It's Kind of a Big Deal

So Mercy Ships is kind of a Big Deal, I mean, it was even on 60 Minutes!

I grew up with the show. My parents, especially my mother would watch it religiously! So to hear about Mercy Ships feature on the show was exciting!

Check it out!!! It's about 13 minutes long.

Heading More East

Karyn and I decided to mark one thing off the ol' bucket list and head to Johnson City Tennessee for the night to hang with Elizabeth. She has an inviting home that is super comfy cozy. Elizabeth moved to Johnson City about a year and a half ago and she was dying to show us the Appalachian Mountain ways. Here, that is pronounced Apa-latch-in, rather than Apa-laysh-an. If ya aint sayin it right, then they done know yer not from 'round here (can you hear the banjos playing in the background?)

Karyn offered to drive. She loves driving her jeep, which works great for me because I love riding in it. Especially with the top down. Which we did almost the whole time we were there, even when maybe we shouldn't have...

We headed to one of Ebeth's favorite hole in the wall 'Scratch' for dinner.  We ordered a "trust" pizza, where one trusts the staff puts whatever they want on it. A true culinary adventure.

Our pizza was delicious! Lots of fresh veggies, on a whole grain crust. The trust was well worth it. I even enjoyed the mandarin oranges!

After dinner before we headed to see 'The Heat,' (which is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time) we decided to hit up Target for some clearance shopping and heard a thunder storm rumble as we checked out, so we ran out to the jeep to drive around and watch the lightning. Rainstorms are a tangible experience in the jeep, the soft top let's us hear the rain so loudly and we could even feel the rain when we put our hands up to it. 

The next day we headed out for our river adventure. 

Remember earlier when I said we were in the jeep with the top down the whole time, even when we shouldn't have? Well, that time happened on the way to the river. The rain got us ready for the rapids!

Then the storm stopped, and, Here Comes The Sun!

River people are my kind of people.  They live for adventure and can't wait to share their passion with you.  This little place has had over 2,000 Appalachian Trail hikers stay in its hostel so far this summer. Thanks 'Uncle Johnny' for the fun adventure!

 

We had fun with the $12.99 splurge of a water proof camera. We were through the entire roll of film  with in the first 30 minutes of our 3.5 hour long trip. It's amazing how quickly we go through pictures now in the digital age. We kept making the "do you want to see it?" joke after each shot. Some things it wasn't able to capture were; the tree that almost took our life that was down in the middle of the river, the one that Karyn flipped head first into and Elizabeth's back got chewed up on. It missed the beach that we floated past and didn't realize it was the one we were supposed to exit the river at. It missed the kind man with a watch, fishing, who told us it was 5:20 pm and that Cherokee Adventure (our exit spot) was about a mile upstream (not joking). It missed the ride of the three us us and our tubes piled in the bed of his truck for about 15 minutes as he kindly drove us to our pick up spot.

 

 Here is the part of the day that it began to rain, which was fun for a minute until it started to pour and we were getting pelted with rain as we were navigating a rapid! We had a great makeshift umbrella as we took a small break.

It was one of those days that we will always remember. You know the kind, where so many things could have gone so wrong and somehow didn't. 

We survived the river,

We were shown the kindness of strangers,

And most of all, we strengthened friendships!

I have a feeling that I will have a lot of adventures like this when I am in Africa :)

Before Africa Summer Bucket List

1. Go to a water park
2. Catch a firefly
3. Visit Elizabeth In Johnson City
4. Eat corn on the cob
5. Go to the Smokies
    6. Forbidden Caverns
    7. Clingmans Dome
8. Sit out at the pool
9. Roast a marshmallow at a bonfire
10. Take lots of pictures
11. Go for a hike
12. Eat Boiled peanuts from a road side stand
13. Go for a ride in Karyn's Jeep with the top down
14. Eat ice cream in Market Square
15. Get out on the river
16. Visit my Family in Colorado and Pittsburgh
17. See a baseball game
18. Eat Tennessee BBQ on a patio
19. Watch a thunder storm
20. Go to a demolition derby
21. Visit Noel In Chattanooga 
22. Sleep on my balcony
23. Get a pedicure
24. Make my mom's summer salad (it's my favorite)
25. Go to the farmers market

Why Mercy Ships

It took a lot of convincing to chose to board this ship. One reason being it is totally unpaid, in fact, I have to pay my own way. The other, Bigger Reason, is that I suffer from motion sickness... usually puke when I fly... puke when on boats... and have never been on a cruise (but I am thinking I just might puke there too.)

So, I started my research to find some sort of global nursing that didn't involve so much puking! I looked into the Peace Corps, Young Adults in Global Mission, and Doctors Without Borders. And as I researched, I kept thinking, that is a cool organization doing amazing things, but... It's not as perfect of a fit as Mercy Ships.  As a PICU nurse, I have a unique skill set that I wanted to be able to use in a clinical setting, which is exactly what Mercy Ships offers.  I wanted to live in a community that I could share experiences with and rely on, which is exactly what Mercy Ships offers. And, I wanted to be in a place that I felt safe, so that I would be able to do my best and give my all, which is exactly what Mercy Ships offers. So, here I go. I am embracing that fact that, yes, I will probably puke... but hopefully I can get some zofran and make it through!

Back to the first reason. I have saved for this trip for a while now. Took opportunities at work when available to work extra. And skipped trips to visit friends to save the cost of the plane fare. And all extra checks received, birthday/Christmas/tax return, went directly into my savings account. Not only do I have to cover my monthly room and board, I also have to cover the cost of my plane ticket. While gone, I will keep my stuff in storage, and car parked. I have to pay for all the yucky adult things like, health insurance, car insurance/registration, and travel insurance. And then all the medical costs, immunizations (out of pocket), prescriptions for malaria medication ect.

I am very blessed to be able to quit my job and move across the globe for three months. Blessed to know that as a nurse I will have a high probability of finding a job when I get back (fingers crossed.) I am blessed to be able to put money aside to take an opportunity like this.  And I am most blessed to have people in my life who want to support me as I travel. My whole family and my friends are all cheering me on. Asking what they can do to help. They have reviewed my application before I turned it in. Asked all about what I am doing, and listened to me babble on and on (and on and on) about it. Offered to help me move. And pledged to pray for me.

I will continue to need these cheers and prayers.  

Thank you everybody. For all that you have already done and for all that you will do to support me. I am most grateful.

If you are interested in making a donation to me, please do so here:

More than all of the above. I ask that you spread the word of the work that Mercy Ships is doing. And for the Peace Corps, Young Adults in Global Mission, and Doctors Without Borders. And all NGO's/community organizations not named that improve the lives of others. I urge you to look into your community to find ways that YOU can improve the lives of others. There are so many people that need taking care of. Not only in The Republic Congo, but also in your home town.


Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

https://www.mercyships.org/resources/africa-mercy-facts/

(may I quote drop from one of my favorite doctors??? )

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
-Dr. Seuss


(sorry, I don't mean to be cheesy. I just had to.)