Orienting new Candidates to the World of GOM

For the past few months I have been looking forward to going to the Global Outreach Mission office in St. Catharines, ON, and being a part of the orientation process for new candidates.  I wasn't sure if I would have the energy to make it through the whole week, but I thank God for the strength I had there.  This year was a small group of trainees and every one of them was heading to Africa.  Yeah!!

Throughout our week together we had a full schedule of seminars - dealing with Finance, Personel, Development, Transitions, Missionary Kids, Partnership tools, Policy, Awesome Newsletters, Legal stuff, Team work, Member Care, Social Media, Mission software, ministry profiles, and Photography.  We were encouraged to take some RSDI throughout the week as well.  "RSDI" = Rock Solid Digital Image... so here are a few that I want to share with you, to tell my story.

To every tribe, tongue, and Nation... (Amanda's RSDI!)

Presenting Biblical Dramas

 Every day I opened our sessions with a time of devotions and I was able to share God's Word through some dramatic readings.

We stayed at an amazing Retreat B&B!!

The Woman at the Well

"Telling God's Story"

Popcorn is always needed for a good missions movie!

Earning Dodson Dollars... and winning a can of meat at the end of the week.

 I was considered the "Missionary in Residence" so I was able to bring lots of advice, clarity, encouragment, questions, and love from a missionary position.  I pray that my presence there was an inspiration to both the office staff and those going out on the field.

A Concert of Prayer

 Every orientation involves a time of praying for the mission field, His Workers, and just praising God for who HE is, confessing and relieving our burdens, and resting in His presence.

For me... I leave Toronto

And serve in Uganda

 Most of the week is spent stuck in the board room, having discussions and power point lectures or presentations, but at least one night we can escape and see God's majesty around the corner!

A very cold Niagara Falls

"The Works of His hands!"

Another trainee heading back to Uganda!!

The American falls

I love this World 

Sitting in class

One of my biggest roles was to be a proxy for Tina, another candidate who was unable to travel to the office because of pregnancy.  Tina and I communicated through a video conference the whole week and I made sure to voice her questions or comments to the group.  She too is going to be in Uganda... so I'm excited to have some new GOM team-mates on the field.  

Tina in Boston :)

Teamwork... it's hard to build without a plan or communication

God's Word is our constant Lamp

 

All the new candidates left with lots of food for thought!

"Let's Talk"

Today hundreds of posts are scrolling through my social media sites... highlighting "Bell's - Let's Talk" campaign and sharing the fact that mental illness is real.  Today... I am saying that too!!

For the past few weeks I have really been struggling mentally, and it could be from so many reasons:

1. I don't have answers yet to the blood thinners and blood clots... I saw the doctor again this morning and she is having further discussions with an internal medicine specialist and a haematologist.  The doctor also said she would like to do another chest and leg doppler ultrasound test - to see what my new baseline for health is - since I have reach the six month mark since my first pulminary embolisms.

2. I went from being an extreme extrovert, completely surrounded by people - to being a shut-in for the past few months, often home alone, without a vehicle, from Monday to Friday.

3. Since I am slowly recovering from surgery, I no longer am as sick or in as much pain as I was (which is awesome!!) but every small pain - chest, legs, arms, stomach - makes me wonder if something is still wrong, or if this is normal?!  I am having a lot of muscular pains because I just can't get out into the cold weather.

4. Family members have been fighting other medical issues, which are also on my heart and mind.

5. My life in Soroti was just put on hold six months ago and I don't know when I will exactly get back.  I've never had that before... I always know my dates of returning, but right now I want to return when I feel good and have all the medical answers.

6. Sometimes I feel dizzy or get funky eye strains... but as of yesterday, I am now the proud owner of reading glasses... that may change the dizziness and headaches.  Or maybe it's because I had four cavities and a crown to be replaced.  I will finish up all of my dental work on Friday.

7. So many changes have taken place in Uganda without me being there.  The market has been torn down.  My car is barely crawling in service now, so I will need to go car shopping as soon as I reach Uganda.  Ministries have been put on hold.  Mice are living in my house.  Mr. Chaps, the kitten, has finished his nine lives.  Team-mates have moved back to the States.  And so much more...

8. I'm nervous to fly again... alone... what if I have another blood clot. Will I be okay in Uganda?  But I'm taking all the precautions - aspirin, compression socks, lots of water, walk around... I will be okay.

