The Growing Stage

     Today marked the first day - of many days to come - of getting up at 5:00 to work out with Nadege.  We went to the roof, where the sun was not yet up, but rising, and the rays coming over the mountain were amazing...the view was miraculous, and the cool morning breeze made everything perfect.  This in itself will be motivation alone to get up.  To see God's creation, so beautiful, made me feel such a connection with God.
     It has been a month (and half a week) since we first arrived here in Haiti, and the time here has challenged me in many ways already.

      I have been challenged in the nursing realm: to critically think through symptoms and decide on the potential illness - one that we don't have at home.  ( Some of the symptoms are the same as home, all the illnesses are different).
     I have been training a Haitian nurse to take over the school nursing position, which is ironic considering this is the first time I've worked this position as well.  Working with Jesula, the nurse, has challenged me to be open to a different nursing opinion than my own, adjust to the laid-back culture, and be very patient.
     Nursing has revealed assumptions I have made, that have been wrong.  I have seen some terrible things when the children come to me.  Worms in one child's foot cutting of the circulation and having the potential to take his foot from him if the problem persisted.  This was a rough day for me.  I instantly became mad with the parents, and could not imagine how the parents could allow this boy's foot to become so bad.  I still don't know.  I sent home the medication needed to help heal the foot, and prayed that they would follow the instructions I laid out, but knew if they didn't his foot could be far worse the next time I saw him.  I would be lying if I said I was not surprised when the next time I saw him his foot had begun to heal.
     This is where the assumptions come.  I believed the parents did not care enough to take care of this boy; but, given the right resources they were able to look after him.  He is still recovering, but he is recovering.  After remarking on the lack of care the parents had, I learned that many Haitian parents work all day to provide food for their family.  A day without work to go to the clinic for help would mean a day without pay.  I am torn, and still working through my feelings on the justification of this, but it is still a reason.  I am learning to understand the way a culture living in poverty works.

     I have been challenged in the spiritual realm: to set time for God, and time for my devotions.  Through this time I have already seen a growth in my connection with God, and my understanding of His word.  I have felt more of a peace regarding the unknown future (I mean years from now)... but i believe God has also been giving Jeremy and I dreams for the future in a country we have not yet been.  We will see what is to come.
     These dreams have been exciting, but also tough as I think of the time away from my family.  But I know that God knows my heart, and when I follow his will for our lives, then He will provide a means to connect with family.

     This hasn't been a challenge, but Jeremy and I have grown in our marriage in the short time we have been here.  Living in a different culture, following the call on our life, dreaming of the future, has all helped the strengthen the bond we already have.

      In all, I do not believe that Jeremy and I are called to Haiti for a long-term duration - although know one really knows the future.....  But I do believe that we are hear to grow in many ways, and prepare ourselves for the future to come.