Be careful what you wish for or it might just come true. Ever heard that before? I wrote last week about how I wanted God to use me to DO in India. Monday morning I went to work and ended the day with a list of approximately 60 children that need to be catheterized for lab tests! Funny God, very funny.
In other nursing news I spent some time this past week in two local hospitals. The first hospital I went to is the local hospital that treats only AIDS patients. Anti-virals for HIV is one of the few medications that the Indian government provides free of charge (I could go into a rant on socialized medicine but I will refrain). The person comes in and is seen by a doctor to monitor the progression of the disease. Then they are given the antivirals at the hospital pharmacy. Being white and blond pretty much makes me a star attraction any place here and I am used to people staring at me all the time. But let me tell you, walk into the AIDS hospital carrying an Indian child and I might have just as well walked in wearing just underwear....hahaha.
The second hospital I visited was because two of our children required minor surgery. Both the pediatrician and the surgeon speak excellent English. After they explained things to the SCH Indian nurses they took the time to explain things to me in English, for which I was very grateful. However, nursing in India does not have the same respect that it does in America. The professional division/level of respect between doctors and nurses is on a whole other level. So I was a little taken aback with the way things were explained to me, almost as if I was the child. Still adapting to the culture here! Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful that our children live in an area that has doctors and facilities who are able to help us care for these children.
Many of you know about my government hospital experience in India a few years back. I am happy to say that the local hospital is 10x cleaner and better run. However, medical care in India is still nowhere near the care we expect to receive in America. This experience proved to be my low point for the week. The second girl we took in for surgery is a tiny couple that with the fact that when she is uncomfortable she arches her back makes her a very hard IV stick. As I watched the nurse, who ungloved, tried unsuccessfully to start an IV on the angry/uncomfortable baby using the same needle 4 times (a patient is charged for each needle) I started to tear up and had to step away. I suddenly became very angry at the injustice of the whole situation. Later that day when I came home and just cried out to Almighty God asking "Why?" and this is what he told me....
Papa,
I don't know why some children grow up in wonderful two parent homes while others are abandoned at day one at the train station....but I know there are no orphans of God.
I don't know why some children are born in perfect health while others fight for every breath...but I know each child is your masterpiece created in Your image.
I don't know why some special needs children get Joni and Friends Family Camp while others are neglected in back rooms of overcrowded orphanages....but I know you are The God who Sees.
I don't know why some children have extravagant birthday parties at 6 years old and while other children don't even know the date that they were born....but I know you know the number of hairs on all our heads.
I don't know why some children get medical care by world renown physicians and why others are dying from common colds because there is no doctor....but I know you are the God who heals.
And heal He does. I am happy to say that both the little ones are doing much better.
The begging and end of the week were two completely different sides to the same coin. On Saturday I had the opportunity to travel with 16 kids and ayahs, a few SCH staff, two of my housemates and 8 Passport team members to a water/amusement park about 3 hours away. It was a BLAST!!! The kids rode carnival rides, had an excellent lunch in a restaurant (an extra special treat!), and then got to play in the pools/slides. It was so much to see these kids just be kids. They were not disabled and they weren't orphans but just kids enjoying a day of fun. It was awesome to see the kids who are not very mobile move around the pool and the boys are fishes! Even though I got a sunburn and had to rent an India appropriate bathing suit it was SO worth it. The kids wore themselves out and all crashed on the 3 hour drive back! It refreshed my soul after a week of sick kids. On the way home God rekindled the hope in my heart for His perfect plans for each of His children. I am extremely thankful for the gift of SCH and the opportunities at a normal life that they provide for these special children.
Interesting fact: Indian's are not big on "swimming" (especially for woman) and in Telugu there is no word/phrase for "to swim". Instead they say "play in water".
I apologize for this long jumbled post but I want to give those of you reading an idea of what a week can look like here. None of ever know what God has planned from one day to the next, every day with Him is an adventure. That is something that is something I am learning to enjoy.
Please be in prayer as we have more surgeries for our children on the horizon. (Want to help fund surgeries for our sick children? Follow this link http://www.schindia.com/Special-Projects/urgent-surgery-fund/ )
Please also be in prayer over the next month as we have a lot of big changes ahead. Both in living situations for the children and my role here at SCH.
