Experiences are things to be valued! Good or bad, easy or difficult…experiences make us who we are and who we will become. Some experiences, more than others, are life-changing. This has been one of those life-changing experiences for me! God blessed me with the opportunity to live among another culture…for the first time I was amongst the minority (where I now reside, Nathan and I are the only two white people). On this journey I have worked at one of the largest mission hospitals in Kenya, I have stood within 10 feet from wild animals, I have experienced life in the slums of Nairobi, I have worked in an outpatient clinic with the Mausai, and I have traveled to a land that very few white people have ever witnessed! On Tuesday of this week I traveled 2 hours farther into the “bush” into an area that is very densely inhabited and is mostly populated by wild animals. The “road” we traveled was a dirt path filled with large rocks and potholes…the path winded around open plains, through the bush, and over mountains. When we reached our destination I realized how unique this opportunity was. I was told that about one white person per year visits this village. After arriving we hiked through the fields and partially up a mountainside…the view was stunning, we visited the Mausai villagers, then we went to the clinic to supply healthcare. I was the main provider supplying prenatal care…I was amazed at how quickly the facility filled once the villagers heard the white doctors were present! It was a long day, but it was one of those days that only come once in lifetime. As we traveled home that night I rested my head against the vehicle door. With my window rolled down and the cool breeze blowing against my face, I gazed at the multitude of stars in the sky. I sat quietly for 2 hours recollecting my journey these past two months. How can I sum up everything I have experienced, how can I share what God has done in my life the last 52 days??? Words and pictures can only explain so much. More than anything throughout this journey I have longed to share my experiences with my loved ones, especially my fiancé, Justin Crowe. I have desired for others to experience these moments and to see the power of God firsthand. At the end of my journey I have come to appreciate this time alone with God. While I desired to share so much with others, He just desired to share time with me! God knows best!!! He knew that I needed this time alone with Him, He knew that I needed to grow in my faith, that I needed to fall even deeper in love with Him! You see, in 37 days I will no longer be alone…I will become one with my fiancé. God has used this journey to help prepare me for my future marriage…He has strengthened my love for Him so that I am able to always love Him more! He has provided me with a strong foundation going into my marriage. God has opened my eyes to so very much these past two months. More than anything I look forward to seeing how this journey leads to future opportunities to serve! My fiancé and I are very open to Gods plan for our lives; we are both very willing to go wherever He leads! In 37 days I will get to marry an extraordinary guy that God has placed in my life, then in June I will graduate from physician assistant school, then…it is up to God! Not having a plan would have scared me in the past, but now I know that God has a plan! I trust that God will use the skills that He has blessed Justin and I with to best glorify Him! Thank you God for this amazing opportunity to serve you, to glorify you, and to fall deeper in love with you!
“Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:34-39
Friday, November 12, 2010
Inspired
For those that know me, most would agree that I am an excellent planner. I have planned many events in my life, all of which were successful. Even now, I find myself planning my meals each day…rationing out my portions so that my food will sustain through the next couple of weeks. I feel like planning can be a very good quality, one to be admired. But I have begun to ask myself…am I relying on my plans or my faith in God? Sometimes I feel as though my plans are a hindrance on my faith and trust in God. It is the daily reliance on God that I struggle so greatly with. Even now, if I had not planned my meals adequately, would I trust that God would provide for me? I have lived 28 years relying on my plans. I have never once questioned where my food was going to come from…I know food is available and I have the resources to obtain it. I have never once been forced to go hungry. Malnutrition is a serious problem in Kenya. Food stamps do not exist in this country…children starve to death. Gaining weight is something that most Kenyans desire. Well-nourished and overweight Kenyans are seen as being very wealthy. Many Kenyans do not know where their next meal is coming from, but they do not worry…they trust that God will provide for them. Me, I feel like I am just now learning how to rely on God. I have taken a step back from my plans, even with my food, and began to fully rely upon God’s provisions.
I have been extremely blessed with an amazing group of friends that have become my church family at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, KY! There are many extraordinary women that I admire and look to as examples of faithful servants within my family. This past week, from thousands of miles away, they inspired me! Many of my brothers and sisters at this church have accepted a challenge…the challenge is to give faithfully for 30 days! I long to see how the results from this challenge will impact my community!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
“Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44-45
“The most important one: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’” Mark 12:41-44
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
We are commanded to love one another and give to the poor…God commands that of us!
