Long Time No Write

Well first of all I would like to say that long-underwear are a wonderful thing they really do work. I have been lovin' them lately because Charly, Roger and I have been walkin' everywhere. We are all currently car-less and therefore have no other mode of transportation besides our feet. Well sometimes the van picks us up for church and we could take a taxi but we're too cheap for the latter. Therefore we've been using our walking skills alot and I've been getting good use out of my long-underwear, warm jackets and big snowboots. When I go to church I stick my little flats in my purse and then switch out of my snowboots when we get there. Charly and Roger laugh but I don't really find it funny. I'm praying for a FREE car. I'm believing for God to provide! :) People laugh about that too but I know that God can do it. They won't be laughing when I get my free car huh. :)

It's not so bad walking, it's pretty with all of the snow and it's good excercise of course but the colder it gets the less I'm gonna like it. Even this morning when we walked to the DMV I thought my face might freeze off- luckily I had my handy dandy face mask, the only problem is it has little breathing holes and the wind snuck right through those. So yeah we walked to the DMV today since Roger and I only have out-of-state licenses. It didn't turn out too well though because I didn't have my social security card with me. I was very very dissapointed to say the least. I had gotten up early, studied until late last night (because I have to re-take the written test) and walked in the cold all for nothing, and the DMV won't be open again until the middle of Jan. It's my own fault though really I should have thought of this in the beginning of my week off instead of waiting for my last day- but that's me a procrastinator to the fullest. I don't really care if I get a lisence or not really, I have 90 days until my WA one isn't good here anymore, it's mostly because I didn't want to have to pay tax on my Christmas shopping in WA! Hahaha Oh well.
It actually worked out really well because then I went and did other productive things. I returned movies to the library (yup I officially am a Bethel Library patron- have my very own card and everything. When I signed up for it they asked me if I was going to be living here for at least 2 years and I said "yes I am". I'm feeling pretty official these days. I even went to a city council meeting. I hope you're all impressed) and then I went to the HR office and got some stuff done, fixed a problem with my sign-in system at work and even called someone about my loan repayment application. Wow what a productive girl I am (again it's pretty ridicules that I waited until my last day off to do these things).

So all in all I'm doing really well. I've been pretty tired though, I've been having a hard time sleeping this week off. I wake up after only like 3 hours of sleep and have a super hard time going back to sleep. So I'm just kinda tired all the time. Oh well I'll get used to it.

Ok I'm super tired and I have to go sleep before my shift tonight. I start my 7 days on and then I will be home! Can you believe it?! I'm so excited! I actually only have to work 6 days this week because I fly home on the 7th. Wow what a wonderful thing. So I know there is much more that I need to fill you all in on since I haven't written on here in like FOREVER- I apologize for that, but I do really need try and get some sleep. I'll make a big effort to write more later.

I will leave you with this precious picture of Denise (the little girl that stayed with me this past weekend) wearing the Kuspuk that Kelly made me. I took Denise to her school preformance on Monday and she forgot her Kuspuk so she wore mine and we pinned it on the sides to fit. Isn't she the cutest little girl in the world. We love eachother so much, it was so great to be able to spend time with her. I am so greatful for the favor that God has given me with the kids here. It's amazing I love them and they love me. It's great. Even helping with the youth is going great. I love hanging out and talking with the youth girls, they're so precious. I'm excited to return in January and be able to spend more time with them.
And I have to add this picture too, this one is of Denise wearing that hat that I gave her. It's a hat that my mom had knit for me a few years ago. Denise loved it so much! It's so cute. Her mom said that she came home and was trying on all different ways in the mirror admiring how nice it looked. So cute huh. She wouldn't open her eyes because she said the flash was too bright. hahaAlright I really have to go to sleep now. I still need to make a movie of my apt for you guys. I'll work on that this week. And I need to take some snow pictures too, because it finally came back!

Love you all!
Alessandra

Where Did all the Snow Go?!

Well I just got home from my first night back at work. It went really well, it's amazing how well I was able to transition from days back to nights. I'm just meant to be a night person I guess. I think it was harder for me to transition back to days on my days off. I would stay up late and get up late, I feel kinda like I wasted my week off in some ways, I was just kinda tired for most of the week. I'm praying that God will supernaturally help me not be tired when I'm home for Christmas, I do not want to waste that time being tired!

So I didn't tell you guys about how much fun I had on Tuesday. I went to lunch with my friend Nikki and afterwards we went to a "book sale" at the Catholic Church, but the books sale was over and now all the books were free! Isn't that great! So I just got to go through and pick out a whole box full of books. I got mostly children's books in preparation for all the wonderful children I'm looking forward to having in my life! :) What a wonderful day that was.
Then that night Charly (my friend who is originally from Bethel, and first brought me to Bethel) and her new husband arrived in Bethel! I was so excited to see them, they are my neighbors upstairs. We actually switched beds yesterday because they only had a full size bed and I had a queen. So it just made sense. :) It will be so great to have them here and to partner with them in serving the community and helping at the church!

Oh and I ate at a wonderful resturaunt the other day that I'm super excited about. It's called VIP and it's Korean food. It's so wonderful, it reminds me so much of a Seattle resturaunt. If I just don't think about that fact that I'm wearing boots instead of flats I can pretend that I'm in Seattle. It's just so clean in there and the food is so fresh. They have great sushi and noodle dishes. It's pretty pricey but I'm in love so it's worth it. If you guys ever come visit I'll take you there.

Oh and I've also discovered two other comforts in this past week. One is that there is a spa here in Bethel called Tranquility. They do facials, manicures and waxing and a whole bunch of other things. I'm super excited about it. I'm planning on making an apt. for my week off, Charly and I both want to go. The second wonderful thing I've learned about is this farm in Seattle that you can order produce from. It's called full circle farms and you pay $53 for a box every other week or however often you choose and then they send you whatever produce is in season. So you get a variety of things but it's all organic and from what I heard it's super good and fresh. Charly and I plan to share a box between our households, isn't that great idea! I think it's gonna work out really nice. It might sound expensive, I don't know, but it's better then the prices at AC (the grocery store here).
Another wonderful thing i learned is that they are gonna open one of the lakes up here for ice skating! Isn't that wonderful?! I've always wanted to go ice skating out doors, like on a lake! I'm pretty sure it's gonna be the best day of my life when I get to do it. Hopefully next week. I'm really looking forward to going snowmachining (the pastor's sons are eager to take me), sledding and ice fishing! This is all contingent on the whether getting cold again though! It's crazy all the snow has pretty much melted! It's been so warm here! It's rediculas! It still feels cold though because the winds have been crazy strong. Like at least 60mph. I thought I was gonna get blown over walking to work.
I'm really missing the snow because now it's just all muddy and wet. Not really liking that so much. Oh but it has proved a point. My hair is straight here because it's so dry, not because my hair just changed. Because now that it's been warmer and wetter, it's curlier. Once it gets dry and snowy again though, it will be back to being straight. Weird huh. So for the next two years or so I'm just gonna have straight hair, how weird. Oh well I guess in the summer it will be curly, it was when I was here before. So funny.

My apt smells really good now. It was smelling kinda funny, like old stale wood or something. I was really sad about this, because I'm so sensitive to smells and they are so important to me. It's always been one of my worst fears to have a stinky house and not know it. Well I'd cleaned and I had little candles and I had fabreeze and I tried to air it out but it still wasn't really working. I was beginning to give up. But then Tiffany came to the rescue, she just said enough was enought and took charge. It was like midnight but she drove me to her house got me this huge banana nut candle, took me to the quick stop bought me a deodorizer and some other housewarming gifts and then we created a cross breeze in the house and lit the candle and now it smells so wonderful! I'm just so pleased when I walk in my door now!

I'm super excited to recieve the early Christmas gift from my parents (a new camera!) because then I can take a video of my apt and post it on here. It will probably be one of the best videos you guys have ever seen. I can just feel that it's gonna be good. :)

Alright well I guess I'll talk to all you cats later. I have to go take a shower and get to bed!
I'm tired so I might have left some good stuff out, I feel like I have, but I'll just have update you again later after I get some sleep. :)

Only 6 more days and I'm off... :)

What A Glorious thing Unlimited Long-Distance Is!