So... do I feel good?  Well... no.  Physically I am almost there, but not having much purpose at the moment and feeling shut-in have made days tough for me and tears are always present or on the edge of falling.  I need a departure date!

I want to feel good.
I want to go home.
I need your prayers!!

But really - I am okay!  I trust in God's plan.  I know He has me resting for this time.  I will be fine, it's just a tough season.  Some people are shocked when I even share my mental struggles while I do my church presentations... but mental health is real and I don't think we should hide behind it.  It truly helps to TALK.  

A Train Trip and Fellowship

I have been enjoying my home service rounds of going to my supporting churches while I continue to recover from surgery.  

This past weekend I traveled all the way up to Williamsburg CRC.

For the first time ever, I took a train in Canada.  :)  It still took 7 hours to get there, but what a better way to travel than driving.  My legs were hurting by the time I got to Williamsburg, but I was glad to be picked up by a great acquaintance... who became a better friend over the weekend.

I stayed for 3 nights in Williamsburg and had the opportunity to once again fellowship with the church.  I always love sharing what God is doing in my life and in Uganda.

On Monday I was also invited to do a one hour presentation at a tiny Christian school.  They were having a snow day, but 17 kids were excited to learn more about missions and Uganda.

I loved it that I could get to know more families in a deeper way - to laugh, cry, and share together.  Being with fellow Christians is always a blessing.

Traveling home yesterday I had a little layover in Toronto.

 So I escaped the train station to go see the CN Tower of course.

 It was still super chilly down town.... -23 has been the harshest.  -3 is more manageable.

 Today I have been feeling a little more energetic and took a hike at the local park.

 Frost frame

 Bones came out to play too!

 Trying to enjoy the simple pleasures of being in Canada

 "My home and native land"

Life's Little (or big) Blessings

I am finally starting to feel like myself again.  The internal stitches are tugging less and less, the leg pains are slowly dissipating and my energy is coming back.  I never knew that it would take this long to recovery from surgery, but I am glad that I have some time while I begin visiting churches.

Last weekend I went to the area of my childhood and was blessed with so many things... I'm going to let pictures do the talking.

 Snow

God's glory revealed

 Speaking at one of my supporting churches

 Sharing my story of health and missions

 The Sunday school classes blessed me with a suitcase of ministry stuff to bring back to Uganda - so amazing!!

 They definitely filled the suitcase

 Overflowing with love

It also felt so good to be back in the classroom, teaching kids and being a part of a very energetic, active ministry.  

And just for fun... a car wash!  Haven't done that in years.

Telling it Like it Is...

These past few months have been like none other in my life.  I never imagined being on "sick leave" for six months, and if I had known, I certainly would have packed up my house a little differently, or asked someone to move in to the apartment... to keep in alive and rat free.  Instead it is empty, rats are nesting in my cupboards, and no one is there to decorate the festive tree with my precious neighbour boys.  There are so many things I am missing in and about Soroti right now:

• good friends
• teaching in churches and schools
• keeping up with Educational Care
• company, especially when you are lonely
• hot weather
• youth conferences
• kids camps
• a friend's wedding
• biking
• sunshine
• my adoptive families
• making Christmas cookies with Vanessa
• laughing with Teddy
• HOME

And there are so many other things I have lost over the past few months:

• opportunities to serve
• my Aunt Jean
• my car
• my out-going life-style
• Mr. Chaps, the kitty cat
• my energy

I am thankful that I am beginning to share in the churches again, about God's Work in Soroti, and how He continues to call me there and I'm glad that I can begin to move about, but it's not easy.

The past few months have truly been a struggle for me.  I have gone from an extreme extravert, always being surrounded by friends and people, to becoming a shut-in with no one home most days.  I have read books, created art projects, written letters, caught up on tv series, and cooked many meals for my parents, but it's not the lifestyle I would ever desire.  

I miss people so much, but the hard part is, I haven't been feeling that well to go anywhere.  Sitting in a car has been extremely painful for me, so longer road trips are out of the question.  Originally when I came back to Canada my lungs were sore, recovering from the pulminary embolisms and I was preparing for surgery.  But now I'm recovering from surgery - which is taking a lot longer than I imagined... and starting to struggle with other issues as well.  The pain in my legs has become awful, but thankfully I found out 5 days ago that my Vitamin D levels are LOW and after starting some supplements, I'm starting to see that my legs are in less pain.

