Saturday July 2, 2011 5:00pm
somewhere flying over the Atlantic Ocean between Fl and the DR......
This is it. I can't believe I'm on the plane to interview to be a medical missionary. I've never experienced the emotions I have been the past couple of days. I am so peaceful and excited. I can't wait to see what the next 5 days hold. My future? I am blessed to have so many people at home praying for me. When I left my parents this morning it felt like I was leaving for longer than 5 days, like this is the beginning.
11:15pm
I had dinner with my potential site leader tonight. It was lovely. It's incredible to see how God has worked in their lives. We all have such different stories yet the same unexpected calling. Everyone seems to be so excited about the possibility of me. The outreach that can happen. I just pray to listen to you, Oh Lord, and not all these outside voices who want me to be here. It's scary the thought of moving here but is there something to be said that I am more comfortable on a plane full of Dominicans than Americans? That I can see myself having a Dominican house but not an American? And not just because it would be orange. Oh the struggles of doubting. Lord, you told me this morning to trust. I am trusting in you. I want to follow you. Show me over the next couple of days where you want me to be. Relieve my mind of doubt. Show me, walk with me, carry me and I will follow. I thank you for laying this country so firmly on my heart. I can't leave it behind. It just keeps pressing. Provide me with the words to speak and the questions to ask. This feels so right, like I can breathe. I don't know how everything is going to come together but I just need to trust.
Sunday July 3, 2011 8:00am
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Isaiah 26:3
I keep telling people over the past couple of days that I am so calm and at such peace without anxiety. I truly believe this peace is because I am trusting. Trusting that I am in His hands. That He knows where I belong better than I. That it will be made clear on this journey.
Monday July 4, 2011 7:00am
This is the second year in a row I haven't been in the states for Independence day. Sorry I didn't write last night. It was a very exhausting day. I went to an American-Dominican church in the morning. The sermon was translated which was great. And I did get some good Spanish worship in there! The last song they sang was "In Christ Alone" in Espanol. I have been listening to that song pretty incessantly at home so it was pretty incredible to hear it in Jarabacoa. The sermon was from Ezra and talked about Cyrus the King of Persia listening to the way God was moving his heart. The pastor talked about how we need to learn to listen. I think that's a lot of our problem as humans. Everyone keeps telling me how kool it is that God is speaking to me, but I think our Lord speaks to all of us. We just have to train ourselves to listen.
At the end of the service I met a Canadian medical missionary who has training in tropical diseases. She has been in Jarabacoa for 10 years and has her own clinic! Awesome! I definitely could have talked with her all day. It was encouraging to see someone within the medical field. I've met many teachers and social workers, etc who are missionaries but I am ashamed at the lack of international full time medical health care providers. With there being such need!!
Afterwards, I had lunch with the doctor I will be working with and his family. It was delicious. Lots of rice and beans and vegetables! They are so kind to cater towards my vegetarianism! Following that I spent the afternoon with a young missionary couple who are in charge of all the students when they come on trips and stay at the base. It was so nice to sit and speak with people who were my age and living here. That was huge for me. To get a 20-something American missionary perspective. I had dinner that night with two power house couples. The President of all of SI and the directors of SI-DR. It was a bit intimidating. That felt like my interview. They asked me some tough questions about my training, my vision, my testimony, my loan issue. But it was also incredible that little ole me, with big dreams was given the opportunity to sit at a table and dream about where God will lead me.
Last thought- I guess Sat I was so pumped and yesterday was pretty overwhelming. I think that is the best way to describe how I am feeling. Overwhelmed. Lord, am I ready for this?
9:00pm
And He answers trust in me. It has been incredible connecting with the missionaries here. I spent the morning in the hospital with my dear doctor friend. I have to say, every other time I have been in the DR I have felt like a tourist. This is the first time I can truly see myself living here. Over the past two days I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of mission work. I have envisioned what my life would be like here and I have to say I get pretty excited about the possibilities. There is so much need and so much I can do. I had lunch with a single female missionary today. That was huge to hear her perspective. To hear how she hasn't dated since being here and all the weddings, babies being born and time with friends she has missed- but to hear how God has worked through her ministry. She is in charge of the best special ed school in the country! And the only in about a 50 mile radius.
