bondye bon-- God is good

So bondye bon is creole, and why might I be posting something in Creole you ask? Well, it's because I've been trying to learn the language! ha. Ok so this might be too early to mention but I've really been thinking about moving to Haiti (where Creole is spoken) a lot lately and usually when that happens, I go. I've always thought about either going to Latin America, Haiti or Africa and have had a difficult time figuring out where...maybe before I die I can work in all of those places at least a little:) but look at that picture with all those little ones!!! how precious. haha..Anyway, throughout my life I have grown a passion to serve God in the mission field. One of the main things that has gotten me this far in nursing is the chance to use those skills in a place of need...a place that doesn't have the resources or a place that just needs some extra support and love. What I wanted to do so many times in the past was to just quit school and go, I felt like I had to wait sooooo long for everything. Although it's taken me a lot longer to finish than I had hoped, God has a specific plan for me and I am so grateful that I will be graduating in a few weeks with a degree in something I absolutely love. There ARE SO many people here that need help and while I live here I will work for those people. I can definitely see myself coming back here also but I really would regret not following what I have been called to do. I'm not 100% sure about any plans but a lot of things have been moving towards this and if it turns out that this doesn't happen, it's because I'm meant to do something else. (but can't think like that right now!) This is also not going to happen tomorrow. I am going to try and really plan, pray and prepare....to make sure this is really right for me.
I don't ever want to become satisfied with the way things are, I don't want to become so comfortable that I forget that there are people struggling. I'm tired of talk...there needs to be action to my beliefs. Luckily I have the most amazing Church that fuels my desire, the most amazing friends and family that always support me (and not to mention the coolest boyfriend that loves missions and is learning creole with me and might go as well...and whose pictures I used) and the most amazing God that NEVER leaves me and has given me what I have today. So for now, I'm going to learn some creole, go on a short term mission trip to Haiti and pray!

oh how I love some good quotes

There is no passion to be found playing small in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. - Nelson Mandela-

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."
- Eleanor Roosevelt-

If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.
-Marian Wright Edelman-

Poverty won't allow him to lift up his head; dignity won't allow him to bow it down."
- Madagasy Proverb-

I have only one request/ I do not ask for money/ Although I have need of it,/I do not ask for meat.../I have only one request,/ All I ask is/ That you remove/the roadblock/From my path.
- Song of An African Woman

When I despair, I remember that all through history, the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a long time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it---always"

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
MLK Jr


Go to the people:
live with them, learn from them
love them
start with what they know
build with what they have.

But of the best leaders,
when the job is done,
the task accomplished,
the people will say:
"We have done it ourselves"
- Lao Tzu-


"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31: 8-9

love never fails

“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.” Paulo Cohelo


A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mohandas Gandhi

sooooo....there's this guy :)

Ok, so I am not usually mushy gushy or anything and wouldn't normally post about something like this but since I wrote about being single and trusting in God about that issue in my life I thought I'd give a little update...plus, I think it's ok to be a little excited! haha.
Just when I thought there were no guys that fit me...that I was being too picky and all of the "good ones" were gone from KY, God put a really great one right in front of me. :) He is an intelligent man, that loves Jesus, missions, family, kids, sports. He makes me happy and it's so refreshing to be treated with genuine respect. So hopefully I don't screw this one up! haha.

All I Need Is You

Emergency!

I have less than 200 hours of clinicals left before I finally graduate! These hours will be spent in the emergency room and I've already been a few times. I'll probably write some more about it because there are so many stories everyday! It's super intense, fast, tons of things to remember, and has a wide variety of patients and conditions. I definitely NEVER thought I would try something like this, but part of life is about taking risks and challenging yourself right? ha. I don't know why I always feel like I have to sign up or try the things that scare me. It's funny because before I signed up for it a few months ago, I mayyyyybe thought about going there twice and laughed to myself for even having the thought. I felt so inadequate to work in a place like the ER especially one at a top trauma center, yet for some reason the day we had to choose my hand floated to the empty line next to ER...and here I am. Crazy how my life changes and goes in different directions. Delicious ambiguity:) I still feel inadequate in many ways and have SOOOO much to learn but I'm just happy that I get this awesome opportunity and hopefully by the end I will come away with really useful skills and more confidence to be a nurse on my own!!



The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
—Psalm 118:6-9

Thriller!

This weekend was so much fun! I had a chance to participate in Lexington's thriller dance. I, along with 300 or so people, got to pretend to be a zombie and dance!!:)Sounds crazy...and it kind of was, but it was awesome to see all those people and practices come together and make something. I definitely can't wait for next year! haha.

Please Pray for Haiti

One of my really good friends(shane) just left for Haiti this week on a mission trip. He is leading a small group to Port-de-Paix to work with the people of Haiti...orphans, prisoners, the sick, kids, and those just needing some love and encouragement. I wanted to ask anyone who reads this thing to pray for him and for Haiti. There is a hurricane threatening the country, there was just an outbreak of cholera, there are still thousands of people living in tents after the earthquake among many other things... Pray that Haiti can rise above all that has affected it, that its people are able to find strength, courage, trust, love in God. Pray that we never forget our brothers and sisters struggling and we fight for them. Pray that Shane...and other missionaries remain safe and continue to lean on Christ for their protection and strength.