Saturday, December 10, 2011
Getting back on track
So tonight I'm bored and goofing around on the iPad when I came across some of my old blogs from South Africa. Wow that seems so much longer ago than 8 months since I've been back. I remember last Christmas spending the day with missionaries from all over the world and thinking how God has the coolest way of bringing His people together.
I cried thinking of all the memories I have because of my experience. Good tears, but sad that I'm not there now. All in good time. God has a plan for each of us and next time you pray how bout asking Him what his plan is for you and maybe throw in something about me!:).
I pray for each and every missionary out there changing the world in Jesus's sweet holy name. I am proud to know some really great ones. To all of you keep on keeping on and remember; God lives in us always. Do we always live for Him? Something I need to work on myself. One of the last things I wrote in my Africa blog was a prayer that God would send me home with the same servant's heart. He did but I let that slip away. Here's to praying we will all let God restore who we are supposed to be for Him.
God bless each and everyone of you. Have the merriest Christmas ever. Thank you God for the birth of our Saviour and the real reason for the season.
God bless,
Tracy
Friday, April 22, 2011
IT'S NOT GOODBYE....IT'S SEE YOU LATER
It's customary when a long(er) term volunteer leaves for Living Hope to give them a "farewell lunch". I hate that it's my turn for that farewell but I wanted to share a few pictures. It's amazing just to share a room with these folks let alone get to share your life and work with them. I couldn't have asked for a better send off and I felt such love from everyone. We shared laughter and a few tears (thanks Amy) but we shared more than that, the love we all have for Jesus Christ. I am grateful for Living Hope and my time here and everyone who dedicates their lives to helping others in Jesus' sweet name. Amen.
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| Ok not my best picture but I'm trying to hod it together. |
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| still trying not to cry and I know John and Avril are looking at me. |
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| this brought me to tears. amazing. |
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| Now that's a sendoff. |
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| okay so I was able to laugh a bit. |
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| so they made me cry then left me. haha |
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| I got an awesome cookbook with some SA dishes in it. |
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| Mzo giving advice, or maybe getting advice. |
Rock on my friends! Happy trails...until we meet again...........
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| Andrea, Nazeema and I. |
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| Sandra blessing me. |
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A FEW TEARS LIGHTER
A year and a half ago I stood at the door of the health care center of Living Hope and told my pastor I felt called to come back there and work one day. 6 months ago that blessing was fulfilled.
Last night I walked out the door of the health care center after finishing my last shift. I hugged everyone, told the patients goodbye as well as the staff and went to my car. It wasn't till I looked back at the center and thought of all the gifts God has given me there that I lost control of my heart and the water works started. Happy tears, sad tears, bittersweet memories.
6 months seemed like an eternity when I was leaving my job and family in America but it flew by in an instant once I was here. I have never once regretted being here. I think this was a true calling from God and I pray that Him willing I will be back here again soon. I thank everyone who was a part of making this dream become a reality, wether financially, emotionally, or by prayer. I wish you could share the feelings I have had while I've been here, just one minute to feel my joy. But don't worry I will have plenty of stories to share when I get back
Living Hope will always have my heart and the people who are part of it are nothing short of amazing. I encourage anyone who ever wants to do a short or long term mission trip to check them out. It will be an amazing journey I promise you. Those of you who are staying put where you are just check out the website at livinghope.co.za and see how God is blessing us.
God has given me many great experiences in my life but this is the best gift I've received so far. I feel if God calls me back here to this great place then I will be back. But I know if he wants me somewhere else then it must be even greater if it can top South Africa!
To my friends here I will miss you. I thank everyone for treating me so well and making this such a great time. To my friends, family, and supporters at home I am so blessed to have you and I love you and will see you soon.
God bless.
Tracy
Last night I walked out the door of the health care center after finishing my last shift. I hugged everyone, told the patients goodbye as well as the staff and went to my car. It wasn't till I looked back at the center and thought of all the gifts God has given me there that I lost control of my heart and the water works started. Happy tears, sad tears, bittersweet memories.
6 months seemed like an eternity when I was leaving my job and family in America but it flew by in an instant once I was here. I have never once regretted being here. I think this was a true calling from God and I pray that Him willing I will be back here again soon. I thank everyone who was a part of making this dream become a reality, wether financially, emotionally, or by prayer. I wish you could share the feelings I have had while I've been here, just one minute to feel my joy. But don't worry I will have plenty of stories to share when I get back
Living Hope will always have my heart and the people who are part of it are nothing short of amazing. I encourage anyone who ever wants to do a short or long term mission trip to check them out. It will be an amazing journey I promise you. Those of you who are staying put where you are just check out the website at livinghope.co.za and see how God is blessing us.
God has given me many great experiences in my life but this is the best gift I've received so far. I feel if God calls me back here to this great place then I will be back. But I know if he wants me somewhere else then it must be even greater if it can top South Africa!
