Its been a while since I last wrote, so I am going to update you readers on what has been happening! :)
First, I want to remind not only you readers, but also myself, that this blog is meant to be God-focused, and not a blog where I talk about myself the whole time. Of course I will be talking about what is going on in my life, but my prayer is that it would be something that would take our focus from ourselves and back onto the Life-giving face of God. I don't want any glory in this! I admit that at times, my motives are more self-centered than God- centered, but that's riduculous when I think about it. How could I possibly take credit for all that God has done in my life? Its not only silly, its impossible! How could I bring a peace into my life that surpasses understanding? - impossible. How could I give myself strength when I don't have enough strength to go on? - impossible....ect. You get the picture. On the cross, Christ took all of our sin upon His shoulders so that we might live, and live abundantly! There is NOTHING we have done to get any of the credit!!
With all that said, I will now give you an update on what the past few months have entailed!...
Christmas break was so wonderful. The main event was that my oldest sister, Alyson, got married to my now brother-in-law, John Matthews! It was definitely one of the happiest days of my life!
Right before coming back to Biola at the end of January, I had my first doctor's appointment at the Adult Cystic Fibrosis clinic at USC Medical Center. I am transferring clinics now because the one I have been going to at Loma Linda was a pediatic clinc, and because I have been an adult for a couple years now, they decided that it was time to send me on to an adult clinic.
My first visit there was very interesting. The procedure there is much different than at the pediatric clinic. When I first got there, the receptionist at the desk gave me a biohazard bag that had gloves, a mask, and a pen it in. The pen was mine to use and keep, and the purpose for this was so that no CF germs would be shared from patient to patient. I had to wear the gloves and the mask for the whole visit. The procedure makes sense, but it was a bit uncomfortable and overwhelming at the same time. (* Just a side note: In case you aren't familiar with CF, people who have CF are not supposed to be around other people who have CF because you can give each other different bacterias, and potentially make someone more sick than before - hence the need for the gloves and masks).
Everyone was very nice in the clinic. The team there seems to take things more seriously, which I like. My lung function is at 56% right now (* another side note: Strange story...this appt. was on a Wednesday. The Monday before this Wed. I had my last appt. at Loma Linda and my lung function (FEV1) was 49%, so for it to be almost 10% higher 2 days later was strange to me. I asked them if it could be the different machines, but the doctors said it shouldn't make that much of a difference. So I accepted the 56% gladly.) So anyway, the first appointment there went pretty well. I go back February 24th for my next visit!
Another piece of information that I found out was this: I had a breathing test done a few months back, one where I sit in what is called a "body box" and they take a detailed ananlysis of my breathing and the condition of my lungs. I finally found out the results to this just last week actually I am not really sure what to think of them yet. This is what the results said: I have air trapping, airway resistance is increased, airway conductance is decreased, and that this all means that I have Obstuctive Lung Disease. I want to talk to my doctor about this, becuase I don't know whether this is something that is associated with CF and is considered "normal," or is it is something that I should be concerned about. Either way, God is in control, and He is my shelter, my strength, and my sustainer.
Life here at Biola is going well. I love all my classes this semester! I am taking Physiology (Lecture, Pre-lab, and Lab), Theology I, Philosophy, First Aid/CPR, and Weight-lifting for a PE. Yes, that's right, I said weight lifting! I'm not trying to be a body builder, I just want strong bones! :)
This semester is particularly exciting becuase it is my last semester of pre-nursing. I am in the process of applying to the program right now! I have already filled out and turned in my written application, and this week, on Thursday Feb. 18th, I have my interview with the nursing department!! (So if you remember, I would love prayer for that! As well as prayer for one of my roommates, Jamie. She is appyling to the program with me! - Thank you!)
Another exciting thing is that I have recently become a leader in a new ministry we have at Biola now called Soul Care Ministry. This is a ministry that I am confident that God placed me in and I am really excited about! Because the ministry is so new, we are still working on the practical implications of how we are going to go about acting out the vision that God has given the ministry. (*The vision is to be a group who interceeding for and comes alongside the students on campus who are suffering or in need of any kind. More than this though, we pray that is would be more than a ministry, but something that would spark the desire to be people who love God and love people as God commanded us in scripture) If you can, please pray that the leaders would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guiding and to have wisdom in our choices. Also that God would continue to grow the ministry for His glory.
I have to get going to class now, but thank you so much for reading and for praying!
