Saturday, January 28, 2017

Season of New

Do you see the big picture? Do you see what God is doing in the world? Do you see Satan at work? Do you know what God has revealed to us in Revelation? Do you see the world unfolding? Do you know what is going on in Israel? Do you know how today's times line up with the unfolding of scripture and prophecy? Do you know where you are at in this unfolding and what your part may be? 
These are just some of the many questions that I ask myself. I desire to KNOW! I desire to know all the answers. I desire to know that I am playing the part that God has created for me, versus falling into the trap of Satan's web of deception. 
As I pour myself into scripture and constant reflection I am beginning to get a glimpse of Gods revelation unfolding every day. Being on the ship, surrounded by people from all around the world, overhearing many, many languages spoken, learning of the variety of cultural ways of doing has awaken and widen my understanding of the world. 
What I know for sure is that God is at work on this ship. He has gathered us together from many tribes and nations with the common bond of Jesus! We are all here following in HIS steps, being the hands and feet of Jesus. LOVE is at the center! We pray and praise at the start of the shift, in the middle of shift, before procedures, before surgery, upon discharge, and at the end of the shift. A circle of prayer may consist of many languages.

One of our local day crew utilizes every chance he gets to share the love of Christ with the patients as he said that "God brought all these people to the ship SO THAT they can get to know the LOVE of Christ". This is God at work. He is giving every person a chance to hear HIS word and to come to believe in HIM. 

I think of the Israelites as they journeyed out of Egypt, they were happy, yet fearful as they did not know what lied ahead. I am realizing that I am embarking on a new season as well. I have no idea what lies ahead, yet trust in my almighty Creator. I realized how quickly I was becoming enslaved to my old ways and was beginning to spin some of the same webs  that God delivered me from in the past. I am praising God and so happy He opened the door and sent me back out for a "New Season". 

I love this......Send via Email from our Nursing Supervisor

We want the ward to be a place where:
ð     God is glorified
ð     A place where God’s Spirit flows and the people display the fruits of His Spirit in us
ð     The impossible happens every day and we come to know more of what he means when God said we will see abundantly more than we ask or imagine!
ð     People who carry His fragrance and will stink the place out!
ð     God is at work in us and through us – making us more like Him and showing His precious children a glimpse of how much He loves them!
ð     Forgiveness, grace and mercy abound!
ð     The enemy flees – he has no place there
ð     Our hearts will be skipping for JOY with the privilege of being called to work in such a place!
ð     We seek God’s face in all we do

We’re looking for passionate lovers of Christ to join the team… thank you for taking the time to ask God what He is calling you into for 2017/2018!

We, Prayer Warriors and 
Financial Supporters are so Blessed to be part of this team!!! 

Few glimpses of Ship Life, Benin, Nursing, and Smiling Patients :) Even though I cannot speak all these different tribal languages, my smile gets me a long way :)



Sandra from Scotland..........Cecily from Hawaii........Lauren from New Zealand

Besides the hospital, this is my favorite place on the  ship!! I love being surrounded by all this wisdom!!

Such a Blessing to come to work and share HIS Love openly!!

Steps and more Steps........Down to the basement I go!! It looks worse than it is :). 

My room :)


Blessed with a new friend from New Zealand......Lauren :)
She loves to talk as much as me :)

Another favorite Place, Deck 8......When you live with 400+ people one has to find  some space alone :)

This seems to be a really busy port. It is interesting to see the ships coming and going

I will one day master these steps without having to hold on :)

Chilling at lunch time looking out the porthole

Actually a quiet day on the roads.....Typically these roads are filled with motorbikes and absolute chaos! 
 God is at work!!! I love all the smiles!!

Behind every face is a STORY of Hope and Healing........
Truly a "New Season" of Life for each patient


















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






Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Becoming One with Humanity

I am praising God today for so many answered prayers...........Simple pleasures :)

First, for safe travels. We had a scare on the Brussels flight with a period of horrific turbulence. Lots of screaming going on and food carts spilling over. The man next to me was standing at the time, he fell to the ground and was then raised up off the floor with the next huge wave of turbulence. Then it was over and we all had time to gain our "lives" back again. The man behind me shared that he surrendered to God at that moment :). It is funny how God shakes up our world sometimes to wake us up. We quickly realize that we are not really in control at all :)

Second, I did get the bottom bunk. Believe me, it would not be a pretty site trying to navigate the skimpy ladder for a middle of the night bathroom run in the dark!

Third, Awesome cabin mate. Her name is Kathy, thus, she must be nice :) She graciously gave me the bottom bunk, even after she was all settled into it herself. I liked her immediately :)

Fourth, Lots of warm welcomes and big hugs from those that I served with in the Congo.

Fifth, Thankful for a "Perfect Fit" for this square peg. I LOVE being here!!! All those wonderful memories came flooding back to me. I finally feel a sense of DIRECTION & PURPOSE for my life. I  can use my skills, passions, and wisdom to create PEACE among the nations.