To my friends here I will miss you. I thank everyone for treating me so well and making this such a great time. To my friends, family, and supporters at home I am so blessed to have you and I love you and will see you soon.
God bless.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
One day of nursing in Africa
I've had alot of different and interesting experiences since I've been here in Africa. No two days are ever alike. Today was one of those days you just have to write about.......
0730 started with an sms (text) from a friend asking me to give a ride to one of the volunteers to the Living Hope campus. Of course I grumbled because I didn't have to be at work until 0930 but I did the right thing and got up and took her.
0818 came another sms about a young child who may have been abused and could I take the child and have her looked at. What the? What do I do with that? Well praise the Lord it turned out to be nothing and the child is fine.
1100 my team and I finally make it to a township called Capricorn where we are going to start doing 20 pediatric assessments which consists of about 13 different pieces of paper each. Luckily the number turned out to be just 8 (which is bad enough to have that many sick children but still better than 20). Amy (another American nurse volunteer) and I thought we may be able to get 5 of these done today. Haha. 4 hours later we are struggling to get 2 completed. Our second assessment was the dysfunctional dream come true! I didn't think it was possible to feel physical pain from listening to someone go on and on and not say anything but now I know it's true. Friends please pray for this family. I don't mean to make light of the situation and I won't go into it but they have major issues going on and I don't see anything but Jesus fixing it.
1500 and we are finally having lunch. We go to the local Pic n Pay to try to get something somewhat healthy to eat (we are surrounded by fast, fattening food) and sit outside just to inhale our food.
1530 we stop in Fish Hoek (a local neighboorhood) to see a possible patient referral. Leigh says "it shouldn't take too long, it's just to see if she' appropriate admission to the health care center". You know when you say that you are asking for it. And boy did we. I was so stunned by the state of this woman I couldn't even say anything. This poor gal is a straight up psychiatric case which I think her doctor was so desperate to get her help she was willing to send her anywhere and decided to try and put her on us at the health care center (which unfortunately happens to us alot). Leigh was amazing and calm and finally got us out of there. It was a very quiet walk to the car but we all agreed we couldn't help this lady.
1630 Amy and I in true nursing fashion had to sit and do a little debrief and have a laugh with our coordinators. It's that or go crazy....Oh wait I've already tried that. Okay so maybe to keep us from going legally crazy. I'm very grateful to have these people in my life and don't know what I would do without them.
1948 So by this point I have settled in for the night. I ate (healthy) and am watching my American TV shows (thanks to Danielle helping me figure out how to) and have decided against the gym today when I get a call to help a 4 year old who has hurt his arm and the parents are concerned it might be infected and can I come and look at it. I did a little patch up job on the cutest little kid with dirty blue eyeglasses.
I laughed on the way home how it seems when you are a nurse you never stop being a nurse. You are on call all the time. I wouldn't have it any other way. I am grateful that God called me to this career path and to here in Africa. I have got to do things I never thought I was capable of but He knew I was. As my time draws to a close hereI just pray the I will bring home my servant's heart and do God's will back home. God bless all you nurses out there. You may not be able to always see your reward but believe me God does.
Blessings,
Tracy
0730 started with an sms (text) from a friend asking me to give a ride to one of the volunteers to the Living Hope campus. Of course I grumbled because I didn't have to be at work until 0930 but I did the right thing and got up and took her.
0818 came another sms about a young child who may have been abused and could I take the child and have her looked at. What the? What do I do with that? Well praise the Lord it turned out to be nothing and the child is fine.
1100 my team and I finally make it to a township called Capricorn where we are going to start doing 20 pediatric assessments which consists of about 13 different pieces of paper each. Luckily the number turned out to be just 8 (which is bad enough to have that many sick children but still better than 20). Amy (another American nurse volunteer) and I thought we may be able to get 5 of these done today. Haha. 4 hours later we are struggling to get 2 completed. Our second assessment was the dysfunctional dream come true! I didn't think it was possible to feel physical pain from listening to someone go on and on and not say anything but now I know it's true. Friends please pray for this family. I don't mean to make light of the situation and I won't go into it but they have major issues going on and I don't see anything but Jesus fixing it.
1500 and we are finally having lunch. We go to the local Pic n Pay to try to get something somewhat healthy to eat (we are surrounded by fast, fattening food) and sit outside just to inhale our food.
1530 we stop in Fish Hoek (a local neighboorhood) to see a possible patient referral. Leigh says "it shouldn't take too long, it's just to see if she' appropriate admission to the health care center". You know when you say that you are asking for it. And boy did we. I was so stunned by the state of this woman I couldn't even say anything. This poor gal is a straight up psychiatric case which I think her doctor was so desperate to get her help she was willing to send her anywhere and decided to try and put her on us at the health care center (which unfortunately happens to us alot). Leigh was amazing and calm and finally got us out of there. It was a very quiet walk to the car but we all agreed we couldn't help this lady.