This is one of the best days of my life! I am so so pleased because I just signed up with At&T for unlimited long-distance! No more phone cards for me! I don't know what it is about those things but they are just so disabling, I never wanted to have to use them. You have to type in that big 1-800 number and then there is this big speel that you can't skip about how you can't recharge your card from Alaska anymore. Then you have to put in the passcode and all this other junk, I just dreaded having to use it. Now I am free to make calls whenever I feel like it without that dreaded feeling of having to use the card. And you guys can call me and then I can call you right back so you don't have to pay big bucks. I just feel so free and so much closer to everyone now. Sigh.. I'm a happy girl. This is especially good because yesterday I was feeling extra far from everyone. This little apt can get a little lonely. It's good though, I still love it, it's just extra good now that i can call you guys whenever I want.
Oh and to make it even better I have a Christmas mat outside my door, because Joey brought it over to me last night. It is perfectly wonderful! I am so pleased with it. It is both functional and festive! I would like to get some Christmas Lights soon so I can hang them in my little window for some added cheer. I have to admit I only actually have 2 Christmas cds... I'm going to put one in right now. I think Joanna might be sending me some others. And if anyone else feels so inclined to make me a little Christmas mix cd feel free. :)
How wonderful I just turned on my Christmas Cd and it's just wonderful! I feel so much more in the Christmas spirit now.

So I have good news and bad news about my camera. The bad news is that my old camera is pretty much dead, it never was quite the same after that fall in Mexico City... The good news is that I'm gonna get a new camera! I'm consulting an "electronics expert" and trying to find the best one. I never really did like this old one that I have so hopefully I'll do better this time. So hopefully with-in a couple of weeks I'll have a new cam to be able to document my life here in Bethel for you all.

I also wanted to let you all know that I had a wonderful day on Saturday going to the market and watching movies with Tiffany. She was so sweet she let me watch Oceans 12 (even though she'd already seen it) and then we watched the new Oceans 13 together. It was great, I've been wanting to do that forever, but no one else seemed to keen on watching both movies with me like I wanted to. My dream finally came true here in Bethel. I like the third one better than the 2nd one. And is it just me of is Brad Pitt getting old? Poor guy.
The market mostly consists of Yupik arts and crafts. Alot of beautiful jewelery, fur items and knitted items. The fur stuff is so nice! I mean it sounds horrible, especially to people in Seattle... but still it's really nice. It's also really really warm and... really really expensive.
Oh and want to know something crazy, the INSIDEs of the cars freeze here in Bethel. Like you know how we get frost on the outside of the window that you have to scrape in the AM? Well here it even freezes on the inside, i was so surprised. It gets stinking cold here, good thing I have warm jackets and long underwear! Tiffany laughs at my long underwear, but I don't think there is anything funny about it.

So please keep me in your prayers as I brainstorm what to do about the children's program at church. I've been encouraged to talk to the pastor about starting a program for the kids. I've been told that he would be very open to the idea. I really want to, I'm really missing hanging out with the kids but if I do this I really have to do it. You know. Like I have to start it, and organize it and plan everything and get curriculum. I know with the Lord's help I can do it, I just want to know what He wants me to do, you know. Like I said before I don't want to over-commit, I want to do everything with excellence. I really feel like this is partly why I came here, though, so as long as the timing is right and I feel the Lord give me the go ahead and as long as He gives me ideas... then I'm gonna embark on starting a children's program at the church.
It's really needed, there's been alot of hard stuff going on here. I've seen and heard about alot of suicide attempts and just last week a teenage boy was killed. The kids here really need a fun safe place to be and somewhere where people are speaking life to them and reminding them of the purpose that God has created each of them for! I'll keep you all posted.
Love you bunches and bunches!
Alessandra

My First Friday Night Out in Bethel

Well I've always been the kind that doesn't like to sit around at home on a Friday night so I was super pleased to accept an invite to a game night yesterday. I was invited by the family that owns the Mexican/Chinese/Japanese/American/Italian Restaurant. I had a really good time. It turned out to be two parties actually.
We went to the first house and ate arroz con pollo made by the cuban mother that was visiting from Florida- it was really good. We played a round of Taboo there (The boys are very proud of their taboo game because it is the electronic kind; they say it is no longer being made and on ebay it's like at least $75) and the boys won. The family was then getting ready to leave and I was told that I was given another invitation to come over to their house where they had invited people over for dinner that night. Honestly I was somewhat confused because I felt like I had just had dinner (I felt like maybe I had been screened at the first party and I guess I'd been found acceptable because I got invited to te second party haha). I accepted the invitation though and hung out with the younger brother between parties, he gave me a tour of Bethel in the snow- it looks alot different then it did in the summer, it's so pretty with all the snow.
We then went to party #2 and were served steaks , I was full from the last meal but ate some to be polite, it was super good- it's good to be friends with a chef. :) We then played 2 rounds of taboo and the girls won the first round! They boys were sore losers (reminds me of another group of boys I know...) and claimed they let us win and then proceeded to beat us in the second round feeling extremely proud and victorious after their win (i'm sure they cheated somehow).
It was a really good night. Once again I was blessed by Bethel hospitality.
My friends Tiffany finds it so crazy that I'm making so many random connections and getting so many random invitations, she says this is not usual for Bethel. I had no idea, I figured it was. I figured restaurant owners invited customers over all the time for game night hahaha. Ok well I just figured it was a friend of a friend kind of thing, I figure everyone in Bethel is friends. haha.
Now I'm about to go to Saturday Market with Tiffany, should be an adventure, always is with Tiff. :)
Oh and guess what I got in the mail yesterday?! My Christmas door mat! I'm so excited. Too bad I left it in Joey's car... I'll have to get it soon so i can place it where it belongs in front of my door. I still haven't gotten my stuff from Drugstore.com though, it's been FOREVER. I'm getting quite perturbed! I don't have anything to wash dishes with or wash clothes, the situation is getting quite desperate, but I don't want to buy super expensive soap from AC when i have stuff coming, I've waited this long I can't give in now.
Talk to you soon.
love with all my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful holiday Thanksgiving is. I have so much to be thankful for! It's amazing when I think about all that God has done for me since my arrival in Bethel. I do wish I could be with my family for Thanksgiving but only a few more weeks and I get to be home for Christmas! I'm gonna make a paper chain to count down the days. :)
I'm feeling better- not 100% but definitely better. I went to work, because I woke up and felt much better- no temp, but then I got to work and felt horrible! It was like torture listening to my charge nurse tell me what to do. Finally I just told her "i feel horrible, I think I better go home, I can't take care of patients well" she was like "are you sure you can't stay" I was like "ummmm" she said "could you sit?". Sitting is when a patient needs constant supervision, you literally sit there and write down every 15min what they're doing. I said "sure, I can do that". As soon as I sat down I started feeling sick again but I thought, "just hang in there", and then it got better. So I literally sat there for like 8 hours, I wrote a VERY long letter to Corey to keep myself awake. She'll have to read it in increments probably. :)
It's actually really good though because I got paid for those hours. Now I have the week off to get completely better so that's really good. Whenever anyone finds out I'm sick they say "oh you got the Bethel Crud huh". One of the nurses says I'll probably get it every time I leave and come back. I sure hope not. It's cause the germs here are so strong, because of the perma-frost and all. She also said "Yeah don't order take-out, it's expensive and it makes you sick". So true! No more ordering out for me. It's like $15 for Teriyaki here! Absurd huh!
I'm boiling my yams right now, and then I'll take a short sleep before going over to Necie's for Thanksgiving dinner/lunch.
I'm thankful for all of YOU!

It's No Fun Being Sick!

So last night I ate a leftover egg-roll that I had ordered the night before and I felt so sick. Well I had felt sick after eating them the first night but they were pretty tasty so I couldn't help myself- no self-control I guess. So last night I was certain it was just another eggroll poisoning but then I woke up today and I still felt horrible. I had chills and couldn't sleep. I took my temp and it was 99.3. Sigh... so I had to call in sick to work-I don't want to get my precious little patients sick.
I'm bummed because it's only my first week of work and I'm already calling in sick! It's also gonna throw my sleep schedule off. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow I don't know.
I'm actually feeling better now than I did earlier. It stinks though because I don't have TV and I only have one movie (Jane Eyre, a gift from Jenny Ritterbush, thank you Jenny!) and a few office episodes (thank you Brian Mac).
My head hurts too much to read. I don't want to eat. Man I wish I had cable.

It was so sweet though because Necie sent over some soup to me via ShoGun delivery, it was really good and so sweet of her! My stomach wasn't so sure about it though... it's kinda mad at me right now. I think it gave me strength though. :)

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm going to Necie's for Thanksgiving and I'm gonna make the candied yams (courtesy of my mom's care package she sent me! so sweet!). Should be a grand celebration. I love you all. I think I'll go watch Jane Eyre now!