I spent the afternoon vision dreaming with my potential site leader. He showed me where SI is building a clinic. A beautiful clinic next to their Physical Therapy site. I spoke with the Physical Therapist about how he moved down here and is practicing. It was fantastic to speak with someone who understands what it's like to leave American medicine. We then went to remote villages where I can start clinics! I just cannot believe this is where I am. Just from SDR in Las Terrenas to here with SI and Jarabacoa. The need is tremendous. My job would never end. My future site leader and I have a shared vision. Work in the "urban" clinic for the poor several days a week. Community health outreach with health care education and prevention in the remote villages. Starting clinics and home visits in the mountains. Regular clinics for the schools SI runs with initiation of health care record charts. In my ministry I would surely be able to work with American students to help me with the Dominicans! To reach those who would previously never have access to health care. What a blessing! And a prayer answered. To be able to pray with my patients and combine spiritual with physical healing! To follow the Greatest Healer.
HRC came this afternoon. It was incredible to be able to share with my Pastor and dear friend all that has transpired. I of course filled them in on everything. Today I am feeling this is possible. I get so excited thinking of where God is leading me. I have to say I do get nervous when I think of all that I could see and not know what to do (medicinally). But it's just like in the states- trust that Jesus will work through me, after all he is entrusting me with his children and whatever I don't know I will find someone who does.
Tomorrow is my 2 and a half hour interview. I'm not nervous but also not really looking forward to it. I don't love sitting down and talking about myself but I suppose it has to be done. I am just trusting. Trusting God that this is His path for me. That everything has led me up to now.
Tuesday July 5, 2011 7:15am
"He has shown you, O man, What is good. And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8
A season. I am called to be here for at least a season, a couple of years. Then to be determined. Can I handle piloting a new ministry site? Not alone. But with the strength of the Lord anything is possible. Did Moses think he could lead Israel out of Egypt? Did David think he could defeat Goliath? Did Mary think she could give birth to Our Savior? With trust, love and faith in the ruler of all we can. It is possible. Everything. Can I hang with youth and teach them? I didn't think so a year ago, but yesterday I had teenage girls shouting my name and running up to hug me. Telling me I would be great as a site leader. Was that you Lord? All is possible through you. Mountains move. Hearts change. Missionaries are born. Am I scared. Yes. Do I have moments where I am so excited I could jump up and down. Yes. Do I have moments where I am petrified? Yes. But through all of this no anxiety or unrest. Just peace and purpose. Today I am excited for my interview. To share. My path. Our path. Please be with me. May my words be yours. May I understand your will for me and proceed forth. Heavenly Father, I just praise you. I thank you for bringing me to this place. For making all these connections. To meet people who don't look at you crazy when you have this will and desire to live in another place. Thank you for this road we are embarking on together. You have not left me.
10:45pm
I love this place. But, once again I go home with such peace and conviction. My interview went great. I was a tiny bit nervous at the beginning but the Lord showed himself faithful and calmed my nerves. I feel as though they truly got a grasp on who I am. Our visions are parallel. I cannot believe that all I have been dreaming will become a reality. I was accepted on staff. Praise the Lord! I can finally move forward. Many things have to happen before I am here. My largest hurtle is my huge amount of student loan debt. So here I am praying and challenging our Father. To give my faith to you and believe that anything is possible through you. This is where you want me to be. Bring me here. These past few days have been incredible. And if My God is for us, than who could ever stop us? I am ok with that.
Wednesday July 6, 2011 7:00am
"Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me."
Micah 7:7
I am leaving today but without sorrow in my heart. I always know that I will be back. Perhaps it won't be for a year, but this is where God wants me to be. Every missionary has their inbetween year; their year of fundraising and of faith growing. I am inpatient and eager to get to the mission field right now, but all these things take time. Thank goodness I am finally in a job back in the states that I like. My God will hear me. Trust. Two resounding themes of the past week. It's time to take a leap of faith. At this moment I am not so overwhelmed; I'm where I need to be. I know there will be many times over the next year when I am frustrated or sad or torn. These I will lift up to our Father. To trust that this is where he wants me; all in his timing. I just pray for guidance. I pray for patience with those around me who won't understand the journey I am on.
10:30 pm
I was so blessed to spend a couple of hours sharing with my parents all that has happened over the past couple of days. They were pretty incredible. I am taking a couple of weeks to think about my timeline for things and start thinking about fundraising. I would love to have a kick-off event. The ideas are pouring in. Back to reality tomorrow. I pray for courage, patience, trust and perseverance over this next year.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
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| Physical Therapy Site |
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| Physical Therapy Site |
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| Future Medical Site Clinic |
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| El Callejon- Social Work site, hopeful future community outreach! |
