Pick Me Up

Well....it has been awhile. But better later than never, right?

Quick (and very late) update on the 5k: we raised $3,744 total for the World Water Project! Tiva Water sent me the picture posted here last Christmas showing a family who received some of the water filters that our money provided them with - incredible and powerful picture to say the least. Another (late) shoutout to everyone who helped me, supported me, donated, and came out.

Now, I want to share my pick-me-up for the week. As it is getting close (too close) to my college graduation, I am missing my dad more than usual. Today was no exception. I woke up, went to clinicals, and came home feeling exhausted and just ready to be done with nursing school. Soon after I got home, a maintenance man knocked on our door. He had come to fix one of our windows. Right away, he lifted my spirits by his smile and giggle when he asked me if I could help him figure out something on his phone. He then handed me a folded sheet of paper with a message from his devotional on it and told me he hoped it would make my day better (without even knowing that my day wasn't going well might I add). I set it aside, not thinking anything of it. Well, the window took about 45 seconds to fix, but he was at our apartment for about 45 minutes. It an easy fix which led this man to tell me numerous related stories...which led to more and more stories having nothing to do with the original topic (now you see why it took 45 minutes). He was telling me of multiple times that the Lord had clearly worked in his life, one being how he met his wife. He was from West Virginia, she was from Tennessee. He was mistakenly stationed at a base in Wyoming in August of 1968. The woman who would soon (like really soon...they got married in January) become his wife was visiting her aunt in Wyoming at the time. They both attended a church camp where they ended up meeting and falling in love. He went on to tell me more about the "lady of his dreams." Then his tone changed. On December 9th, 2012, he took the love of his life to UT Medical Center from which she would never return home again. "Jesus took her to spend Christmas with Him that year," he said. 

At this point, I was at a loss for words. This conversation had gone from casual to personal before I even knew it. Wondering where the conversation was headed, I listened quietly as he continued. He told me that the doctors and nurses that took care of his wife were angels sent from God. He even bakes them brownies from time to time, a year after his wife's stay at the hospital. And nurses love brownies, let me tell ya (hint hint). There is a fiber optic angel located on the floor his wife was on with stars around the base containing the names of every nurse and doctor his family came into contact with that week.

This man had no idea that I was fed up with nursing school more than usual this morning. He had no idea that I was even in nursing school. But he made me re-realize why I wanted to become a nurse to begin with. He made me realize that I have the best profession in the world, where I have a chance to make THAT big a difference in someone's life, even when the outcomes are not favorable. After he left, I opened up the piece of paper he gave me on his arrival. And what it is affirmed that this man's visit was definitely a God moment for me:

Just think,

You're not here by chance, but by God's choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else - you are one of a kind. You lack nothing that His grace can't give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1

When In Doubt

Doubt. Hesitation. Disbelief. It's part of our nature as humans to experience these feelings about one thing or another at some point in our lives. For me, the thing that comes to mind is God's plan. How often did I lay in my bed at night and wonder what God was doing when I lost my dad? How many times did I wonder how someone so merciful and loving would take my dad away from me? Since then, I've learned that I don't necessarily need to know a specific answer to that question. I've learned that the key to "understanding" God's plan lies in faith. Last night, the message at Crossroads was about doubt and is 100% related to what I am trying to do with the 5k so I thought I'd share it here.

In Luke 7, John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, suffers from the very same doubt that we often face. He even sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was "the one who was to come" after he had seen miracles being performed, miracles that were signs of the Messiah. His doubt arose from unmet expectations. John's message was all about repentance and righteousness. When Jesus came, His message was full of grace and mercy. He spent his time with people that were looked upon as "sinners."Because Jesus did not act how John thought he should act, he began to doubt what he had been preaching (namely, repentance). However, God's plan for His Son was for Him to first come as a Lamb and then as a Lion - that is, He was to first come with mercy and grace and then with righteousness. It's all about His timing. Patience is a virtue, right? (how many times have I heard that before...)

So here's how that ties into the 5k: I never understood God's plan for taking my dad so soon. It's much easier to say "God works all things out for good" than to believe it in the face of tragedy. Slowly, however, I did come to trust that that was true. And slowly God is revealing to me what that "good" is. My dad left a huge legacy that has impacted more people than I could ever imagine. Heck, we've even gotten emails from Iraqi translators telling us stories about my dad's influence in their lives. And now, through his legacy, more people's lives are going to be changed. Every dollar that is raised in his honor will go to giving someone a better life. My dad served his purpose here on earth and now he's with his Maker who is saying "well done my good and faithful servant."

