Given a second chance

 

A second chance...a new start...a do over. We all have wanted this. I know someone who has been given this chance this week. And this is a gift, something not to be taken granted for. Let me explain....

My friend, as long as I have known him, he has been part of our lives. When I was dating my hubs, I met him. You see, he is my hubs best friend. So naturally, he became mine. I got to know his family and soon he became part of mine. He would keep me company when hubs had to work. I think he was there to keep an eye on me! He definitely didn't keep me out of trouble!

When hubs proposed to me, he cried. Not because he was happy, which I am sure he was, but because he thought he lost his best friend. I thought it was funny then, but now I know it was hard for him. But he became my brother from another mother! I have known him for 42 years now, through high school, dating 2 of my friends, weddings, kids, surgeries, cancer and now this.

You see, prayers have been answered. He has been struggling with his heart and about a year ago, he was told he needed a heart transplant. His heart continued to get worse and the last 6 weeks he has been in the hospital. Well, 2 days ago, our prayers were answered and he got a heart. His recovery is going well as to be expected, but the hard part has just started...to recover and live. 

The more I think about this awesome gift he has been given, the more I think about what had to happen for him to get this gift. Someone's family had to make this difficult decision to donate their loved ones heart so someone they never even met could live. I am so ever grateful for their decision, because without it, I know the road my friend would have would be very different.

Not everyone will be able to make a decision like this, and there is no shame or nothing wrong with that. I don't know what I would do if faced with that decision. But we are so grateful and thankful today for the person that gave his heart.

We all have been given a gift of life. Jesus died for us so that we may be saved and have eternal life with him. You just have to believe.

John 3: 16-17; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

 John 15:13; "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Love to all,

Happy smile

 

Since being home, it has been a little crazy. First, COVID. Yes I got COVID 2 days after coming home. But I was back to work this week, actually last Friday. Thank goodness I didn't have to go to work 2 days in a row, because that Friday wore me out!

Second, I am a pickle making machine! My cucumber plants are outdoing themselves and I have more than enough for pickles. I love making them and enjoy having others like them!

Now my new "hobby" since being home is to start making photo albums. Remember back in the day, when we would print our pictures and place them in photo albums? Nowadays, people just keep them on their phone or computer. Well I am not sure when the last photo album I made was, so I am going to start with the present day and start a photo album and work my way back.

Today I got my pictures from the mission trip. And while looking through them and placing them in the album, my heart smiles. So many awesome memories from just a few weeks ago. One of them is with Rina and her pottery store. I LOVE her store. She has so many beautiful things. My favorites, the wind chimes. I have 4 so far. I did have 5 but one broke :(

But as I go through the pictures, I realize that our friendship took time to grow. It started with her son coming to our hotel, showing and selling bracelets. Then grew from there. Never under-estimate what God can do with just one person. I still have those bracelets from 2017 and still wear them. I now have some very pretty earrings I got this year. Everytime I wear them, a smile comes to my face and my heart. 

What do you have that brings a smile to you? A memory? Hang onto it. Share it.

I am continuing to work on my new hobby. Printing pictures and placing those memories that brings a smile to me in that album to look at but to also share with others. 

Proverbs 17:22: "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Acts 20:35: "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."

Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Blessings to all,

Blessings abound

 

Blessings abound, all around us, no matter where we are. You just have to open your eyes and soak it all in. I found some of these blessings while in Honduras. A small butterfly on a bright colored flower. The sunrise through clouds one morning...So beautiful and so blessed to have this given to me to experience.

Some other things that I was SO thankful for while in Honduras, the amazing newly paved roads! The last time I was there, the roads we traveled to Lacampa were all dirt roads. Roads with many holes and hard to drive on. We have to drive super slow and it took a long time to get to where we needed to be. This trip, the roads are now paved and it only took us 30 minutes from Gracias to LaCampa where before it took like an hour. Such a more better ride too. Less bumps on the bum.

One blessing that really touched me this trip, was all love and greetings of people who I have not seen in 4 years coming to me to talk and hug me. I was not sure if anyone would remember me. But it was an amazing feeling when they would come up and hug me, or see me across the room and point to me and smile, then we would embrace! It's a good feeling knowing that I have made a difference and mark in their lives. My friends, Olympia, Antonio, Rina, Omar. They have touched my life so much and I am so blessed to know them. 

