I can't believe that week 3 is over already but also that we've only finished week 3! We're all like family, but we've only known each other for 3 weeks! It feels like it should be longer than that! Our room of 6 girls is like a room of sisters, and it's so much fun! It's funny sometimes of all the different cultures that we have here on base! The other day we mentioned garbage disposals, and Hannah, from Sweeden, says "Oh! I've seen those in movies!" We all laughed. It was really cool this morning to look around the room at all the countries represented as a group of us watched the Olympic opening ceremonies. In the room was the US (obviously), England, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, Colombia, and Israel. Where else could I watch the Olympics with all of these countries in the country of New Zealand! It was really awesome!
Last weekend, we went to Karanghake Gorge as a field trip and hiked! The area was originally used for gold mining, and now it is a park. At the end, I had a Coke float, which tasted fantastic!
Later that night, a group of us went to the hot springs that are by base. It's not actually a natural hot spring, so essentially it is just a swimming pool filled with hot water, which felt great after hiking all day!
Sunday Natalie and I went exploring the town of Tauranga since she is a Kiwi and has her car. I had my first New Zealand Starbuck's! It was delicious! It felt great to get off base for a little bit!
This week lectures were rather uneventful for me. We discussed the nature and character of God, and a lot of it was information that I learned in church growing up. We discussed the Trinity in depth, how God keeps His covenants, and then various attributes of His character like He is holy, giving, loving, etc. Our speaker was really awesome- his name is Femi and he is fiesty and sassy. We loved having him!
For me personally, the real impact of the week came with my quiet moments alone with God. I found my heart softening and forgiveness really taking root in areas that I have long been angry. I found God undoing lies that have been rooted since I was 11. I found myself laughing and I found myself weeping. I found myself Friday night pouring my heart out in prayer in a way that I haven't experience in years.
One of the big things I've been praying about this week is what post-DTS life looks like for me. The plan has been to return home and return back to the ICU that I love, but other options to work as a missionary and a nurse together have been placed on the table. The beginning of the week, I really was struggling with the whole concept. Part of me wants to go work in missions full time and the adventure that would be, but part of me wants to go home and return back to the ICU as well. I know too that if I become a full-time missionary now, I may never work in a hospital again because I wouldn't have the necessary experience. It was a scary thought to think about. I finally though have come to a place where I've laid the decision at the cross. I've place it there and left it, saying "God, I trust that you'll reveal your guidance and direction in Your Timing, I trust that you'll make it clear." I don't know where God is going to take me, but the longer that I stress about it and try to finagle a way to get my own way, the more I'm at risk of venturing out of God's plan, which is a place I don't want to find myself. At some point, God will give me an answer, and the adventure either way will be awesome. Right now, I'm going to push all of my energy into knowing Him better and deeper.
For all of the medical people, wondering what's all happening, we are beginning all of our training. With the exception of me, all of the "medical stream" are participating in a CPR/first aid course this weekend. Most of the school aren't medical professionals, they are here to get their feet wet in the medical world a little. There are a few medical people though- Natalie is a physical therapist, Cason is an athletic trainer (which has a medical aspect to it- kind of like a physical therapist), Kiwi Jess just graduated nursing school, and we have a couple of people that just graduated as EMT's. I thankfully brought my ACLS card with me, which meant I did not have to participate in yet another CPR class. I am pretty confident in my CPR skills. This week we will begin training for wound care in the field, which won't look quite like wound care at Kennestone Hospital due to the limited resources of being in remote villages of Vanuatu.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey! I can't wait to continue to share all of my stories!
