Health 101

In Africa we each had our own subject we were going to teach the girls at the school. I am a Registered Nurse so I thought it would be appropriate that I teach something health related. Only problem was, I hate public speaking, I hate being the center of attention and having all eyes focused on me! Good thing God is so amazing, He gave me the strength to overcome and I was able to teach some basic but helpful health classes to girls who were so eager to learn anything and everything I had to say.

Basic hand washing ... One of the girls told me that she use to not care about washing her hands but after I taught her the importance of proper hand washing and preventing the spread of germs she is now really careful to make sure she washes her hands really well! I was really touched by that comment! Who knew something so little to me would be so big to her!

How to rescue a choking baby! These girls absolutely loved the doll or "baby Emily" as we named her. They had never had a doll growing up and they were so excited to hold baby Emily!

How to bandage a wound. I also taught how to treat burns and the importance of getting enough sleep. I couldn't have asked for a better class! These girls are truly amazing and I wish you could meet each one of them because I just know you would love them as much as I do!

Beautiful Girls

Theses are the beautiful girls I had the privilege of ministering to in Africa, aren't they so beautiful? Their joy for the Lord is so contagious. I love all of them and miss their smiling faces and their laughter ... Oh these girls could laugh! This picture was taken after Church on the second Sunday we were in Africa.

Getting away!

I'm so excited tomorrow is Friday!! This week has been tough, I got really sick on Tuesday and am still recovering. It was 80 degrees out and I had on two shirts, a sweatshirt and was wrapped up in tons of blankets and was still freezing!!! I had to skip my small group that night because I couldn't even get out of bed. Yesterday was a little better, I didn't go to work but I was able to go to my bible study that night and today I went to work and to CRU.

I'm so excited that I have this weekend off and I am going on a fall retreat with CRU (campus crusade for Christ). It is going to be so nice to get away from everything and have a time with friends I haven't had a chance to see in a while and worship God and hear from some amazing speakers!

The Team

So here it is, my first official post about Africa and I want to start it out my introducing you to the wonderful women I served with for 2 1/2 weeks!

I'm in the yellow on the left, than it's Victoria, Brenda, Bobbi-jo, Julie and Wanda. These are some wonderful ladies! I am a registered nurse so I taught health classes, Victoria and Bobbi-jo taught jewelry making, Bobbi-jo also cleaned the girls teeth (she is a dental hygienist), Julie taught the girls how to sew a purse and Wanda taught the girls how to sew a quilt. Brenda is the missionary who lives in Benin, West Africa. The picture above was taken at a restaurant. (which also was the only toilet between Cotonou where we flew into all the way to Parakou which is the city we worked in. It was about a 7 hour drive!) Now that you have met the team stay tuned for posts about the rest of the trip!

Catching up!

So I feel like a terrible friend, you know that friend who "lets the ball drop" on her end of the relationship. I have not had a chance to blog in a really really really long time and there is so much to tell! So much is happening and that is part of the problem! This past month has been intense, joyful, filled with sorrow and sadness, filled with excitement, stress, worry, tons of prayer and so much more! I don't even know where to begin telling you all that is going on my life. I was in Africa from September 2nd-18th which is another huge reason why the blogging has been so little.

Tonight I'm going to change that because I miss blogging and I miss all of you! So won't you join me while we sit and catch up like old friends who haven't seen each other in a while! I'm sitting here at Starbucks with my Carmel soy frappuccino and pretending like you are sitting across from me and we are having a wonderful chat about life! Wouldn't that be great if we really could hang out in Starbucks together?

I don't want to overwhelm you so I'm not going to share a whole lot tonight but trust me when I say I have many,  many post's to follow up after this one! I will start with the most recent and that is this, I'm realizing that I am in a really awkward stage in life. By this I mean I have graduated from college over a year ago and have "entered the adult world." AKA I have a 'real' job, I work as a RN and I love my job, I really really do! I am also single and have no family of my own. (meaning husband, children ...) So that puts me in this weird awkward category. I have a lot of free time because I don't have the responsibility of having a family to take care of, sometimes this is great because I have the freedom to do whatever I want and other times I hate it because I waste so much time being bored. I hate being bored, I love to be doing things, being with people, enjoying life!

My work schedule has recently changed I now work MWF 11:30am-3:30pm and TR 9am-3:30pm at two different elementary schools as the school nurse until they can find a permanent nurse. I work for an agency so I just fill in as needed. I am really excited about this schedule because I am involved in college ministry and events occur at night so that frees me up to be able to attend. I have always wanted to work days because for the past year I have worked 2pm-10pm which is not very fun when all your friends hang out at night when you are working!

On Wednesday nights I am part of a group called 77 which meets at the university I attended. It is a new group that offers a Bible study and other various events such as cookouts, bonfires, movie nights, etc. to help build community. We basically just want to tell others about Jesus! On Thursdays I attend CRU (formally known as campus crusade for Christ.) a group that I have really come to love! These two nights are great and I so look forward to them every week but it's just not enough for me, I want more! So I joined a "growth group" at the church I attend, it's basically a small group Bible study which will be taking place on Tuesday nights, I am really looking forward to this as well, my first meeting is tomorrow! I really want to get involved in Church again, (this summer I moved about 30 minutes away from where I was living so I joined a new church in my new location.) so I signed up to help out in the nursery! I can't wait to help out! I want to fill my time here on earth wisely and serving my King! I try to keep from being idle because that is when not so good things happen!

Wow this is a loaded post and I think is enough for you to read for one night. I really, really hope to be writing more often! I hope you have a wonderful week! I have missed you all so now I'm going to spend sometime reading your posts!

XoXo

Valerie

I'm Back!

I know I've been gone for sometime now. I got home yesterday from my wonderful trip to Benin, Africa!! I have so much I want to share that there will be more than one post about Africa. I'm still trying to adjust to being back home, the time change is really messing with me! In Africa were I was they are 7 hours ahead of us that and about 26 hours of airplanes/airports makes for a really long day! I've missed reading your blogs and can't wait to catch up!

It's finally here .... well almost!

Hello friends!

I'm sorry I have been so bad at writing and keeping up with what is going on with you! I promise I will have fill you in on all that has been happening at the end of September! Tomorrow I am leaving for Africa for a missions trip!!!

XoXo
Valerie