Two Years in the Making…

             I know it has been a while since my last blog
post (Ok maybe more like two years!), but I wanted to give you an update on
what I have been up to during that time, and where the Lord has called me in
this next season. Hmm, where to begin? I guess I will take you way back to the
Fall of 2011 where we last left off. 
After getting home from the world race I spent some time with family and
friends, and then started looking for a job as a nurse. The Lord had no doubt
given me a heart for the nations, but I knew He was calling me to a season in
the States.

            Little did I
know that He was leading me into a season of complete faith and trust in Him
and His timing. I spent the next three months applying for jobs. I am pretty
sure I applied for every nursing position available in the state of Florida and
even began applying for jobs in Georgia. My bank account was dwindling and I
had yet to hear back from ANY job positions. I started calling nurse recruiters
at various hospitals to see if there was anything I could do to improve my
resume or application. I got voicemail after voicemail. Maybe I had heard God
wrong; maybe this was His way of telling me I should go back into the nations.
So I asked Him and He reassured me that I was exactly where He wanted me.  I said “Ok
Lord, well show me what to do next because I am at a loss.”

Then I got a phone call for an
interview, finally! However, it was for a job in a city I never really wanted
to live in, working with adult patients (I wanted to work with kids) in a
specialty I very much disliked.  But it
was an interview and possible job after months of nothing, so of course I had
to go! The interview went really well, but it just didnt feel right. I had a
three-hour drive back home, and spent it praying and listening for Gods
response. As I listened He clearly spoke to my heart and said “Not this one.”. Wait, what do you mean not this one? I must have heard you wrong. God, you dont understand – this
is my first job interview and a potential job offer! So I kept listening, hoping
He would say something else but He kept speaking the same thing over and over
again. Yet, when the hospital called to offer me the job later that day, I couldnt answer the phone because I wasnt ready
to turn down the very first offer I had been given in three months.

I took the
weekend to pray about it some more, as if He was going to change His response.
Following His lead, I returned their
phone call on Monday to turn down the job offer, walking by faith and believing that His plan was greater, and that He had something even better in store for
me. On the world race, I had come to know my
Heavenly Father as a Daddy who loves me more than I can ever imagine, and
always wants the best for His beloved. So I trusted Him and His will for my
life.  True to His nature, He was
faithful and He didnt even make me wait that long to find out His next step.
Just 30 minutes after turning down the job offer, I received a phone call for an interview for a nursing job working with kids, in
my old college town, where two of my closest
friends still lived. The craziest thing of all is that
I didnt actually apply for the specific position I got an interview for! Coincidence? I think not!

I am happy to say I got the job and
have been working as a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse (kids with cancer
and blood disorders), since December of 2011. I am honored that He chose me to care for such
incredible kids and families. He has taught me SO much about His faithfulness
and goodness in the midst of heartache. I have laughed a lot, cried a lot,
learned a lot and loved a lot during this season. My heart has ached deeply,
but I have also experienced His love in a deeper way than ever before. He
continually reminds me of His presence and lavishes me with His love everyday
through my patients, their families, and my coworkers. God has truly blessed me
with some pretty incredible and amazing coworkers that are like family.  Lately I have realized how blessed I am to
have coworkers that are truly my friends –friends
that are for me and support me no matter what. 
I am just in awe of the blessings God has poured out over me.

                                     One of the many perks of being a pediatric nurse is that you get to play dress up

 with your patients and coworkers.

Speaking of blessings, I have been
able to go back to Honduras three times since being home from the world
race.  We spent our first month of the
race in Honduras and I left a piece of my heart there that I dont think I will
ever get back, and I am ok with that. It has been incredible to see the boys we
worked with turn into young men on fire for the Lord.  

Sweet Carlos has grown up into quite a sweet young man with an incredible passion to learn more about the Lord!

 

Luis has also grown up into a young man with a beautiful heart and passion for the Lord!

My good friend Cassie from the race now lives in Honduras long term, so it is always great to spend
quality time with her and the little one the Lord has given her to watch over.