The chronicles of one girl's journey with Jesus
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Friday, February 7, 2014
Ready or not, it is training time.
I have been an ER nurse now for a year and 8 months. Wow. I remember when I was graduating nursing school. And many of you remember when I was in college. Some people I have run into at church back home think I'm STILL in college.
I have caught up with some people recently who have wondered what I have been up to and whether I "still want to do the missions thing". I haven't been very good about sending updates, but until recently there hasn't really been any interesting or note worthy updates. I was accepted by a sending organization last summer. For those of you who haven't walked through the process or known anyone who has, preparing to go overseas as a long-term missionary is a looong process. And not always an exciting one. Some weeks it feels like I am doing all this work and getting nowhere in the process. But the past several months there have been some exciting things going on.
I have been in contact with several teams overseas about the possibility of joining them on the field, but at this point I am unsure of exactly when my anticipated launch date will be. There are multiple factors that contribute to that, some expected and others surprising and unexpected. I have learned time and time again that when I get too attached to my own timeline, God decides it is time to shake things up and change my plans! Keepin' me humble and dependent.
Thankfully for the sake of my planning impulses, there are a few things set in stone. One of those things is my training school. I fly out of Texas on Sunday morning to spend 2 weeks doing intensive training classes and preparation with my sending organization. I am excited for the next 2 weeks as I have been preparing for it for a while now. Lets just say being out of school made it difficult to get back in the swing of doing homework and required reading. But the Lord has given me joy and blessings even through my homework.
While I am looking forward to what God has in store for me in the next 2 weeks, I am also terrified. To be completely honest, I have been having doubts and feelings of inadequacy that get stronger each day. It seems silly to admit because I know the truths of scripture that speak against those lies and fears. Yet the feelings are still there and very real. So all that I know to do is pray and cling to Jesus to be my strength.
I would be so thankful for your prayers in this. For peace and rest in the Father. For a spirit of enthusiasm and humility as I seek to learn and grow. For wisdom and discernment as I listen to the Holy Spirit. For discipline and a heart of obedience as I put into action the things I soak up. For a growing, deepening passion to see God glorified in all the earth. And most of all, for a heart that yearns for more of Jesus, a passionate longing for Him in the rawest sense, to the point of pleading on my knees in tears to know Him intimately.
Monday, December 10, 2012
The gospel in adoption
[From L to R] Kelsey, Laney, Exavier, Leanne, Ethan, Kendall, and Kent Anderson.
Family photo by Kathy Chruscielski
And then there was the adoption day in court. The boys had been part of our family for over 6 months, but this was the day that it would finally be made legal in the eyes of the state. All 7 of us drove down in our 7-passenger Suburban (talk about being close!) to the city where they had lived previously where the adoption finalization would take place. That morning we all got dressed up for court, excited for the day that was ahead of us. There were close friends and family with us at the court house that day. None of us could hide our excitement. Even court attendants made comments to us, "I have never seen this much happiness and excitement in one place." When they called for us to go in, we all packed into the small court room. My mom started crying as my parents promised to love and care for Ethan and Exavier forever. The judge declared Ethan and Exavier an official part of the Anderson family. It was something that had happens long before that moment, but it was now official. As we walked out of the court room, Exavier wanted me to pick him up as he always does. Ethan turned to look at me and asked, "So this means I am an Anderson forever?" "Yes! That is what is means.", I responded. "Yes!!", he cheered with a big smile on his face. Exavier's response was a little different but still so touching. He had his head buried in my shoulder, and I asked him if he was okay. He just nodded his head, and I realized he was crying. I told him to took at me and asked him, "What's wrong, buddy?" He had tears running down his cheeks as he told me, "I'm just really happy." He hugged me tighter, and I couldn't help but cry. It was all such a beautiful picture of the love and joy of when a family comes together - when a parent can say "You are mine forever" and when a child can rest in knowing that they belong to a family forever. The joy and peace that comes over everyone at that moment is indescribable.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Life as a Real Nurse
I have learned so much in the past 7 weeks but still feel like such a newbie every time I walk through those ambulance bay doors. God has taught me so much this summer, it is difficult to process it all much less try putting it into words. I'll stick to my experiences at work for now.
Every day at work I encounter ALL different kinds of people - those that are frustrated, in pain, perfectly fine, manipulative, lying through their teeth, honest, understanding, arrogant, uncooperative, unresponsive, screaming, combative, mentally altered, spitting and cussing, encouraging, sweet, pleasant, entertaining, critical, sarcastic, dramatic, whiny. You name it. And each of those people - whether patients, visitors, family members, nurses, physicians, or other staff members - are a beloved child of God. The Lord reminds me of that daily. I underestimated how difficult it can be at times to maintain that focus when all I want to do is say, "Are you kidding me" as I roll my eyes. But then the gracious Lord gives me a little extra love and changes my heart more each day. I want to be like Jesus when he saw the lost, lonely, and sick and his first reaction was to have compassion on them.
No matter how overwhelming, busy, difficult, tear-jerking, or frustrating my shift may be, I always leave more dependent on the Lord than when I arrived. I am humbled by all kinds of situations I encounter. Sometimes I mess up. A lot of times I feel clueless or stupid. I am slower at some things so I can get behind more easily. I get scared when my patients are very sick. I ask lots of questions which I'm sure gets annoying. I set my expectations high, and I can be too hard on myself. I tend to take things personally which can be bad when someone is upset & in pain. I'm still very sensitive to some of my patients' stories & outcomes which is emotionally taxing, but I'm learning to find that balance. All these things leave me in a place of weakness and dependence. Only the Lord can be my strength, patience, love, and compassion because I have learned pretty well that I cannot be those things on my own.
