Seasons

The air is cool.

I breathe deeply, the subtle smell of salt and freshness.

Quiet. 

Here on the coast of Kenya at Turtle Bay Resort in Watamu, I have been transported to another country.  Everything is clean and new.  No sickness, no blood, no pus.  There is no screaming, no pagers, no phones.  I sleep and breathe deep.  I eat slowly. 

I wonder what my team is doing back at Tenwek.  How are the wound infections?  How is the 570 gm baby I delivered?  Does the blood bank have blood?

No matter how far I go....where I go.....the thoughts of Tenwek pull me back there.  I wonder - how WILL I ever leave this place?

But I will leave.  Soon in fact.

I will be finishing my term at Tenwek and returning to the United States in June 2012.

Sadness. Regret. Happiness. Excitement. Fatigue.  Emotion pulls at me as the finality of my situation sinks in.  This time at Tenwek - like medical school, like residency...like so many other times in the past and in the future - is a just a season.  It is a season of learning and growing...a season of frustration and hope...and like all seasons it has come to an end.....yielding to the start of a new season.

I know you all have questions.  I will try my best to give answers!

When will you leave Kenya?

June 14

Where will you go?

Ohio

What will you do?

First and foremost, I will readjust to life in the US.  After having lived in Kenya for 18 months.... this might take some time.   Please be patient with me during this time of re-entry and re-adjustment.

Second, I will begin preparations for an exam that I must take at the end of 2012.  This exam - required for my certification as an Ob/Gyn - is an oral exam only offered 3 times per year in Dallas.  I will be assigned to take the exam in November, December or January.  During this exam, all the patients I have seen or operated on in the past year while be reviewed.  I will also be tested on US standards of care in obstetrics and gynecology.  Like all exams - it's stressful, expensive and mandatory!  To prepare, I will be attending education courses and having my patient list reviewed for advice.

Third, I will be working locum tenens again.  Moving, board exams, board prep courses all take a lot of funding.  I will need to find work until it is clear what I will be doing career-wise.

One hardship I have struggled with these past months is a financial one.  Many of you know that my house in the US has not sold and I have continued paying the mortgage while living in Kenya.  Unfortunately, I did not anticipate this and continuing to pay for the house each month has been a stress for me.  In addition, there have been the financial costs I did anticipate: student loan payments, living expenses, etc..  And some expenses (like board exams) that turned out to be more expensive than I ever could have anticipated. 

I admit some of this was ignorance on my part as a new missionary in planning my budget.

It is still not clear to me why some of these events have happened like they have.....
It is nice now to know I have a house to go back to....and it my moments of stress and wonderings about money I was forced to rely only the knowledge that I am where God wants me to be and to pray earnestly for His grace.

And here I am.   Doing well.  God has provided what I needed every month.  He has blessed me with wonderful friends and family...many of who have sent lovely words of encouragement just when I needed them.
He has given some of you means to financially support me......allowing me to still have a home and a positive credit score. 

He has taken someone who did not always do things perfectly or in a well-planned manner...and He used it for His glory.  And now, He is working to prepare my heart for the next season....a season of work and education...to be followed by a season of ......

That is yet to be revealed, I suppose....

For all my awesome donors.....I will remain on the field until June and would appreciate your continued support!  After June, there are several options for you and your family to consider:

- consider continuing to contribute to my ministry account!  The end of this term at Tenwek may mark the beginning of a career somewhere else.  Samaritan's Purse will hold the money in an account to be used for any future assignments or projects!
-or you may call (828) 262-1980 to speak with a donor ministries representative to stop the payment.

Intern Graduation

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:10-11