Isabelle

Applebee's Adventure

As many of you know, Micah is a host at Applebee's.  For weeks, Matt has been telling her that he's coming to come in with a group of friends when she's working and embarrass her to death!

The group of friends became his best friend, Corey, and today was the date.  Here's the funny part of the story:

While Sam was telling Micah to ask her manager if she could get a group of co-workers to surprise the guys with a resounding chorus of "Happy Birthday" along with cake and ice cream - just to embarrass them, of course! - I was telling the guys to go in deaf.  Both of the hosts tonight, Micah and her friend Brianna, are in ASL together and they could give Brianna a run for her money, or at least some good ASL practice!

Matt won't tell us what happened - and Micah closes tonight - so we'll have to wait until tomorrow for the rest of the story, but Matt did mention he crab walked in to the building . . .

Micah's Fish Tail

It's my best one yet!

Thankful Thursday

I honestly thought I had made the entire year at the Y without a staff evaluation and that did make me thankful.  I must have had at least one a session last year so I was glad to go without this year.  In just four days, I would have made it - but I got caught today!  

My supervisor observed my 10:30 a.m. Level Two's and gave me "5's" (the highest ranking) across the board.  For that, I was thankful - it's a new curriculum and i want to do well.

But I turned to her and said, "Don't you have anything I can improve on?"  Her response:  "You did start class late."  I laughed and she laughed with me when I told her why:

My earlier two classes today were from Sterling Academy, a Plymouth Brethren School.  I had promised the girls I would teach them how to do an "outie" French braid the first day of lessons (six weeks ago!) as they all have long hair.  Today, I joined them in the locker room and was one minute late for my third because I showed them how to braid hair.  

Forty-Year Friend!

I met my friend, Denise, for lunch yesterday in Cannon Falls.  It's a half-way destination for us since she lives in Rochester.  Sadly, we hadn't done it since Micah was very small.  But even though we hadn't see each other for years, we had the most glorious time laughing and talking and sharing our lives.  It's one of those friendships where we're never apart . . .I'm blessed.

My Favorite Son.

It's a very good thing that I only have one son and one daughter because then I get to have a favorite son and a favorite daughter!  Today my favorite son said to me, "Mom, I've hardly seen you all day . . ."  (True.  I came home from work.  He had lunch while I walked the dog.  He mowed the neighbor's yard while I had lunch.  Now he was getting ready to leave for work.)  "Would you like to come in and help me make sandwiches?"  He loves me.

The Testimony.

Part of our prep for serving in Ukraine this summer - and due tomorrow evening - is to write out our testimony, our personal story of how we came to know Jesus; practice it five times and then share it with a friend, asking them to honestly give feedback.

While outside yesterday afternoon, I saw neighbor Jill and asked if she was going to be home on this afternoon so I could run up and share my testimony with her.  Sadly, she had to work - but could I come up that night?  Then I could share it with both her and her husband, the one with the doctorate.  She went on to share that he gives speeches all the time for work, he's really good at them, and he would love to give me constructive criticism.  Awesome.  I was thrilled.  Not.

I walked up the hill at seven, handed my "testimony tip" sheet to Brian, the doctorate, and said, "Go head, critique me."  Jill sent the kids downstairs and we all sat down.  As I shared (and read!) my testimony, they were attentive.  When I got to the end, I shared my conclusion:

"In the many years that I have been given to serve my Jesus, these truths I know:

• He is my only hope;
• He is a faithful, Mighty God;
• He always heals the heart, though the body may remain broken."

What happened next was a half hour conversation on that very last line.  You see, Brian is battling Stage Four cancer.  He has been prayed for by a group that believes if God does not heal you, you do not have enough faith.  Oh, the fallacy of that and the wounds they cause.  I am grateful for the opportunity to share the truth from God - that He always heals, it just may not be the body.  To God be the glory!

God is Faithful.

Today's post is reblogged from "morethancait".  It is a testimony of God's faithfulness.

Hello from Benin! It’s hard to believe today is the final day of surgeries! I came aboard the ship in July 2016. In some ways it feels like yesterday and in other ways it feels like forever ago. As I reflect on this time in Benin so many memories of patient stories, rich friendships and a community life experience that is like nothing I’ve ever had before, come to mind. One patient’s story keeps resurfacing and I’d like to share it with you.

It’s a story about a baby girl named, Bignon. I met Bignon when she was about 8 weeks old back in September 2016. It was a busy day in admissions. That morning our small tent was packed with three nurses, three physicians and two dietitians all seeing patients. One of the physicians was sharing my office space, literally using my desk to do an exam because there was nowhere else to go. I was tucked in a small space in the corner of my desk, trying not to be in the way. Lee-Ann (one of our dietitians), poked her head around the curtain and asked me to come take a look at a little girl. I sensed some concern in her voice. And she was right to be concerned. I stepped into their little curtained off area and caught my first glimpse of Bignon. She was a significantly malnourished cleft lip baby (an upper lip deformity). She was lying in a lethargic state across her mother’s lap. At 8 weeks old she weighed in at a mere 1.6kg (3.5lbs). She was clearly dying of starvation and barely clinging to life.

