A Broad Abroad: #sailwithus

Life has been no less than crazy the last few weeks as I am preparing to go, leaving 17 days from today. It has been a little stressful to say the least. I am not only leaving the country for the first time, quitting my current staff nurse position, packing for three months for life on a ship, packing up my apartment into storage unsure of what happens for me as I return home in 4 months. One of my friends compared my preparation to the same sort of preparation that happens for a wedding, and it is similar. It has taken me months to prepare and many to-do lists full of what is next. Immunizations, insurance, finances, mail forwarding, moving/storage, ect. It has been a little bumpy at times, like the other night when I temporarily lost all my important documents that got mixed up in the wrong pile. They were found after two hours of looking, praying and crying, in the recycle bin. Luckily that happened before the bin was taken out and they were lost for good. That little come apart happened the same day that the state department issued a serious international travel warning.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/02/208255213/state-department-issues-worldwide-travel-alert (shouldn't affect where/when I am going, but still anxiety causing)

Also, last week my sister and her husband's first new home that they were fixing up to move into caught fire, burning extensive damage and ruining many of their belongings. The flooring companies trailer caught fire, lighting the side of the house, causing a small amount of damage. Later in the night, the house reignited and caused extensive damage in almost ever room. They have been so excited to move in. It is heart breaking as their excitement is shattered and instead of preparing their new home, they have to prepare to move into temporary housing as it gets repaired and their items get restored and replaced.

Stress has been at a bit of a max point. My right eye is most definitely twitching. And, as I run around like a chicken with my head cut off, I am brought back down to earth with a good dose of 'life is bigger than me' moments.

Africa Mercy is on the move, sailing from Spain to The Congo as I type. This is the furthest south that the ship has sailed so as it travel's, it has sailed past all the previous countries that it has served. Through it's journey I have been following along through facebook and instagram with the hashtag #sailwithus. In the midst of my crazy moments, I have found quiet moments to read the stories. They have been reminders of why I am going through all this stress and they have put me in my place.

Life is bigger than me. God is bigger.

Here are some links to my favorite stories;

http://alirae.net/blog/archives/721-sailwithus-togo.html

http://suzannemichelles.blogspot.com/2013/08/patient-story-jaka.html

http://alirae.net/blog/archives/723-sailwithus-benin.html