I often feel unprepared for life. Before leaving for Africa, I remember being swamped with questions from well-meaning friends, family, and colleagues about my plans, intentions, and preparation for this trip. And, despite as much preparation as I could possibly stomach, it seemed that there were just so many unknowns. Africa was quite a big step for me. To be completely honest, I hadn’t really done a whole lot else in my life. When I got on the plane last February, it was my second time ever setting foot on an airplane. My first nursing shift on the ship was the first time I had every taken care of adult patients. And when I opted to portage through Belgium on my way home, so that I could fly to Scotland to visit a friend, it was my first time alone in a non-English speaking country.
I often make this joke that I feel like there is some instruction manual for life that everyone else has read that I somehow have missed. People joke about things that they believe deep down.
In spite of all of this, the world doesn’t really scare me. I like to seek out the unknown, just to see what might happen. And, deep down, I live with the attitude that “it will all work itself out”. I guess most people would call this naivety. I have had too many experiences convincing me that it is God.
Because, I am too lucky to be lucky.
My last four hours in Liberia were easily the most frightening of my life. I literally had a “Brokedown Pallace” nightmare flashback and wondered how on earth I had ended up in such a crazy situation in a very unstable country. I sat in a locked landrover in the parking lot of a Liberian Police Station in 100 degree heat praying with all of my heart that we would be safe and the whole thing would be over. Then, like what most would call magic, it just was.
By the time I reached Scotland I had successfully boarded two planes, two trains, and one bus with only minutes to spare each. I would have bet money that I was on the wrong trains both times. Turns out, I would have bet wrong. I had no money for the bus ride so the driver just let me on. I made it to Scotland exactly how I was supposed to.
I came home to the most welcoming and loving parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephew that a girl could ask for. My sister-in-law Amanda gave me a welcome home book called “Scaredy Squirrel” and wrote in the inside that she is glad I am not a scaredy squirrel.
There are things that I believe to be true despite all logical evidence to convince me otherwise. Like, the fact that having absolutely no worldwide traveling experience, I would be able to go to Liberia, and figure it out. And, despite the fact that there is every reason in the world to be scared, I don’t have to be.
Over the past five months, I have seen legitimate miracles. Babies whose chance of overwhelming infection shouldn’t have allowed them to live, thrive, and go home. Friends whose lives prior to coming to Africa and learning to sacrifice and serve I wouldn’t have even believed. Mamas whose entire personalities changed because they learned what love felt like. Against all odds, things turn out right.
I could write it off as chance. That, with all of the pain and hurt and evil in the world, sometimes good things just have to happen. Or I could step back and recognize that when I pray, God listens and answers. That He watches over me with every move I make.
I know that I am just way too lucky for it to be luck.
posted by Jenn on Africa, Babies, Luck
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I often feel unprepared for life. Before leaving for Africa, I remember being swamped with questions from well-meaning friends, family, and colleagues about my plans, intentions, and preparation for this trip. And, despite as much preparation as I could possibly stomach, it seemed that there were just so many unknowns. Africa was quite a big step for me. To be completely honest, I hadn’t really done a whole lot else in my life. When I got on the plane last February, it was my second time ever setting foot on an airplane. My first nursing shift on the ship was the first time I had every taken care of adult patients. And when I opted to portage through Belgium on my way home, so that I could fly to Scotland to visit a friend, it was my first time alone in a non-English speaking country.
I often make this joke that I feel like there is some instruction manual for life that everyone else has read that I somehow have missed. People joke about things that they believe deep down.
In spite of all of this, the world doesn’t really scare me. I like to seek out the unknown, just to see what might happen. And, deep down, I live with the attitude that “it will all work itself out”. I guess most people would call this naivety. I have had too many experiences convincing me that it is God.
Because, I am too lucky to be lucky.
My last four hours in Liberia were easily the most frightening of my life. I literally had a “Brokedown Pallace” nightmare flashback and wondered how on earth I had ended up in such a crazy situation in a very unstable country. I sat in a locked landrover in the parking lot of a Liberian Police Station in 100 degree heat praying with all of my heart that we would be safe and the whole thing would be over. Then, like what most would call magic, it just was.
By the time I reached Scotland I had successfully boarded two planes, two trains, and one bus with only minutes to spare each. I would have bet money that I was on the wrong trains both times. Turns out, I would have bet wrong. I had no money for the bus ride so the driver just let me on. I made it to Scotland exactly how I was supposed to.
I came home to the most welcoming and loving parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephew that a girl could ask for. My sister-in-law Amanda gave me a welcome home book called “Scaredy Squirrel” and wrote in the inside that she is glad I am not a scaredy squirrel.
There are things that I believe to be true despite all logical evidence to convince me otherwise. Like, the fact that having absolutely no worldwide traveling experience, I would be able to go to Liberia, and figure it out. And, despite the fact that there is every reason in the world to be scared, I don’t have to be.
Over the past five months, I have seen legitimate miracles. Babies whose chance of overwhelming infection shouldn’t have allowed them to live, thrive, and go home. Friends whose lives prior to coming to Africa and learning to sacrifice and serve I wouldn’t have even believed. Mamas whose entire personalities changed because they learned what love felt like. Against all odds, things turn out right.
I could write it off as chance. That, with all of the pain and hurt and evil in the world, sometimes good things just have to happen. Or I could step back and recognize that when I pray, God listens and answers. That He watches over me with every move I make.
I know that I am just way too lucky for it to be luck.