More on Ethiopia

So, I've had a few requests to detail more about what I will be doing in Ethiopia. I don't have a ton of specifics, but here is basically what I know. A group of 7 PT students and 2 PTs will travel for one month to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March-April of 2009. For three weeks we will be working in one of two sites (either OP clinic or pediatric home for disabled children). The last week we will spend at Project Mercy (a sustainable living community in Yemen, Ethiopia). Al will not be able to come with me (the hardest part about the trip). Like I said, I am really excited for the opportunity to help form a philosophy on overseas mission work, see what real needs exist, and form connections for Al and I to travel when we both have our degrees.

Right now, school is a little crazy. I wrote a list of all the tests, projects, quizes, etc left (and there weren't too many- maybe 16 or so). We only have 12 actual days of class left. I am very ready for an academic break, but I'm also nervous about my next clinical. I won't have the excuse like I did last time of "I haven't learned that yet." We finished covering treatment for the whole body last week. YIKES! hmmm... maybe my insecurity doesn't instill the most confidence- haha. Oh well, I still have a lot of hands on learning to do. I still don't know where I will be for my third or fourth clinical rotation.

On another note... I love plants. I love flowers. I have just begun to realize this. I have started some tomato and flower seeds indoors to plant soon. Really one of the most enjoyable things for me right now is to be out in the "garden" planting, weeding, etc. The frustrating part is that I am not that good at it! Hopefully I will get better as I get more practice! I just never knew how much that I would enjoy that hobby. I really think that I will be a gardener for the rest of my life. (that is if I can figure it out)

Finally... we met again with our family from Burma tonight. I want to write a longer post on it, but I am just so excited about the whole experience and really hope that we can practically help this family learn America. The best part of the night was praying with them. I love that belief in Jesus spans cultures, ages, countries, genders. It is so sweet to have fellowship with other believers. I think I got a small touch of what heaven will be like tonight.

Addis Ababa this time next year

Wow, this blogging thing could become addictive. (it is way more fun than working on homework!)

So, I am going to Ethiopia! A group of 6 or 7 students plus a couple PT's will head out next March. (that is a long time away-weird). I am very excited about the amazing opportunity and also about the Global Health class I will get to take as a pre-req to the trip. I really hope that this trip helps both Al and I form a philosophy of overseas medical work, as well as connections for the future.

Adjusting to change- a new family (and other random items)

So, after eagerly waiting... and waiting, we found out our family from Somalia is not coming (at least not now). But, we did find out that we will get to co-mentor a family from Burma (Myanmar). They sound like a really neat family: a father and mother near my age with two sons. We are very excited to pick them up at the airport on Thursday night. We are much more sure about their arrival. It will definitely be an adventure trying to communicate and help them learn their way around Denver (maybe I'll learn my way around Denver a bit better too!)

On another note... I find out tomorrow if I am accepted to go to Ethiopia. I also enter all of my clinical 3 choices into the crazy randomized system to find fairly decide where we will all be. (there will be another update with the results of these two events).

Alan is on week 3 of his Medical/Surgical rotation. He is almost 1/3 of the way through his program and doing really well. I am a little bitter about the fact he is finishing before me (and that he gets to go visit Paul and Bethany while I am taking finals) but... I am really happy that he is in such a good program and will have an awesome stepping stone for whatever direction he decides to pursue after nursing.

Family from Somalia

Al and I, along with some of our friends, have decided to co-mentor a refugee family that is resettling in Denver. We went through a training session a couple months ago and have been waiting for news ever since. Finally, a few days ago we got word that our family was coming. They are a Somalian family of 5, but that is all we know. Since then we have been trying to pull together items for their apartment, organize meeting them at the airport, and delegate cooking their first meal. I find the whole ordeal very similar to my experiences in Clarkston, GA where Al and I have both spent time working with resettled refugees (not a lot of organization!).
All that to say... We are so excited to meet this family! Both of us have wanted to be involved in the lives of refugee families since moving here. We are hoping that God can use us in their lives to meet their practical needs and show them his love.

More info on this later!

Finally serious about posting... maybe

So almost a year later and no posts... that's kinda sad. I'm really hoping to post more on what is happening in our lives so that people can stay updated. So here it goes...