Ephesians 2:14 shares....."For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility"........

As a representative of Jesus, we draw others to HIM, His Peace :)......One by one, others are drawn to him.

Our Orthopedic Surgeon was Busy :) Now, we have these cuties at the Hope Center for rehab and therapy. 
Settling in...................
After 30+ hours of travel, I was able to crawl into bed around midnight on Sunday. My day started at 7:45am on Monday morning. I made it through the day with a foggy brain and was blessed to have Monday off to sleep, regroup and chill before working the next five days. 
This is PEACE :)


Surgeons., Anesthetists and OR Nurses coming together from all around the world to share their skills 

I look at these smiles and Praise God for Mercy Ships. More then likely this child would have spent the rest of her life with her deformity.



Dental Team at Work

Eye Team - Cataract Removal. These patients have been blind from cataracts for years. By offering the free surgeries they can now see :)

I am somewhere along this port. 

Benin

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




Thursday, January 12, 2017

Created to be Interdependent :)

As we Americans walk in fear and panic of changes in our ability to receive healthcare, here is a nation that is filled NOW with limited access to any medical services. Babies in the U.S. that are born with cleft lip, cleft palate are immediately provided surgery to correct. Small tumors that are found are immediately excised, children and adults with burns are healed through fabulous burn centers, people in kidney failure automatically receive free dialysis, emergency care is given and one is never turned away, all woman receive medical care to deliver their babies.......yet, in West Africa, this is not the case. They are left untreated, in pain, ostracized, malnourished and die. If they do not have the money upfront to receive medical care, they are turned away. 
This breaks my heart! I recognize that we do not have a perfect world, a perfect healthcare system or a perfect political system, BUT, we ALL have hearts and the ability to have compassion. I pray that we all look at the BIG picture and see the world as a whole on a daily basis. I believe it is appropriate to fight for our rights, share our political opinions and stand for justice, but along with that we have a job to do! We are created to be INTERDEPENDENT. We are created to NEED each other. I help you, you help me, and this goes for everyone. Some need help now and can give later and vice versa. If you are blessed with much, you should give much. Scripture suggests each give the first 10% of their earnings. Imagine a world that everyone gave the first 10% of what they earned to help those in need. 
The world is in an uproar and has been from the beginning. Each one of us enters into it without choice. Some are blessed with great homes, finances, and family and others are not. Others are surrounded by or affected by depression, suicide, anxiety disorders, drug abuse and addictions, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, anger, and violence and outright heartbreak and pain. 
I pray that all people will open their eyes to the unending need of people that need help in this world. I pray that each one will pick their passion and turn their prayers, thoughts, actions, and resources to those in need. 
For me, I chose Mercy Ships! I love their mission! They are an incredible organization, fully funded by donations from people just like you and me. Every person that steps on that ship is transformed, medically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Every Surgery is Free! 
This mission can only happen through the generous help of donors around the world. If you are led to support this amazing mission, we can team up......I will be the feet and perform the nursing care and you can provide the prayer and/or financial support to meet this incredible healthcare need in West Africa. At this point, my current need for this trip is $3000.00. Donations can be received via the following link!
http://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/KathyWagner


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The Essence of this faith is to SERVE:)

Yes, I am packed and ready to Go :)......... New Season walking solely to SERVE!


My reflections this morning as I prepare for take off :)

Direction & Purpose for Our Lives..........
There are days that I feel suffocated by the world, yet I should not be surprised, the whole Bible talks about the “world” and the “ways of man”. I hold tight to the promises that God provides to those who trust in HIM, specifically the hope of spending eternity in HIS presence. 
For now, I grab tight to HIS hand and navigate the “ways of man”. I witness, and was there myself at one time, many running around with no purpose, no direction, no obedience to any authority but their own and so many opinions with nothing to back them. I see sports stadiums packed across the world with people that know more about the players then the one who created them. It is such a ME, ME, ME world and most out for just their own happiness at the sake of anyone else. 
I am reminded......”A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” (Proverbs 1:5) Thus, it makes sense to me now, most are not looking to their creator for wise counsel. They may say they are, yet only formulate their own opinion on what they “think” God says versus going to HIS inspired truth for us. Lots of praying and opinion making going on and not much Bible Study and learning what God truly has to say. God warns us of this in HIS word, I am just seeing it for myself. 
I am truly beginning to understand the overwhelming grief that Jesus felt as He walked and taught the people. There is so much need in this world, yet most are passed aside because most are too busy to reach out and help others. Their lives are consumed with “Self”. 
At this point in my life, I hold tight to ALL of scripture, these versus are keeping me centered presently..........
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) I have to make sure that I am getting my wisdom from God, through HIS inspired Word for us, and not from others. 
Purpose for my Life.......I am blessed with being born in the U.S. and have a roof over my head, food on the table, and more than enough clothes! My needs are met.......Thus, it is my role to help others meet their needs.
"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) 
Created to be INTERDEPENDENT, Not Independent. We all need one another!
"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