Thankful Thursday!

 

On this particular Thursday, I am simply thankful that God is in control!

I'm Famous!

Yup!  It's my autograph that you will find on my supervisor Phil's CPR for the Professional Rescuer card.  We did that this morning.  And you'll find my autograph on Phil's supervisor Barb's CPR for the Professional Rescuer card.  We did that a year ago.  And it's my autograph that you'll find on Barb's supervisor Scott's CPR for the Professional Rescuer card.  Scott's the Y Director and we did that last night. 

Taking a risk . . .

I feel like by posting this on my blog, I am taking a risk.  I'm not sure what the risk is, exactly, except to say that I found this to be a very interesting, enlightening article.  It was sent to me by a very dear friend who has also adopted children of a race not the same as hers.  "Make Black Lives Matter."

http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/item/24006-making-black-lives-matter 

"Fortunately, Unfortunately"

Do you remember the book, "Fortunately, Unfortunately" by Michael Foreman?  

Unfortunately, that was my morning at the Y.

Fortunately, I prayed last night that God would wake me up with enough time to get to the Y in order to do what I needed to do before class began.

Unfortunately, I did not sleep well last night.

Fortunately, I got to the Y only ten minutes later than I had hoped.

Unfortunately, the room I thought I was teaching CPR in had "New Staff Orientation."

Fortunately, a friend from my time in Bloomington was teaching the class and I had not seen her since 2002!

Unfortunately, now I was running even later.

Fortunately, Leah was working at the front desk and she put me in the Kids' Stuff gym.

Unfortunately, it had no tables or chairs.

Fortunately, we could get by without them.

Unfortunately, the room echoed.

Fortunately, it did have a big blue mat (knee savers!) on the floor so I didn't need to carry one in.

Unfortunately, when I went to get the manikins from their closet, there were a ton of big boxes in the way and I couldn't get to them.

Fortunately, Leah was working and she called maintenance to move boxes.

Unfortunately, they were in the boiler room at the time and didn't hear the page.

Fortunately, Leah was still working and gave me one of her strong male front desk staff to move my boxes.

Unfortunately, the doors were locked to the gym and the alarm was set.

Fortunately, Leah was still working and unlocked the doors and disarmed the alarm.

Unfortunately, a second guy showed up for class and I was only expecting one.

Fortunately, he was in the wrong room and I sent him to New Staff Orientation.

Unfortunately, two more people showed up for class and they had not completed their on-line portion.

Fortunately, only one of them left in tears.

Unfortunately, my class started late.

Fortunately, no one seemed to mind.  

Just another great day at the y . . .

 

Thankful Thursday!

How thankful I am to be able to walk the dog, run and swim again!  One of Annie and my favorite places to go is Raven Lake.  I thought I'd share some of the fun mushrooms I've found there since I've been back - and I don't even like to eat mushrooms!

What Happens When . . . Part 2

On Sunday, September 11, I asked the question, "What happens when you have a bridal party made up of YWAMers at Sand Creek Adventures and a Sand Creek staff who served with Mercy Ships?"  My response was, "Absolutely the best time ever!"  Little did I know how our time together would impact another Sand Creek staff.  I found out this past Saturday.

K. and I were on a brief break, waiting for a family to come down to the high ropes course. I asked her what she thought of the YWAMers the week before.  She told me I wouldn't believe it!  You see, the morning the YWAMers showed up, K. had just found out that she had not gotten the job she had been counting on.  The job she had already filled out her W-4's for because she was a shoe in for it.  Even her supposed future boss agreed. But she wasn't.  So on her way to Sand Creek, she stopped at a coffee shop, took out her Bible and asked God what His plan was for her.  Then she came to work and met the YWAMers.  She said it was interesting - her advisor had suggested YWAM to her earlier, but she KNEW she was going to get THIS job so she didn't pursue it.  After she met the bridal party, she began to look on-line into YWAM seriously.  At this point, her plan is to pursue the bride (they had exchanged contact information) and find out more.  She feels God may be leading her to YWAM's Kentucky training site, beginning January 8, 2017.  And I thought I was the only one who had a good day . . . 

Sherif

What are the odds . . . ?

Today was my first day back in the pool after 25 days out of water!  And wouldn't you know - I shared a lane with a woman wearing the exact same Dolfin Ugly Suit that I had on!  She said we had good taste . . .

Thankful Thursday!

Today I'm thankful for the simple things . . .

• A teenage daughter who willingly walked the dog after school;
• A new supervisor who had no problem canceling a class of one - even though the one was my swimming buddy Jessica's son;
• Co-workers who are willing to switch and cover until I can "soak" my foot;
• No more stitches "tickling" my sock! 

"When we realize we are no longer needed . . . "

Today's post is reblogged from "Nick and Suzanne", a young married couple aboard the good Ship.  It's an awesome summation of how God used them in Madagascar - to His glory!

