New things

The last few weeks I have encountered new things.

I went to my first Twins game at Target field with Mike on September 16. We were going to go to North Dakota that day since neither one of us has ever been to ND before but instead we went to the Twins vs. Sox game...Mike is a HUGE Sox fan so couldn't pass up the possibility. Wish the Twins had won..

Mike taught me how to kick a football the other night. It's a lot harder than it looks!

Friday I have my first interview for a nursing job! It's for a position as an ICU nurse in Milwaukee. Even if I don't get the job it still will be good practice. 

My youngest sister might have her first boyfriend. I'm not sure how I feel about this since I'm pretty protective of her and I have not met the guy yet. She gave Mike an application to fill out when we first started dating as a joke so maybe I'll have to return the favor :)

I also have been wrestling with more things spiritually. I really am excited to get a job and to be able to volunteer in a larger city, but what are some things that I can do here? I have an abundance of warm clothing I don't want anymore so why not give them to an organization who can distribute these to people who really need them. I sometimes forget that even in small towns there is poverty. Also I have had more questions about spiritual warfare and what this really means.

Nursing?

I have been to Africa twice now. Both times were very impacting in different ways. My experiences in Senegal were filled with seeing patients from babies to old men. It mostly based around providing medical attention to villages that had not received medical care ever. It also was about establishing connections for a mission organization to enter into later after we left. Uganda...all about loving on people. I was able to help in  the clinic there everyday, but it was the people that I will never forget. I miss the little kiddos running to the gate everyday to greet us yelling "Mzungu" I miss their little smiles. I miss talking with the teachers and them talking about my long, blond hair. I have struggled with wondering if this is God calling me back there. While I was struggling with this, my friend Stacy told me she would be stopping there on her way to Rwanda where she would be teaching for year. I kind of was jealous at first that God was calling her back to Africa so soon and for so long. However, after talking to some missionary nurses I realized the best thing to do right now is to practice in the States for awhile before going back to do nursing. I was able to read Stacy's blog of her week at Smile yesterday and it made me miss the people at Smile once again, but I was also given peace that one day I would return to see the kids again but right now I need to be satisfied with where God has me. I really feel as if God is going to use me to make a difference...even if that is only in one person's life. I have so many passions related to helping others that it is hard to figure out the one thing I would be best at. I'd love to help with providing clean water to the people in Africa. I would love to provide free/low cost healthcare to single parents and low income families. Teen girls in general interest me whether its pregnancy, counseling after assaults or rapes, anorexia, purity, or suicide prevention I would love to help girls to have a brighter future and to heal from the lies of the world. I also would love to help high school students who are getting caught up in gangs and crime to find more positive things to do after school than to hang around in the streets. There are so many other dreams and aspirations that I have, but the biggest question I have is..how does nursing play into these dreams? Why am I nurse (weird not to have student behind that!)? My education at Northwestern has provided me with an open mind to all these issues so I do not feel as if my schooling has gone to waste if I do not use my nursing ever, but it would be nice to do something with the degree I have. Is nursing for me?