I Pretty Much Felt Like a Real Nurse Tonight

So I got to work tonight (ok really LAST night but I like to say tonight so I feel like it's night right now and time for bed) and I was told I had two patients of my very own! Honestly I was really surprised by this, I was definitely not expecting it. I had two babies. Then after report I was told I was gonna have an adult patient as well, that's 3 patients! By the end of the night I had 4 because i got an admission half-way through the night. Can you believe it?! 4 patients all of my very own, three little babies and the most precious little granny in the whole world. Now that is a real nurse. Crazy huh.

And then at the end of the shift we were told that lab wasn't going to be able to do our blood draws so we would have to do them ourselves, so I collected two bloods draws! Got one on the first try, the other one took a second poke. It was great.

I felt pretty awake and alert for most of the night, it wasn't until around 4am that I started feeling pretty sleepy. I'm pretty much loving my job though and I really like being on nights! I think it's gonna work out so nice, and I think those 7 days off are gonna work out so nice too... :) I'm looking forward to those, but I do really like my job too. They other nurses are great, we have fun. I really like the pace of nights, it's not so rushed and full like days. I also like that I'm tired at the end of the shift and not the beginning. On days I'm always totally dragging in the morning and I HATE getting up. It's not as bad on nights for me. Angela said she thought I would like nights and she was right. :)

I'm just so thankful to the Lord because I know that He is the one that is making it all possible! He's giving me favor and wisdom and definitely helped me get those blood draws, I was praying before I poked! I love being able to pray for my patients too, even if it's just in my head.

Well I definetly have areas I can improve on, I'm definetly too slow with most of the stuff I do and it's hard for me to decide what to say in my documentation and what I don't need to say. I just want to be more efficient and knowledgeable and confident. I know that will all just come with practice.

And let me just tell you that the little granny I took care of reminded me SO much of my gram. It made me miss her alot but it also made me love this little lady alot and want to give her extra good care. The elderly people here are just so precious. They usually don't speak much english though, so that makes it extra interesting.

I love you all. I must be off to bed. Can't wait to come home for Christmas, I think it's only like 31 more days until I'm there! And don't be suprised if I have straight hair, I think Alaska is turning my hair straight. It's weird.
Feliz Navidad!

One Down and 6 More to Go

Well I survived my first 12hr night shift! Praise the Lord! Thank you for all your prayers! I was pretty tired and kinda felt like I was in a haze for most of the shift but I made it and I figure it can only get better from here.
I just can't believe I'm a "real" nurse, I still feel like a student in a lot of ways, I have to keep remindng myself that I'm not. I need to stand up straight and get things done. I just feel so young.. and short. I think I always thought when I "grew up" I'd be taller, which would help me feel more like an adult but nope.
Alright I'm super tired, I'm off to bed. I'll update you all soon I hope.
Goodnight.

Adventures w/Tiffany, My Very Own Apt and the Beginning of "NIGHT SHIFT"

"Tonight dinner was fabulous. Another night at ShoGun, best Mexican in town.
Bought a microwave stand that looks like the long-lost-furniture-sister of my table and chair set.
Tiffany thinks my P.O. Box should be lovingly named "Moe". As in "Moe of 1995". Great plan. (This is Alessandra now and I would prefer it spelled "Mo" like "mo betta")
Attempted to fit my microwave stand in the back of Tiffany's little car. Unfortunately the back door was frozen shut and I had to climb into the back and push while she pulled from the outside.
Then we tried to lift the heavy stand up the stairs, through the snow, all the while I was glove-less. Of all things, I got frostbite. Tiffany assured me that it wasn't cold enough to be frostbite. And despite the truth that she spoke about me not having frostbite on my face either, I was ready for the flesh of my hand to turn black and freeze off."

That part up top was all courtesy of my friend Tiffany (for those of you that didn't know, Tiffany also went to the lovely Northwest University, so I knew her before I came up, she's been so wonderful to me- her and her mom both- making sure I'm ALWAYS taken care of in every way) she took me on quite the adventure tonight. All she says is true.
The restaurant she refers to not only serves Mexican but also Chinese, Japanese, American, and Italian, you can imagine how big the menu is! The surprising part is that it's actually all good. Ok well I've only had Mexican, Japanese and American so far but those three were good. I mean not as good as Seattle food... but good. :) The chef used to cook at one of the big fancy hotels in Las Vegas- then his mom gave him the restaurant here in Bethel. The wife is a hair-dresser and has a shop that adjoins to the restaurant, but hasn't actually opened it yet because she's been too busy at the restaurant, it's quite an experience to go to dinner there. The couple is super sweet- they remind me of home- they are from California, the closest west-coasters I have. Everyone else is from the South or the East coast pretty much. They are also the ones that want to hook me up with their little brother. He was there tonight and I was scared they were gonna like try to hook us up right there and then but luckily I think he's too shy.
It was so sweet of Tif to treat me to dinner there! Necie has brought me there a few times also, it's her favorite restaurant too.

And yes I did buy a microwave stand from the same dentist that I bought the shelf from, it was another good deal. And it was quite hilarious trying to get Tiffany's her trunk door to open, I was pushing mighty hard- I was slightly worried we wern't gonna get it open and I wouldn't be able to get my stand. I mean car doors get "stuck" in Seattle when things freeze over but NOTHING compared to this. It was even funnier trying to carry that big thing up the steps to my apt. I really thought we were gonna drop it! I was on the top end and Tiffany was on the bottom- my hands were frozen and I could barely feel them (Lesson of the day NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT GLOVES!). These stairs are not little stairs mind you and they are metal and covered with snow, in my mind I could see us both toppling down them with the microwave stand- ok well mostly Tiffany since she was on the bottom. It was very dangerous but PTL (praise the Lord) we made it and my micro stand is now sitting beautifully in my kitchen/dining room corner next to it's "sister" table, I'm so glad I could reunite them. Tiffany continually compliments it- oh so proud that it was her dentist that I bought it from. Once again if only I had a camera cord so that I could send you a picture of the siblings... I'll do my best to locate one soon.

And as for my fingers they are doing well now, but I'm pretty positive that I lost some cells in the whole fiasco. They hurt so bad- I swear! I was in so much pain. There was a small-irrational part of me that was not fully joking when I reported "frost bite" to Tiffany- I still wonder if it was a very mild case... They were throbbing and burning and stinging and it made my whole body ache. I held them on the heater, and then Tiffany held them in her warm-having-just-been-gloved-hands and then I ran them under warm water. I'm pretty sure they were slightly grayish purple at the end there- though Tiffany claims to not have seen that color. The fingers on my right hand- especially my middle one still don't feel 100% normal. Who knew getting a new/used mic-stand could be so dangerous! I guess that's the risks of living in Alaska. Tiffany said that next time we move that stand we are getting some guys to do it. It's been suggested a few times today that I need a man around. hahaha
One of my co-workers took me to the post office since I don't have a car and when we were leaving he said "you need to get a boyfriend with a nice car" and I said "yeah that's a really good idea- do you know anyone? He doesn't even have to have a "nice" car- just a guy with a car would be good. Then once I get a car of my own I can say "well it sure was nice hanging out with you these past few weeks... ". He said he'd let me know but he doesn't really know that many people yet- being new himself. haha
I'm waiting for my drugstore.com package to arrive with all my cleaning supplies that are so expensive here in Bethel and it sure is taking its time. All that was in my box today was junk. Speaking of my wonderful little P.O. Box- I'm still not for sure about the name but I've had some wonderful suggestions I love that so many people responded! I'm kinda thinking of the name Jeffery, I don't know why it's just the name that kinda comes to mind when I open him but I'm not sure, I need to get to know him better I guess as my cousin Rosie suggested. Oh and my mom was the first one to send me a letter- she is very proud of this fact- and I am very proud of her too. :)

Man I'm feeling sleepy guys, but I need to try and stay awake so that I can ease into my night schedule. My original plan was to come home from shadowing today and take a nap and then go to bed around 3 or 4am and then wake up around 1pm maybe work-out and do some errands and then go to work at 7pm to begin my 12hr shifts for the next 7 days. This of course didn't quite happen. I didn't get my nap in, so now I'm just trying to stay up. I sure hope this works out. I don't want to be super tired on my first day. We shall see... we shall see... good thing God is the strength in my weakness. And I'm pretty glad to be on nights because even when I do wake up in the AM it feels like it's night because it's so dark until like 9:30 at least- so at least now it really will be night and I won't feel so disoriented.

