The last month has been a little busy. I know I have shared that same sentiment before, but this time it was a little different.
I started March at home with my family. Usually, this time of year doesn’t offer much time off, as many teams come to San Juan. But this year, we had two weeks off following the surgery team. I’m thankful this is the way it turned out, because I was able to be home with my sister to help her recover from her surgery.
I had shared in my previous post that my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. On February 25th, she was able to have surgery. The first step to becoming cancer-free. I went home to help her recover, staying with her and her family for the first week. If you know my sister at all, you might know that three days after going home, she insisted we leave the house. We quickly realized the days were much better if we got out and moved around. Our days consisted of walks around Marshall’s, the mall, Target, and more. Follow-up appointments and celebratory ice cream soon followed. (Side note, I’m a firm believer you can have ice cream at any time and no matter how you feel; sad, happy, indifferent). My sister is still recovering from her surgery and will start chemotherapy treatments in the next two weeks, followed by radiation. I have faith that my sister will continue to walk through this journey with strength. She will be in great hands with her nurses and doctors, who will oversee her treatment. And I know that many people are praying for her and her recovery during this time.
The only reason I was really able to go home was that everyone here offered to step in in different ways to help cover my job. I really owe a big thank you to my dear friend Cora. She changed her flights and stayed a week longer to cover for me while I went home.
While I was home and since coming back to the DR, I have had the same thought: the doors we choose to walk through matter. I have the opposite thought that the doors we choose not to walk through also matter. Ok, maybe that’s not opposite, but it’s also not the same.
The time feels like it’s quickly approaching to decide whether I will extend my time here in San Juan after my initial 3 years, or go home. While I was home, I struggled with feeling at home, realizing that even if I moved back to Indiana, I might not want to be in Garrett, and I also don’t want to leave the DR. Does that mean I’m supposed to stay in San Juan?
When I came back to San Juan, I made it back to catch the last day of our double barrio week with the IU and SFMC nursing programs. Both great teams to work with, I was sad to miss them. Then we had a small but mighty team from Kansas here who were so lovely and encouraging about personal life things and how to manage them. They were joined by a team of nurses/midwives who provided education to the clinic, moms, and local nursing programs from North Carolina. This week, we are hosting a large double barrio team from North Carolina. This team has been in San Juan so many times; they are a great team to finish up our winter schedule.
Next weekend, our staff is heading on a small trip to La Romana to rest and spend time together. We have three weeks off, so I’ll hopefully spend that time moving the pharmacy and getting that organized for our next set of teams.
I have a friend visiting at the end of April, and I’m looking forward to spending time with her. I think we will spend a night in the colonial zone, and definitely take a day to the beach. We also have to make a trip to Ocoa to pick up some equipment for a team coming in. We spent a week together here in 2019.
Prayer Requests:
– Strength for my sister & family
– Continuing to trust the timing of my life
– Clarity and Peace for the future
