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A Long Overdue Update

Hello Everyone!

My apologies for being silent for so long. This is a long overdue update!

In my last post I shared with you how the Father presented me with an opportunity to go back and serve with Mercy Ships for another field service. Mercy Ships offered me the Admissions Team Leader position, which I have accepted! This means I will be going back to Mercy Ships this July. I will fly out July 26th and meet the ship in Durban, South Africa. From Durban the ship will sail to Benin, West Africa where it will begin its 10 month field service, performing surgeries and other various forms of community service in the country of Benin!

This summer, before leaving for Mercy Ships, I had hoped to secure a nursing job here in the States through a travel agency. This proved to be more difficult than I expected and required a 13 week commitment, which I was unable to give due to my limited time in the States. 

I really wanted to do critical care nursing this summer and I struggled to let go of this agenda. I think I also felt the need to prove to myself that I could still be a critical care nurse. I longed to prove this especially because going back to Mercy Ships meant that I would be out of critical care nursing for another year. 

Through many tears and conversations with the Father I came to realize that beneath this longing to prove myself I was believing a lie that my identity as a nurse somehow gave me worthiness. Being a nurse had become tied to my identity in an unhealthy way. Through unearthing this lie and allowing God to replace it with truth about my true identity as His beloved child, I was freed of the need to prove myself. This changed my perspective, humbled me and caused me to be open to God providing other means of support for me this summer. 

I have been blown away by the many people who’ve reached out and responded to my Facebook status. I’ve had a great time earning money by babysitting your kiddos or providing home health nursing for you or your loved one. It has also given me a chance to share with you personally about Mercy Ships, which is always fun! Thank you to everyone who responded!

My goal is to raise $8,000.00. So far I have $6,265.00! Thank you to everyone who’s already given! You have given generously and I am so grateful!

If you haven’t given and would like to there are two ways to give.

Option #1: Mail a check made out to Mercy Ships

Here is my home address:

Caitlyn Williams

246 North Street

Harrisburg, PA 17101

Option #2: Donate Electronically Online

Click the purple donate button here on my blog spot. It will take you to a website where you can make a one time donation or a monthly pledge using a credit card or bank account.

Thank you everyone!!

BENIN or BUST!

As most of you know I’ve been back from Madagascar for a little over a month now. In my last update I asked you all to pray for me as I processed through the changes of coming back home and for wisdom to know when to start looking for a job.

Well, the Father presented me with a completely different opportunity! After only being home about a week I received an email from my former boss on Mercy Ships asking if I would consider coming back to Mercy Ships to be the Admissions Team Leader! I was flattered and blown away by the offer! But, my knee jerk reaction was NO. If I accepted the position it would mean I would have to commit to Mercy Ships for at least 10 months starting this July. I kept thinking I would never be able to leave everything here. What would I do with all my stuff? And I have roommates that count on me to pay part of the rent. I can’t be out of critical care nursing that long. I’ll lose my skills and then I won’t be able to pursue my dream of flight nursing.

As these thoughts swarmed in my head I could feel myself spiraling and I sensed God reminding me again. Cait, I didn’t ask you to do this for me. I’m presenting you with an opportunity to do this with me. I also sensed Him asking me to explore why I was so against going back to Mercy Ships for an extended period of time. This exploration exposed some unconscious thoughts and ways I was allowing nursing to become my identity. He encouraged me that my dream of being a flight nurse was good. My desires to develop excellent critical thinking skills and gain experience taking care of sick patients was all well and good, BUT when those things became the driving force I lost sight of my true identity and calling in Christ. He reminded me that my identity is first and foremost being a daughter of God and bringing good news to all people by being in relationship with Him and exemplifying His love & grace. He then said, “whatever path you choose….staying here in the states to pursue flight nursing now OR going back to Mercy Ships for 10 months. As long as you’re identity and foundation is rooted and established in me, both paths are worth pursuing and will be pleasing to me.”

How gently the Father reminded me, that if my source is not in Him then any work I do is empty and worth nothing. My strength and identity are found in Him alone and as long as this is my foundation it doesn’t matter if I’m doing work here or with Mercy Ships!

After much prayer and deliberation I accepted the job offer from Mercy Ships! I am the new Admissions Team Leader in Benin, West Africa! I leave July 26^th and will be with the ship for 10 months. I am nervous, but very excited about this opportunity! I will be fundraising throughout the summer.

If you would like to support me here are some options...