As a new outreach begins, Nick and I have also been reflecting on the amazing 10 months we had in Madagascar. We miss our friends there.  This time one year ago, everything was so new:  we had just arrived in the country, just met the our local partners, and were only just beginning our journey together.  For the next 10 months, we would work side by side to build up a clubfoot clinic, ready to take in new patients from the Toamasina area.

  

Today I want to tell you a story about a moment when we were able to see the fruit of this work together while we were still in Madagascar.  

  One day in March or April we were at the clinic. The last casts were being put on the last patients of the morning. By this time the clinicians were very competent in applying plaster casts to clubfeet.  The Ponseti method is a very hands-on technique, and it takes time, practice, and mentoring to reach a level of proficiency.  More than 6 months into the program, the clinicians were seeing patients on their own and Nick was just providing occasional tips and input, and giving guidance with the more complicated feet.

That morning, when all the other patients had left, a new family was ushered in to the clinic.  At the middle of a big bundle of blankets was a newborn baby girl with two little clubfeet, less than a week old. Young parents with their first baby.

One of the therapists sat down with the family and began asking them questions: Any complications with the birth?  Any other clubfeet in the family? Any other health concerns that they know of? She filled out a health history and examined the feet. The doctor came over and examined the feet as well.  Yes, these are clubfeet.  Yes, we can help you.

The team proceeded to discuss a treatment plan with the parents: that they needed to come for casting every week, she would need a minor procedure in the doctor's office with local anesthesia, and that their child would need to wear braces on a special schedule.  When the conversation was finished, the family left with an appointment to return to the clinic the following week.

So many beautiful things that happened in this interaction: When the baby was born, a midwife told the family to go to the clubfoot clinic. The clinic was completely prepared to receive this young new patient.  The family was given accurate information about what to expect, and that their child could easily be treated and live a normal life!

All the pieces fit together so that this little baby was able to receive safe, correct and on-time treatment. Her parents didn't spend the first years of her life wondering if she would ever be able to walk normally.  She won't even remember that she ever had a deformity.

And the most beautiful thing:  we didn't have anything to do with it. This patient was not a Mercy Ships patient.

At that point our work was nearly finished. Clinically, the team was doing wonderfully. Long term plans were falling into place, and an organization called Miraclefeet became involved in supporting the clinic so that treatment will be accessible and affordable to as many families as possible.

Currently, the clinic is doing very well!

New patients are being treated.  Long-term support and partnership will come from Miraclefeet.  Andrianina, who worked with us as a Mercy Ships interpreter (and did SO much more than interpret), now works for Miraclefeet.  We are so very proud of the accomplishments of the clinicians we met and worked with.  They have become experts in clubfoot treatment in their country, and I know that God will use their skills to touch many many families in the future.  We are privileged and thankful to have worked alongside them, and to call them friends!

In the months before we left, Dr. Edouard kept telling us "I'm not worried, I know you will come back.  This clinic is like your child and you will come back to see how it is growing."  We certainly do want to go back to Madagascar.  I don't know when it will happen, but I believe it will. :)

"No soaking!"

I got six stitches out of my technicolor left foot yesterday morning on my way to teach swimming lessons and then swim one glorious mile in a very clean pool!  Only to discover my PA Kris had a totally different idea.  "No soaking for one week!"  Translation:  no prolonged time in any water until your stitches are set.  I could have cried.  I miss working out.  

Instead, I found subs.  Barbara had all ready planned on taking my Tuesday; Shelly took my Thursday and Barbara had me take her 100% dry deck manager shift; Tamara was willing to trade jobs with me - she's teaching my classes on Friday while I deck manage for her.  So I'll get to meet most of my kids this week, keep PA Kris happy and return to work next week!  Until then . . . Annie and I ran two miles this morning!  

What happens when . . .

When you have a bridal party made up of YWAMers . . .

 at Sand Creek Adventures and a Sand Creek Staff who served with . . . 

 

Absolutely the best time ever!  The smiles, the stories, the love, the laughter . . . made for a wonderfully awesome afternoon yesterday!  

 

Once upon a time Mercy Ships was a part of YWAM - and even now when crew from one finds staff from the other, it's a party!  To God be the glory!

 

Jean

Thankful Thursday . . .

Was yesterday and I didn't post.  But what I am thankful for is the little black pant-er!  (Like my play on words?  The kids' high school mascot is/was the black panther.)  Every time we have a thunderstorm - and we've had plenty this week! - Annie opens doors and comes in to who ever's bedroom she can and becomes the little black pant-er, panting so hard she shakes the bed because she's so scared.  Or she may go in to the bathroom and hide in the shower or bathtub, depending on which bathroom - panting!

 

"Playing God"

This post was reblogged from Nurse Kayla Innis' blog, "Six Feet and Growing."  It's not an easy read, but a sad contemplation.

“We have been waiting here since Monday. We came from Nigeria.”

Our eyes meet. I glance at the four-year-old twins next to him, both struggling to balance on extremely bowed legs. I try to hide my expression from their father, fearing my transparency will only make the situation worse.

“Please. You can help us?” His words feel like fire.

