Assaulted Brain

“What exactly is Laura doing in Texas? I am confused. I thought she was going back to Africa to live on a ship where she volunteers as a nurse. So, what is with this trip to Texas?” I am sure many of you may be wondering what exactly I am doing in Texas. As I pile on layer after layer of tank-tops, my one sweatshirt, and borrowed coat, before I walk across the campus for class, I wonder what I am doing here, too! It is so cold here! Long ago, we established geography and basic knowledge has never been my strong points, but seriously I did not think it got cold in Texas! I know it is January but, seriously; ice storms and freezing temperatures in Texas, what the heck? Okay, besides freezing I have been keeping an intensely, busy schedule, most of which includes having my brain assaulted daily in the classroom. I am in Texas living on the campus of the International Operations Center for Mercy Ships. I am enrolled in a Mercy Ships course called Gateway. This course is four weeks long, with the purpose of educating and preparing long-term ship crew to adjust to living on the ship. The course focuses on different aspects of life as a volunteer with Mercy Ships. For example, we cover topics such as living in community, cross-cultural ministry, serving effectively, communication skills, interpersonal growth and development, worldview, basic safety training, and a few other intense subjects. There are 30 of us enrolled in the January term of Gateway. Between the 30 of us in the course, we represent at least 6 different countries. We range in age from 18-mid 60’s. We all have unique jobs and professions. Our class is very diverse. We have a few military personal, a registered nurse anesthetist, receptionist, multiple nurses, teachers, an electrician, an engineer, a hair dresser, deck crew, and video and communication techno wizards, among our group. Our background differences do not matter, which is awesome. We are all united under the passion of serving and loving the poor and needy, in Jesus’ name. The focus of this week has been on interpersonal development, personality, and Principles to Live By. Oh, joy! There is nothing like taking eight hours a day, three days straight, to evaluate your personality and how it influences your choices and the world around you. There have been many moments during class this week when I felt like I was on a Doctor Phil or Oprah show getting grilled and motivated to get my act together. Funny how when we evaluate ourselves, we normally have a variety of positive traits, but the negative traits get our focus. And our short comings replay over and over in our mind like a broken record. What does all of this study have to do with me volunteering as a nurse in Africa? Well, when we work with people on the ship in Africa, we are not only aiming to fix temporary health concerns, but we are serving to change lives for eternity. People who don’t know who they are, their purpose, or what life is about, cannot teach others, therefore; the brain draining study and pondering of life’s big questions. “Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? What guides my journey? Where am I right now? How am I going to get there? When am I going to start?” This week of class has been painful to some extent and intense to say the least, oh blessed “growing pains”. It is a mighty big project to answer all the previously mentioned questions. It takes some people years to answer one of those questions and for some; their entire lifetime. We have also worked on developing personal mission statements and our life vision. Another sobering exercise that is highly effective in promoting self-analysis is writing your own eulogy. Are you getting the picture of why my brain hurts? We have been encouraged to make the most of every day, to live life on purpose, and to live life by design. My head and heart hurt, but they hurt good! I wish I could somehow convey everything that we are discussing here. But, I won’t bore you with that, but I will leave you with a few points to ponder that have really impacted me this week. Although some of you think I am super intelligent, I cannot take credit for the quotes/phrases below. I am not sure who wrote them and I would hate to plagiarize on my blog, therefore; someone wiser than I said the following. “…The Platinum rule: Treat others the way they would prefer to be treated…” “…Be careful that you don’t let perfect become the enemy of good…” “…Forgiveness is giving up my right to hate you because of what you did to me…” “…Discipline is choosing to be governed by true thoughts; not feelings…” Be blessed! I love all of you! My eyes remain the same. My right eye is wonderful; my left eye did not get corrected completely and remains blurry. But an under correction is better than an over correction, which could have required a cornea transplant. For the time being, I am wearing glasses again. In the future, I may have another surgery on my left eye. Take care!

