So this mission kinda came up on me more quickly than I realized....and as always in a way not according to "my plan". My Plan was to go last week to the Chiapas Mexico mission with Katrin who I haven't seen since our Tlaxcala Mission together & with heather from my last mission in Guatemala. BUT....I was too late to that party & all the recovery Room Nurse spots were already committed to Katrin & 2 others. I was REALLY BUMMED because it is always nice to work with people you have worked with before. Yet again I realize that when I choose to do these missions...it is NOT ABOUT ME...it is AlWAys about where I am needed & going where I am asked to go.
Joe my wonderful PC from Guatemala said he would be happy to have me on another mission of his...I think the night shift showed my commitment level :) jk anyways he offered me the opportunity to go to Honduras or Paraguay. Another thing for me is that it is also very much about how it fits in with my many "worlds"...CHOC, family, TT, other commitments. The Paraguay dates were better that Honduras so Paraguay it was to be - still with things I had going on I am arriving 2 days later than the rest of the team & missed a day of screening which really is one of my favorite things.
Also dont tell my sister who is the Geography teacher...but I had not clue where Paraguay was - I thought South America & that would mean "easy travel" not quite...I soon learned where it was when we made my flight plan - LA to Miami then Miami to Asuncion a total of 13 hours in flight & a Red Eye arrival - better than Africa - not quite as simple as Mexico :)
I started packing last night at 7, did a Target Run at 9 & hoped to be in bed at midnight then up at 5 to get everything ready for an 8 am ride to the airport. Well midnight turned to almost one then at 1 AM the phone rang - which is rarely ever good & it was Kelli & Sarah - seems Kellis car had a close encounter with a Deer as they were heading home from Park City. Kelli was in shock, Sarah was calling 911 & the car wasn't running & well the deer - lets just say he or she went to heaven. So that all happened from 1-3 am & I slept from 3ish to 5 am - maybe an hour & a half. Not the best way to start a mission but oh well. Today the girls are fine, the car is at the dealer & Doug is going to figure it all out.
I am currently in Miami - the first leg of my travel was fine - not alot of sleep but my next flight is less full & with a sleep aid I am planning on sleeping the entire flight - fingers crossed!!! Since I am arriving alone someone will meet me & take me to the hotel for our team day. There are only 5 or 6 americans on the medical team - we have US students & a few other visitors but the majority of the team is from Paraguay & South America - I REALLY NEED TO LEARN SPANISH!!!! Rosetta Stone maybe? The other recovery room nurse is from the states so that will be nice & the intensivist too - I am sure we will have a great team - truly anyone with Op Smile is all about helping kids :)
I am SOOOOOOO IMMENSELY GRATEFUL that I can do this - I have sweet friends who support me with things to bring to the people I will meet, others who cover for me at work, a husband who is 200% supportive, friends who encourage. I feel like I go & take a part of so many people with me. I am excited to serve the children & families in Paraguay - to hear their stories & learn abut their lives, to care for their children as if they were my own & to witness how God loves all his children on every corner of the earth. So here I go....to do what I love to do the most which is help children & families with the gifts & talents I have been blessed with....my sacrifice is small & the rewards tremendous! Adios - next post will come from Asuncion Paraguay!!!
Joe my wonderful PC from Guatemala said he would be happy to have me on another mission of his...I think the night shift showed my commitment level :) jk anyways he offered me the opportunity to go to Honduras or Paraguay. Another thing for me is that it is also very much about how it fits in with my many "worlds"...CHOC, family, TT, other commitments. The Paraguay dates were better that Honduras so Paraguay it was to be - still with things I had going on I am arriving 2 days later than the rest of the team & missed a day of screening which really is one of my favorite things.
Also dont tell my sister who is the Geography teacher...but I had not clue where Paraguay was - I thought South America & that would mean "easy travel" not quite...I soon learned where it was when we made my flight plan - LA to Miami then Miami to Asuncion a total of 13 hours in flight & a Red Eye arrival - better than Africa - not quite as simple as Mexico :)
I started packing last night at 7, did a Target Run at 9 & hoped to be in bed at midnight then up at 5 to get everything ready for an 8 am ride to the airport. Well midnight turned to almost one then at 1 AM the phone rang - which is rarely ever good & it was Kelli & Sarah - seems Kellis car had a close encounter with a Deer as they were heading home from Park City. Kelli was in shock, Sarah was calling 911 & the car wasn't running & well the deer - lets just say he or she went to heaven. So that all happened from 1-3 am & I slept from 3ish to 5 am - maybe an hour & a half. Not the best way to start a mission but oh well. Today the girls are fine, the car is at the dealer & Doug is going to figure it all out.
I am currently in Miami - the first leg of my travel was fine - not alot of sleep but my next flight is less full & with a sleep aid I am planning on sleeping the entire flight - fingers crossed!!! Since I am arriving alone someone will meet me & take me to the hotel for our team day. There are only 5 or 6 americans on the medical team - we have US students & a few other visitors but the majority of the team is from Paraguay & South America - I REALLY NEED TO LEARN SPANISH!!!! Rosetta Stone maybe? The other recovery room nurse is from the states so that will be nice & the intensivist too - I am sure we will have a great team - truly anyone with Op Smile is all about helping kids :)
I am SOOOOOOO IMMENSELY GRATEFUL that I can do this - I have sweet friends who support me with things to bring to the people I will meet, others who cover for me at work, a husband who is 200% supportive, friends who encourage. I feel like I go & take a part of so many people with me. I am excited to serve the children & families in Paraguay - to hear their stories & learn abut their lives, to care for their children as if they were my own & to witness how God loves all his children on every corner of the earth. So here I go....to do what I love to do the most which is help children & families with the gifts & talents I have been blessed with....my sacrifice is small & the rewards tremendous! Adios - next post will come from Asuncion Paraguay!!!
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