Bags are packed and we are being picked up at 5:15 tomorrow morning to head to Honduras.
During MTI training, there were sessions on recognition of how we deal with and respond in situations of stress. Part of that was a work-sheet trying to break down stressors we would have in our life. A result of >300 was designated as severe stress. Jake and I, not really feeling stressed during that time, completed the work sheet and had a result of over 700. Surprised by the result, we tried to alter our results. For example, I had just had an aunt pass away, and flown home from CO for the funeral returning later the same day. The death of a family member was considered a stressor. So we eliminated a few things and still ended up with a score >500. And I think that was perhaps the point of the work sheet. Recognition that we are in a time of flux, of transition and change that is uncertain, and with that comes an enormous amount of stress that even if our minds don't register it, our bodies still feel it.
We returned from MTI and I returned to work. Jake got started on our long list of To-Do items to ready the house for sale/rent. We returned to Denver, CO for a week in March for on-boarding with WorldVenture. Which then sent us down yet another long To-Do list in preparation for entering the field long-term with WV. Last week was a particularly intense call-week, and I began to really understand why individuals come to a limit and pivot to devote there attention and efforts to entering the mission field. My mind was very split by responsibilities at the hospital, and towards my sick patients while simultaneously trying to be as helpful to Jake as possible. We took it one step at a time, but it still leaves you feeling slightly exhausted. Tomorrow we leave for Honduras for two months. We are packed, and prayerful, ready for what lays ahead and getting started.
Here's a few photos from trying to get in last minute visits to family before leaving again as well as from our week of on-boarding at WV.