Learning surrender, dependence, humility, and compassion is hard. But I am more & more convinced that God is the only one who can take the most painful, hurtful, trying, difficult things in life and make them into something extraordinary.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Entering the uncomfortable
Monday, May 28, 2012
The constant in all the chaos
Although this transition has been new & exciting, many days have been filled with loneliness, disappointment, frustration, guilt, exhaustion, uncertainty, doubt, and sadness. I felt distant from God - at times for reasons I well know and other times for reasons I do not understand. You know that feeling when it seems like you are so far gone from the Lord when just a few days before He seemed so near to your heart walking you through each moment - it is a horrible place to be. I'm not sure how to describe it. I just seemed to dwell in a state of frustrating discontentment every moment of every day. And I hated it.
I have had days when I was discontent with everything about myself. Days when I yearned to be on my way to a beautiful reunion with my precious babies in Uganda. Days when I was so disgusted with my sinful self that I thought I might throw up. Days when my shame made me want to crawl under a rock and never come out. Days when I felt wounded and broken. Days when I was confused and overwhelmed wondering what will happen next. Days when I was impatient, ungrateful, and just plain rude. Days when my mouth seemed to have no filter and my heart seemed to have no grace.
I think we all have those times.
But just in the past few days the Lord has begun to show me his work in all this.
Sometimes I allow myself to entertain the illusion that I have things under control. And oh, is that such an illusion! If I was in control, my life would be one huge mess. So really it is a blessing when the Lord allows things to happen that aren't according to my plan. I need to be reminded of my complete dependence on the Lord. For me that needs to be a frequent reminder because sometimes I try to be super woman.
I am such a wretched, evil person apart from Christ inside me. It can be easy to forget that everything of me that is good, lovely, and noble is Jesus. That self righteousness starts creeping inside my heart, and I don't even notice it. But God does. So in a way it is even a blessing to be faced with temptation as a reminder that only the Holy Spirit flourishing in my heart can overcome those selfish desires of my flesh. There are times when those worldly desires get the best of me, and my human nature tries to push aside the overwhelming conviction I am faced with. I have known that to happen too many times in my life, and, thank the Lord, the conviction will always become too great to ignore. Enter: GRACE. Oh, how sweet it is to know the truth of God's unconditional love and cleansing grace. There is truly nothing in all this world like being forgiven of our transgressions and covered by grace, to feel the weight of guilt and disdain washed away only to be filled with joy, thanksgiving, and love.
As for the rest of life outside myself, I have even less control over any of that. Circumstances can be turned around in an instant. If I allow my attitude, my actions, or my life to be defined by whether life is running according to my plans, then I will be in for a world of hurt. Whether I have to live on a tight budget, I have to do something I don't particularly enjoy, or I can't take my licensure exam as soon as I would like, God is still sovereign, and I am still called to live a life of worship that reflects Christ in all I do.
So I think in all the expected and unexpected, the Lord is showing me that no matter how much life changes, He will always be God, I will always be called above all else to seek & serve Him with my life, and I will always be dependent on Him to fulfill that calling.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
An unexpected turn of events
Monday, January 23, 2012
An answered prayer for an anxious heart
Here's a crazy cool God story for you.
Saturday evening, January 7th I got back to my apartment at UMHB after being home for a month, and all of a sudden as I sat alone in my apartment I got really homesick. I know. It sounds silly. I got a little teary-eyed, and then the thought popped in my hear, "How much more am I going to miss my family when I'm thousands of miles away from them for so long?" I started bawling in the middle of my apartment by myself, and the waterworks continued for quite a while. I started thinking, "Oh my goodness, what did I get myself into? Did I just make a huge mistake? God, what if this wasn't your plan? What if everything at Passion was my own emotions?" All these doubts started running through my mind. If this was a mistake then God isn't going to provide, and that will just show everyone that I'm being crazy and irresponsible.
After letting my mind run away with me for a little while, I decided I should pull out my Bible. Always a good idea =) So I spent a good amount of time sitting in the quiet stillness of my apartment praying and reading scripture. I read Psalm 34. It begins, "I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces." And David continues on praising God for his goodness and proclaiming his faithfulness to his children. He speaks of our Heavenly Father as our refuge and protection, urging us to cry out to his because he hears us and cares for us. What a beautiful passage! It spoke to my doubting heart and calmed my fears just as the Lord promised. So I told God, "I know you are the one sending me to Uganda, and I know you will provide. But God, I just need some reassurance."
Fast forward two days later to Monday afternoon. The first day of class is over. One of my former instructors sees me visiting in another professor's office. She comes in, hands me a sealed envelope, and simply says, "That is for you. My mother wanted to give it to you before you left to Uganda for the summer but forgot. So that is for when you go back." I found that off with all things considered. At that point she would not have known I was already planning to move back after graduation. Surprised and a little confused, I graciously thanked her several times. Once I left the nursing building, I opened the envelope to find a check dated New Year's Eve (right before I arrived at the Passion 2012 Conference) written to me for $500 from a woman I have never met. And at that moment I felt God whisper to me deep down in my heart "See. I am faithful to provide for my children. I am faithful to provide for my will."
It gives me chills every time I think about it. Isn't that wonderful?!?! God is so good. I haven't even made the first effort to start raising funds. Bye golly, I hadn't hardly told anyone yet. But God, in his goodness, laid it on a sweet woman's heart to write out a check for $500 before he even spoke peace into my heart about moving in Uganda.