Last night: -48 with wind chill
Today: high of -39... low tonight.. -48 again with wind chill
Helloo winter

The first week’s been pretty good. There are three of us new nurses with two seasoned staff who are currently stationed here and everybody has been so great. It hasn’t been the most ideal orientation by any means but we’re learning quick to work with what we’ve got. And man is there ever lots to learn and know. After the days of administrational stuff, first thing learned was basic suturing (on chicken legs mind you... although we were willing to take a cut or two so we could practice on each other). Note- always looking for willing candidates to practice this skill on so let me know if you’re interested. It was stated before coming out usually a doctor comes through every two weeks… in short time we learned it's been more like months. But they're always "just a phone call away."  The learning curve has included then, how to be a lab technician, pharmacist, and to a certain extent, doctor. Famous words of advice from the age-old film “Finding Nemo” come to mind. “Just keep swimming…just keep swimming.” Suffice to say, most evenings have included “study period.” Learning is life long, right?

the road out... looks like this for hours)

Right from the get go and continuing through the entire week, God has continued to bless my heart with little unexpected surprises, conversations, words, or moments of encouragement. To start, the verse I heard in a sermon the sunday before I left. Deut. 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." That promise... his very PRESENCE walking with us through the day... how can that knowledge not result in peace… and confidence that I can do all things through him who strengthens me? In the thick of things I have sometimes been quick to forget the weighty “awesome-ness” of all that implies. Anxiety and trust... I don't think they can co-exist. Remembering, surrendering, walking in faith.

There have been so many other little moments in the last couple days where God has gone above and beyond- using people and moments to speak, challenging my narrowing perspective, reminding me of Truth. An encouraging phone call from a new co-worker. Breath-taking beauty all around. Words given for a perspective and reality check. A sobering situation of hopelessness and hurt. Unexpected friendship. Over and over a timely word read. An unexpected text of encouragement (in a remote area with no cell reception). Laughter. Lots of laughter. These examples and so many more… all testifying about this God I know. How he cares about each of us and the details of our lives, more than we could ever fathom. Even for those who don’t know him or have “forgotten” about him. This God…speaking, loving, taking broken hopeless people and broken people who don't know they're hopeless... In him we find it; meaning, purpose, life, strength, joy, love, peace.

Many people here are very spiritual... a coworker and newfound friend who is aboriginal was sharing about her beliefs and one comment really stuck out. People spend so much time taking care of their physical self and no time taking care of their spiritual self… so much so that they forget how to or that they even need to. And in the end, may or may not ever realize… they’ve lost who they are. Even though her and I have different beliefs there’s such truth shared in that thought.

I can't say it enough. Thanks for praying. And please, write or email how things are going in your neck of the woods and whether I can be praying for you about anything in particular. Love hearing from people (we’ve been warned lots about the signs of “cabin fever” as a result of the isolation) so if you start to notice any NEW and unusual quirks with me… 

Thinking this one's not being used in -30...

saw three buffalo yesterday

couple minutes out from GR

our airport and runway

It's beautiful up here. The community is surrounded by forest, with a creek and a great big river running right beside the community. I think the trees are some kind of aspen...? and with the load of snow we just got, the forests around us look winter wonderland-ish.

There are closer to 700 people living in the community with a rough estimate of maybe 75 of either houses, trailers, or little wood cabins (gives a bit of an idea how crowded living conditions are). I live in a pretty decent triplex.. very 70's-ish, with the clinic a quick 3 minute drive away. There's quite a few dogs around, providing an intermittent chorus of barking to serenade throughout the day/night.    

 


The clinic itself is quite a bit larger than I expected. It has only two actual exam rooms but a fair size emergency, several offices, a pharmacy, lab, and quite a few other random rooms. Things are pretty laid back at the clinic. A large majority of the community only starts waking up in the afternoon (they seem to have days and nights reversed) which makes afternoons more steady as far as seeing patients goes. We see any and whatever medical "concern" that comes in. We do what we can to treat.. and for the (many) things we can't do much for we stabilize and send the patient out either by taxi or plane.  

the nursing post

the "emergency bay"

the emergency department

pharmacy

We work from 8:30 to 5:00 and everybody takes turns going on first or second call from 5:00pm to 8:30 am (us new nurses have been cut a bit of slack and have yet to be given "call"... next week though...). I think a large portion of the people here speak English but Cree is the main language and it's not uncommon to need a translator at times. Seat-belts, carseats, speed limits and helmets among other things all seem to be quite optional here, especially with the nearest law enforcement being two hours away. From what's been said about the other reserves we will be going to, this is a good one to start in. 

Change is good. Complacency gets challenged. New year (wrote the big 12 for the first time today)... new home (up north)... new job (further north north)... new church (yet to be determined)... new friends (all but a few yet to be met)... Isn't it great we have a sovereign God who not only leads but walks with? Isn't it great there are plans bigger than our own that we are invited, called, commanded to be a part of?


Took a job with First Nations and Inuit Health as a community health nurse to work on reserves in northern Alberta. Translation: working either at the nursing station or in the community (public health-ish type work) two weeks on, two weeks off. There are four reserves I can be stationed in. My first trip up is this Monday. One commercial and one charter flight later... Population approx. 700, one of the more remote of the four locations. Couple days ago spoke with yet another doctor who's worked in all of these reserves. When asked what it was like, his response was almost ironic in similarity to what others have shared about their experiences on these reserves. Over and over.. the same descriptions: isolated, lonely, a self-imploding repetitive cycle, spiritually dark...


I don't know much about these places. But I do know God has given me a peace about going. This peace has guarded my heart and mind, and daily battles the uncertainties and anxieties that are there to arise at a moments notice when my gaze turns off the Father. As long as He is leading in this direction it's my heart's desire to be obedient and follow... and He has started stirring an excitement in my heart as I do so.


I greatly appreciate and value your prayers. I think the request at the top of the list... that I will see those I'll be with and serving as Christ sees them. I know this sounds cliche.. but if I can genuinely love these people... or even begin in learning what that looks like.. I know that's where I need to start. From the reports of others: spiritual warfare and loneliness seem to be some other big ones. Pray that God will be glorified in each day. It's my prayer, my hope, that I will in no way be ashamed, be fearful... but will have sufficient courage so that now and always, Christ may be exalted and glorified in my life.

goodbye southern alberta prairies.. hello north country...