I finally put together a video of our project in Thailand with eMi. These images bring me back to the feeling of that experience, reminding me to continue praying that God will care for and protect all those who are struggling to survive in Burma. I saw the terrible situation from a safe distance. I was able to leave and return to a country where my life is not threatened, I have a home, I have plenty of food.
They are still there.
Because of that I can't simply move on and forget about it.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Return to Ecuador
The voice and hands of Jesus:
This is what HCJB Global strives to be through media and healthcare ministries around the world. My first connection with HCJB Global was my senior design project at Calvin College. A team of four of us designed a wastewater treatment system for an HCJB hospital in Ecuador. We traveled to Hospital Vozandes del Oriente in Shell, Ecuador to complete surveys, water and soil testing, and discuss solutions with HCJB staff. That was an amazing experience that further grew my interest in ministry through health and water projects in developing countries.
Last summer while I was working at the HCJB Technology Center in Indiana, I was able to get to know a number of missionaries and make some more unique connections. In a conversation with the staff, the opportunity to go back to Ecuador to serve with the water projects team was presented to me. Ever since visiting the hospital there and learning about the ministry I had been drawn to the idea. Unfortunately it seemed that it was not meant to be. I had committed to plans with the Peace Corps in Honduras right after my internship with eMi, and that was that. Or so I thought...
Well as I've been continuously learning, God often changes plans. My assignment in Honduras was cancelled unexpectedly, God's way of letting me know He had other ideas. After making my way through that confusion and uncertainty and getting the new assignment in Panama, I was left to question the timing of everything. What does God have for me in these months in between? I use the analogy of doors opening and closing all the time, but I can't think of a better way to describe it than just that. God closes one door, only to open another.
A few weeks ago I got in contact with friends at HCJB and discussions moved toward water projects in Ecuador. I knew God was working on something again, which is sort of an uncomfortable feeling. That discomfort is something I have been learning to accept because of the rewards that come with obedience to God's calling. Anyway, I made some contacts in Ecuador and they decided I would be a great fit since I had not only worked with HCJB over the summer, but also in Ecuador. Bruce, who is in charge of water projects, even suggested for me to possibly continue the work on the project my senior design team developed, along with a nearby water project. This just seemed too good to be true, but the more I considered this and prayed about it, the more I felt God moving things into place.
As of now, God willing, I will be serving with HCJB water projects during the months of February and March. This is very exciting for me as I continue to explore the passion God has given me for development work, especially in water and sanitation. Even though there are unknowns and doubts, as always I know that God is in control and He is working. It gives me peace knowing that I have nothing to worry about, that I just have to trust. While there's no doubt that God will use this for His glory and not my own, I'm anxious to do the work that He has prepared for me.
This is what HCJB Global strives to be through media and healthcare ministries around the world. My first connection with HCJB Global was my senior design project at Calvin College. A team of four of us designed a wastewater treatment system for an HCJB hospital in Ecuador. We traveled to Hospital Vozandes del Oriente in Shell, Ecuador to complete surveys, water and soil testing, and discuss solutions with HCJB staff. That was an amazing experience that further grew my interest in ministry through health and water projects in developing countries. 
Last summer while I was working at the HCJB Technology Center in Indiana, I was able to get to know a number of missionaries and make some more unique connections. In a conversation with the staff, the opportunity to go back to Ecuador to serve with the water projects team was presented to me. Ever since visiting the hospital there and learning about the ministry I had been drawn to the idea. Unfortunately it seemed that it was not meant to be. I had committed to plans with the Peace Corps in Honduras right after my internship with eMi, and that was that. Or so I thought...
Well as I've been continuously learning, God often changes plans. My assignment in Honduras was cancelled unexpectedly, God's way of letting me know He had other ideas. After making my way through that confusion and uncertainty and getting the new assignment in Panama, I was left to question the timing of everything. What does God have for me in these months in between? I use the analogy of doors opening and closing all the time, but I can't think of a better way to describe it than just that. God closes one door, only to open another.