1. Write a check. Make the check out to Mercy Ships and it will be tax deductible. You can mail it to me OR give it to my parents or myself.

Here is my address:

246 North Street

Harrisburg, PA 17101

2. In a few weeks you will have the option to donate electronically here my blogspot. This option is also tax deductible. More details to come!!

3. You can give cash. This is NOT tax-deductible…however; it is greatly appreciated as I purchase necessities for the trip that are not reimbursed by my Mercy Ship donations.

I will be sharing more details about the Admissions Team Leader position tomorrow, April 29^th (6:30-8:30pm) at my open house! Even if you haven’t RSVP’d please come. I promise you won’t be bored and your heart will be encouraged!

Open House Friday, April 29th 6:30-8:30pm

What: Caitlyn's Mercy Ships Open House

When: Friday, April 29th

Where: Daybreak Church Gettysburg Pike Campus

Time: 6:30-8:30pm

RSVP: caityjoy88@gmail.com (email or respond via facebook)

Please join me as I share about my journey with Mercy Ships!

Home

Hello Everybody! I’ve been back stateside now for about two weeks. The initial unpacking and laundry is done and now it’s time to settle back into life here. But it’s not the same as before. Things are different; I’m different. My perspective was shifted because of the experiences I had in Madagascar and with Mercy Ships. As I process through these changes and realize these different perspectives, I’d appreciate your prayers. I resigned from Hershey Medical Center back in January, before going to Mercy Ships, so I am not working at this time. I am purposefully choosing not to work. I believe God has given me this time off to process through re-entry well and be still before Him. Please pray for clarity as I seek God’s guidance and discernment to know how to proceed regarding a job.

In addition to your prayers, please support me by attending my open house at Daybreak Church. At the open house I will tell you about Mercy Ships, share about my journey with them, show pictures and answer any questions you may have! Open House date/time TBA. Stay tuned!

Goodbyes are hard, but because of the Father's love my heart is always full!

I cannot believe 10 weeks is already past. It feels like yesterday that I arrived in Antananarivo and began the long 10hr bus ride to Toamasina. Yesterday I took the long 10hr bus ride from the ship to Antananarivo and will begin my journey home at 4:40am tomorrow!

In these short 10 weeks the Father has blessed me with incredible new friendships and shaped & grown me in so many ways. Some of which I may not even realize this side of heaven. I cannot thank you all enough for your support, encouragement and prayers! The time spent here in Madagascar has left me with so much to tell and show you. I could not possibly encapsulate everything in the few updates I've written. Please stay tuned for details about an open house at which I will show pictures, tell stories and answer questions!

A bit about our burn patients...

Burns are devastating. There’s no other way to describe them. They hurt a lot and the damage can be quite extensive. But we have very brave patients and we serve a big God who has brought healing and joy despite the pain these patients endure.

Most of the burns we see here on Mercy Ships have happened years ago, which means our main goals are to give patients mobility of whatever arm/leg/finger is stuck in place and cultivate new skin with skin grafts. This is a slow and painful process. The main things we do to accomplish these goals are obviously surgery, high protein diets to promote wound healing and exercise.

Patients come aboard the night before their surgery and are immediately started on our nutrition protocol based on their weight. This includes a nutritional powder mixed with water that is packed with vitamins, a liquid protein called Promod and if they are under weight they get a packet of sweet peanut butter stuff, which is about 500 calories. Surgery follows the next day to straighten or free whatever the scar tissue had tightened into place. In the picture below you can see a teenage boy who sustained 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns to the right side of his body. Before surgery his right arm was stuck to the right side of his body due to the skin tightening or contracting into place. The surgeons were able to free his arm and then place skin grafts over the exposed areas. The dark places of the wound are the skin grafts.

Lastly, we do exercises, because without exercise or stretching of the skin grafts, the skin would just tighten back up and mobility would be significantly compromised again. The little girl I am holding in the picture is being very brave during her exercises, despite the intense pain she feels with only slight movement of her fingers.

For as many tears that are shed, there are just as many, if not more, smiles and giggles. These patients, adults and children alike, are so joyful in spite of the long healing process, countless dressing changes and painful exercises. Every time I walk onto the ward I am met with warm greetings, tackle hugs and big smiles. Evidence that the Father is not just healing the outside, but also the inside.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. Every time I talk to my Mom & Dad they tell me you are asking about me and continuing to lift me up in prayer! This is huge. Mercy Ships could never do what they do without prayer. Please continue to go boldly before the throne and ask for continued healing and courage for these burn patients!