I was reminded by those that I love dearly how important a spirit of giving can be! Thank you for that! The day after I read about this challenge I was sitting in clinic seeing patients. It was a typical day...6 year old boy with HIV, 13 year old girl pregnant, patients with malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, AIDS. The story of every patient is very sad, but it is something I have learned to endure. For some reason today (11/4), one particular patient’s story brought me to tears. A 63 year old HIV+ woman was in need of more ARVs (Antiretroviral Drugs), although according to her last prescription her medication should not be out. She was asked why she needed more drugs, and in Swahili she very calmly replied that her house burnt down and her medicine was inside. The conversation continued, but questions began to race through my mind. So, I asked where she was staying, if everything was burnt, if anyone was injured, if she had a means to food. Once again very calmly the woman replied that everything she owned was burned; even her grandchild was killed in the fire. This woman had NOTHING! She was homeless, had no food, no clothing, had just lost her grandchild, and all she was asking for was a refill on her medication. She was not looking for a hand-out; she wasn’t even looking for sympathy…simply just her medicine. I’m not for sure why her story compelled me anymore than the rest of my patients, but I was drawn to do more for her. I immediately left the clinic and with tear filled eyes walked about 100 yards to my house. Once I got there I filled a plastic bag with some clothing and food. It was not much, and I longed to do more, but to her it was everything! She was not looking for generosity and I was not looking for gratitude, but we each found both. When I handed her the bag, she smiled from appreciation! After losing so much, how could so little make someone so happy!?! Shortly afterward, I went to the HIV Support Group meeting where I have been giving a lecture each Thursday and my patient was seated on the front row. She never stopped grinning at me throughout the whole lecture. I desire to find joy as she has in the small things in life! Her smile will always be with me!
I will conclude with a story. God compelled me to give this elderly woman a portion of my food, which left me without enough for the remainder of the trip…I was going to be without food for the last three days of my journey. Last night (11/11) some long-term missionaries passed through Ewaso Ngiro and stayed overnight. They invited Nathan and me over to enjoy some brownies and ice cream….WOW, what a treat! After their departure this morning, I found that they had left us with plenty of food to last through the remainder of our stay here! God is incredible!!!
I have been extremely blessed with an amazing group of friends that have become my church family at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, KY! There are many extraordinary women that I admire and look to as examples of faithful servants within my family. This past week, from thousands of miles away, they inspired me! Many of my brothers and sisters at this church have accepted a challenge…the challenge is to give faithfully for 30 days! I long to see how the results from this challenge will impact my community!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
“Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44-45
“The most important one: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’” Mark 12:41-44
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
We are commanded to love one another and give to the poor…God commands that of us!
I was reminded by those that I love dearly how important a spirit of giving can be! Thank you for that! The day after I read about this challenge I was sitting in clinic seeing patients. It was a typical day...6 year old boy with HIV, 13 year old girl pregnant, patients with malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, AIDS. The story of every patient is very sad, but it is something I have learned to endure. For some reason today (11/4), one particular patient’s story brought me to tears. A 63 year old HIV+ woman was in need of more ARVs (Antiretroviral Drugs), although according to her last prescription her medication should not be out. She was asked why she needed more drugs, and in Swahili she very calmly replied that her house burnt down and her medicine was inside. The conversation continued, but questions began to race through my mind. So, I asked where she was staying, if everything was burnt, if anyone was injured, if she had a means to food. Once again very calmly the woman replied that everything she owned was burned; even her grandchild was killed in the fire. This woman had NOTHING! She was homeless, had no food, no clothing, had just lost her grandchild, and all she was asking for was a refill on her medication. She was not looking for a hand-out; she wasn’t even looking for sympathy…simply just her medicine. I’m not for sure why her story compelled me anymore than the rest of my patients, but I was drawn to do more for her. I immediately left the clinic and with tear filled eyes walked about 100 yards to my house. Once I got there I filled a plastic bag with some clothing and food. It was not much, and I longed to do more, but to her it was everything! She was not looking for generosity and I was not looking for gratitude, but we each found both. When I handed her the bag, she smiled from appreciation! After losing so much, how could so little make someone so happy!?! Shortly afterward, I went to the HIV Support Group meeting where I have been giving a lecture each Thursday and my patient was seated on the front row. She never stopped grinning at me throughout the whole lecture. I desire to find joy as she has in the small things in life! Her smile will always be with me!
I will conclude with a story. God compelled me to give this elderly woman a portion of my food, which left me without enough for the remainder of the trip…I was going to be without food for the last three days of my journey. Last night (11/11) some long-term missionaries passed through Ewaso Ngiro and stayed overnight. They invited Nathan and me over to enjoy some brownies and ice cream….WOW, what a treat! After their departure this morning, I found that they had left us with plenty of food to last through the remainder of our stay here! God is incredible!!!
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