oh my goodness! this past week 1/2 was a whirlwind.
on the medical stance, 3 teammates and one squad leader got sick. 2 with Dengue fever and hospital stays, 1 with food poisoning, and 1 with overheating + dehydration.
they were so tough. (they are all back home now and recovering/ resting )
throughout the week, i was able to take care of them at different points.
being in a hospital overnight and taking care of them felt so familiar, almost homey.
one of the nights i went outside to pray and talk to God with some oreos and milk. i was asking “God how can i be completely exhausted and so filled /full of energy at the same time?”
it hit me with the reminder that throughout my life. i’ve felt most myself when i’m taking care of people.
my grandma always tells the story about how when i was 4 i was trying to take care of my great great grandma. i got a soaking wet towel and threw it across her head, started massaging her feet with way too much lotion, and even started giving her her medicine. grandma laughs about how she walked into me trying to help Uelita but almost gave her a handful of way too many pills. Poor Uelita. <3
growing up andy’s little sister, i became super accustomed to all things with care. i loved helping my brother change or get around in his chair. feeding him popsicles during long hospital stays and pulling glitter pranks on him constantly.
then there were times of waking up in the middle of the night to help with medicine, pillow readjustment, tissues, getting the doctor, etc.
something about taking care of people in this way breaks me down and humbles me to the point of deep true genuine love for people. i’m able to remember how much it’s not about me.
month 1 in Ecuador I overheard my Squadleader, Aly talking about the answer to “What am I supposed to do with my life?”
she said it’s 3 questions.
- What are you good at?
- what are you passionate about?
- what does the kingdom need?
When I think about what happened in Cambodia, I think God’s done a lot of showing me who He’s brought me up to be and where He leads me to. He’s guided me and let me see a little bit more.
I’ve found out and realized that I’m good at taking care of people. I create a safe space for people to not only be themselves, but to share where they are hurting. i’m a comforter and a friend.
i love bringing love from my heart into a physical reality. i’m passionate about looking for the light, and letting it be seen.
the kingdom needs to know that whats happening Now isn’t the end all be all. we can’t keep our eyes on what’s going on here as this is all there is. our circumstances don’t have to define our heart. it needs to know that joy is possible when it seems least likely. we don’t have to stay in it.
I remember spending hours in waiting rooms drawing with my cousin, playing on my Etch a Sketch or my DS waiting to see my brother Andy from his surgeries, or when he had his long hospital stays (a lot/seemingly most of childhood)
(me and my cousin maddie playing in the hospital‘s activities center )
I remember seeing my parents with bags under their eyes.
I remember being scared in the hallway when something didn’t go right and all the doctors would rush in to see Andy.
I believe and know that by going through those times of strife and struggle, i’m able to empathize with the sick and with their caretakers. the position I was in has now put me in the position of deeper understanding.
Everything i’ve been given i’m now able to give out.
Having our ministry in the morning be at the Hospital as comfort TO the caregivers, and kids waiting for their family is full circle for me. Being in the position again as the caregiver, i’m back to remembering why it’s important to give the families a rest.
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.2 Corinthians 3-5 |
im super thankful for everything God does for me. He never lets a not-ideal situation go without some kind of good. It always produces some type of strength to run a little harder.
Now, I actually thrive in suffering. In very obviously hard situations. I love them, because I know what comes out of it. This is where i met God, and He brings me back to Him everytime.
”Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the holy spirit who has been given to us.“
Romans 5:3-5
lots of love!
-Cami <3
photo taken by Abby the last night of the crazy week ! I looked like a little caterpillar nurse.