My Schedule

Things here are intense! I am in class every day from 8:00am- 3:30pm. We take an hour for lunch, but otherwise we are in the lecture hall studying an incredible array of topics. Then we often have a small group for an hour, dinner, then more lectures. The lectures are extremely amazing and challenging. The majority of the challenge is in grasping the huge topics we are discussing, but there is the small challenge of remaining alert and awake for the class time. In just the last two days we have covered topics such as: "Who is God?", "What is wrong with the world?" "The common views of God, 'Santa Clause,' 'The Dictator,' 'The Father Figure,' 'An Abstract Force,' 'The Shepherd,' or an 'Old Man.'" We have also talked about truth.. or if there is even anything really true. You get the picture. We are dealing with intense topics. And during this entire process, I am still struggling to see clearly. My right eye is perfect, but my left eye is still blurring. I wish I had time to write more, but I need to complete my nightly homework. I would appreciate your prayers. My mind and heart are being stretched, I love the challenge, but no growth is easy. More later.

The Prophetic Taxi Driver

Exhausted from a busy work week, my friend, Doctor Susie, decided it would be best if she slept in and had a cab transport me to the airport for my flight out to Texas. Susie arranged for a cab to pick me up in New Orleans at 6:30 am. Susie had the cab ride all arranged for me before I could even attempt to reject the idea. My main concern was the cost of the cab fee and my lack of funds, considering my current job has great benefits, but they are "out of this world" and at this time, I pay TO work. Susie hugged me good-bye, told me the cab fee was only $30.oo, for a 15-minute drive ( I almost choked), and then she jumped into bed. I continued packing my belongings hoping to soon hit the hay myself. But, being slightly concerned about detail, I checked my cash stash. $21.00 is all I found. Shoot... I started to panic. I had no more cash, Susie was fast asleep, I was no where near an ATM, and I was guessing the cab driver wouldn't want one of my nice little checks from a bank in Idaho. I grabbed the phone book and saw that the cab company took visa. I thought that was odd, so I called the company to double check. Sure thing. They accepted visa. No worries. The next morning the cab driver was prompt and on time. We started our short journey to the airport. The cab driver was friendly and very talkative. Out of politeness, I asked him if he just started his shift. He reported he had been working all night long and was actually the dispatcher that took my friend's call requesting the early AM pick-up for me. He said all the other drivers were busy that morning, but he knew I was a young lady that needed to get to the airport, so he agreed to drive me even though his shift was over. After he made that comment, I had some really stupid thoughts, results of watching too many creepy movies. I thought he was scary and going to eat me with gumbo or hurt me. I was thinking.. um, that is why I wanted my friend to take me to the airport in the first place... Coming back to reality, the stupid thoughts left and we continued chatting. The taxi drive found out I was a volunteer in Africa and he thought it was really admirable. He then started spouting off an amazing array of philosophical quotes and facts. I couldn't believe, that he was attempting to discuss philosophy at such an early hour, but a lot of what he was saying made sense. I was actually impressed and touched by many of the topics he discussed. After awhile, I was beginning to wonder how much longer it could take to reach the airport. Although the taxi driver's conversation was interesting; I was tired and it was 6:40am! I was politely nodding to his comments, but starting to zone out. Then he looked me in the eye through his rear view mirror and caught my attention. He said, “Young lady, I sense that sometime in your youth, your teenage years, someone broke your trust and it has been hard for you to trust ever sense then. I sense you are angry with yourself regarding this situation. It wasn’t your fault for trusting, you feel horrible about it, but so does the person that hurt you. And now, you struggle with trust. You build up walls that are not easy to get through. Those walls will cause you to miss out." I cannot even really recall what else the man said, but I was so shocked by his words and the accuracy of his statement. This man had never met me and had no way of knowing something so personal to me. But, in some manner he was speaking directly to my heart. No, I haven't been sitting around hurt and lonely because of this past, broken trust, but some of his message really rang true. He then went on the say this quote: “Don’t let anger, bitterness, or resentment keep you from reason, logic, good judgment and a thing called love. “ New Orleans Taxi Driver I still do not know why that quote has impressed me so much. But, I think it is very applicable for everyone. I think there are tiny nuggets of truth that we can learn from it. It doesn't have to apply to only male and female relationships, but can apply to any relationship. Maybe it could also apply to our concept and opinion of God. Either way, I have been thinking about the truth of this statement and the fact that we need to attempt to let things of the past be past. We cannot let the past "spoiled attempts at love" taint our vision of God's truest, purest, love. Okay, I know I am not a philosophy major, so I will move on. The taxi driver finally pulled up to the airport and reported the cab fee was $30. I said, "you take visa, right?" He looked at me like I was an alien, no way did they take visa. I felt horrible, I said, but I even called the company last night and confirmed that you take visa. He assured me that was never their policy or action. I said, "but I don't have enough cash." He replied, "how much you got?" Embarrassed, I reported, "$21.00." He said, "sounds perfect." I was still distraught and he said, "Darling, why you feelin' bad?" Obviously, it was because I didn't have the proper payment for the cab fare and I didn't want to cheat the man. He said, "don't feel bad, $21.00 is great for me!" I handed him all the cash I had. Thanked him for the ride and one more time he said: “Don’t let anger, bitterness, or resentment keep you from reason, logic, good judgment and a thing called love." I believe that New Orleans taxi driver knows God. If he does not, I still believe God used him to speak to me and bless me. I had thought $30.00 was a steep cab fare and I ended up only having to pay $21.00 So, I didn't get a Louisiana swamp tour, or a chance to visit the Voo Doo Costume shop, but I believe I met a prophetic taxi driver. Crazy as that may sound, it fits in perfect with the crazy city of New Orleans. But, after all there is never any place on earth too crazy for God to find us and speak to us!

