That Light (at the End of the Tunnel)

The laughter of a child lights up the house. ~ African proverb

Small pinpricks of light of the end of my nursing student journey started in May as I started my 4th and final year of nursing school. Slowly, and at times painfully so, they widened, and as I now see full light just behind 5 more days of nursing school, a myriad of indescribable emotions juggle about in my brain.

What is actually happening?

First, let me refer back to that proverb quoted at the beginning. These past 4 weeks, my life has significantly changed, and very unexpectedly so. As the light at the end of my nursing school journey brightened, the laughter of children on a pediatric ward in Ghana cast new and colourful rays into it that have created bursts of love and passion in my heart.

I am overwhelmed at the thought of getting only 5 more days with the kids. How can it be over so soon? How can I even absorb enough of their wide smiles and musical laughter in 5 mere days. I cannot. And it causes a little ache in corners of my heart.

Take that short, unworthy description of emotion and add it to that endless jumble of other emotions. Am I really only 5 days away from my last nursing assignment ever? Am I really done? Like forever? Must I not do more? What must a person do when there are schedules to organize, no classes to attend, no finances to procure, no tuition fees to hand over, no grades to anxiously anticipate, no backpack full of textbooks to carry, no deadlines to meet, no nursing buddies to bounce ideas off of and share special experiences with, and no goals of education to put energy toward? And that is only a tiny list of things that are about to pass away. In 5 days.

But will it ever end? My dear, yes, it will.

Now add the fact that the last (almost 3) months have been spent in an African country, where dreams have become reality. The challenges of adapting to life in a completely new world I cannot and will not obscure, for they have beautified the last footprints of my journey. I cannot describe how much I have grown to love this country. I am indebted to its people, who have created for me beautiful horizons of further exploration.

Will I be able to readjust to life without markets?

So, my brightened heart, treasure away these last 5 days as gifts received to endure a lifetime. And allow the light to move ever onward.

Will I be able to survive without fresh, local pineapple on a stick?

And the rest of the photos are just a postscript from last week.

How am I supposed to leave this so soon?
RockSTAR!
The privilege of an attentive audience as I explained the importance of pain management in pediatric patients.
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Lena Wall

A single, thirty-something, registered nurse-ish, lover of the abundant life we can have in Jesus Christ. I am passionate about joyful singleness, Godly marriages, loving families, and things relating to adoption and working with kiddos. When I am not working at the local hospital, you may find me enjoying walks, going for spontaneous truck drives and getting lost, eating chocolate and probably lots of it, jotting down random thoughts from my brain, marveling at little details in God's world, chatting philosophically with my way-smarter siblings or sharing deep spiritual conversations with them, laughing at random things people (or animals) do, or just plain enjoying homemaking in my little home (and probably dreaming about my future farm).

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