As for the 5k, the registration obviously still isn't available, BUT that is because there's been a slight change in plans! I talked to one of the men I went to Uganda with. He works with a non-profit organization that provides water filters with antimalarial medication to those in need. He has been awesome and more than willing to help set up things for the 5k. So the money raised will now go to that organization which aids in the PREVENTION of malaria and other diseases caused by unclean water. This allows for the 5k to become more of a long-term project which is awesome! (one water filter can provide 6-10 people clean water for up to 10 years) Clean water isn't something we often worry about in the states, but it's a huge problem in other parts of the world. I posted some pictures from our trip to Uganda (thanks, Doug!) to give you a picture of the seriousness of this problem. More details to come as soon as I get them!

To be continued...

Since my last post, my life has felt like a whirlwind. If you haven't read that last post, I talked about the desire that I have had for some time now to start a non-profit organization in honor of my father who passed away when I was fourteen. I had started reading Something That Matters written by Blake Mycoskie, the man who started TOMS. And sure enough, a few days later, I had finally found the perfect idea to start "something that matters"to me. It all started simply enough (although maybe I should rename my blog because that will most likely be the last time I use the word "simple" - its been much harder than I thought!). I was thinking about how I could finally start running again that day for the first time since my foot surgery that May. That's when it hit me - why not start an annual 5k? I immediately started emailing people I knew and some that I didn't on how to get this 5k started. Since then, there have been days where I have run my phone battery down simply from returning e-mails and researching 5ks. 

The 5k is meant to benefit a combination of my father and I's passions. While we both were given big hearts for children, that love is directed in different areas. For my father, it was the Iraqi children, while the children of Uganda hold a dear spot in my heart. A little background on this: I went to Uganda on a medical mission trip in the summer of 2010 and absolutely fell in love. It broke my heart when I had to watch the children run after our bus when it was time to leave. Those precious children radiate joy, even in the face of tremendous tragedies, poverty, and illness. Skip ahead to the summer of 2012: I am now two years into nursing school. I took the required microbiology course this summer. During one of the last lectures, we discussed malaria and learned some disturbing statistics. A child dies every 30 seconds of this horrid disease, a disease we rarely even think about here, a disease that is now an endemic in 109 countries and territories. Three-fourths of these children that die live in Africa. There are prophylactic drugs readily available in America for those traveling to areas where malaria is prevalent and there are a variety of standard drugs used to treat it. In March of 2007, the company Sanofi-Aventis produced a malaria medication designed mainly for the African population. They did not patent the drug in order to maximize its access. It is a three day treatment, costing $1.00 a day for adults and $.50 a day for children. Ok really - we could buy three gum balls for the same price that it would take to cure a child of malaria. How many times do we look at a dollar and think "oh its JUST a dollar"? Well yeah it is just a dollar - a dollar that could pay for  day of malaria treatment for an African adult. That dollar isn't JUST a dollar to them - it could be the difference between life or death. 

Enough of my ranting...obviously, I have decided that the proceeds from this race will go towards buying malaria medication for children in Africa - specifically Uganda. I have yet to work out many of the details, but so far things continue to unfold perfectly when I least expect it. I have a meeting at City Hall on Thursday to finalize the date and location as well as obtain additional information on just what I need, how many volunteers, etc. But for now, the date is set for Sunday, November 4, 2012 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Also, if you have any advice or ideas (especially if you are artistic or creative seeing as God did not give me those gifts) please please let me know - every bit of input is appreciated!! I will be posting more information as it is finalized. I am SO excited!

Storytime

Today, I picked up a copy of Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, the creator of TOMS. I'm only two chapters in and already have found something to expound on here. First, a little info about the book. The back cover reads "Why this book is for you - you're ready to make a difference in the world, you want to love your work, you're inspired by method, charter: water, and FEED projects (and other organizations), you're curious, and you're looking for a new model of success." Basically the book gives you information and inspiration to start something that matters...sound familiar?