On the Road Again

Just the other day I was out for a drive with a friend. I was taking in the scenic view and enjoying some educational reading: the local billboards. It is always interesting reading the random messages plastered on North American billboards from desperate advertisers, looking to capture your attention in hopes of making a buck. But, there was something different about these billboards. I read signs advertising scrumptious "Fried Pickles," "Po-Boys," the "Voo Doo Costume Shop," "and "Swamp Tours!" At this point, I realised I wasn't in "Kansas" anymore. Make that, I wasn't in Kansas, New Hampshire, or Idaho anymore. I was in a new land. A land of gumbo, red beans and rice, and alligators! I had arrived in New Orleans! I don't know what my first clue was that I was no longer in a familiar land, but I can tell you I ain't never seen a drive-through daiquiri shop! This place is crazy! A few hours earlier I had said good-bye to my parents and friends in Idaho. I had boarded a plane, travelled across America, and arrived in the foreign country of Louisiana. It is a different world down here. Everyone has a swamp mobile, the confederacy lives on, and I have already met someone named Bobby-Boo Shay. Just kidding. Either way, I am on the road again. Stop one... Louisiana.. for a free Lasik eye surgery. Services donated by my dear friend Doctor Susie, whom I met aboard the Mercy Ship. Again, as with my first root canal, God blessed me with extreme exhaustion and therefore, very limited anxiety pre-operation. I even fell asleep in the waiting room. I was the last case of the day and therefore would have had plenty time to freak out and become highly anxious, but instead, God used my emotional and physical exhaustion from running around the past month and a half, to provide me with a calm for my upcoming surgery. God is good. His ways sure aren't our ways. but go God! I felt a small tap on my shoulder and a kind nurse escorted me to the pre-treatment room where I was given 15mg of Valium, a medication with the purpose of sedation and relaxation. Apparently, I am a light weight. The nurses couldn't believe my response to the medication. The medication is intended to calm a person, not knock them out. Either way, per report from the doctors and nurses, I was one of the best patients they ever had. I didn't move one inch. And I was afraid the doctor would yell at me, tell me to quit wiggling my legs, and have to tie me down to the table! Not the case here. The surgery took about 15 minutes and the medical team had to practically carry me back to the post-operative recovery room. It has now been three days since my surgery. I am proud to tell you I am writing this note myself and I can basically see the computer screen without difficulty. Things are a little blurry in my left eye, but I am praying that gets better. I have obtained 20/20 vision in my right eye. My left eye is 20/30 or something like that. Hopefully, it will get better. If not, I may need to wear one contact. The doctor said my case was extremely difficult because of the severity of my nearsightedness. My eyes were bad. We are talking, if my glasses were off, I couldn't read my alarm clock without picking it up, letting it hit my nose, then the numbers came into focus. Trying to look at myself in the mirror without my glasses was out of the question. My vision has greatly improved, but I am hoping for fast, total healing. I would sure appreciate your prayers toward that end as well. Tomorrow, I say good-bye to the land of blackened this and that, jazz music, crazy parties, and damage from hurricane Katrina. I am on my way to Texas! Y'all make sure you come back now and visit my blog for more updates!