I still have concerns like:

• when will I get to go back to Uganda?
• how do I go car shopping when I first arrive back?
• will I find a dentist in Canada who is willing to do some pro bono work?
• why is there still pain in my calves (especially if there are no blood clots or squished veins)?
• will I survive this cold winter weather?

But I am also thankful for so much:

• a chance to get to know the congregation in St. Thomas 
• for quality family time
• lots of conversations and card gameswith Mom and Dad
• for supportive mission agencies
• for fireplaces and duvets
• for healing
• for rest
• for the snail mail I've been receiving
• a part in the Christmas eve drama at church

So, here I am, continuing on in this journey of the unknown and out of my element, but grateful that God has a plan through all of this and I'm trusting in His faithfulness.

 At craft night with a great group of people from church

 The Santa Claus parade in Wingham

 Truly Canadian

 At the arena

Watching my nephew's hockey game

Community Dinner

Since I have been back in Ontario, I've been able to fellowship at lot at First CRC in St. Thomas... I feel blessed to be part of such a caring congregation.  Last week I was able to do the children's message and I'm happy to be sharing God's Will with the kids. 

Last night, I participated in the community dinner.  I am not able to lift much yet, so I was the ticket lady.  At 5pm, the doors to the Legion were opened and I was able to greet 176 low-income, homeless, struggling people.  That number hardly begins to represent the needs here in St. Thomas, but for one night, I was able to serve along with the church as we offered Christmas dinner and prizes.  

I went to bed thinking about the Poor Man's Christmas last year in Soroti and the Community Dinner here... what a difference and what a privilege to serve.  (For community privacy, I am not posting pictures of people)

Operation Karen

Well, it's the day after surgery and I think I have a few things to say:
The day before surgery, the internal medicine doctor called to say that some of my blood work is showing that I may be prone to blood clots... and that I might need to be on blood thinners for life.  But he also thought that maybe the Xeralto blood thinners I am currently taking could also make the blood work show up positive.  He said that after three more months, when I finally come off the thinners for 4 or 5 days, we could retest the blood work.  But I told him that I came off the blood thinners last Saturday - 5 days prior, in order to prepare for surgery... so he quickly rewrote a requisition and faxed it over to Lifelabs.  So the morning of surgery I went to have 7 more vials of blood drawn.  (By the way Canadians, we take things for granted... 7 vials = $528). Hopefully the blood work comes out negative, as I don't really want to take meds for the rest of my life.

I have always loved giving blood, but ever since I had malaria last year, the needles make me very nauseaus, and while preparing for surgery it took the anesthesiologist 3 tries to find a vein that would work... I don't even know how I fell asleep going into surgery at 11 am.  It was a 1.5 hour surgery to remove a large ovarian dermoid.  There are three small incisions in my gut... and they feel pretty good.  I actually can't feel the 1 cm cuts at all, but my whole gut feels torn apart and rearranged.  When I walk around I carry my gut like a baby because it hurts and if I cough I have to use a pillow to hold the incisions in place.

I woke up at 1:30 pm and by 2 pm Dad was back with me in post-op.  I was given my prescriptions... I now have to take an injection blood thinner for one week before going back to the Xeralto tablets for three months and by 3:30 pm I was home and resting in my own bed.  I slept for an hour and a half then had supper with my parents.  And I'm wearing compression socks for a whole week during the day.  Thankful for Mom to help me put them on.

At around 8 pm by right arm started feeling tingly and tight.  At 8:45pm a large lump appeared and after a little googling by Mom we were fearing another blood blot.  I really don't want to experience another pulminary embolism.  So from 9 - 2:30 am Dad and I were in the ER getting things checked out.  Thankfully it is not a blood clot, but a blood bruise from the IV trial spot.

I don't know how long it will take for things to rearrange and recover.  Apparently they put a bag in the right side incision to load the 10x7x7 cm dermoid into, along with half of the ovary... and pulled it back out through that tiny hole, so that side is more painful.  Ok... that might be a bit too much information... but that's what my body has been through.  My follow-up / post-surgery appointment is Dec. 16... so it most likely won't be until the new year that I will travel back to Uganda... but I want to make sure that I am completely better first.

I might do my church presentations first and then go home!
I am so grateful for the many people who have been sending prayers, cards, kind words, phone calls, and love through this whole process. I feel supported!