Maybe I will have to revise my plan. Maybe I will go to sleep right now, and make myself wake-up early and then I'll get up and do some more unpacking- yeah I'm still not fully unpacked- and then I'll go back to bed in the late morning and wake up and go to work. What do you guys think? I feel like I'm having a conversation with Vanessa back in "my college days"- ok so only a few months ago- trying to decide if I should stay up super late and try to finish writing the paper that is due the next day or if I should go to bed and wake up early and finish it. I just don't want to stay up so late that I'm all shaky and tired and can't really fall asleep and then my whole nights rest consists of waking up every few hours and not feeling rested at all in the AM. That's pretty much what happened last night.

Oh but BTW (by the way) I have wonderful, wonderful news, I guess I'm saving the best for last! My phone is now connected! It got connected yesterday (I'll have to send you all the # in an email, don't really want creepy people I don't know getting ahold of it)! It was the best day of my life. Oh and I haven't even told you all, I officially moved into my apt yesterday! So I spent my first night here last night- a girl at work was asking if I felt scared living alone and honestly... I do a very tiny bit- mostly just when I go to sleep. I told her I kinda wish I could get a dog but in reality I have all the protection I need with the Lord watching over me as I sleep!
So I love my apt with my whole heart! I love having my own place, it's such a wonderful thing, I feel so very "growed" up. :) It still kinda seems like I'm just pretending though... I'm sure once my first rent bill comes it won't feel like that so much....
It's really nice because the hospital is paying for my first months rent. God has just blessed me so much here already. I talked to my cousin today and she said "I'm sure your car will be coming soon because I keep having to cross things off my prayer list for you. As soon as I write them down they get answered"! Isn't that so true! God is so good. So I look forward to telling you all about my new vehicle that will transport all my precious kids when the Lord provides it.

Well I'm excited for tomorrow. I'm excited to cherish my patients- hopefully some cute little elderly people. Bethel has the cutest kids and the cutest old people- i swear! I saw some really cute little grannies today when I was shadowing- they mostly only speak Yupik though- but they pretend like they understand you when you speak English- pretty tricky they are. Some of my Yupik is coming back to me from last summer. I remember how to say "thank you", "sit", "poop", "breast feed", "grandpa" and "how's it going". I'm sure that will all serve me well don't you? haha
It's good to be working in the medical setting again. I pray that the Lord will give me passion and stamina for my job. I want to help people, I don't just want to get paid. And I don't just want to help people temporarily, I want to help them eternally as well by giving them a hope that is beyond this world and its circumstances. I pray that the Lord will give me opportunities to do that. I also pray for favor with my co-workers- it's been said that nurses eat their young- I pray that they love me and don't eat me.

Thank you all so much for your love and prayers- if it wasn't for those prayers my fingers would probably be frozen off right now I'm sure.
Merry Christmas! It still feels like Christmas, especially yesterday when I was unpacking all my boxes. I was loving it so much- even though it was all my stuff it was just so fun to see it again and put it in my new place, and of course my little mommy dearest had snuck some sweet suprises into the boxes...

Oh and just as an FYI if you guys want to leave comments- which I'm sure you're all dying to do- you don't have to "sign up" you just check "anonymous" and then just sign your name at the bottom of the note so that I know who you are. I LOVE comments. I know some of you have been sending comments to my email and I really appreciate that too.
Oh and also since I'll be working 12h night shift for 7 days in a row I probably won't be able to do much communicating- we'll see, maybe in the down-time at work I can update this here blog- but you can still call my phone and leave me sweet little messages while I'm at work (works well since your cell phones are all free after 9) and then I can listen to them and be happy when I come home from work in the AM. Then I can call you all back on my 7 days off. :)

It's Beginning to Feel Alot Like Christmas!

It snowed today. It was so beautiful! There is probably about 2in of snow on the ground. It makes it feel so much like Christmas to me. I just want to listen to Christmas music and write Christmas cards. Please send me your addresses so I can send you some. Send them to my hotmail account- allhansen@hotmail.com . I'm just loving it. And it's great because nothing closes down here because of the snow, like it does in Seattle. In fact the only thing the schools close down for here is when it gets to -70 degrees of lower. Isn't that crazy! I can't imagine it ever being that cold, but I guess it does happen. People are really excited for the snow because then they get to pull out their snowmobiles. I look forward for the pastor and his boys to come home from vacation so they can take me on a ride! I look forward to telling you guys all about it. Hopefully I'll be able to send pictures by then too.
I also bought a Christmas mat online today too, to put in front of my door. I bet Lisa is extra happy that I'm in the Christmas spirit so early this year! : )

Also I went garage saleing this morning with my friend Tiffany. We actually only found one garage sale and didn't find anything good there so we travled around to some of the stores around here but everything was grossly over-priced. We then went online and looked at some ads and such and found that her dentist was selling some things. We hopped over there and I got a little bookshelf for $10. What a deal. I think i'm ... just a sec my apple crisp is done I made one for Necie's birthday... alright sorry about the inturruption, hmmm I'm not sure what I was going to tell you. So anyway pretty much I learned that garage sales here aren't what they are in Seattle.
Oh and also I finally went to the I.D. Variety/Radio Shack/Pet Land today and it is quite the store let me tell you. It has a little thrift store in it, but the stuff is pretty yuck- even for a expert thrift store shopper like me and they just have so much random stuff and then electronics in the back and pets on the side. I was hopeing to find a christmas mat there, but not luck. I did find some super cute little kittens though! I wanted one so bad, and I don't even really like cats, that shows how cute they were. Luckily YKHC doesn't allow pets in the apartments so I didn't get one. I wish I could send it to Brian and Corey though.

All my stuff arrived this week and my apartment is full of boxes. I couldn't believe that it came so quickly! I wasn't expecting it until at least next week or later- another one of God's many provisions. So I'll be moving into my apartment soon. To be honest I'm a little hesitant about it, I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm sure once I move in I'll love it. I'm excited to decorate this week.
I wonder if I'll be lonely... you all will have to come visit soon. I don't know if I'll have much time to be lonely though really, I start my 12hour shifts next week. I'll work 12hour shifts seven days straight and then I'll be off for seven days. On my working days I don't plan on doing anything but work (well I'm gonna try to work-out too) so don't worry if you don't here from me for a week or so, I'll just be working. And then on my weeks off I'll communicate with the world, do errands and hopefully teach children's church or something such as that.

Necie has suggested too additional options for working with the kids around here as well. One is to become a "Big Sister" in the program they have here, which I'm strongly considering and the other is to become a volunteer at the library to do story hour. I think that would be so much fun, I love reading to kids! So we'll see if either of those work out. I kinda want to try working first and see how worn out I am and what my schedule is really gonna be like you know, I don't want to over-commit.

And speaking of kids I saw one of my favorite little girls in the whole world on Friday! I walked by her and almost didn't recognize her, she's grown up in the year since I'd last seen her. She was my neighbor when I lived here in the summer and her and her friends would always come over and make cookies and such as that. We love each other so much. She saw me and yelled "Alessandra you came back!". It was so precious. She lives close to the church so hopefully she'll be able to come tomorrow- even if she can't I'll go visit her.

Ok well it's time for us to eat the applecrisp now so I best be going. I'll let you know how shadowing goes on Monday (that's what I'll be doing). love you and miss you!
Oh I almost forgot to tell you some of my best news! I got my ticket to come home for Christmas today! So it is official! I'll arrive on the 19th at like 11:30pm and then I come back to Bethel at 6:30pm on the 26th! Praise the Lord! And thanks so my parents and Necie too who helped to make it all possible!

Full of Suprises!

I have wonderful news! I went and checked out my apartment today and it is so wonderful! I just feel overwhelmingly blessed. They said originally that it was going to be a studio apartment but when we walked in I was pleasently suprised to find out that it is one-bedroom (so now you guys can all stay with me when you come up to visit, and Vanessa can move in with me when she comes!). Also it is partially furnished, another suprise! I have a beautiful queen sized bed, a dresser, a couch and a wonderful dining table and chairs! It also came with a fridge, a freezer, a dishwasher and a disposal and it has such wonderful storage space! And then Necie is gonna let me have her TV and stand. I might have another couch coming and we're gonna go garage sale shopping this weekend so pray that we find treasures (i need a vacuum)! : )

Everyone has just been so great, offering me things and brainstorming on where I can find this and that. Oh I've also been offered some spices and I'm gonna be loaned dishes and silverware until mine come. I really couldn't ask for more. Oh and I have such sweet neighbors too, a bunch of other people that work at the hospital, I just feel so at home and nice a safe too. If only I had a cord for my camera so I could send you all pictures- I'll try to figure something out.
Tonight I went to church for the first time since I've been there and it was so great to be there. It was wonderful to see the kids! They even remembered my name and were really excited to see me. I'd really missed those kids, I'm so glad to be back with them, I'm anxious to get started teaching Sunday School again.

