I have called you...

I have shared with some of you some of the struggles that I have been going through since I got here to Africa. Praise the Lord I feel over the past few days I have received some breakthrough. I want to say thank you SO much for those who have prayed. I know that it is through these prayers that my breakthrough as come.

Let me share some thoughts.....since I was a small child I have known what the calling was on my life: to be a missionary nurse. Of course, I didn't know every little detail of that and my life as taken turns that I never would have expected. Therefore, when I am blessed of the Lord to go on journeys, like the one I am on now, I am extremely excited and very fulfilled when I am doing it.

This journey however, has started much different. From the beginning, I have struggled with truly "being" here in Liberia. I am here in body but not in mind and heart. I want to be back home. I want to be working at my job. I want my friends and family. I feel like the past 2 weeks have been two months. The other morning I realized all of this and so began to pray through it. Telling the Lord that I want to surrender my whole being to Him to be used by Him. That I didn't want to miss one thing that He had for me on this trip.

I also have this thing about me that I love adventure and travel. So for me to get to go to Liberia was like another adventure for me; another stamp in the passport!! I realized that my heart wasn't in the right place completely. Yes, these opportunities are adventures; However, they are so much more than that. It's about the people and reaching them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only helping them physically but also spiritually. So as I was thinking of all of this I felt the Lord tell me: "It's about individuals and being sensitive to my spirit." A light bulb went on!!!! Of course!!! That is why I am in Liberia, not for another adventure, but to reach people one heart at a time for the Lord. My heart broke in this moment as I thought of how selfish I had been with my motives. I began thinking of the patients that I have been taking care of for the past 2 weeks and how I could minister to them. Instantly I thought of Baba.

Baba is a 34 year old mother of 4. Her youngest child Praise (6-7 months) lays by her side and brings many smiles to staff and patients. She has been on the Africa Mercy for over 3 weeks now. She hasn't seen her children and very little of her husband. I have watched her demenor change and she looks so sad and depressed. I would be too in her circumstances. When I came on shift last night she told me she had a hard day cause she missed her children.

So I asked the Lord to help me to be sensitive to the needs of Baba and all my patients. To be able to minister to them right where they need it. I have a few ideas on how I can do that for Baba and I believe as I turn my focus towards the people that He will give me more of these ways.

When I opened the Word where I was reading in Romans this is what I read "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. " Rm. 15:1-2. SMACK right in the forehead. I love when God's Word does this.

So needless to say, I think my eyes and heart have been opened and I believe that from now on my time in Liberia will be better!! Again thank you to all who have prayed with me during this time.

Here is my prayer for each of you "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of he Holy Spirit. Rm 15:13.