In a section entitled "The Power of Stories", Mycoskie states, "Stories are the most primitive and purest form of communication...a good story transcends boundaries, breaks barriers, and opens doors." I've never really thought about the impact of stories, no matter how many times I asked my mom or dad to tell me a story when I was a child (and they would tell you that that was not a low number). It hit me that God gives us all stories for a reason. And here is mine:

I grew up in a loving home, with incredible God-fearing parents who would drop everything the second I needed something. We had family devotions, took family vacations, watched movies together - normal family stuff. But that all changed when the phone rang one day in March of 2004. I answered, and as usual, it was for my dad. After he got off the phone, he called me and my mom into the living room and told us that he had been put on active duty and would be serving a tour in Iraq. My perfect little sheltered world had been turned upside down the second that our country had declared war. The day that I had sat in my daddy's lap and cried about when the twin towers fell had finally come. My dad was going to serve our country. 

Those 18 months were far from easy. We didn't talk everyday and when we did, the connection wasn't great. We never knew what the next phone call would bring or what we would see on the evening news. He couldn't tell us where he was or what he was doing most of the time - the only thing that we knew for sure was that he was "making Iraq his mission field." And that he did. He asked me and my mom to hold a collection at our church for soccer balls and school supplies for his troop to distribute to the children they came in contact with in Iraq. We did and sent over 600 soccer balls for him to give out! Those 18 months slowly came to an end and I finally had my world back (I'm a daddy's girl if you can't tell). November of 2005 marked a return to normalcy for my family - or so we thought.

It was May 27, 2006. It was a beautiful and relaxing Saturday and my dad spent it working in the yard. I can't remember what I was doing - probably on AIM all day along with every other middle schooler. My mom was getting her nails done. I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. Before I left, my dad was sitting under a tree cooling off and asked me to take a tool that he had borrowed back to a neighbor. I did and then left. The second my house came back into view, I knew something was wrong - I can't explain that feeling still to this day. I ran the rest of the way and found that my dad had suffered a heart attack. I immediately got my neighbors who were nurses, called 911, and called my mom to tell her what had happened. Despite every effort possible, my father went to be with the Lord that day. My heart was absolutely broken. I was only gone for 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes had changed my life forever. My world had once again fallen apart, but this time, it would never return to "normalcy" again. 

But the story doesn't end there. Later, our neighbor told us about a conversation he had had with my dad the previous day. I don't remember what they were talking about anymore, but I do remember that my dad had said the exact words, "If I die tomorrow, I'll die a happy man." This can only be seen as a message from the Lord. The despair that I was feeling slowly (VERY slowly) gave way to inspiration. Anyone that knew my dad would probably describe him with that very same word: an inspiration. He was the most selfless, caring person I have ever met. And that brought him a life full of happiness.

So I decided to follow in my dad's footsteps. His unit returned to Iraq my senior year of high school and I decided to tell my story first to my church and then at my high school to collect soccer balls and school supplies that would be sent to the children in Iraq once again. It was a great success and the men of the 278th were very thankful to be taking a part of something that had meant so much to my dad, SGM Kervin, Peacemaker 35.

This brings me to my reason for picking up Blake Mycoskie's book. There has been a desire in my heart for some time now to start a permanent organization, similar to what my dad was doing, for kids in Iraq. I'm not 100% sure what the organization's purpose will be, how it will work, or how it will be funded - basically I know nothing. I've thrown ideas around in my mind about something sports-related or even health-related since I am going into the nursing field. I'm not worried about it - it will be made clear to me in God's time.

So for now, I'll simply start with my story.

Joy

I still haven't fully decided what to use this blog for. My summer hasn't consisted of any exciting internships or trips, but nonetheless I still feel like writing is a great outlet and want to utilize it somehow. So for now, I'm just going to write.


Today, I cannot get the sweet people of Wakiso off my mind. The only slight similarity I can think of between my day today and the days we spent in Uganda was the act of counting out pills. This morning, it was to see how long I have left until I need to get my prescription refilled. Counting pills in Uganda, however, meant something totally different. For such a tedious, simple job, its impact was enormous. The pills I am referring to were multivitamins that were given to the 750+ patients we saw during the week. They were each given enough to last them a month. So here I am, counting out my pills to see when I need to run to the drugstore and get my prescription refilled, while the people that we cared for that week ran out of their pills long ago. How often do we take modern medicine and its easy accessibility for granted? In fact, in my microbiology class, we are talking about how antibiotic-resistance is increasing rapidly in Americans due to the overuse of these antimicrobial agents.