Unfortunately, this is a very common sight in West Africa. Cleft lips are upper lip deformities that affect babies all around the world. But in countries like Benin where there is little to no access to safe, affordable healthcare, these little ones die. In Benin and many other West African nations, the deformity is thought to be a curse so the child is killed or their families leave them to die in the bush. The mothers don’t know what to do. They are discriminated against and their children are stigmatized because of the deformity. As a result, they give their children names like, “forgotten one” or names that mean “trash”. Bignon’s mother decided against this. She chose a name that means “God is faithful”. Bignon literally means, “God is faithful”. Bignon’s mother believed that God would be faithful despite her child’s deformity.

That afternoon Bignon was admitted to the ward. After she started to eat and grow a bit stronger she was discharged. This is when the dietitians stepped in and make certain her mother received dietary counseling to ensure Bignon received proper nutrition. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of admitting Bignon to the ward so she could receive surgery for her cleft lip. I couldn’t believe my eyes when she and her mother walked into admissions. Her mother recognized me right away. She was beaming as she handed me Bignon, who is now a healthy (chunky monkey) weighing in at 7.8kg (17lbs) at 9 months of age.

Bignon and her mother with nurse Tam

Its stories like these that clearly remind me of God’s faithfulness. It has been my great pleasure and honor to walk alongside our fearless patients and their families! I am forever changed. To God be the glory forever and ever!

In just over a week my journey home begins. It is so bittersweet. Mere words cannot adequately capture the joy that wells up inside me as I reflect back on the countless memories of my time in Benin. I look forward to telling friends and family these countless memories as they come to mind. Thank you for continued prayers and support! I look forward to catching up with you all soon!

My Admissions Team!

 

Thankful Thursday!

While I was standing on the deck teaching the boys from Sterling Academy this morning, I heard the most lovely sound, "Hi, Miss Margo!"  It was Axel from my next class.  He's four.  It was followed by another, "Hi, Miss Margo!" and then another and then another.  All four of the boys in my next class were playing in the leisure pool, saw me across the two pools by the lap line, and had to say "Hi".  I am thankful for their joyous, loving spirits! 

Saying No.

Today's post is reblogged from nurse Deborah Mascia's blog, "A Journey of a Thousand Miles."  Enjoy!

As our time in Benin is coming to a close in a few weeks we took time last night to reflect on and pray for all of the patients we were unable to help due to a variety of reasons. Saying no is a very real and harsh reality of the process here on the Africa Mercy but I'm so thankful that we serve a God that loves these patients more than we ever could, sees them, knows their names and will continue to walk with them long after the Africa Mercy leaves Benin.

I'm going to write another blog soon about what I have been up to the last few weeks and what my plans are for the summer ahead but I ask you now to join me in praying for the over 6,000 patients that we have had to say no to. Would you also pray for the patients that are still with us now. Many patients still have wounds and incisions that need to heal. We care for them until the very last minute and pray that they are healed before we leave but some will have to be left to finish their care in local facilities. It is hard to leave feeling like a job is unfinished but we place these patients back into God's hands with the knowledge that these patients were never really ours to begin with. They have and will always be in God's hands.

Thank you in advance for you prayers and support!

" Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10

The Garden

Every year on Mother's Day, we buy flowers for around the house and tomato plants for the garden.  I plant the flowers, Sam works up the soil and plants the plants.  

This year, I got to do it all.  It wasn't pleasant - but I remembered our neighbors had a rototiller and they let me borrow it!  It was a little one, just like this picture - but perfect for our garden!

Sam laughed as he watched me man-handle it, but it got the job done and hopefully, in a couple of months, we'll have tomatoes! 

Thankful Thursday!

Here it is Sunday evening and I have yet to post "Thankful Thursday!"  So sit back and read about a very thankful weekend:

• Wednesday night, the Ukraine team got together and shared the gospel.  Micah was a bit nervous so I gave her a "flipper flapper" I had gotten from Julie Andersen, the former children's pastor at Trinity.  It worked like a dream!  Micah was able to clearly present the gospel and received very nice comments from a couple of team members, bolstering her courage!
• Thursday I found out that my ring finger injury from December (why rush in to see the doctor?) should heal, in say, another month or so!  If not, I get to go back the end of June . . . 
• Friday, Sam's hernia surgery lasted from 10:05-10:55 a.m.  He got two hernias repaired for the price of one!  Things were going great.  We'd be home in an hour.  Except for one small problem - he needed to urinate before he could leave.  After about a thousand laps around the nurses station, it was now almost 8:00 p.m. and he still hadn't gone.  Every lap, I repeated to myself, "God, I am so thankful that this is not serious."  He ended up with a catheter which he'll keep in until tomorrow.  While it is uncomfortable for Sam, hopefully everything will be a "go" tomorrow and he will be well.  If not, we see a urologist.  
• I was thankful for my supervisor at ISD 196 who found a sub for me on Saturday.  I was scheduled to teach CPR-Pro, First Aid, and CPR for the Lay Rescuer.  Matt and Micah were also working so I got to be the caregiver.  Except I was actually the driver - three times to Target, once to CVS and once to Walgreens!  Honestly, I was loosing my thankfulness by the time I reached Walgreens . . . 
• Today my favorite children washed my car and for that I was thankful!
• Sam returns to school tomorrow - not sure I'm thankful for that!  I think he should stay home.  I'll have to change my attitude and just be thankful that I get to be home and don't have to go anywhere or do anything until First Aid class tomorrow night!

