If you would have told me ten years ago that 2020 was going to be the wildest year you have ever experienced in your life, I would have laughed and said "why? Do you think I will finally meet the person of my dreams" or "Will I win the lotto?" Never would I have ever imagined that the world would be in distress over a virus called COVID-19. Never would I have imagined that we would be confined to our homes unless we were "essential" workers. Never would I have imagined that most people would not see their families for weeks or months on end. Again, I would have never imagened anything that is going on today, would have happened.
When I chose to be a Medical Assistant 10 years ago, I never would have dreamt that I lived through a pandemic, let alone work right on the front lines. While I thank the lord everyday for these 2 amazing jobs, I also pray that god guide me in the right direction when it comes to my career. I some how always end up in the same place, caring for his people. Working in the OBGYN office I get to help people with women's health issues, or I get to see mama's who are so excited and devastated for different reasons. The job can be very wearing on me. In the urgent care or working in the lab at Mercy One Pleasant Hill, is a completely different spectrum. I can see someone who has a simple scrape to someone who might be having a heart attack or stroke. There is not one day that is ever the same in my world. The COVID-19 virus has taken both of my worlds and shook the living daylights out of them. It's so hard to put into one blog all the changes that have been made but some things of the big things are:
1) Masks and shields are worn while in the office or interacting with any patient.
2) No one is allowed to enter Mercy Clinics with a temp of 99 or higher where at OBGYN it is 100.4. I have had to turn away people with a 99 degree temperature, knowing that I myself run high and on any given day, I feel great and run in the 99's. It's also sad to turn these people away for illnesses not related to COVID-19.
3) Loosing some of my co-works to layoffs (aka furloughs).
4) Being short staffed at work, wondering what would happen if any one of was infected with the virus.
Speaking of God, you never really know how "essential" your church family is to your life until you can't see them and hug them weekly. We still come together every weekend for worship, but its not the same. Online worship is great, but still not the same as seeing everyone's friendly smile and enjoying a cup of coffee while chatting among "friends". I also miss my 1st grade Sunday School class. The innoscence their little faces and minds represent are so fulfilling.
Today our new sermon series started called "Resilient". This was a sermon that hit home with me. While being resilient, we all face adversity. Adversity is defined as difficulties and misfortune.
Pastor Nathan was quick to point out that we all face adversity in one form or another. In Acts 1: 4-5 Jesus spoke with his disciples and said "Don't leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit". As it was explained to us was Jesus saying "Don't try and be my disciples without the Holy Spirit from my father". I think about this and I think of god telling me "Don't try and go into your day without the Holy Spirit for which I provide for you.". So please god fill me with your holy spirit and make me resilient. Watching the news every day does not make me resillient, prayer does. Worrying about things that have not happened do not make me resilient, prayer does. Keeping track of all the positive cases in Iowa does not make me resillient, prayer does. Prayer, Prayer, Prayer! Prayer has become my savings grace over the last 15 months. The spirit wants to make you a peron of character and hope. Character is formed by the holy spirit.
Back to the Cornoa Virus aka COVID-19. Governor Reynolds has required that all schools close for the rest of the spring semester. With that being said, schools are still required to offer Voluntary Online Education. Max meets with his 4th grade teacher and classmates on Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. via Google Meet. He thinks this is pretty neat, but doesn't like the homework that comes with it. This child feels that this is his early summer and he should be playing video games and Roblox all day. The teachers have been more than wonderful trying to give parents ideas of things the kids should be doing. I am so devastated for Max as he loved his 4th grade teacher Mrs. Kingery. I can only imagine what the 5th graders or senior high schoolers are feeling. New adventures can be hard!
Fast forward to Wednesday. The last 2 days our numbers for positive for COVID-19 have been astronomical. Yesterday alone, Iowa had 482 positive COVID tests. It will be interesting to see where the numbers come into play once we start testing more people. Lord, please wrap your arms around those affected by COVID-19 and our little state.
Heather