Proverbs 11:25: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

2 Corinthians 9:8; "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Blessings to all,

Mission update, finally

 I am finally home. Sorry it has taken me a while to get an update to you on my trip. You see, I arrived home late Sunday night, and was resting up on Monday. I had every intent to update you Tuesday, but guess what! I got sick. And I tested positive for Covid! It was an experience that you will have to read about later.  But I wanted to share with you about the mission. It was a great mission. God was moving, for sure!

First, I'll start with the views. Look at the beautiful sunrise God gave us each morning. It was more amazing in person! This is the view from the hotel we stayed in.

This was on the trip to one of the clinics up the mountain, an hour drive. The roads were rough and very bumpy. Thank goodness for handles in the truck to hold onto so you wouldn't be sloshed around and hitting your head on the windows!

I saw lots of animals, cow train in the roads, horses walking around the town, and yes spiders! yikes. I don't like those!

We had a total of 3 clinics and saw a total of 408 people. Each clinic had a minister there that each and every patient was prayed over and told about the promise of Jesus. We had 8 give their life to Christ! 

At the clinics, we saw a lot of people with cough, cold and fever. But the last clinic, we cleaned a lot of ears! People would come in and say they were having hearing loss. Well, when you look in their ears, they needed cleaning. Once cleaned, the smile on their face because they could hear better again, made all the difference!

Another story I liked is when they would come in and say they couldn't see well. We had some reader glasses to give out. I would have them try on the different strengths of glasses and once they found one they could see with, they would just smile the biggest smile because they could now see!

Some of my favorite patients at the clinics were the babies! I would always ask the mom, "can I hold your baby?" and they would always say yes. That is a highlight of the clinic to be able to play with them even if for a short time.

I had a great interpreter for my clinics. She was spot on and I hope to work with again!

This is a picture of the GPS, the road disappeared! I guess the road we were on was not yet registered in GPS yet! Thank goodness we knew where we were going.

This is the kiln/oven that Mrs. O. uses for her pottery. It was so cool to see it and how she does her pottery.

Matthew 25:35-40; For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Blessings to all,

God is so good!

It has been an awesome week so far. I just wanted to send a message of thanks for everyone praying for us. I will have more pictures once I get back. It seems the internet is slow for me here so I can’t get my pictures uploaded!! 

But clinics are going great. I have some great stories for you. Seen lots of cows! Got to see the best parade ever for the community celebration. The construction team is getting their project done. God is so good. 

I did have a struggle with one of my patients and let fear set in because I doubted myself and what to do. God stepped in through my interpreter and we worked together to help her. So the word for today is do not fear. Let God lead you. 

Blessing to all,

 

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

I made it!

 

Well we made it. It was a very long travel day with flying and driving, but we are here. My feet are swollen from all the sitting and flying yesterday and my toes look like little sausages but hopefully today that will go away with all the walking we will be doing.  

And I’m excited for today because we get to experience Lemperia day. The community is celebrating their heritage with a parade and having booths in the town square. The kids in the parade are dressing up and doing skits. It is going to be amazing! Then we have church tonight which is always great. 

And I heard my rooster this morning in the distance. I don’t know why, but I just love hearing them crow! So that is the update for now. I will try to keep you up on the goings on while I’m here but the internet is so spotty. And trying to down load pictures is pretty nil. So I may have to do that when I get back. Just a big photo dump! 

Blessing to all, 

One more week

 

I have started packing. Yes this early. I don't want to forget anything. Because it never fails, when I take a trip, I always forget something. And this trip, there are no stores to go to pick up something. You just do without it! I am getting all the things I need for clinics, for my travels. Also getting my heart ready for whatever God has in store for me and the team. 

Our first team left this morning. They are going to Tela to work with Pastor Franklin and his church. His church is doing so many great things in that community and he is planting churches there. God is definitely using him in so many ways. His church even sponsored their own medical clinic in the neighborhood with local doctors and nurses. So much is happening there.

I am on team 2 and we will leave next week. Pray for us to have safe travels and get through customs without any hiccups. Customs always makes me nervous. I don't know what to expect when we get there, I don't think I ever know what to expect, but I do know I will be helping those that come to the clinics to know Jesus and his love. 

What I am not looking forward to? TSA..Atlanta airport...customs.

What I am looking forward to? Seeing old friends...back to basic nursing...being immersed in their culture..seeing the mountains and beautiful communities/people. And another good thing, I heard the roads are starting to get paved. So not as many dirt, muddy roads this trip. 

I encourage you to look into missions if this has been on your heart. You will not only bless others, but you will also be blessed through the work you do for others.

1 Chronicles 16:24 ESV; "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"

Mark 16:15 ESV; "And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."

Blessings to all,