Wardrobe Malfunction!

One of my four-year old girls was brought to lessons today by grandma because mom did not come out of same-day surgery well yesterday.  She was put in the hospital overnight.  Grandma grabbed a swimsuit for said child, put it on in the locker room, discovered it was missing a strap and sent her out in it anyway.  I could tell my poor child was upset because one side of the suit kept flapping down just a bit too far.  I called over a lifeguard who went to lost and found and found a t-shirt that solved the wardrobe malfunction!

Rescue Me!

 See the guy on the left?  That's my friend, Jake.  We've worked together at Sand Creek for three years now and yesterday was his first day back after his freshman year of college.  It was great to see him again and we were having a blast until that break right after lunch . . . 

. . . when we began to practice rescues off of Platform Two.  Lucky me!  I got to rescue Jake.  While that's not him hanging in the picture, that's about where he was located.  I went hand over hand off the platform to bring him back in, thinking all of those miles I put in swimming should have given me some upper body strength!   

Boy, was I ever wrong!  I started off great, and slowly began to fade.  Jake offered to help and I accepted - I was going backwards, he was going forwards.  We took three rest stops.  It was not pretty.

The course manager declared me an epic fail - he was right!  I might be able to rescue a child off of two, but an adult who weighs a good 50 pounds more than me?  Very doubtful!  Now I get why no one wants to work on two on a windy day!

Next stop - Platform Three.  I can only say that I wish I were taller.  Braking (stopping) people wasn't that bad, but I could not reach the line to send them off the platform without jumping up!  Fortunately, I only had to send ten people and the tall ones helped me out, but I think I'll try my best to stick with Platform One.

There I just have to be social and convince you it's your heart's desire to take that first step off!     

From the Good Ship . . .

Today's post has been reblogged from Nurse Kathy Wagner's blog, "Journey to Glory".

This poem, written by Beautiful Lyndy Cossey sums up my last three months and why I am returning to the ship for two more years.

Hands

When part of our body is hurting

We stretch out our hands to hold it

To staunch the bleeding

Support the wound

Enveloping it in love

There’s no question asked

We naturally just reach out

In love and care to hold our body

There’s a ship made of hands

That is reaching out

To where God’s body hurts

It brings love, care and hope

As the hands plow through the water

To where the body is hurting

To where it is bruised and sore

Hands reaching out to envelope

Those people with love and care

To staunch the bleeding, heal the wounds

Comforting hands

Strong hands

Loving hands

Supportive hands to those in need

To themselves, to those they love

To those they’ve never seen

I take a deep breath and sigh every time I read this! Yes, Yes!.....this is what I am to do with my life......reach out and "Go" to where the body is hurting! If it means sharing my home with 400+ people, sleeping in a bunk bed and waking to no windows, then so be it.....to know at the end of the day, at the end of my life that I served God and took care of HIS body.......what more Peace and JOY and "Happiness" could there be!

"Oh, Canada . . ."

Only at Sand Creek, after a day of team building with the music students from Winsdor Park Collegiate in Manitoba, Canada, do the staff get a free concert!

After just a wonderful day, we had a delightful rendition of the Canadian National Anthem by the students before they left . . .

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful for the young man who took me shopping yesterday for Sam's birthday next week and helped me make some better choices.  I am thankful that that same young man went outside when we got home and pulled a stump out of the front yard that had been annoying me since I cut down the bush last fall.  I am also thankful that he did therapy with Annie yesterday.  My friends, I am thankful for my son who is willing to help me and serve me.  I love you, Matt!

 

Moving Mountains!

Jesus said if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains.  Yesterday, I found out we could also trust Him for the weather!

Starting last Wednesday, my good buddy Sven on Kare 11, kept telling me it was going to be cold and wet on Sunday afternoon.  We had a group of 75 eighth graders coming from St. Andrew's Church for some team building.  So I began to pray.  I prayed that it wouldn't rain.  I prayed that it specifically would NOT rain between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.  I also prayed I wouldn't freeze.  I texted co-workers.  Told them I was praying that it wouldn't rain.  

I drove to work in the rain.  Some St. Andrew's parents were concerned about the weather.  Their youth pastor told them to "suck it up".  We had our 75 students.  We had no rain.  It was windy, cold, and cloudy - but it was not raining!

As we packed up around 5:30 p.m., Mark turned to me and said, "If it starts to rain at six, I'm texting you!"  Alan added, "With all my prayer requests."  Got the first text from Mark at 6:15 p.m.

To God be the glory!