I'm reminded of the verse that I wrote on here before I came about God providing for what He's called us to do. Man what a testimony I am of that. I just can't even believe all the providing that God has done, I took my little step of faith and He has rushed in to confirm and bless! I'm truly humbled and amazed. He's given me far beyond what I deserve or could have hoped for- not just in monetary thing but in friends and then just the sense of peace that I have. There's no better place to be than in the will of God.
I'll have to come back and look at this when things get tough though, as I know they will... I'll need to be reminded of God's confirmation and blessings. Maybe you all can remind me. : ) But on the mountain and in the valley God remains the same and I'm excited for whatever comes my way!

Alright I'm feeling sleepy, I best be going but I'll write more soon.
Love you all! Thanks so much for your prayers. I know that it's the prayers of the saints that have been making a big impact!

My Very Own P.O. BOX

Hello my loved ones! I miss you already, I really do. I miss Seattle too, but things are going well. It was pretty hard Saturday and early Sunday, I didn't think I was gonna make it, I was feeling so lonesome for home, but once I drove around Bethel on Sunday night I was already feeling better. I was really praying that the Lord would remind me why I'm here and renew my love for the people and the region, and He did! I still miss everyone terribly, but I'm not longer feeling depressed at all, I know the Lord has good things for me here. I'm excited to start working as a nurse, I got my ID Badge today and it said "Alessandra Hansen, Registered Nurse" pretty great huh? The picture is pretty funny, I wish that I had a way to send you a pic of it, but i don't have the cord to hook my camera up to they computer... sad story huh... i'll do my best to remedy that soon.

And then, Praise the Lord guess what I found out today?! I have an apartment ready for me on Wednesday! Now no one can tell me that, that's not a miracle! I wasn't suppose to have an apt. ready for me until the end of December and then my wonderful manager called them to ask if they had somewhere to house me until then and they said they had a permanent place for me now! I couldn't believe it! I just feel so blessed! God is so good and so faithful, I know that, that apartment opened up only through prayers! So thank you so much- all of you that have been praying- especially my SeaTac Bible Study! So I will be staying with my manager until Wed. She says that they're gonna throw me a "pounding" party when I move in. She's from Texas and I guess it's a tradition down there. They bring you things to fill your pantry. You know how I like a good party so this should be fun. :)

I'll have a bed provided for me and a fridge but that's about it. Necie (my manager and surrogate aunt) thought they furnished it for me, so i didn't bring anything up, but it turns out that they changed that policy. She said "don't worry about it sugar, we'll take care of it". So her and Terry (Necie's neighbor, and my roomate from last summer) are already planning on how they'll deck out my house. We have some tricks up our sleeve, which may include some tricky maneuvering and then we'll look at garage sales as well. I don't know how you have garage sales when it's this cold out but I guess they do.

I also have decided that I need to get a car. I didn't think that I would but everyone advises that I do and the longer i'm here to more i realize that it's a good idea. It's too cold to walk (at least for me- i'm a wimp when it comes to cold i found out- Necie says i'll get used to it) and snow-mobiles are almost as expensive as a car! Also even though gas is really expensive (about $5) you only have to fill up like every 2 weeks, and insurance actually isn't so bad up here either. So pray that God leads me to just the right car, either here in Bethel or something in seattle that can be shipped up. Preferably something that I can stuff a bunch of little kids in and drive to church!

I now have remembered how wonderful and beautiful the kids are here! I haven't gotten to hold any yet and kiss their round cheeks like I would like but hopefully real soon. I've given and received lots of smiles though! I'm excited to start teaching Sunday School at the church. Necie says that she will do her best to work out my schedule so that I can help with the church as much as possible. Hopefully me and one of the other nurses (my friend Charly) can switch off weeks so that it's somewhat consistent for the kids.

Everyone here has been so wonderful. I arrived in Bethel on Sunday night and everyone was just so welcoming. When people found out that I was sure where I'd be living, I had multiple offers of a place to stay, even with people I had just met. People here just want to take care of me- I must have a look about me that says "I'm a city girl, all alone and without her family for the first time". :) So yeah I just feel so very very blessed.

As my title says I am now the proud owner of my very own P.O. BOX! I am so thrilled about this! I'm not sure why it makes me so happy but it really does. I'll send you all the number in an email- I don't really want any weirdos getting it and sending me weird mail or something, mostly because then I might have to change the number and I really would be sad about that because I really love my number and really love the position of my box, it's so perfect! I really think I should name my box. Do y'all have any suggestions for his name? So if any of you have the inclination to send me some mail I would love it, because I know that I will be so very sad every time i check him and he's empty. I'll have to sign up for some catalogs or something just in case.

Oh and just to update you all on the husband status... Two pharmacists have been suggested to me by Terry (she's very against doctors, dentists and teachers for various reasons), I've been offered someone's son but it turns out he's gay, another son but he's currently married and then while at a restaurant yesterday the waitress wanted to set me up with her brother-in-law (she asked from across the room how old I was and if i was single, it was pretty humorous). Oh and you can't forget the 60 year old man at lunch today that gave me his phone number and said that if I got bored he would take me out on the snow-mobile. hahaha. I'm sure he was just being a friendly Alaskan, but still i thought it was funny- i don't think i'll call. : ) The odds are good but the goods are odd.

Oh one more thing! One of my favorite things from today was that I met a guy who invited me to come and play football with him and his friends! I was so excited! I guess they play two-hand touch, and flag when possible. Girls and guys both play, he said it was 40%girls/60%guys last time. I had so much fun playing football this summer that I was so happy to be able to play again. My friends this summer got me ready for playing out here. Let me just give a little shout out to HSM! I'm not sure how well I'll do in the snow but I'm excited to try. He also told me that basketball starts in the end of December, so I'm excited about that too! Sigh... praise the Lord for His magnificent provision!

Oh wait last thing, I found out that for my orientation I'll be working on night shift, which has it's pros and cons. I'll be working 7 days on and 7 days off at 12 hours shifts. That's kinda the con but the pro is that I can use my week off to come home for Christmas. Well technically I'm not sure if it will actually be Christmas week but it will be close. My mom said that we can make it Christmas whenever I can come. Isn't she so sweet. So i'll be home in December at some-point. Can't wait to see you all!

Alright I'll go now, I need to go to the grocery store and this has gotten ridiculously long!
Adios - i miss speaking Spanish and having Spanish speakers around me- I haven't found any yet.

Now Bethel is Upon Me

Well I decided I better give you all a new post since I handed out all those "trading cards" (as my mother affectionately calls them) with my blog address on them.
I can't believe it's only two more days until I get on a one-way plane to Bethel! I've never been on a one-way plane before. I've only traveled round-trip. It's quite a different experience I think when you know that the plane is dropping you off and not coming back. Yesterday the movers came and packed up all my things. My parents living room was full of all my stuff one moment and empty the next- I now have two suit cases to my name. It's nice being a minimalist if only for a week. :)
I still don't think it's fully hit me what I am about to do. It still doesn't completely feel like I'm "moving". Just an extended vacation or mission trip- well and that's what it really is I mean I'm not going forever- just a few years. But still it hasn't hit me- I'm not sure if it will until after I get to Bethel. Or maybe at the airport when I'm in the security line and all the people I love can't continue on with me.
That's definitely the hardest part about this whole thing- leaving those I love. True I don't know where I'm gonna be living exactly in Bethel, I won't have a car, I won't have a cell phone, I'll be living in a small town with no movie theater and no starbucks, I'll be living on my own for the first time, and I'll be a real nurse for the first time (ok that one is scary) but all those things are so small in comparison to leaving all of you guys. Praise God for the telephone though and email and airplanes and for the salary I'll be getting to pay for airplane tickets home. :) Please pray with me that I'll get to come home for Christmas.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." I cling to this verse knowing that it is God that has called me to be a nurse and is now calling me to Bethel. I don't have to have all the answers or be able to fix everything because He is faithful and He will do it! He's the strength in my weakness and I know that He will be my comfort and that He will also comfort my family that is staying behind. I'm also confident that He will sustain my relationships- He'll give you all a desire to travel to Alaska and be avid emailers and phone talkers! :)
This time Sunday (Saturday, I'll be at a wedding in Anchorage) I will be back in Bethel, AK- my home away from home.