1630 Amy and I in true nursing fashion had to sit and do a little debrief and have a laugh with our coordinators. It's that or go crazy....Oh wait I've already tried that. Okay so maybe to keep us from going legally crazy. I'm very grateful to have these people in my life and don't know what I would do without them.
1948 So by this point I have settled in for the night. I ate (healthy) and am watching my American TV shows (thanks to Danielle helping me figure out how to) and have decided against the gym today when I get a call to help a 4 year old who has hurt his arm and the parents are concerned it might be infected and can I come and look at it. I did a little patch up job on the cutest little kid with dirty blue eyeglasses.
I laughed on the way home how it seems when you are a nurse you never stop being a nurse. You are on call all the time. I wouldn't have it any other way. I am grateful that God called me to this career path and to here in Africa. I have got to do things I never thought I was capable of but He knew I was. As my time draws to a close hereI just pray the I will bring home my servant's heart and do God's will back home. God bless all you nurses out there. You may not be able to always see your reward but believe me God does.
Blessings,
Tracy
Monday, April 4, 2011
Nezi's* journey
Imagine being 31 years old, never married, no children and having AIDS. Add to that being from a culture where none of these things are acceptable. Nezi is a beautiful young lady who spent some time in our health care center trying to get healthy from her illness and being treated for a pretty serious bedsore. She did it though with help from the staff and she was able to go home and follow up in the clinic in her community.
Many months passed and for whatever reason(s) she got sick again and her wounds became so horrible and her health just toileted. She came to us again from one of our local hospitals. All everyone could say was how sick she looked now compared to the way she did when she left Living Hope. I watched her go through various states since December and at one point she was taking a turn for the better. However it changed again, as HIV often does, and she steadily declined. To try to imagine how it felt for this young lady to have this massive wound in a very private place and still feel like a woman and deal with just simple things like the smells that were coming from her body. I could do nothing but feel sorry and just pray for her silently.
Our doctor finally had to have the conversation with her that medically there was nothing more we could do for her and that this wound turned out to be a pretty serious cancer and her body could no longer fight it. She took it the best way I can imagine any young person could. Our chaplain recognized a need to discuss with her about her eternity. She laid it out about where she was headed and where did she want to go when she dies. Nezi decided she wanted to give her life to Jesus and got saved that day. She dicided a week later she wanted to be baptized and on March 28th she was baptized in the bathtub, the very place where she had to soak to keep her wound clean, at the health care center. I'm not sure that's ever happened at the HCC but I'm forever grateful that I got to be there.
God has a way of putting us in the right place at the right time and that day was one of those days. I wasn't working but stopped by the center and asked if I could watch. I didn't just watch but was able to help carry her to the tub and help with the baptism itself. She and I had never really bonded but that day I kissed her and felt so close to her. It was such a special moment and I will never forget it as long as I live. Thank you Jesus.
Nezi passed away this past weekend. I was sad to hear this but rejoice in knowing that beautiful young lady is free from what bound her here and she is whole again and her body is new in Christ.
Life is short and uncertain. I am grateful for my health and to be able to walk with Jesus in my heart. I pray that you all as well. God bless you Nezi and all my family/friends who are sharing this.
Tracy
(*name changed for privacy)
Many months passed and for whatever reason(s) she got sick again and her wounds became so horrible and her health just toileted. She came to us again from one of our local hospitals. All everyone could say was how sick she looked now compared to the way she did when she left Living Hope. I watched her go through various states since December and at one point she was taking a turn for the better. However it changed again, as HIV often does, and she steadily declined. To try to imagine how it felt for this young lady to have this massive wound in a very private place and still feel like a woman and deal with just simple things like the smells that were coming from her body. I could do nothing but feel sorry and just pray for her silently.
Our doctor finally had to have the conversation with her that medically there was nothing more we could do for her and that this wound turned out to be a pretty serious cancer and her body could no longer fight it. She took it the best way I can imagine any young person could. Our chaplain recognized a need to discuss with her about her eternity. She laid it out about where she was headed and where did she want to go when she dies. Nezi decided she wanted to give her life to Jesus and got saved that day. She dicided a week later she wanted to be baptized and on March 28th she was baptized in the bathtub, the very place where she had to soak to keep her wound clean, at the health care center. I'm not sure that's ever happened at the HCC but I'm forever grateful that I got to be there.
God has a way of putting us in the right place at the right time and that day was one of those days. I wasn't working but stopped by the center and asked if I could watch. I didn't just watch but was able to help carry her to the tub and help with the baptism itself. She and I had never really bonded but that day I kissed her and felt so close to her. It was such a special moment and I will never forget it as long as I live. Thank you Jesus.
Nezi passed away this past weekend. I was sad to hear this but rejoice in knowing that beautiful young lady is free from what bound her here and she is whole again and her body is new in Christ.
Life is short and uncertain. I am grateful for my health and to be able to walk with Jesus in my heart. I pray that you all as well. God bless you Nezi and all my family/friends who are sharing this.
Tracy
(*name changed for privacy)
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