Written (8/31/12)
I don't think I would ever describe myself as a patient person. To be honest, I don't think anyone who has ever met me would describe me as a patient person. But the more time I spend on the mission field, the more I learn about waiting.
From my very first day in Lambert's Bay the nurses and caregivers learned of my degree and my experience in nursing. At first, I was concerned that it would be a barrier to ministry, that the caregivers would feel intimidated or like they had to be on their best behavior and best skill level around me. Many mornings started with a comment from the caregiver I was walking with about how she had the sister with her today and had to do her best. I explained how I was simply here to join their efforts and see what they did and how they treated their patients. The more time I spent with them, the more I saw how the love and care they give their patients is on a level that I have never seen. I was extremely challenged to love my patients and care about every aspect of their lives, not just the medical aspect. Their approach allowed me to encourage them and opened a door to talk about how they are doing an incredible job and I was challenged to do better in my job by them. Every time we went out, I didn't do a thing. I watched, supported, and encouraged them but didn't even get to know what a blood pressure reading was. That is until today. This morning, two of the caregivers went to a primary school to do physicals on the kids and make sure their immunizations were up to date. The auntie that chooses who goes with which caregiver chose Cailee and I to go to the school. We went to the clinic, picked up the sister in charge of the clinic who was doing the assessments and headed to the school. When we got to the school, they handed me the syringes, needles, and the vials of medication and told me to give the vaccines. Just like that. I didn't ask. I didn't do anything but respect the people working in the field for 4 weeks and waited for them to accept me. After the session was over at the school, the sister asked me to go to another primary school on Monday and help with the same thing, only this time there will be four times the amount of kids and I will be giving all the vaccines. In addition to this invitation, she invited me to come to the clinic and help her complete her work as a nurse all week until we leave for Mozambique. The caregivers told me how i talked to the right person because she not only works at the clinic, she's in charge of the clinic.
What I haven't shared is that when they found out about me being a nurse, both Hein and one of the sisters were very excited about possible future medical advances and trips. As I began to pray about it more and more, I felt a pull to offer myself as a contact and liaison between the two. They want me to sit down with them prior to me leaving and figure out what the community needs and what they identify as their needs, as well as talk to Hein about what future medical teams would need to include or focus on. I have offered to come back a few times a year or when I'm needed to help facilitate the trips because I have relationships with the people here in the medical services already. I was extremely nervous about it and stepping on toes and starting something that will ultimately harm the community when the Americans leave. But today, after 4 weeks of respecting and waiting, my relationship with the sister went deeper. I mean, I only have a week left here in Lambert's Bay before my team goes to Mozambique for 6 weeks (can you believe that we have been here for 5 weeks already?!) but I'm reminded once again that Gods timing is perfect and actively waiting for His plan to unfold creates more opportunities and more blessings than I could have ever imagined.
I have seen the benefit of patience and respect in a very really way today and am more challenged than ever to trust in His plan and do everything possible to respect and dignify the people I am living with and ministering to. I don't know what you're waiting for in your life, but I know that Gods timing is perfect and no matter how long it's been, He is laying the foundations and groundwork for His perfect plan and timing. Trust in that. Wait on Him, but be ready to step into His promises and His opportunities as soon as they come about because He has designed that moments perfectly for His glory. He wants to use you in every way He can and has great plans for you, but we must be patient and actively wait for His direction and timing, because it's always worth the wait.