Graduation Is Upon Me

Here I am four days away from graduation and writing a paper. Crazy. It's real hard to let it all sink in when you're still working hard, you know. It's just to crazy to think that life as I've known it since I was a five year old in Kindergarten is about to cease to exist. I've been in school for my whole life pretty much, minus those 5 years pre-kindergarten. What am I going to do with myself? Will I know how to function without homework and a class schedule? We shall see... we shall see.
I am excited though. I am really excited to see what the Lord has planned. I have no clue what I'm gonna do in the Fall. I'm just waiting on the Lord, that might sound crazy to some, but as for me there is no other choice that makes sense. I know that He has plans for me, I just don't know what they are yet. :) I feel like he's telling me to "wait" so that is what I'm doing. I look forward to let you all know what I'm "waiting" for. Exciting huh.
I finally was able to write a song about Mexico. I'd been working on it for awhile, but it just wasn't coming to me. I started it while I was there. It's about my two favorite people while I was there, the people that really stuck in my heart- the prostitutes that we drove by each night and the little girl that I gave my leftover dinner to. The song goes like this:

Look at those big brown eyes
The beauty behind them
She gives herself away for whatever they'll pay
Her value doesn't lie there

But how do you convey that she's more beautiful then she thinks
And how do you explain a love that comes free?
It's beyond me, yeah it's beyond me

Look at those big brown eyes
The potential that lies there
She has nothing to call her own- she begs for everything
And she's only three

How do You convey she's more valuable then she thinks
How do You explain a love that comes free?
Use me, yeah use me

The world says their dispensable
But You say they're invaluable
The world says they're a lost cause
But You say nothing's impossible with You, with You

So how do I convey, that they're more valuable then they think
And how do I explain a love that comes free?
Use me, yeah use me.
It's beyond me, but use me.

Or something like that, I'm sure it will go through some changes and revamping at some point.
If anyone happens to read this, pray for me. Pray that I'll be patient and wait on the Lord and pray that I'll finish all this work and graduate!

It's Been Awhile

Nursing school is so consuming! I've had no time to get on here and give any kind of update. The sad news is that I am sick once again, it seems to be the same thing I had when I got back from Mexico. Darn.
I can't believe it but I will be graduating on May 5th! Crazy huh. I am going to be a real live nurse, well after I pass the NCLEX that is. I'm not totally sure what I'm going to be doing but I am confident that the Lord will show me in His timing and that it will be perfect! I truly believe that, and I'm excited to see how it all turns out. I was feeling real anxious about things but then i prayed about it and I just realized I have nothing to worry about. ;)
I do know that I'll be moving back home for the summer, that will be good because I'll get to be living in the same neighborhood as my best friends for one more summer until we all officially grow up. After that who knows, I might be moving out of the state to get a job that will pay my loans off. It sounds like an adventure to me but I know that it will be real hard to be away from all those that I love. I also know that it will be real hard for everyone to say bye. It won't be forever though and where the Lord leads the Lord provides.
I still miss Mexico and still would love to return there but it looks like that won't be for a little while. I really need to pay my loans off. My hope is that I will be able to return with the Northwest team next year in February. I just have to pray that whoever I'm working for will be willing to give me time off.
I know that the Lord has called me to missions and I'm excited to see how that is going to play out. It's just so exciting to me to think of all the Lord has planned. Here is a list of the places that I would like to go and do missions in some form or another.
Alaskan Villages, including Bethel
Thailand
The South (of the United States) ie. Louisiana (at the moment this is my number one)
Hawaii
Mexico
Samoa
New York
India
There are just so many places I want to go and experience.
But right now I have to focus on finishing up nursing school. Focus, focus, I'm almost there. This next month is my "focus of choice" month. I'll be precepting with a nurse at Children's Hospital. I'm very excited about this, I think I will get alot out of it. It's kinda like another missions trip. I think I'll try to think of it that way. I'll keep you guys updated on my adventures. And keep me in your prayers just like you did in Mexico, I appreciated it so much!
I put a bunch of my pictures on Facebook. Here are the links so that you can view them. Enjoy!

http://nwcollege.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11084&l=892ce&id=882660079

http://nwcollege.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8716&l=fc558&id=882660079

I'm Sick

Well it turns out I wasn't just tired, I am sick. I probably caught it on the plane, who knows. It seems like some sort of flu. It's no fun being sick. Maybe it's for the best though because otherwise I'm sure I wouldn't have rested at all this week and then school would have started and I would be exhausted. This way all I've been doing is sleeping. I'm sure glad I waited until I got home to get sick. Praise the Lord.
How about once I'm feeling better I'll post those pics.

Back in the States

Well I have made it safely back to Seattle. I'm not sure if anyone is going to read this blog now that I'm back from Mexico, we'll see. I want to at least wrap things up for you all and I still need to post some of my last pictures. Writing on here is kinda therapeutic so maybe I'll keep it up.
It was great arriving home and seeing my family and friends. I really missed everyone. There was even a nice little gathering of my loved ones planned for me on my return, that was super sweet. Too bad I was so very very tired, I probably wasn't super fun.
I'm not quite sure why my body is so exhausted, it's not like it's a huge time difference but I sure am tired. I slept 12 hours last night though, so that was nice.
I already miss Mexico. I miss the language, i miss the people, I miss the food, I miss the colors. It's interesting because when I came home from living in Bethel, Alaska for three months Seattle made me feel super claustrophobic and overstimulated but after being in Mexico City Seattle seems boring and empty. There is just so much empty space and no one is walking around. It's also so gray here in comparison to the vibrant colors of Mexico, including the sun. Corey took me to Bellevue Square today to look at bridesmaids dresses and all the people there was a nice antidote for my culture shock. I felt at home in the crowd, but I was a little sad they weren't all speaking Spanish.
It is nice to be able to understand people the first time the say something and to understand EVERY word they say, it's even nicer to be able to response appropriately and be friendly and nice. I miss the language though, like I said, and also it's kinda nice not always understanding people you know. When we arrived at the airport in Dallas all the people speaking in English around me overwhelmed me. I had a hard time focusing because of all the conversations I was understanding. I was almost annoying hearing and understanding what everyone was saying.
At this point I fully want to return to Mexico, it's not so much of an "if" as a "when". I definitely have loans to pay off once I graduate and won't really be able to go volunteer anywhere until those are paid off. If it wasn't for my loans I think I would seriously think about heading to Mexico after I graduate and working in the clinic down there for a year or so. I know the God is much bigger than my loans and that His will, will prevail so it's exciting to see how everything will work out. If nothing else I hope to be able to take some time off in the fall to at least go down for 2wks or so. Mexico has definitely planted itself in my heart.
About those pictures... maybe tomorrow...

One More Day

Well this will be my last entry while in Mexico City. This is so sad to me. I really hope to come back here, hopefully it won't be too long until that happens. I love it here. We'll see what God has planned.
Oh and by the way I should be on a plane flying home right now but our flight got cancelled, I'm not actually sure why. But here were are for an extra night in Mexico. Some people were quite sad about this, alot of people are missing their fiances and husbands, but as for me being single and free and such... I'm glad to be here for the extra night.
Can't write too long because we're gonna go to the mall before dinner but I want to update you on some of the great things that have happened. Maybe tonight if the internet works i can post some more pictures, if not i'll do it when i get home.
Well first of all on Sunday Doctor Arenas and his SONS came to church! Isn't that awesome. He really liked it, it was so great to see him there. He had to leave before the service was over but Carrie bought the CD to give to him.
On Monday morning we went to the Mental Hospital. That was a great experience. The doctor that gave us the tour was so great with the patients. He had made alot of positive changes around the place in the past 10 or so years. The way it was before reminded me alot of how it used to be in the US about 20 or 30 years ago. Maybe one day I'll be able to be here helping to make additional positive changes here in the area of mental health.
And then we drove to Acapulco. It was a 5 hour drive so when we got there it was dark. But you guys I have never been to such a nice hotel in my entire life. It was like a resort. It was so incredible. You'll have to see pictures to believe it. I had such an amazing time there. We were right on the beach. I just swam and tanned, and swam and tanned. It was such a blesssing. God is so good.
Ok well I have to go but like I said I'll try to post pictures. I'll see you all very soon!

