More Loose Ends

My job position will have to be filled while I am in Benin, and the position has been posted at work!  I will be taking three months off of work so that I can go to Africa, and this will allow someone else to work temporarily in a full-time capacity.  I had a difficult time waiting patiently for my job posting to appear, because so much hinges on me being able to get the time off!  Actually, a lot of the time I was much less than patient, but God has provided so much, and this is another area where His faithfulness and goodness to me are extremely evident!  Considering that I have booked and paid for my flights, I am thankful that He worked this out! (:

Different type of health care

When I called the Mercy Ships office the other day, I spoke with a woman who had been on the Africa Mercy for a period of two years.  She really enjoyed her time and found it so worthwhile!  She did mention though, that the wards are much smaller than they appear on videos.  It sounds as though the children's wards can get quite hectic.  I appreciated another perspective and I believe that God orchestrated our conversation in order to begin preparing me for my journey.

Also, an interesting fact: the caregivers of the children coming to the Africa Mercy for surgery sleep under the patients' beds!  It is such a different concept of healthcare than I have ever seen before.  Here in Canada, we expect and demand so much, and sleeping on the floor, much less the hospital floor, is unheard of.  In my hospital, when we have the availability to provide a bed for a family member, it is always a comfortable cot.  Most North Americans are unaware of how health care is administered in other countries.  For instance, many of my Filipino friends have talked about meals in hospital...there are none provided.  If family members or friends do not bring in food, patients do not eat.  The family also provides assistance with basic daily care.  In some countries, patients have to bring their own bedding and linens.  And you would not believe how many times a week I hear Canadian patients in hospitals here complain about the quality of food.  I am sometimes tempted to say, "At least you have food!"  I cannot imagine anyone bringing in all meals or sleeping on the hospital floor under their child's bed here.

More to do:

• Send in more forms to Mercy Ships
• Pick up my criminal record check
• Learn about the various surgeries done on the ship
• Obtain my flight itinerary
• Pray
• Continue in the Word (this should be top of the list!)

Spiritual growth

I was studying this morning about the Trinity of God.  I realize that we will never completely understand God and that He is One, yet three persons, but we can see what the Bible has to say about Him.

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!" - Deuteronomy 6:4

The more I learn about God, the more this will cause me to trust Him and love Him.  He has commanded that as the greatest commandment, we are to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:28-31)!  I often struggle with this, especially because I love myself so much and can be quite proud.  I am hopeful that through reading His Word and embarking on this journey of obedience, God will continue working in me and will soften my tough heart to love Him more!  This opportunity to go to Benin will be, I think, something God will use to teach me to trust Him more!

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