Saturday, December 31, 2016

Rooted in Christ

Entering the New Year Completely Trusting in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for my life!! I am desiring to shed the worlds ways and walk in obedience to him. I am walking on faith as I trust in HIS ways and desires for my life, and not what I conjure up!

I am transferring ALL my Trust to God, believing that HE is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. HE came as Man, Jesus,  to redeem us from our faults, teach us HIS ways, to show us HIS power, and give us HIS light to navigate these days. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven for us. Through all this we see that HE is Just, Merciful, Forgiving!! HE is LOVE!! 

I know that Faith is NOT head knowledge, it is TRANSFORMING Heart knowledge. When you know HIM, When HE has captured your heart and transformed it, ALL you want to do is SERVE HIM and Be Obedient to HIM! There is nothing that I could do beside ask Him into my heart! He left the door open for me and I ASKED HIM in!! HE then started the TRANSFORMING process in me!!! 

PRAISING my ALMIGHTY CREATOR AND SAVIOR this morning as I am so thankful that HE has SAVED me from the bondage of this world and given me NEW LIFE in HIM!

Like the blind man in John 9:24-34...........All I know is I was blind and now I see. I do not know all of scripture, I do not know all the facts.........All I know is "I was blind and now I see".

xoxoxoxoxo
Prayers that each and everyone of my family, friends and people I meet along the way will ASK HIM IN and allow HIM to change your heart for HIS purposes :)

Monday, December 26, 2016

Preparing to think outside "my" box :)

19 more days!!

 I was so excited today to receive via email my RN orientation packet! I have longed so desperately to provide nursing care in a setting that follows the model of Jesus. My heart jumped for joy and rested with peace as I read the following on the first page :). 

Since Jesus is the model for our work and ministry, the motivation behind our service can be reflected in the following scriptures: 

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35-36 

"The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.Matthew 25:40 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.John 13:34-35 

As I read on I was humbled  to be reminded that there are many "ways of doing". When you combine medical professionals from all over the world, one quickly needs to master the attribute of flexibility! The notion of "this is the way I have always done it" needs to be an open ended notion. 

Post op care, dressing change procedures and medication regimes vary from country to country. For example medication orders vary between outreaches, depending on what is procured. We are taught to "be aware that medication comes from many nations, and may be labeled in different languages. When in doubt, look it up!"  Generic and Trade names may be different than from what you are familiar. Only generic names are used. (Example: Paracetamol, Acetaminophen, Tylenol, and Panadol are all common names for the same medication.) 


Lastly, we are taught that "It is important to work with the awareness that almost everything in this environment is new for patients". It may be their first time: 
- in a hospital 
- on a ship 
- outside their village 
- seeing white people 
- feeling air conditioning 
- hearing English spoken 
- walking down stairs 
- using a western-style toilet 
- using a shower 
- sleeping in a bed 

I sigh with excitement as the days are drawing closer to step on board the Big White Ship :)

"But now, God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you' or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.'" 1 Corinthians 12:18-21 

You can be part of this incredible mission as well. Please join me in prayer and/or financial support as we journey together being the hands and feet of Jesus. 
http://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/KathyWagner


Friday, December 23, 2016

Blog Officially Started - JOURNEY TO GLORY!

Blog Officially Created and Started 😃

The crazy reality that I am heading off to Africa again is drawing closer, 22 more days to be exact!!

I am pretty sure I can say that my life will never be the same again :). Some may say that I have gone off the deep end, I say I finally got off the boat and am walking on water......totally walking on faith and doing what I feel drawn to do.

A whole series of life events, some that I created and some that I had no choice but to live through, brought me to the place that I am at today. I've prayed for God to show me "life" through His lens and   give me the courage to "Go". Now, I walk with very little plans, in fact, right now I just have a 3 month commitment to serve on Mercy Ships. I would love to stay for long term, yet have to wait and see if those doors open. I just know that God has filled me with 30 years of diverse nursing experience, a passion and skills for community health education and an overwhelming desire to combine it all as I share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What I know for sure is...........


"The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few" Luke 10:22

There will always be work to do, and my intention, God willing, is that my "career" will allow me to "go out" as a full-time missionary nurse/community health educator to seek and save the lost and to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Please keep me in your prayers :). I truly know that I am never alone, and also know the amazing power of prayer.