Sweet Sun and a Sweet Tan (sorry this thing doesn't let me use spell check)

Well we finished our time at the public health clinic. I got to see a bunch of IUDs put in at that clinic on Wed., it was very interesting, I learned alot (funny that, that was actually just yesterday but it seems like so much longer). The nurses there were so nice to us and seemed sad to see us leave. It was cool because on the first day they all seemed a little overwhelmed and even grumpy that they had to deal with a bunch of american student nurses that didn't speak any spanish but by the end they were wishing us all the best of luck and giving us hugs goodbye.
That night we finished our day at the Red Cross. I went on an ambulance run prepared to pick up a patient in a diabetic coma but by time we got there the family had already driven the patient to the hospital (funny how that works huh) but when I came back everyone was talking to the doctor. I was able to hop in on the conversation and share again the grace the Lord has shown in my life and the joy that brings. In between the conversation we set a shoulder and then practiced numbing eachother's arms with pressure points. It's alot harder than it looks.
Then this morning we had a recording session. We recorded some worship songs for the doctor using one of the laptops. It was alot of fun, it was also funny. It's definetly not the best recording ever but to be honest I think I was expecting worse. :) Sometimes we sing at the clinic and the doctor said he wanted a CD and well we aim to please... hahahaha so yeah we plan to give it to him tomorrow. We left the states as ordanairy nurses and we return as recording artists.
The day at the clinic was extremely busy. There was a bus accident on the freeway, 26 people were injured. We got five of those patients. My patients shoulder and hip were out of place. The doctor wanted me to put them back into place on my own. I told him I couldn't, that he would have to help me. He finally relented so we did it together. I think if I was the only person around my adrenaline would go up enough that I would be able to do but other than that, I don't know I just don't seem strong enough.
Later that night a man came it with his fingers cut off from a power saw. It was an especially sad case because another hospital had told him that they would be able to reattatch his fingers at the Red Cross, but they were lieing to him. He was so dissaointed when he got the news, it was heart breaking. When I see things like that it makes me physically ill because my mind knows that a hand isn't suppose to look like that, you know. I'm so glad that I can pray to a loving God in situations such as this.
I can't believe tomorrow will be my last day at the clinic! I makes me want to cry. I wonder if I will cry tomorrow when we leave. We're going to have a goodbye fiesta at lunch. This time Barney is our pinata. I feel kinda bad for the purple dinasour.
Saturday we're gonna finally watch Nacho Libre! I think it will probably be the best night of my life. Sunday church is going to be extra special because I guess a famous singer is going to do the service. He is a worship singer and Carrie tells me he's quite famous in Latin America. And this best part is he's staying in our hotel right next door to my professor! Me and Sarah are thinking of getting his autograph and then selling them at church on Sunday, is that bad... ;)
Monday we are going to tour a mental hospital, I am really looking forward to this because of my interset in mental health. I think it might be really hard though because from what I hear the conditions there are not the best. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
After our tour we will be heading to ACAPULCO! Isn't that wonderful. Yup we are spending our last days at the beach. I'm looking forward to a sweet tan.

Bananas, pinapples, mangos and kiwis

Some time has passed since I've last written. Partly because my trip is coming to an end and I don't want to miss a minute of it and partly because well... not much has happened. We took a break over the weekend starting on Thursday because our hosts had a conference for other missionaries that they needed to be at. A pastor from California came down with his wife to help host us and a man from the church was our driver. They were all wonderful and showed us a wonderful time. We were definite tourists over the weekend. It was alot of fun and we saw some great stuff. On Saturday we went to the floating gardens. It was fun...
It was described to me like a gondalla ride but it was pretty different than that. The boat is alot bigger for one, and there is a big table in the middle of it. All 12 of us plus our driver Salvador's 3 kids all fit on one boat. The water is very let's say "murky" and there are vendors that come and sell you stuff all throughout the ride which turned out to be 3 hours long. I was expecting maybe an hour long ride at the most. 3 hours is a long time. So yeah it was fun and interesting. I did get a tan so that was nice. It was a really sunny day so a bunch of us layed out on the front of the boat to tan.
Salvador's kids were also especially cute. They wore us out but they were sure cute. They were such good sports even though I'm sure they could barely understand us with our broken spanish. The oldest one practiced her english with us too, so that was real cute. She was 5. I'll have to put some pics of them on here they are so cute. Especially the baby he is one and really tiny but has huge brown eyes. His name is Memo. So cute huh! It's a nick name for William, well William in spanish ( i can't remember what that is).
Yesterday we started working at a public health clinic in the morning and then we go to the red cross in the afternoon. They public health clinic is big and busy. I like it though. It's less trauma and more preventative care, like immunizations and screenings. I got to give some babies some shots today. Just like in Bethel, the sticker gets a smile almost everytime, I have to say almost because some kids even refuse the sticker.
Oh and yesterday my partner Kim and I were in the triage room where we took everyone vital signs before they were sent off the their appointments. Well I'm only one of 3 single girls on the trip so it's kinda a joke to get me a boyfriend/husband while we're here (well kim actually would like to set me up with someone she knows at home). Well a guy comes in to be triaged and he's cute and young and friendly and so Kim decided to be a little matchmaker, praise the Lord I was oblivious, I'm not sure how I could have been though. I heard her ask him if he had a girlfriend but then I didn't hear the rest. I guess while I was measuring him ect she went on to ask him how old he was and then to tell him since he was single I needed a boyfriend (this was all in spanish of course). I guess he turned really red. I would have turned really red too if I would have known what was going on. I couldn't believe her! It was funny though, but i'm just glad I was oblivious at the time. Oh Kim...
Thank you all so much for your prayers. Things are really good but I still really appreciate them and know that they are making an impact. Please continue to pray for strength for the team and especially our translators/hosts. Also continue to pray for our spanish and communication! And for the doctors and nurses that we are able to be in contact with that we would be a blessing to them and especially for Dr. Arenas. Also I've just been feeling so incompotant, especially today. I just really want to be helpful to the people here and it can just be so hard when I can't say what I want to say or when I don't understand what is going on. I feel like i'm forgetting my language skills and my nursing skills!
On a happier note Carlos tells me that I should come back here for a year and partner with them as a missionary. Wouldn't that be incredible. There is a nurse here that goes to his church here who runs a non-profit clinic and she said she would love to have me come back and work with her. So maybe if I can work real hard on my spanish this summer.... i can come back...
Who knows but i'll definetly pray about it.
Love you all and I'm starting to miss you guys too.... ;)
Tricked you with my title, didn't talk about fruit at all. There is a lot of fruit here though and i love it. Especially the little miniature bananas.

And the Winner Is...

Isn't he handsome? He's handsome and brave. He somehow ran into a door and had to get stitches on his head. I helped tie the stitches off and held the little boy's hand while the doctor sutured. He was just so brave. Well a little scared too. He refused to talk the entire time except to give us his name. But he didn't cry once and barely flinched when he was being stiched up. I loved him. He just layed there like that the entire time until his mom came back to get him. Even when I put the medal around his neck and we cheered for him for being so brave he just stayed just like that but he had to work real hard not to smile. He was precious. When his mom came and picked him up he hugged her so big and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then as they were walking out he gave us a smile over her shoulder. The funny thing is next door a man was getting stitches and he yelled more than anyone so far.

Today we went to KFC and I ate two biscuits. One for me and one for my gram.

Just wanted you all to see that I am alive and well and as flexible as ever!

The doctor had us sing to him again and this time had the other doctor listen as well. We told him to come to church on Sunday and he would get to hear lots more singing. He is really interested in knowing more about the Lord. Thanks for your prayers everyone. Things went really well today even without our amazing interpreters. A man from the church volunteered to be our driver while Carlos and Carrie are gone and he speaks a little english so between his english and me and carrie's little spanish it went really well. There wasn't a ton of talking going on but like i said we did get to sing. I guess that translates for itself. The doctor says how peaceful it is when we sing. It's the presence of the Lord that he's feeling.

Picture Time!

Aren't they beautiful?! These were some of the wonderful kids I hung out with at the brigade. They LOVED "quack diddley oso", the little girl in the very front was especially good at it!

Sorry it is sideways, but that is me attempting to smash Dora. Isn't she cute. I could just hear everyone keep yelling "abajo"! (meaning down)

The sheep aren't they great!

Another sheep! Isn't he cute?

Making tamales with Elle. Don't I look pleased.

Mexico, very mexican. I love it, don't you?

Sara is making the things that start with Tl. Very yummy.

Walking to Elle's house. Like a big gang huh.

