Friday Night thoughts

Tonight was the last international student night at my host parents' house. It was packed :) many international people came. We never know how many people are going to show up every time. Isn't that fun? Just like what Forrest Gump said," Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Then this is always unexpectation and surprises. :)

I had never known that people would do the things my host parents are doing now. They meet international people, invite them, and feed them. How nice and kind! Some people might do it once a while, but they have been doing this for years. How blessed am I to meet them! Love them so much!

Can't believe that I have been to this country for almost 2.5 years without my family. However, at the same time, I am having an American family that I always can contact with and live with. How amazing God is! He always has plan for us. 2 years ago, I didn't know where I could live in this country, but my host sister just said "you can live with us" immediately. How sweet she is!

I am so emotional that I might wanna cry while I am still writing this blog so far.Meeting such nice people in a foreign country, having such a wonderful memory, doing such unplanned things in my life. It is all because of God. God is so good, SO GOOD!! Everything is under His control.



So today I finished all my proficiency of this semester! SOOOO happy! It is about passing or not passing, having or not having the skills like bedbath, vital signs, wound care, catheter,medication, and bablablabla...Kind of already forgot what I did way earlier this semester. I failed catheter once, and this is the only one I failed. But who cares? As long as I master the skill before I really do it to a patient, I will be fine. AAAAAand! We learn from mistakes. Plus, practice makes perfect. So I learned from the old mistakes and got enough practice, I passed!! Since I am on renal floor, I hope that I can have a chance to do the catheter to a real patient before this semester ends.

So a thought (or a piece of thought?? whatever it is.) just flashed across my mind. I have been thinking about this a lot since I started my clinical.

I talked to a patient this week when I was at the hemodialysis room. What's hemodialysis? Just in case whoever don't know what this is (I didn't know that either until this week). Here is a definition from MayoClinic: a machine filters wastes, salts and fluid from your blood when your kidneys are no longer healthy enough to do this work. Hemodialysis is the most common way to treat advanced, permanent kidney failure. The procedure can help you carry on an active life despite failing kidneys.

Whatever it is, it is just sad. I saw the blood going through the machine and into the body. I am so glad that we live in this 21st century. If people had end stage kidney failure, they must die because the waste in the body can't get out. So with hemodialysis, people with kidney failure can live longer, but with completely damaged kidneys. When I saw the girl about 15 having hemodialysis, I was sad. Most people who have diabetes have kidney failure.

So many people in this country have diabetes. That really makes me want to quit junk food and sweets. If people don't pay attention to what they are actually doing to their body, they will regret when they are hospitalized. But it is hard, right? I agree...BECAUSE...even for myself I have gained 7 pounds since thanksgiving. FOOD FOOD FOOD! Especially after I started to live at the dorm, I ate more microwave food, which is really really bad based on my weight!!!! Obese is the leading cause of diabetes!! I do not want to become obese! Don't think it is impossible. There are so many young kids in China are actually becoming obese, thanks to all the junk food (McDonald's, KFC, Pizzahut, burger king, subway, etc.) I don't even know what's new junk food over there because I haven't been home for so long. However the sad thing is they don't even care when they eat the "junks". They think it is a treat.

Last time I went back to China, I had twice KFC with different friends in a week!! I thought I wouldn't do that because I already had so much here. But my friends love it. I do too! :( When people say living in present, eat whatever you like. It is really not right...I mean living in present with eating whatever.

I don't know why I started to write this serious topic..Probably I was so sad to see people with kidney failure can't do a lot of things...

Back to China counting down. First semester of nursing definitely will make this trip more special and has already made me want to go home any minute.

I have been thinking of my 94-year-old grandpa lately. My plan is to share Jesus with him when I go back. I want him to know about Jesus and I also want to share all my stories happened here. Another piece of good news is that I am becoming an aunt!!! WOOHOO! My sister-in-law will have a baby coming out any day in June while I am there. It will be the first baby in my family and the first greatgrandkid for my grandpa. Can't wait!

      25 more days till home in China^^
      
      

I am with you.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

God is SO SO good! Can't believe that how I survive without God's power this semester in the nursing school. We are such tiny human. Only depending on Him and trust Him, we shall be saved. 

Have been busy for a couple of weeks. Crazy busy and stressful. But I still enjoy the school.
Sometimes I wonder why nursing school here is so stressful and drives so many people crazy. One of my friends was too stressed to focus in class. She went to doctor because of the anxiety. I sent her some Bible verses trying to help. Sometimes I am stressed out as well. I cry also.
But God is here, He never leaves. We just need to calm down, pray, and listen. Sometimes there is too much noise around us so we can't  focus on what God says. But He is always here.

4 weeks from now, then I will be in China. Happy dance! Haven't been home for about 1.5 years. It is the longest time I am away from my family. I am not homesick a lot because I lived at boarding school since 8th grade. But still, living in another country across the Pacific ocean without family is the first time in my life. 
However, I am really thankful for what God has prepared for me. I have met so many, so many sweet people here, even the patients I met on the floor. How sweet, how nice! How amazing God is!

Have been to the clinical 4 times now. Every week I met different people with different reasons at the hospital. They were sick, but they were so nice to me. I really love my patients. Sometimes people tell me not to involve too much with my feelings because it will be too tiring. But how Jesus did for us? He never got tired of healing people and loving people. 

Sometimes, I probably will get scared by patients in the future. But please pray. With Jesus' help and power, I believe that everything is under control. 

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Tonight is the first night I get to bed like this early since I don't know when! YAAAAYYYYY! So happy. And I also have time to write this and share with you. Good night. May God bless you.