If you have any questions about SCH or life here in India please ask! Also please let me know how I can be praying for you as well.
In other nursing news I spent some time this past week in two local hospitals. The first hospital I went to is the local hospital that treats only AIDS patients. Anti-virals for HIV is one of the few medications that the Indian government provides free of charge (I could go into a rant on socialized medicine but I will refrain). The person comes in and is seen by a doctor to monitor the progression of the disease. Then they are given the antivirals at the hospital pharmacy. Being white and blond pretty much makes me a star attraction any place here and I am used to people staring at me all the time. But let me tell you, walk into the AIDS hospital carrying an Indian child and I might have just as well walked in wearing just underwear....hahaha.
The second hospital I visited was because two of our children required minor surgery. Both the pediatrician and the surgeon speak excellent English. After they explained things to the SCH Indian nurses they took the time to explain things to me in English, for which I was very grateful. However, nursing in India does not have the same respect that it does in America. The professional division/level of respect between doctors and nurses is on a whole other level. So I was a little taken aback with the way things were explained to me, almost as if I was the child. Still adapting to the culture here! Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful that our children live in an area that has doctors and facilities who are able to help us care for these children.
Many of you know about my government hospital experience in India a few years back. I am happy to say that the local hospital is 10x cleaner and better run. However, medical care in India is still nowhere near the care we expect to receive in America. This experience proved to be my low point for the week. The second girl we took in for surgery is a tiny couple that with the fact that when she is uncomfortable she arches her back makes her a very hard IV stick. As I watched the nurse, who ungloved, tried unsuccessfully to start an IV on the angry/uncomfortable baby using the same needle 4 times (a patient is charged for each needle) I started to tear up and had to step away. I suddenly became very angry at the injustice of the whole situation. Later that day when I came home and just cried out to Almighty God asking "Why?" and this is what he told me....
Papa,
I don't know why some children grow up in wonderful two parent homes while others are abandoned at day one at the train station....but I know there are no orphans of God.
I don't know why some children are born in perfect health while others fight for every breath...but I know each child is your masterpiece created in Your image.
I don't know why some special needs children get Joni and Friends Family Camp while others are neglected in back rooms of overcrowded orphanages....but I know you are The God who Sees.
I don't know why some children have extravagant birthday parties at 6 years old and while other children don't even know the date that they were born....but I know you know the number of hairs on all our heads.
I don't know why some children get medical care by world renown physicians and why others are dying from common colds because there is no doctor....but I know you are the God who heals.
And heal He does. I am happy to say that both the little ones are doing much better.
The begging and end of the week were two completely different sides to the same coin. On Saturday I had the opportunity to travel with 16 kids and ayahs, a few SCH staff, two of my housemates and 8 Passport team members to a water/amusement park about 3 hours away. It was a BLAST!!! The kids rode carnival rides, had an excellent lunch in a restaurant (an extra special treat!), and then got to play in the pools/slides. It was so much to see these kids just be kids. They were not disabled and they weren't orphans but just kids enjoying a day of fun. It was awesome to see the kids who are not very mobile move around the pool and the boys are fishes! Even though I got a sunburn and had to rent an India appropriate bathing suit it was SO worth it. The kids wore themselves out and all crashed on the 3 hour drive back! It refreshed my soul after a week of sick kids. On the way home God rekindled the hope in my heart for His perfect plans for each of His children. I am extremely thankful for the gift of SCH and the opportunities at a normal life that they provide for these special children.
Interesting fact: Indian's are not big on "swimming" (especially for woman) and in Telugu there is no word/phrase for "to swim". Instead they say "play in water".
I apologize for this long jumbled post but I want to give those of you reading an idea of what a week can look like here. None of ever know what God has planned from one day to the next, every day with Him is an adventure. That is something that is something I am learning to enjoy.
Please be in prayer as we have more surgeries for our children on the horizon. (Want to help fund surgeries for our sick children? Follow this link http://www.schindia.com/Special-Projects/urgent-surgery-fund/ )
Please also be in prayer over the next month as we have a lot of big changes ahead. Both in living situations for the children and my role here at SCH.
If you have any questions about SCH or life here in India please ask! Also please let me know how I can be praying for you as well.
Jackie and I all excited for our day at the amusement park!
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