My time in Wakiso was just another confirmation of my desire to become a nurse. And with each passing day since I left that beautiful village, that desire grows more and more. I obviously don't have any big ideas on how to change the medical system of Uganda, or even any ideas on how to give the village of Wakiso a steady supply of something as simple as a multivitamin. But, for once in my life, I'm completely okay with not having a set plan. And, you know, so are the people of Wakiso. The simplest things go the longest way with them - which reminds me of one of my absolute favorite moments of the trip. The Sunday of the trip, we attended a church service at a local church. A little girl, about six or seven, ran up to me as soon as we walked in the door, grabbed my hand, and sat right on down in my lap. She didn't speak English and by no means am I able to speak Lugandan. But there was absolutely no communication barrier - only a language barrier. She knew I was there to love on her and I knew that that love was not only appreciated, but reciprocated. No words needed. With the rain pouring outside (which was a miracle in itself because they hadn't had rain in weeks), we danced and sang and just enjoyed the morning. At one point in the service, there was a time to come up and tell what God had done in their lives. The little girl sitting on my lap immediately ran up to the pastor and told him what she was thankful for. Through his translation, we learned that she said she was thankful for the shoes that we had brought her and the other children at the orphanage. Shoes. That's it. That's all it took for her to be thankful. When is the last time I took the time to be thankful after buying a new pair of shoes? More than likely the answer is never. Most would call these people and people from other third world countries "less fortunate" - but are they really less fortunate simply because they do not have access to the same things that we can access readily? In the midst of extreme sickness and heartache, they are some of the most joyful people I have ever come in contact with. Not just happy, JOYFUL. This just goes to show you that true joy in life does not come from what we have. It's simple -it comes from what you choose to make of what you DO have.

Beginnings

I've been wanting to start my own blog for some time now, but couldn't quite find the inspiration to get started. Tonight, however, as I sit up thinking about what tomorrow is, I realize that the inspiration has been there all along, I just needed a little help in bringing it to the surface. Tomorrow is Father's Day, a day that has been dreaded in my house for many years now. It is a day that is full of heartache and full of longing. The past two years have been especially full of times when the absence of my earthly father has brought incredible pain to my everyday life. He was supposed to be there to see me graduate high school. He was supposed to be there when I started college. He was supposed to be there to tell me his jokes, full of his dry humor that I now realize I took for granted. He was supposed to be there for the past seven Father's Days. But for some reason that I have yet to fully understand, he's not here.


The Lord reminded me of something that is going to turn the meaning of Father's Day completely around for me. The reminder is simple, one I have heard many times throughout my years of Sunday school: I am not fatherless, I am God's child. This reminder came from today's reading in Jesus Calling. The fact that we are God's children is not even the topic of today's devotional - but God has an awesome and subtle way of sending us reminders when we need them the most, doesn't He? The topic of today's reading does provide further meaning for this reminder. Since we are God's children, we must obey Him. I know I didn't always behave for my dad - and I know he would tell you the same. A particular instance comes to mind, that I know he would bring up to this day if he were here. When I was about seven or eight, he offered to voluntarily swallow a tablespoon full of vinegar if I took the tablespoon of antibiotics I was supposed to take. Let's just say he followed through on his word while I on the other hand, did not. The last line of the devotional reads: "What I require of you is to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Me - wherever I lead." As I mentioned before, I have yet to fully realize how my father's passing fits into God's plans for my life. But the best part is that I don't need to understand right now. It's simple (hence the title of my blog). Just as my dad knew what was best for me with taking my antibiotics, my heavenly Father also has my best interest in mind.


So this Father's Day, I choose not to concentrate on the voidness and hurt that I feel in my heart. Instead, I choose to fill my day walking with my heavenly Father wherever that may take me.

"Stay on the high road with Me. Many voices clamor for your attention, trying to divert you to another path. But I have called you to walk ever so closely with Me, soaking in My Presence, living in My Peace. This is My unique design for you, planed before the world began. I have called each of My children to a different path, distinctly designed for that one. Do not let anyone convince you that his path is the only right way. And be careful not to extol your path as superior to another's way. What I require of you is to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Me - wherever I lead."
-Jesus Calling