I apologize again. The response doesn’t feel natural at all, but thick and poisonous. My explanation regarding a full orthopedic program cannot dissipate his tangible sadness. Or his continued questions.

“But they have pain. Can you fix it?”

My mind knows the answer is still “no” but my heart cannot support it. I need back up.

“Nate?” I beckon my supervisor. “These twins…they’ve been waiting outside the gate for five days. I know we can’t…but I need your confirmation.”

Nate’s gaze falls on the young girls. “Technically, we can’t,” he says softly.

I turn back to three pairs of desperate eyes. Feigning confidence, I repeat that the program is full.

The father is staring at me. Finally, with a quick nod he motions his family off the cement slab and toward the exit gate. I watch the man shuffle through shifty sand, trying to support his twin daughters. My heart breaks. I feel like a liar.

Our orthopedic program isn’t full.

As a screening team we had decided to allocate the sixty one orthopedic surgery slots. We divided the slots among three weeks, which is how long the screening center is open. The alternative was to take all sixty one patients as they come. First come, first serve. If we had chosen this option our slots would have filled in about three days’ time.

Some team members thought it would be fair to offer surgical opportunities to patients who will journey to Cotonou over the next two weeks. We agreed that we would attempt this approach. This meant that we would take only ten more orthopedic patients this week. We had already found those ten.

 I had thought we made a sound decision. After all, I had turned countless patients away this week. This is difficult; however, “no” is more straightforward and undemanding when the patient doesn’t meet surgical critera. I feel okay when I can shunt the control elsewhere because the disappointment is not my fault. You’re too young to have the surgery. Mercy Ships only offers this to women who are past child-bearing age. Or I’m sorry, but Mercy Ships does not do this kind of surgery. Or unfortunately, surgery could make the problem worse. These conversations are certainly sad, but they’re doable.

This “no” felt completely different. Gone were the external factors. I had no organizational chart to fall back on, no exclusion critera to support my verdict. These Nigerian twins met the requirements for surgery, but there is an overwhelming demand so we had to pick and choose. Our selection system seemed ungrounded and unstable. I don’t even want to make life-changing decisions for myself. How can I make them for other people?

When the decision is mine (or ours, as a team) the responsibility feels sovereign. The power is dreadful and condemning.

I feel like I am playing God.

Speaking of God, I am not sure what Jesus would do in this situation. He faced desperate eyes and crippling ailments. I am willing to bet that he felt overwhelmed. Even though his divine nature had no healing limitations or surgical quotas, I am convinced that as a man he felt aching disappointment and deep discouragement in every breath he took.

I watch the twins approach the exit gate. I want to scream, Come back next week! We have more slots! But what if they are too late? What if they can’t make it through the gate? What if they are the ninth and tenth orthopedic patients in line, and are denied again because we accept the first seven?

I turn back to the weaving line of people, some of them soon-to-be patients. The queue seems more like a maze of fraught individuals eager to come out at the right end. I signal the next man to approach me.

Now I understand what Jesus would do. He would keep meeting with those who are suffering. He would come back to this cement slab every day. He would remain open and continue to offer his heart to the wounded, broken, and downtrodden.

Just because you can’t help everyone does not mean that you don’t try to help anyone.

0700 at the screening center. outside the gate nearly a thousand people gather every day .

Thirty-Nine Days . . .

After we bought our 2016 Attitude Black Toyota Camry, I finally drove it!  That's what happens when everyone goes back to school/work and you have to get the groceries!  You get to drive YOUR new car! 

WIth Hours to Spare . . .

Prior to this week, I only had one thing on the calendar for the entire week - renew my WSI (Water Safety Instructor).  That was it - until Micah wanted me to go to school with her and then I had foot surgery and then all of a sudden it was Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m and I had no idea if my WSI had expired or not so . . .  

I called the American Red Cross and talked to Nicole who said I had a few hours left in the day to do the on-line requirements needed to keep my WSI current - it expired on Saturday.  Of course, I totally did not feel well and the thought of sitting at the computer doing course work made me want to toss the cookies, but the flip side was . . .

I really do enjoy teaching the water safety aide class and helping them become swimming instructors, so . . .   

I began the class.  And I passed.  By the grace of God.  And then I laid back down.  To God be the glory!

Thankful Thursday . . . on Thursday!

My pain block wore off about 8:30 p.m. last night and all of a sudden my foot hurt and I was in pain.  I could only lay in bed and thank God that I was able to have this surgery, knowing this pain was only temporary.  It would get better.  

You see, there is a big white hospital ship docked in Cotonou, Benin, right now - for the first time since we were there in 2009.  The ship was suppose to return in 2014, but with the Ebola outbreak, the ship was sent to Madagascar.  I can't imagine needing surgery in 2014 and having to wait until 2016.  I certainly can't imagine needing surgery in 2010 and having to wait until 2016.    

So today I am ever so thankful for the health care I have here and for all those wonderfully amazing people on board the good ship Mercy who are bringing much needed health care to Benin.  To God be the glory!