Random Thoughts

Ive had a lot of thoughts this past week and wanted to share a few of them while my BFFs are stillllllll watching football.  I am in shock that this football crap has been going on for 5+ hours and they are still watching.

Nurse:

Heather and I went to the hospital for my second check up yesterday because the clinic we went to first said they would charge $250 just to see a doctor, no tests or anything else.  So we opted to go to the hospital and see what that would be like to get blood-work, etc. because I do have Dominican health insurance and they might take it, who knows!?  Because I had pain in my lungs when I would breathe deeply, the doctor ordered chest x-rays.  I wanted to get cleared to leave the States and return home to the DR.  This one nurse took me back that wasn’t very talkative.  Nor am I with strangers unless I’m in a silly mood.  The nurses were a bit intrigued with my stories and so this onr waited until we got to the back to talk with me alone.  As she set up the machine, she said, “So why did you move there?”  I gave her a very brief answer that God told me to and I would follow Him anywhere.  She continued to make the laydown xray machine bed area and said, “So you must be pretty religious to move to the DR alone????”  She rambled a few more things but I stopped listening at the word religious.

 I paused. 

 I really don’t like that word. 

She looked up because I didn’t respond quickly.  I laughed a little and she asked me, “What?”  I told her my brother calls me that and he just means it’s important to me, but when I personally use it, it is because someone is crazy.  She apologized and said she didn’t mean it like that, that she just didn’t understand why I would choose to do such a thing when I could live in America and get quality healthcare here all the time.  I told her I am religious if that means I love Jesus Christ.  She went on to tell me about herself and how she doesn’t go to church…telling me why she isn’t in church and how she would like to be, but something about a divorce and life being hard and busy.  It was as if she had guilt for not going and wanted to explain.  People sometimes do that to me. 

 I told her my home church is in Winter Haven, Ridgepoint.  I explained how it was and what service was like and how my friends attend it still.  I told her it was off Spirit Lake Rd.  I asked her where she lived.  She said off Spirit Lake Road J  I said, “Great.  Come to church this Sunday, I will be there to see my church family.”  She said she might just do that.  I explained where it was and what the website name was to find it online.  I had to get ready to go under and she went back to the machine and came back.  She passed me a paper and pencil.  I didn’t expect it.  She actually wanted to write it down and look it up to come.  Keep her in your prayers tonight.  I know the devil will give her a hundred reasons to stay home tomorrow instead of going to church.  Pray that those thoughts are blocked and she comes. 

As we headed back to my room, I wondered if my sole reason for being sick was to invite her to church that very minute and be her catalyst.  I told God, “That’s a really expensive way for You to make me go to invite a person to Your House.  I will have spent hundreds of dollars, I don’t have, to fly here. So much that I would have to work an entire yearrrr in the DR to afford it with my new salary just to get treatment and fly back.”  I’m sure there was more complaining but I’m too embarrassed to write the rest of my BS.  Immediately, He said, “Phyllis” in a grandpa “think about that” tone.  I did.

“Oh, Lord.  Sorry.  That was so selfish.  Ugh.  Sometimes I am so ridiculous.  I didn’t mean it like that.  I know that lady is just as important to You as I am.”  (Seriously, who am I sometimes?  Do I really believe in Heaven and Hell and I am saying it’s too expensive to be a part of someone’s plan by Jesus for Him to Save someone??)

“Phyllis, Who provides your money to be here?  “You do, God.”  “Okay, then”

 And, I really do believe He provides for me.  He has, had, and will continue as I walk with Him.

Airport:  As Jaci and I drove up, I saw Luke, Trevor, and Josh waiting by the sidewalk.

 

I smiled (and told the Lord I love Him for doing that). 

 

Comforted.

It was about 720AM, we were late because Jaci’s van was having trouble and we had to borrow another car.  The boys had a full day of work ahead of them and I wasn’t too sure if they would even get breakfast because they chose to come pray over me and send their Sister off.  Luke told me a few were gonna come and I was hoping Trev would be one of the ones waiting with Luke when I got there because… We (DR peeps) are all a team in a way I’m not so sure I even understand.  Our lives are intertwined in a different way and we understand things about each other and living in the DR that the others won’t ever understand because they don’t live there with us.   That isn’t meant to be offensive; it just is what it is.  I told Jaci as we walked up that it was a blessing, too, that the team was in Santiago right now.

Bible:  When I packed for my trip to the States, I was making a mental list and getting the items to pile up.  I went to go grab my Bible and Bible study book I am doing and realized this was the first trip I have ever taken where I wanted my Bible.  I have one on my Kindle to travel with, but it isn’t the same as my tangible one.  My Bible is small and fat!  Not really conducive to travelling or throwing in my purse.  Really, I don’t read it on vacations or trips either. BUT…I am addicted to the Bible the last couple of weeks.  I would love to say that I am always a diligent reader every day, but that would be a lie.  But the last few weeks it has been the only water for my thirst.  I can’t get enough of it and just want to read it all the time.  I’ve been reading daily because I crave the Word.  This study I am doing has you look up verse after verse that point to a certain theme and write down what it means; very interactive.  I have loved flipping through my Bible and reading my old highlights and my old notes of how God spoke to me that day with the date He said it.  God and I had a great week.  I stayed at my Pops’ house in FL the second night I was here while Heather was at a show.  I was so sick that night.  I slept and slept.  I had no energy to pack a few things to take back.  As I was lying in bed, God told me to get up and get my Bible out.  Seriously, God?  I am so sick right now.  Tears have flowed from this eyes so many times in discomfort and my energy is depleted.  I can’t possibly get up and read.  My body aches all over.  Let’s do it tomorrow morning.  “Phyllis, I want you to read.”  Okay. Okay.  Once again, I would love to say I read the most profound thing, but I didn’t.  He reminded me that even when I don’t want to, I need to.  That when He says to do something, I need to just do it and not have to understand it. 

I sat on Heather’s porch the next morning and got it out again and it was profound.  It was exactly what I needed to see that I couldn’t see before.  I love that the Word is alive.  (I just sat up in my chair writing that have a huge grin b/c it is exciting how He reveals) I love that you can read something 5 times in the last few years and each time the Lord is capable of talking to you in a different way for where you are right then and there.  INCREDIBLE. 

He spoke loudly and clearly about our lives in the DR.  It was exactly what Kathy and I had a conversation about one night on her porch about Him; the struggle between DR and American life.  That’s all I am giving about the details right now.  It cleared it up for me and I could change my view to see better using two different verses; one i have read many times and one I had never seen before.

Oh, how I freaking love Him. 

P.S. I just woke up to post this and I had an email from the University that my intern Kelsey attends.  They are sending me an unexpected check for being Kels' cooperating teacher for internship. 

Who provides for me???