We went to the city square today and I loved it! This is inside of the famous cathedral that is there. Yup that's real gold. It was beautiful.

This is the outside of the beautiful cathedral.

Tonight we went to the highest building in Latin America (i think...) it's called the Latin American tower. It's an amazing view. The city stretches forever! I hear that people like to come up there for a romanitic date... i think it would be a great place to pray for the city!

xoxoxoxo

Oh and feel free to leave comments if you'd like... I mean only if you want to... so then I'll know if you guys are reading it or not...

Happy Valentines Day!

Well first of all I'd like to let you all know that I'm feeling much better. For those of you who prayed, thank you. I'm still a little tired but much better. Quite a few people on my team are sick though with a variety of ailments. So if you would keep them in your prayers that would be great! And pray that I don't catch anything.
So Tamale making went GREAT! Elle was the lady who taught us and she was so super sweet. I have pictures that I'll have to post tomorrow. When we first got there she had tamales all ready for us to eat. They were super good and then she made us a mexican version of papusas (it started with a TL but i can't remember the full name and i certainly can't spell it). They were super good. I'm gonna be a little bit chubby when I get home I think because for one the food is so good and for two everyone wants to feed us and it's not polite to decline. :)
After eating she showed us how to make the food that we ate. We filled the corn husks and rolled them up. And then patted out the papusa like tortillas. It was great, it was kinda like we were on a cooking show. And then after wards we took a walk down the street to her house (we were cooking at her daughters house). It was really fun because on the way home there were sheep in the park by her house. I loved it. And her dog looked like a sheep, i loved that too. I learned how to say "this is the best day of my life" in spanish because i was having such a great time. "Es el mejor dia de mi vida"! I can't really explain why it was such a wonderful day but it just was. It was great making food, and eating food and getting to know Elle and her familia.
Today was another really fun day. We decided to have a Valentines Party at the clinic and it turned out really well. Me and my instructor made pink popcorn balls and "cheerio treats" (we couldn't find rice crispies) with pink marshmellows. And we shaped the cheerio treats into hearts. And then this morning me and Carlos and Angela went and got candy and a pinata. Some other girls got a happy valentines day cake with strawberries on it.
Everyone took a turn swinging at the pinata and then at the end the doctor just took his blindfold off and took Dora out. (Dora La Exploradora was our pinata) Carlos was the pinata mover, i'm not sure what else to call him, i'm sure there is a better name. He was really really good at it. He stood on the roof of the clinic pulling on the rope to make Dora dance around. Carrie is a really really good director for the person with the bat, there was probably about 20 of us who swung and she faithfully yelled out directions to us all even as some of us got a little tired of yelling.
One kinda sad thing though is that I'm not really loving suturing as much as I thought i would. Honestly it kinda makes me queasy. A guy came in with his finders almost sliced off today and as I helped the doctora prepare him for surgery i kinda thought i might be sick. I really want to be a good nurse. I want to be helpful and proficcient. Please pray that God gives me strength. I'm gonna try extra hard next week to volunteer for things and jump into help even if i feel apprehensive you know. Practice makes perfect. And I really need to remember to pray throughout the entire day, because in my weakness the Lord is strong.
Tomorrow is actually going to be a day off. Two of our team members are flying home and in the morning we're gonna go to the famous City Square. I hear it's beautiful, so i'm excited about that. And then Carlos and Carrie are going to be gone until Sunday because of some business they must attend to. That means that on Friday we won't have an interpreter. The scary thing is that I'm probably the second best spanish speaker in the group once they are gone. Very very scary, considering my spanish is virtually non existent. It's defiently gotten better since being here but still it's very very minimal. So please pray for us on Friday. We really really need to the Lord to be our strength and to grant us communication and understanding. I'm praying that the Lord will just give me the language. How awesome would that be. I show up at the clinic on Friday and i can just be the new translator! I come home and I'm just fluent. The Lord could do it!
I'll keep you updated.... ;)

Mexico Pexico, and we're gonna learn how to make tamales tomorrow!

Well an exciting update from my last post is that while we were on our "scenic tour" Carlos was at the hotel waiting for us and while he was waiting (he was a little worried so he waited down in the lobby for like 20 min before we showed) he talked to the bellboys and two of them decided to accept Jesus as their saviour and asked for Bibles. Isn't that awesome?! When Carrie told us about it she said that is just made more sense now because she couldn't figure out why we got lost, she'd driven that way so many times and Carlos had reminded her when we left ect ect. God had great plans though, so yeah that was just really cool.Another update is that the Brigade on Saturday was incredible. There was a doctor, a dentist, two or three hairdressers and painting and games for the kids (the games were facilitated by yours truly :) ). So many people came to see the doctor and the dentist as well as to get there hair cut. There were just so many practical needs met, it was great. People came with parasites, infections, chicken pox and various other illnesses as well as pregnant women who had not had no other way to get a prenatal exam. Oh and with the dentist we were able to teach the kids how to brush their teeth, and hand out toothbrushes to everyone. I really feel like we were able to meet alot of needs in this community. And also VERY exciting is the fact that over 40 people accepted the Lord as their saviour! Amazing huh.

In "debriefing" on the way back to the hotel and said that it was the "best day of my life"! And quite possibly it was. I got to play with the kids pretty much the entire day. They were so stinking wonderful. They didn't speak English but we loved eachother anyway and I got to teach them alot of fun games. They especially liked "Quack diddly oso". It was funny because they thought it was partially in Spanish. I guess it is, some of the words have meanings in Spanish. I want to know where that song comes from but I couldn't find anything online.

When I wasn't with the kids i helped the dentist. I held a light while he extracted a mans tooth, I also held the man's hand. The dentist was a really amazing guy. He told all his patients about the hope they can have in the Lord as he worked on their teeth.

Some more exciting news is that they really do have wrestlers here like they do in Nacho Libre! Isn't that awesome. On our way to that nice restaurant we passed a stadium that was holding one of the matches. All down the street there were stands selling the masks! Isn't that awesome. They are called "Luchedors" (i'm sure that's not the correct spelling). I also "discovered" that night that Carlos is secretly a luchedor! He denies it but that only confirms it to be true because a luchedor's identity is always secret! Whenever he mysteriously "disappears" I know where he is!

On Sunday Sarah and I had a really fun time walking around the market next to our hotel. It's huge. Sarah is hoping to find a good knockoff purse next Sunday.

The not so fun news is that on Sunday was the beginning of Montezuma's Revenge for me. It was extra horrible because it came upon me suddenly at church during worship. The bathrooms at the church do not have toilet seats or toilet paper and you have to throw the toilet paper (that you provide yourself) away in the garbage. To make it way worse is the fact that a lady decided to bring her daughter in just then to fix her hair. I was so embarrassed. Sadly it didn't end there though. Nope it just got worse. That night I had to use the bathroom probably about 7 times. Needless to say I didn't sleep too well. Praise the Lord though that I woke up to go, I had to pray about that before I went to bed, i was scared I wouldn't wake up. I'm pretty sure it was an angel who woke me up and led me to the bathroom the first time i got up. Praise the Lord I'm feeling much better today, well besides a little throwing up and alot of dry heaving at the clinictoday. I'm confident that tomorrow I will feel muchos mejor (much better). But seriously i have never had such horrible diarrhea in my life.

Alright picture time...

This is my favorite little girl, who reminds me so much of Abigail! Isn't she beautiful! She cracks me up. When she was getting her finger cleaned at first she kept saying "I don't want to see!", "I want to see!", "I don't want to see!", "I want to see!" (all in Spanish of course). She is super dramatic.

Yup that's me and Napoleon in Mexico, pretty sweet huh.

Here is the doctor giving us a lesson in self-defense. That is my friend Angela who is being used for an example. When he had her demonstrate on him, she got him real good. It was quite entertaining.

This is us having breakfast and devotions with the interns at the church. Sorry my head is turned, I was practicing my spanish on my poor neighbor.

Yup, this is how we roll.

Our lovely mariachi band, pretty good pic of everyone eating too huh. :)

This is one of my favorite patients. She broke her foot and dislocated her ankle skateboarding and the doctor had to pop it all back into place. It was pretty crazy. She didn't get any pain meds. She did an amazing job staying still and the doctor did an amazing job putting things back in place. She gave me a pin that was on her jacket and today when she came back the to clinic I gave her a necklace with a sparrow on it. It was especially cool because I was able to tell her why sparrows are my favorite birds. Reason being that even though they are rather small and seemingly insignificant God says that He sees them and cares for them. No matter how small and insignificant we feel God sees and cares for us.