Oh my, another couple weeks has passed already. I am enjoying living at my new housing location. I am enjoying going to the market, buying (super cheap) veggies, and making my own food. I also like the option of inviting people over if I want to.
Today I was invited to a fellow nurse's house to eat with her and her husband for lunch. We then went to the house where her siblings live, and then went to church in the evening. I have to say, it was just really nice. I felt like finally I might actually be starting to establish friendships. She had the patience to speak slowly and clearly, and I was just really happy to have had this experience. I have learned to celebrate the small, but substantial successes.
I just found out due to passport timing and legal deadlines, etc, I will be flying to the U.S. at the end of June for 3 weeks. (which allows me to be home for my 24th birthday on July 4). In some sense I feel a little unready just because I don't feel adjusted here yet, and it feels like it is weird timing to already be going home for a visit. But it will be good to see family and friends, and take the time to reflect on my time so far. Also I am looking forward to a week or so to be spent in Harrisonburg, VA, attending the orientation of tranSend, the program in which I am in Honduras under. I am praying that I will gain some useful input that will help me as I continue adjusting as an American in a new country.
Well, I didn't have parasites. I did manage to get a little of the "Central American Diet" as I call it, or, rather, Rotavirus, which pretty much is a digestive system virus. I got over it fairly quickly after a trip to the Dr., some antibiotics, IV fluids, and several days resting at home. I have to say, I don't know if I've ever experienced lack of appetite, but I certainly did at this time. It was probably good for me, being on the other side of the healthcare system, as the patient. :)
Work at the hospital is going about the same. Some days are great, some not so great. This past week I spent orientating in the intensive care unit, which I really actually enjoyed, even though it took a lot out of me to make sure I was practicing safely, due to my struggles communicating. Also got in to watch my first natural birth. That was a really neat experience as well. This week is night shift.
Prayer Concerns:
1) Continued Spanish progress
2) Making friendships and good relationships with my co-workers
3) Preparing for my trip to the U.S.
4) my cousins in Tegucigalpa as they prepare to move to the U.S. in June
5) The hospital, staff, administration, and patients
6) The health of Norma, my "Honduran/Argentinean mom."
7) Wisdom in finding my place in this ministry/hospital
As always, thanks for reading! Thank you for thoughts and prayers and support. Love you all. Hope to see you when I get to the States.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Honduras Happenings
I had the blessing of visiting my second cousin Melanie Miller and her husband Mark, and their 3 kids in Tegucigalpa 2 weekends ago. It was such a wonderful time, getting to know my cousin I never really got the opportunity to in the U.S. In this picture, is also Melanie's cousin on the other side, Janice. We got to take advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon after church and went hiking for several hours. We ended the evening with making sushi and mango ice cream! So goooood, and a lot of fun. It was so wonderful to be around a) family b)other fellow Mennonites c) seasoned missionaries who gave me some really great insight. It was also fun to get out of town for a few days and see a different part of Honduras. (pictures, taken from Mel's blog :) Thanks Mel)
There are a lot of things I could talk about here. But I am just going to take a second and recognize God's ability to provide what I need, right when I need it. Nothing less, sometimes nothing more.....but this time, he did provide more! I have been looking into the next place to move into as my host family has been great, but knowing it was a temporary arrangement. We have a retired doctor here on campus who has a house he needs watched for the next several months as he travels to the U.S. to visit his family, and more. And who got asked if she was interested?! ME!!! So, probably in the next day or two i'll be packin' my whole two luggage bags with my belongings and moving up the hill to a beautiful house with a great look-out over the city, completely furnished, completely a blessing. Talk about provision! I'm sorry, I could attribute that to consequence, or I could just call it as it really is, a blessing from God.
Spanish of course remains a challenge. It's weird how Spanish can go really well somedays, and the next I really struggle, which unfortunately sort of mandates how my shift goes at work. But I figure what other option do I have? Keep on going..........trusting it will indeed come with time and more practice. I have Spanish lessons all this week, which is helpful.
I mostly have been working in one area of the hospital. Sometimes it gets ho-hum, as it really is the general floor, what I worked in the U.S. But I realize that with my level of Spanish, it's probably all I can effectively do. So I am trying to be patient, and be content with sticking to what I know. I work second shift all this month. It's only bad for my social life. But every other aspect of my life loves it, since my body has been accustomed to this schedule for close to 6 years now.
Tonight was pretty cool there at the end. A woman walked in with THE largest pregnant tummy I have ever seen. Well, after all, she did have triplets in there! So in she went to surgery where they did a C-section, and I got to see their first bathing, shot of Vitamin K, weighing, you know, the whole newborn process. So amazing to see the buns directly right out of the oven!!! They didn't even cry, well, until the Vit. K injection of course. Beautiful little lives, wrapped up smelling of sweet and innocence, and wonder. Wow. I was only frustrated because I realized that the students caring for the babies knew way more than I do when it comes to newborns, or at least how to take care of them. One of the benefits to working on a floor that takes care of all populations, not this specialty stuff.
So reflections on the hospital. I was told that they are trying to integrate a more integral approach to the nursing care as it is still more of a team-care approach. I see so many things I think would work better if done differently, yet so overwhelmed, knowing I have to wait to suggest, knowing I don't really know how to go about making change, knowing that I am not an expert in any of the above, and more just overwhelmed as I am sometimes feel I am blindly exploring where my role is in the nursing staff, and in the hospital. Again, more time and patience. I also realize over and over that I am a spoiled nurse from the states, with unlimited supplies, with the utmost expectation for the highest patient care (at least in the hospital I worked.) Resources here are NOT limited. People wait for months for procedures, people travel 5 hours to see a urologist. People have to evaluate the cost of a procedure done in a private hospital, as it might mean they have to take their family member to a crappy state hospital, with pretty bad conditions. Hospital Evangelico may be hot, it may lack supplies at times, but it is no doubt CLEAN. And in general, the staff does pretty well in the care of their patients, despite the fact that there are few RNs.
So, prayer list time;
1) the last paragraph: that I can find where God wants me in this community. That he will help me discover what exactly he called me here to be (and do). Where are my gifts, where can I plug them in, and when?
2) relationship building, despite Spanish barriers: for friends, for a church family
3) for me to continue reaching to God for the answers, to search to be closer to his desires, rather than relying on myself and what I think I should do.
4) The hospital: always, for the administration, for the students, for the training of the staff, for the faith of the community, for the leadership.
5) For my cousins Mark and Melanie as they prepare for lots of adjustments in the coming year.
6) Passport/Residency issues
Praises:
1) No amoebas or parasites yet!
2) Housing situation
3) New friends
4) God's presence, especially in the lonely or difficult times
Thanks for your love and support, prayers, messages, letters, emails. Each and every one is greatly appreciated and enjoyed.
Love you all!
-Malerie
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