July 2010 Philippines trip

I had forgotten I even had a blog until I posted on someone else's and had to sign into mine - LOL! The trip this year was once again an awesome experience. It's always too long between trips when you want to live on the mission field.

The mission was once again in Mindoro - starting in Pinamalayan and reaching out around the vicinity. I haven't even gotten a chance to week through the 1000 pictures I took yet but will be posting them on facebook soon. I finally got them downloaded into my computer and my fan went out so I was afraid to work with them for fear of burning up my computer. So last night I loaded them on Rodney's computer. I looked at the videos and posted 2 on facebook.
My heart is still there. When jet lag started to wear off around 2am Thursday morning my first thought was the next trip. I got up and started making notes of what I want to do between now and then (which is still not certain). I love the people we serve there and it's a love that can only come from the love of Jesus through me, cause everyone that knows me - knows I'm not that full of love:-) I try, but really in truely - it's takes a lot of Jesus in me to have love for anyone but me and my family. I'm human and want to shed that human nature more than I can say.

I'm reading an awesome book by Dr. David Jeremiah right now - "Escape the Coming Night". It's about Revelations - the rapture, the tribulation, the rest of the story. I heard him preach the series on the radio and it was awesome. He is such a good preacher. I wish I could go to his church and hear him every Sunday and Wednesday and then ever morning on the radio too.
I don't think we are far from the rapture. And one thing I read that really shook me up is that Dr. Jeremiah believes that everyone that has heard the gospel and not recieved it (which is the same thing as refusing it) will not get a chance to change their mind during the tribulation. It makes me very sad to think that all the people I know now that need the Lord in their lives so badly but have decided to live for themselves will not be able to change their minds once the rapture occurs. The more I read the more I realized he is most likely spot on. I pray that my friends and family will be present with me during the rapture and not have to suffer the tribulation. The world is hard enough to live in right now - I can't imagine having to live through the tribulation of God on this earth.

In the Phlippines people are ready to recieve Jesus as soon as you tell them about His gift to them - His life, salvation, eternal life - not having to worry about their eternal life and where it will be. Hell is a real place and in our culture it has become too easy to forget there is a hell. We want to forget that God is Holy as well as love. If it weren't for Jesus and his sacrifice in our place, we would never be able to enter into God's presence. Jesus said "I am the way, I am the truth, I am the light - no man can come to the Father except through Me!" Period. He is the only way!!! If we try to bypass Jesus we will never be able to get to Father God. And I just want to be where Jesus is. All the time.

Me and My sweet girl.

The Plan

I have been totally miserable in my job since returning from the Philippines. It seems like the only time I really enjoy being a nurse practitioner is when I'm on the mission field. Guess that is confirmation of why I went back to school to begin with - so I could do more missions. It's a shame that I have to make money too.
I have come up with a plan now though. It could change 10 - 100 times between now and then but for today - I want to leave this job in December, take a Christmas break and then start back in January in ER three days a week. I have also been presented with an opportunity to maybe teach at Concordia next semester. I am suppose to meet with them next Thursday. I would be able to work with Susan again - I love working with her.
So, we'll see what God has in store for my plan:-) now. I want what he wants - so it will all be OK.

moods

Sometimes I just wake up in a darn bad mood. This morning I was OK when I woke up but as it creeped by so did this mood. It started out by me thinking I hope my mother doesn't forget my son and son-in-law's birthday. Well, that's all it took and I was mad at her - again. Why am I mad at her? It's not worth discussing. And then I got mad at my dad while I was thinking about being mad at my mother. Anyway - it has permeated my entire morning. Now I'm mad at everyone. So I need to get a grip and stop it!
It would be so nice if that was all it took - say it and it happens.
I read Psalms 9 this morning and it ended with a reminder that we are all human - 'man' is how it put it. So we are all flawed - some more than others. I'm on the heavy end of that scale.
Well, it's time to go back to work - with the 3 stooges - and get finished and get the heck out of here, go to bed, and hopefully wake up in a better mood tomorrow.

Journey to Tagpan

Tagpan, Pinamalayan Philippines

This picture says so much. To me it lets me play a little part in the great commission - Go therefore and make desciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28: 19-20). I've been to other places that seemed like the ends of the earth, but this one may have been the most secluded. We went in through the river on a very tall jeepney and when we got to the river across from the village, we walked. It was a beautiful trip to see a beautiful people and share the love of Christ with them through teaching, medical, and dental. There were 124 Mangyons ask Jesus to come into their hearts that day. This was one clinic day of 10 and each day has it's own story. This was the village that grabbed my heart the most. These are the people that stay on my heart even after getting back home into my daily routines again. This was one of our hardest trip days and one of the most fulfilling days of our trip.

My new baby

This is my first blogging experience. So I'll start with my favorite subject - Yes, I have ANOTHER dog. I love dogs! My dad always said if I saw a dead dog on one side of the road and dead person on the other, I would feel sorry for the dog. Well, that's a little dramatic for me at this point in my life. Especially since I'm in the human saving business. But you know - dogs love you no matter what. You can trust them to always be there wagging their tails when you come home, kissing you good morning, curling up in your lap no matter what kind of mood you're in. People on the other hand - well - you know them.

Anyway, her name is LuLu - not very original I know, but when we were standing in front of the doggy tag making machine - it was the only thing we could think of. And she comes to it already anyway. It took her less than 5 minutes to say - I'm yours mommy. She is an Australian Shepherd. One eye is green and the other is blue. I didn't sleep much last night, but I got a lot of LuLu time in there:-)