a roof, drywall, painting, yardwork, cleanup, etc. In the process, I get to know those I'm serving and sometimes faith is brought up. So sometimes it happens and a lot of the time it doesn't...and I don't bring it up. We do build a relationship though and quite meaningful at times. I think that is just as important. We really should get to know those we serve. It can teach us a lot, not just as nurses, but simply as human beings and how we should be with others. In current affairs, I won't speak about the AHA.

I'm a little long winded again. Maybe rambling again. I'll close here though with a step forward in sharing a little of my faith by putting up a "Minute Meditation" a dear friend sent me on June 16. Oddly enough it was fitting for my post on June 20 as well as tonight. And I'll put up the one for June 30, which is just as fitting. God works in mysterious ways.

June 16, 2012
Take the Leap


The Lord invites you to have confidence not in yourself but in his Holy Spirit. With him, you can do it. Take the leap and do not stop until you are in the arms of the Father, who is waiting for you.

— from Sober Intoxication of the Spirit



June 30, 2012
Minute Meditations

I Must Keep Going
What I desire most is to be faithful and to finish the race. It doesn’t matter if I finish running or crawling; all I want is to finish and hear the Father say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
— from Hiking the Camino

June 20, 2012

So last night was our last meeting as a group before we head out on June 30th.  Basically we closed some loose ends in preparation for our actual departure.  There were a lot more people present this particular evening and though I'm not sure of the actual count, I know we were missing quite a few people.  One student from our university group was ill, so we prayed for her speedy recovery as well as other things.  I believe this is the first time we had all prayed as a big group as well.  The meeting went fine with the expected excitement in the air.  I detected an air of anxiety as well, though it may have just been coming from me.  I expressed my excitement for this trip.  To be with all these young people and student nurses is very exciting and I'm looking forward to getting to know them and learn from them and vice versa.  I know together we will have priceless experiences meeting new people from Peru and sharing the Word of God.  I'm reminded at each meeting, indirectly, not to focus on the medical portion of this clinic.  Ultimately this is a much needed service we are offering that we are using as a vessel to accomplish and strengthen church planting.  I understand this to be not in the literal sense, though there is one, but moreso church in the sense of community, the individuals that will make up this church.  We will offer medical services as well as spiritual counseling to the community and by our interactions with them through, medical, the eye clinic, bible study, I am Second, child ministry and play, we help to strengthen the community so that they may continue to grow as one.  I think that's the gist.  No you may be wondering why do I not sound so sure of myself.  I have participated in many mission trips.  All these trips were service in nature such as building, cleaning, painting, etc.  Our interactions with the people naturally led to some sort dialogue or narrative, if you will.  The topics could have been about anything really, but always led to building a strong genuine relationship in such a short time.  Prayer and faith sharing found itself in these interactions but were never the initial topic or intent.  I think it just naturally came out because of the service we had done as really getting to know these people even for a short time.  I was asked last night what excites me about this trip...just going on the trip is exciting for me as well as getting to know all the good people on the trip and getting to know them and working with them.  However, I never revealed the anxiety deep down.  I've got the medical part down pat, the faith sharing not so much.  I met Thomas Coiner last night.  A fine young man talented with a camera.  He will be joining us in documenting this trip; first ever offered for the University of Alabama nursing students.  Thomas interviewed me for the pre-trip video.  It went fairly well.  He made me feel comfortable as I've never done an interview before.  In hindsight, I couldn't tell you much of what I told him.  I may not have even answered his questions correctly.  I also know I should have said things differently to be more clear on points.  So as I thought about this on my drive home, I started to question myself.  Why am I going?  This shouldn't be much different from all the other trips I've been on.  It's a different country, but I've been to different countries before.  It's part medical, but I'm clearly comfortable with my capabilities as a nurse.  So why am I going?  Yes, its my first medical mission but I'm having a hard time not focusing on that portion as directed.  I guess I'm scared about the evangelical part, the church planting, community teaching and everything else not medical.  I feel inadequate yet know this is my chance to break out of that fear and will find I know and can do a lot more in that respect than I realize.  I will have to wait and see.  Like I said, I don't remember much from an 8 minute interview.  My mind started to scatter and trying to find the words and sentences to convey my message was a train wreck.  I get that way when I'm super excited about something or super nervous about something.  I'll be preparing a little more spiritually this week and will be posting a prayer calendar as well so that my supporters and anyone else can pray along.  I'll try and regroup my thought overnight and write some more real soon.  For now, I had to get that off my chest.  Peace.

June 19, 2012

This is the letter I sent out back in April to 70+ people and linked through facebook

Some of you may know my story about mission trips. To be short and sweet, a dear friend prayed before asking me to join her on what would be my first, but definitely not last, mission trip. Well, I said yes and went on my first service mission trip to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 15+ years ago. It was an eye opener and some short time later I went on to work in youth ministry on and off for some years before I left to finish college. I went on to become a paramedic then a nurse and continue to do both presently. In 2004, I met some folks from the Boston area who were doing some service work in the area and became dear friends with the coordinator. Since 2005, I have been active in service missions with him and all the new friends I had made from the Boston area. I look forward to it every year ! However, I have always wanted to do a medical mission...someplace I could combine my profession with ministry. God has give me opportunities and blessings in the healthcare field and I want to share it with others !

So here it is! My first medical mission is to Iquitos, Peru with e3 Partners and The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing with whom I am associated with. The trip will be June 30, 2012 to July 8, 2012. The trip was realized suddenly. With the date around the corner, time is short and I need to raise $3625 by the end of April. Therefore, I am asking for your help. I have prayed about this trip and I know it will greatly impact my profession, my ministry, and our world for the better. So take a moment to pray and if you can help me I will graciously accept any amount and thank you in advance for your consideration. If you are unable to support me financially, I hope you will continue to pray for me and the participants for a safe and successful mission.