A few weeks ago I got in contact with friends at HCJB and discussions moved toward water projects in Ecuador. I knew God was working on something again, which is sort of an uncomfortable feeling. That discomfort is something I have been learning to accept because of the rewards that come with obedience to God's calling. Anyway, I made some contacts in Ecuador and they decided I would be a great fit since I had not only worked with HCJB over the summer, but also in Ecuador. Bruce, who is in charge of water projects, even suggested for me to possibly continue the work on the project my senior design team developed, along with a nearby water project. This just seemed too good to be true, but the more I considered this and prayed about it, the more I felt God moving things into place.
As of now, God willing, I will be serving with HCJB water projects during the months of February and March. This is very exciting for me as I continue to explore the passion God has given me for development work, especially in water and sanitation. Even though there are unknowns and doubts, as always I know that God is in control and He is working. It gives me peace knowing that I have nothing to worry about, that I just have to trust. While there's no doubt that God will use this for His glory and not my own, I'm anxious to do the work that He has prepared for me.Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Monday, January 9, 2012
Different Country, Same Purpose
The past year or so has been a great time for me to learn that my life rarely goes according to my plans. The most recent lesson for me has been my assignment with the Peace Corps. Shortly before finishing at eMi, a phone call came from Brian, my placement officer, notifying me that my trip to Honduras was cancelled. Due to safety concerns in the region, all volunteers going to Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador were having their programs terminated. Obviously, this was a bit of a shock for me. This kind of thing was not supposed to happen, I had no backup plan. I remember thinking, "God, what are you doing now?" The only thing I could do was wait and see what would happen.
A couple weeks later I got another call from Brian telling me about some open positions. This was exciting news, especially since they were also in water and sanitation programs. The only problem was that I was given about 24 hours to decide if I wanted to take an assignment in Panama or Mali (in West Africa, for those like me who have never heard of Mali before). Long story short, I decided on Panama due to a number of reasons. The fact that learning Spanish was more doable for me than French was not the least important of those reasons. More importantly though, it seems that God has been drawing me to Latin America in a number of different ways. I'm hoping that this will in some way reveal more of God's plan for me.
As of a few days ago I have been officially accepted as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Environmental Health program in Panama. On May 1 my training will start as I head to this small isthmus between two oceans. My assignment will be primarily focusing on potable water and sanitation construction projects in my community and others nearby. What goes along with that is of course education and other development efforts to make these projects sustainable and actually beneficial to the communities. Lack of clean water and proper sanitation is a huge problem for rural areas of Panama. I can only hope to have a small impact by helping people in poverty to improve their health. At the same time I realize that the impact this will have on me will be a huge learning and growing experience.
Thinking about what lies ahead is very exciting and I can't wait to see what God will show me in Panama. Unfortunately I will have to wait - about four months at that. In the meantime I am looking for ways that I can serve God with my time and energy. Only God knows what that will entail, but I know the more I give up control each day, the more He can use me for His good purpose.
A couple weeks later I got another call from Brian telling me about some open positions. This was exciting news, especially since they were also in water and sanitation programs. The only problem was that I was given about 24 hours to decide if I wanted to take an assignment in Panama or Mali (in West Africa, for those like me who have never heard of Mali before). Long story short, I decided on Panama due to a number of reasons. The fact that learning Spanish was more doable for me than French was not the least important of those reasons. More importantly though, it seems that God has been drawing me to Latin America in a number of different ways. I'm hoping that this will in some way reveal more of God's plan for me.
As of a few days ago I have been officially accepted as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Environmental Health program in Panama. On May 1 my training will start as I head to this small isthmus between two oceans. My assignment will be primarily focusing on potable water and sanitation construction projects in my community and others nearby. What goes along with that is of course education and other development efforts to make these projects sustainable and actually beneficial to the communities. Lack of clean water and proper sanitation is a huge problem for rural areas of Panama. I can only hope to have a small impact by helping people in poverty to improve their health. At the same time I realize that the impact this will have on me will be a huge learning and growing experience.
...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Thinking about what lies ahead is very exciting and I can't wait to see what God will show me in Panama. Unfortunately I will have to wait - about four months at that. In the meantime I am looking for ways that I can serve God with my time and energy. Only God knows what that will entail, but I know the more I give up control each day, the more He can use me for His good purpose.
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