…yes, it was 6 1/2 years ago, and I'm finally back…
Yes, I have been entitled the "Crazy Psycho Nurse" and it all began with an evening conversation with Jeff Long, our contact, a true visionary who has put his dreams into action. He and his family have been here for 20 years and hosted multiple short term/long term missionaries and teams, including ~ 5 years of World Racers. So, basically today as we walked through the community, he introduced me as a midwife, as a nurse who can give immunizations, and basically an any or all nurse. "Oh Jeff, let me clarify something, I actually take care of the babies after their born." Jeff than says, "That's okay, that's good enough." I'm anxiously excited to be under his leadership and to see more of his vision become a reality including a birthing facility where women can give birth in a clean, private environment, something that is unheard of in the community here.
Through the ministries associated with KIM (www.kidsinternationalministries.org) our squad has the opportunity to help impact the community in a variety of ministry opportunities. So as I mentioned previously I will be teaching pregnant teens and checking up on infants, as well as working in a dental clinic. I will also be working with street kids on Thursday evenings, working in the nursery of a children’s home, and some construction work to help begin the building of the birthing clinic, building two homes and complete work on a prayer room. I'm pretty darn stoked and am amazed with how at home I already feel here.
As I mentioned to you all, in my last blog, we were rerouted from Thailand to the Philippines, due to the flooding. Could I ask that you please pray for Thailand and the people affected by the flooding? We could see the effects of the flooding during our landing and our layover in Bangkok. There is still a great possibility that we may be able to go back and I ask that you also pray if God does decide to have us go back, that He would help prepare us and that we might help them rebuild their communities.
I have updated my links on the left hand side of my page with my new teammates, Rachel, Kelly, Emily Rae, Megan, and Ruth, that provide direct access to their blogs. However, our entire squad will be working with KIM over the next 6 weeks and will be intermixing with them in the various ministries. Could you please pray for not only squad unity, but for team unity? It's going to be difficult learning to be a team, finding time as a team, being vulnerable with our team, when so many of us are all together and doing various ministries. I want to be real with my new team, I want to fight for my new family, I want to glorify God in all that I do, in all that I say. I pray for peace, for guidance, for clarity, for direction. I pray all these things in His powerful and all holy name.
One final thing I would like prayer for is continued financial support, I have until February 1, basically 3 months, to raise $1400 before I get sent home. (You can either click Support Me! here or the Support Me link to the left for details on your tax deductible contribution or you can mail a check to: Adventures In Missions, P.O. Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. Be sure to include in the memo: World Race: Laura Danielle Williams). Also, if your looking for Christmas presents and desire to help me continue on my race, I'm selling reusable bags from Mixed Bag Designs. So please check the link out and email me for more details: [email protected]
I can not begin to tell you how blessed I am to be here in the Philippines again. My first time here was an amazing experience, where I experienced new life, teaching, and growth, but that time was cut short. This is a month of redemption. This is a month of God's grace and his pouring His love out upon me, so that I can in turn pour His love on His people through my nursing and compassion skills. God is AMAZINGLY GREAT!
