Pictured: Missionary candidates at SIMStartA little over a week ago, I returned from the initial SIM orientation in North Carolina. It was an exciting time to get to know missionaries that had been on the field, learn about the process to get there, to be reviewed by the staff, and to get acquainted with fellow missionary candidates. I enjoyed getting acquainted with so many others who have a passion for sharing Christ's love in various nations.
I received confirmation yesterday from the Sudan SIM coordinator that I can join the medical team in Doro! The process of getting from here to there is a bit over-whelming, but exciting at the same time. I'm thrilled that God has provided this opportunity and I'm eager to learn what He has to teach me as I serve as a nurse where the needs are so great. He has placed this passion in my heart to love His people and I have full confidence that He will provide the strength and resources to get me there (Phil 4:13). This weekend I will get to share my plans at the church Ladies' Retreat. Then on the 7th and 14th of February, I will be presenting at churches. I appreciate your prayers!
In the meantime, God has given me the blessing of being a testimony of His love. I got to share the gospel with a co-worker last night at work; for the first time, he actually acknowledged that it would be awesome if Jesus' sacrifice for him is actually true. I also got to share with a friend after roller-skating on Friday, then again with my patients. One man in particular stands out in my thoughts from this past week. He had emergent surgery for acute GI pain; the surgeons found lesions, adhesions, and cancer spread throughout his abdomen. Placing a colostomy to bypass the infected bowel and giving antibiotics temporarily has saved his life. He spent days in system failure in the Intensive Care Unit before he woke up, and the night that I had him, he was pretty emotional about the changes to his body and his spiritual condition. Through tears, he told me, "This has changed my life. I told God that if I survived this, I would live my life for Him. I believe in God now with all that I am." The more that I seek the Word, the more compassion I have for the people around me; the more I want them to know this incredible joy that God freely shares.
In the meantime, God has given me the blessing of being a testimony of His love. I got to share the gospel with a co-worker last night at work; for the first time, he actually acknowledged that it would be awesome if Jesus' sacrifice for him is actually true. I also got to share with a friend after roller-skating on Friday, then again with my patients. One man in particular stands out in my thoughts from this past week. He had emergent surgery for acute GI pain; the surgeons found lesions, adhesions, and cancer spread throughout his abdomen. Placing a colostomy to bypass the infected bowel and giving antibiotics temporarily has saved his life. He spent days in system failure in the Intensive Care Unit before he woke up, and the night that I had him, he was pretty emotional about the changes to his body and his spiritual condition. Through tears, he told me, "This has changed my life. I told God that if I survived this, I would live my life for Him. I believe in God now with all that I am." The more that I seek the Word, the more compassion I have for the people around me; the more I want them to know this incredible joy that God freely shares.
