God Provides

You all may already know that I have had a desire for awhile now to go back overseas. I have been researching programs online and trying to figure out a way to break into the relief or aid work business. The costs are higher than I can manage in most cases and that kind of puts a damper on things. Lately, though, I've been thinking I should be going overseas in a missions capacity like I did last time and recommitting that part of my life to God.

It's funny, as soon as I started thinking along those lines the promise of an opportunity presented itself. I was talking to my mom and she mentioned that our church in Muskegon is having a missions focus this week in the hopes of raising the interest of its own members to commit to short-term missions projects. Apparently, the church raises more money than it takes to support our missionaries and they want to use the excess to send some of their own members on projects. I think it is a good idea.

Of course, all of this is just in the beginning stages and I know nothing solid at this time, but the prospect makes me very excited and thankful. But, if this doesn't work out I am confident that something will. God does not give you a desire for nothing.

In other news: my back still hurts, but not as much. Praise the Lord!

I am also in need of a partner for outdoor activities such as biking, kayaking, hiking, rollerblading. Please let me know if you are interested in pursuing these activities at a beginner's level. :)

Back to Back

Well, I have successfully pulled my back and joined the tens of thousands of other nursing assistants who have done the same. There wasn't an event, per se. I just started feeling discomfort when I bent over which grew into pain. And it really does hurt. Not severely, but still.... I had to call in to work today, but I had to go to my work building twice. Once to get authorization to see the doctor at Occupational Health Services and once to give them the doctor's orders.

So...I have fatigued a lumbar muscle by over use (big surprise there) and I am now on restrictions until Monday when I have another appointment with that doctor. I'm basically back to being an ancillary aide passing water, feeding and anything else that doesn't require lifting. That would be fine except they're insisting I work day shift so tomorrow I have to be at work at 7:30 in the morning. I am NOT happy about that, but I guess it is nice they have a program that allows you to work and get hours at your regular pay even when you are injured. I'm hoping that with a lot of rest this weekend I will be better by next week.

The most comfortable position is lying flat on my back with my knees up, so that's how I am right now and will be for the foreseeable future.

I'll keep you posted.

Perseverance

I was told recently that people are still checking this blog in the faint hope that I have written something new. I thought that everyone had long since stopped visiting. It makes me very happy that people still care.

Thoughts about work: I need to find a job that's a little easier on my back. I woke up today with lower back pain and had to take some ibuprofen. I have been on the heaviest section at work for the past couple of days and it is started to get me. I have recently applied to a couple of jobs at hospitals for which I am technically qualified, but it will be some time, I believe, before I get an interview anywhere. I think I will apply to jobs both here in Ann Arbor and in Grand Rapids and see what happens.

More to come....

Direction

Last week I signed up to sponsor a child through World Vision. Her name is Mary, she is eight and she lives in Kenya. I can't wait to start writing letters to her and hearing from her what her life is like. Perhaps one day I will even visit her. After I signed up I took some time frolicking about on World Vision's website and realized that I would love to work for an organization like that - a Christian relief organization. This thought lines right up with my previous ramblings about what I would do with millions of dollars.

So I was thinking....get a degree in a health profession - as quickly as possible - and start doing what I want to do. Just do it.

I'm also learning a lot about the health problems in Africa. HIV/AIDS is the most devastating. I always ignored the problem before; I guess I just wasn't that interested, but there is a lot of information out there about the pandemic (and also about the western world's lack of attention.) There is a lot I did not know.

I remember back at Hillsdale that Sandy Wisner and Megan Prahl (and others) went to Uganda with Jennie Dangers to work at an orphanage filled with kids whose parents died of AIDS. I would like to do that now.

But not a real green dress, that's cruel

I heard that Barenaked Ladies song on the radio recently...."If I Had a Million Dollars." It started me thinking. What would I do with a million dollars, really, if it showed up tomorrow?

This may not be too incredibly original, but I really think this is how it would go. First, I would go quit my job. Then I think, wait, I need that direct patient care experience if I'm going to get into a PA program. And I would definitely still want to do something with my life.....

While I debate how I could make a difference in the world, I would begin buying property, building houses and selling them, which would bring in a nice little profit, starting small, but growing the enterprise into a self-sustaining and practically self-multiplying venture.

I would then use my oodles of money to start my own Christian, international health organization that would bring arsenic-free water to the people of Bangladesh and supplies to the AIDS orphanages in Uganda. I would spend my life traveling the globe, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of those the Lord brings within the organization's reach.

That sounds so wonderful, and perhaps a bit over reaching. Hmmm.......Maybe I should go into missions. I don't need a million dollars to do that.

What would you do with a million dollars, really?

The Secret's Out

It was never really a secret I guess, but I wasn't going to post about it. However, most of you already know I have a new boyfriend, which is why I haven't been posting much. It's just so much more fun to spend time with him than to sit in front of a computer. This is the happiest I have been in a long time. (At least since September :) )

On a different note, I read recently in Scientific American that researchers are coming close to developing a heart "patch," a piece of cardiac tissue engineered to replace sections of dead heart muscle. Some people I have talked to are all for this, some are staunchly against tissue engineering because we shouldn't be playing God. I'm not totally certain what my position is, but I can't help but think that God, the almighty, omniscient Creator will not allow us to play God. That is, He will not allow us to go in directions we shouldn't. The methods and research just won't work because we are not God and cannot create as He did. On the other hand, God allows us to do things in our daily lives we shouldn't do and we must make the choice to leave certain things alone.

Do you think that we should pursue tissue engineering research to its limits, trusting God to remain in control or do you think we should pull back, being careful not to tread where we do not belong? This is a big question, but do you all have any thoughts? Even fragmented ones? :)

My Apologies

Well everyone, I am sorry I haven't been posting. I have not had much free time lately because of my two jobs and the incessant pile of dishes. :) I have had time to make some new friends at work and I'm really settling into my job.

My friends from high school are again talking about our annual Christmas gathering. The group has gotten together every December since our freshman year in college. It is a wonderful way to keep in touch and see everyone. I have missed it twice. Once because I was in North Carolina and once because of inclement weather. I am really looking forward to it this year. I can't believe Christmas is just next month!

Here's to posting more and more interestingly....