God Has a Sense of Humor

I felt it important to share with you some of the lessons that God shared with me on this trip. One is something I've already mentioned, dropping my own expectations. In fact, let me give you a brief rundown of the conversation that Patricia and I had right before I left:

Patricia: "Do you think you will be working with kids while you are there?"

Me: "Oh no, I don't know anything about assessing kids, I've never worked with kids in nursing. I hope I'll be doing something OB/GYN related like delivering babies but I realize that I might be asked to do anything."

Patricia: "Do you feel like you have already created any expectations for the trip?"

Me: "I'm not sure, I've tried not to."

Patricia: (Gently). "Just remember to be open to what God wants to do through you and where He wants to use you."

Me: "Ok, thanks."

This conversation is one reason why it was so funny that first day when I was assigned to work at the pedi clinic. But God knew that even if my hands were not skilled in nursing with kids, that my heart was right on target. And the things I didn't know about pediatrics and orthopedics, I figured out real quickly. :)

Snap back to several months ago when I was given and offer to pray about coming to work for a ministry in Haiti. I answered that I was not at a point to make that move right now, but that I would commit to praying about it and also finding out a little about the country of Haiti, since I didn't know very much. After a few turn of events that I will not mention here, I ended up standing in my room screaming at God that if He wanted me to go to Haiti, then He better find a different way to tell me. I remember being so frustrated with God and telling Him that He needed to be really clear.

Now, snap forward to be standing in the middle of the pedi clinic, smiling to myself that God has such a sense of humor. That He makes beauty from ashes and mourning into dancing. Our God is the ultimate redeemer. And I once again thought to myself, God is breaking all the rules and pulling out all the stops. So far, He has destroyed every one of my expectations (I didn't even think I had) for this trip, and I love it! How often do we ruin things God wants to put together by lofting up our own expectations (which we sometimes don't even realize) above God's? Relationships, family, work situations, friendships. Oh, Lord help us to break free!