I've laughed and hollared a lot in the past days..... I'm cleaning the scary storeroom and yesterday I found two ENORMOUS ( possibly they were small dogs) rats. There was some screaming before Tony the do-everything-guy came up and kindly disposed of them. That was better than earlier in the day when a LIVE one surprised me and had me standing on the OR table shrieking "SE FUE! SE FUE! It went! It went!" and pointing out the other door. I'm sure that I am fodder for much entertainment to my new friends here. After I was sure it wasn't going to run up my leg or arm, I laughed so hard I was crying. Poor Tony- I am always calling him to help me do something and I'm sure he thinks I am coo-coo for coco puffs. He' s the most cheerful person I've ever met, always singing as he goes about his work. He is an awesome reminder for me to stay POSITIVE, even among chaos or sadness. And here's a beautiful positive note for today: I haven't seen a single one! Yay! AND there is one very small corner (and I mean TINY corner) of the scary storeroom that almost looks a little bit good.
Earlier this week I was walking in a barrio with my friend Kristin and we went to a house where there was a 6 year old burn victim. I'm not going to give names here...but I would appreciate any prayers for this sweet little girl who has burns over her back, buttocks, and thighs. She was screaming during her dressing changes, which we could hear from the street. It was pretty awful to hear, and phenomenally awful for me to see (this is why I can never work in PEDS). But I was encouraged to hear later from Kristin that she is improving with some slight plan-of-care changes and new bandages and new meds. We prayed over her mother...because I cannot imagine what it would be like to rip burn dressings off your screaming daughter while others hold her down. I am always amazed at how folks can live with pain here, especially when I consider myself nearly dead when I have the flu or a migraine. Yet another challenge: how do I help folks carry their burders of pain? Physical or spiritual or emotional? How do we DO LIFE together when someone is suffering and I don't know what to doooooooo? More things that I am pondering........
On another note- It was great to bump into some folks from home in San Juan on Sunday and get the AWESOME packages that mom sent me. Yay- I have an awesome new devotional JESUS CALLING that I'm so psyched to start...as well as my favorite movie SUGAR to view at least weekly. Yesterday Jesus Calling had this to say: "Thank Me when things don't go your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials. Adverse circumstances are normal in a fallen world. Expect them every day. Rejoice in the face of hardship...FOR I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
Yay....
Bendiciones amigos... He HAS overcome the world.
Thanks Nik, awesome post.Miss you but love that you are growing so close to God and sharing your love with us.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Wow, Nik! I am just living vicariously through your journey! Especially when I hear of 60 degrees! We are in the middle of a snowstorm!! I haven't communicated for a week as my mother was in the hospital.....change in mental status that I figured out was a UTI! Can't believe the way it affects the elderly! Anyway, she is home now, Thank God! 24 hour care but she is doing so much better that its really not necessary! Am interested, and praying for, the little burn girl. My masters is in Burns, Emergency and Trauma, and I taught burn care in Russia. Many memories there! Let me know if I can send something and with who to get it to. Also have a question: if I were to come on my own, is it possible and safe to travel to the mission and how far (hours) away from airport? Take care and know you are in my prayers for all to be well. Lori Bell
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