Not what was planned

So, I was planning on writing a blog post on spending thanksgiving in another country. I wanted to explain how it was fun to spend thanksgiving with strangers that I only met a week ago. I couldn't help relating to the pilgrims who relied on other strangers for help! But, a more exciting story happened that pretty much wiped out any excitement I had over thanksgiving!

Where do I start?... Well, on Friday we were planning on flying from my small town, Mabaruma, into the main town, Georgetown, so that I could get my temporary nursing permit. The plan was to leave around 10. This gave us time to "sleep in" and get ready to go at a relaxing pace. At 6:30 Gregg, the pilot/nurse practitioner, came into my room and said that we had to do a medical evacuation for a pregnant lady in a neighboring town. I of course was excited, this was my first one! We quickly threw our things together and Gregg, Serena (14 year old daughter), and I took off for the airplane. We fueled the plane and after Serena and I discussed who should sit in the front seat we took off to the neighboring town called Mathews ridge. We decided that I should sit in the front seat because it was only my second time flying in a tiny plane and I could easily talk to the pilot.

Landing in Matthews ridge is a little story by itself. The airport had a cloud cover of 600 feet and working with the spare GPS they didn't feel comfortable landing without actually seeing the runway. After a few attempts to find a clearing to get below the clouds there was finally an opening and we dove down under the blanket. I of course was kind of nervous by the maneuvering, so we did one more loop in order to land softly on the dirt runway.

We picked up the laboring patient along with a doctor and nurse. The patient was having a long labor so they were sending her to a more developed hospital. During the flight I noticed the doctor starting to fidget around more. He kept asking how much longer. Shortly he started moving the luggage in the back of the tiny plane and put on surgical gloves... I knew what was happening; the baby was about to be delivered! The nurse moved to where the doctor had been sitting. Being in the very front seat of the plane I was completely useless. I could barely see, but was updating the pilot with what little I saw and could deduce what was happening. On Nov 28 at 9:31 with an elevation of 5500 feet, in a 6 passenger plane, filled with 6 passengers, a baby boy was born! Once he started to breath they placed the baby into Serena's hands. ( at this point I was REALLY wishing I had not chosen the front seat)
With about 20 mins left on the flight the placenta was delivered and everyone had to get into their seats for landing. Well, everyone except the mother who way laying down. In order to move all the luggage around the baby was passed up to me! Oh I was SO happy!!

As I sat there holding and suctioning the baby I couldn't help but giggle. When leaving for Guyana I knew I would have an amazing experience and just prayed to God that I would get at least one story worth telling. I definitely got my story!
It is amazing looking back now to see how God led this adventure. Because we had to do the medical evacuation our flight into Georgetown and from Georgetown to Mabaruma will be completely paid for. The doctor and nurse were not planning on coming, but decided to last minuet because it wouldn't hurt. I apparently didn't have to come into Georgetown to get my nursing permit but, because we thought I had to I was able to have a once in a life time experience!

Safe in Guyana

The trip seemed shorter than I imagined. It didn't go without some bumps, after almost missing my last connecting flight, I made it safely to the main town in Guyana! Landed in Guyana at 1:30am and due do some taxi difficulties (our driver had left and took a while to get back) what should have taken about an hour might have taken about 2-3... Not sure because all the timing was a blur. Got in bed at 5 and woke up at 8 to start my day of errands in Georgetown. Apparently we had a lucky day, when I went to get my "tax identification number" and drivers license I thought it was a crazy long line, apparently it was short. What took the previous student missionaries 6 hours only took me 3! My license picture was literally taken and printed in the back of a mini van!

here are a few of my first impressions of guyana
1.tropical (don't picture a crystal blue ocean)
2. hot and humid
3. trees and flowers look alot like Hawaii
4. people take "ilsland time" to the extreme
5. i have to rethink what side to get into a car (the drive on the other side of the road than US)

Tomorrow we fly (in the small plane) to Mabaruma and I will be seeing the town I will be living in for the next months.*also I found out I will not be living in a house all by myself. I will be sleeping in a tent outside my supporting families house.

 Now I am getting ready to take a nice cold shower.. and I am serious about the NICE part.. I have been looking forward to cooling down all day! 

*housing is subject to change in the future. (mostly wrote this note for my mom) 

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go

Well, I just finished packing all the things I’m going to need for the next six months. It seems weird to think that everything I need is in a suitcase, carry-on and one extremely stuffed backpack! Made my last minute runs to Target and Wal-Mart with Julia today…. Hopefully I got everything.. but the way I see it, if I forgot something, it will just be an experience learning how to live with-out it!

My excitement/apprehension/nervousness is building, while at the same time I have an odd feeling of peace. I honestly believe that God has brought the opportunity to be a nurse in Guyana at the perfect timing in my life. With all the curve balls I have been hit with in the past year I can now look back and see that it is because of these curve balls that I have learned to trust and lean on Him even more than I ever have!

I leave tomorrow morning from LA and will be traveling for about 24 hours. I would LOVE for you to keep me in your constant prayers, especially these next 72 hours.

This blog will hopefully keep you updated on my happenings. I am not eloquent with words or ideas, (the fact that I just came up with that word at the top of my head is a complete shocker) but I will do my best to at least keep you informed!

I do not know what trials I will face, but I will constantly be reminded of the verse in Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” I must remember that either good or bad, all things will work out!