Lately I'm *Amazed* by:
~ this TEAM...how hard we work but also how we laugh & encourage each other.
~the WOMEN...some snap their fingers when they're in pain (it's like they're scolding us for hurting them) and make strange moaning sounds, but they are so strong, it's a "no tears" policy among these Togolese women.
~the CHILDREN. . .I hate it when their beautiful dark eyes tear up and we have to hold their hands to get their rotten baby (& sometimes permanent) teeth out. But the consolation with these chilren is what a dentist from the UK told me, "I'd rather have them cry 5minutes here than go back home and spend another night crying because of toothache." It's the children that don't cry and don't show emotion that break my heart, it makes me wonder what pain they experience outside the dental clinic that makes our work seem so easy.
~ the MEN...incredibly strong jaws, ripped muscles and appear to be such big tough guys, but put them in the dental chair and it's a different story. Don't get me wrong they aren't screaming, but it's hard work pulling these massive teeth, our dentists go home rubbing sore muscles (those of us who are holding the heads & helping wrestle the teeth out feel pretty powerful too :P) and the people these teeth are attached to are bound to grimace, tear up & make some noise. But as tough and hard as these guys are, I have to tell you a story that happened about a week ago. We had just finished a difficult surgical extraction & I grabbed the hand mirror on the table to make sure I wiped all the blood splatter off my face. As I turned to go back and begin working on the next patient, he smiled and said "I see you checking your face in the mirror and I want you to know, you are beautiful." I didn't even know he spoke english!! 99% of our patients can't even say "thank you" any communication without a translator is done by hand signals, so this unexpected compliment floored me, so precious.
~the FRIENDS...God has truly brought an amazing group of people together around me. Some of them remember your name after meeting you once, put encouraging verses & quotes all over you & your roommates cabin, and they pour themselves into wherever they are serving from hospital to galley. But most commonly, they have also left family & friends at home. Even though we're all from different backgrounds and countries, there's common ground just because of that. And it's not just because we're all on the same boat..(no pun intended :P) He's the One that brings us together. It's amazing how the friends you make here are so, for lack of a better word, instant! Even though you've just met, you're experiencing the same things, missing the same things and usually dealing with some of the same things...it brings an amazing unity that only He could create & sustain. So whether we're sweating in the back of a land rover, holding your hair while you puke, or laughing at some African oddity...we really are all in the same boat, serving the best we can by His strength and in that strength, we are united. The verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" has taken on a whole new meaning because of these friends & the strength we rely on.
~the PRESENCE...one of the worship songs we sing during morning devotions is, "Power in the Air" we kind of joke about it but the truth is, He is with us. I can feel Him lift us up when we're dragging and speak peace in the middle of the chaos & pain. His name is Emmanuel, God with us. No matter where or what our emotion, always with us...and that amazes me.
~the TIME...I can't believe it's already been 2 months since I left home. God showed me this verse soon after arriving in Africa, "Let me show you where I live among my people. My name is 'God-with-you' I will wipe away all the tears from your eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past is gone." I feel like I read it with new eyes and since then He's done just that, showed me Himself among His people. I'm still oh soo amazed & blessed to be here!!!
WE ARE AMAZED by Ginger Millermon
Lord we are amazed at the splendor of your ways, nothing can compare to your glory.
Lord we lift our hearts and with our voices raised, we sing a song of praise to you.
We are amazed. We love you Jesus. We are amazed.
Lord we are amazed at the beauty of your grace, and nothing can compare to your mercy.
Lord we stand in awe at the wonder of it all, we sing a song of praise to you.
We are amazed, we love you Jesus. We are amazed.
You are awesome, You are wonderful, You are everything that is beautiful, nothing can compare...nothing can compare to You. We are Amazed.
