Moving forward

I have a one year position in general surgery at Johnson City Medical center in Tennessee.  We'll see where we go from there.

Please pray

I don't have a job.

I have reapplied.   We will find out more on Wednesday.

Daniel

God's Confirmation

Tonight I had the privilege of recapping the last year of my life in an interesting interaction. I met a 3rd year medical student aspiring to orthopaedics. Knowing little about him, I expected to be minimally helpful, but desired to give back some of the many gifts of information God had ordained in my life.
After talking awhile I found out that he went to a Christian college, had a similar background as I do, and is facing many of the same challenges as I was with resume gaps. It was too cool to share all of the ways God had blessed me in the application process. All of the connections, all of the moments of triumph, all of the failures. I got to initiate a process of perfecting the application for a person that would struggle to get into this highly competitive field, but with an incredible God, proving all things are possible.
I know if I don't get the job (as we will find out job or no job tomorrow, where I'll be going is Friday) this process had meaning. I know my life has purpose and the reiteration of being able to help others in the mean time is supremely rewarding.

I'm amazed.

My ole Kentucky home

Man this is a sight for jet lagged eyes.  I am fortunate enough to have survived chaos.  Let's pray this week is less spontaneous.
Things that make America great:
Drinkable water from a faucet
Hot showers
Steak and seafood
Crosswalks that drivers pay attention to
Southern accents
Collegial team spirit
Powerful car engines
Airplane pilots landing skills
Public education
Interstates

Amazing race here I come

Delayed 3 hours leaving Kenya.
Longest security check in Paris. With a 45 minute layover. Strollers were flying. 
15 minutes late and see a Delta plane leaving. 
Last person to board last Delta plane in France.
Wake up in California to a snowstorm in Denver with a cancelled flight.
On phone with United for 25 minutes.
Flight from Lax to Louisville.
Call cabby.
He's there before my luggage is packed.
Stop for natural gas.  Fueling is universal for cab drivers picking me.
Three cards didn't work.
Used my card.
On the road again.
Prepared to battle at LAX.  What a trip.

2:30am Wakeup

I wake up to mass confusion and a PA message in Swahili.
5 minutes later a guy wades through a sea of people and says, "Flights leaving Paris after 10 am are going to make it"
The flight is now over 3 hours delayed and my 4 hour layover in Paris has been erased.  We will see.  

Out of Africa...well almost

After having a good day with Dr. Emily and family in Nairobi, I am thankful for peace in Kenya, the American election process(no matter how flawed it may be), and coming from a place that I am proud to call home.
I am just passing through today, and quite fortunate to be a day earlier than the revealing of election results from Monday's contest(a runoff may be needed).  19 people died on polling day from a radical group(largely unrelated to the election, they are from the Mombassa costal region that I have been nowhere close to on this trip and were know about before the attack).  The majority of the country has been peaceful.  God is blessing Kenya.
I don't ever fear to cast a vote.  I vote by mail or electronically and it is counted.  It takes 25 minutes. All things I take for granted.
As I sit here in a very nice (and well protected) airport, I am notified that my flight is delayed.  No worries.  It is Africa, nothing happens on time.  This is the second of six flights to get home.  Hakuna matata.  My stomach is starting to get angry.  I have prayer and cipro.  Life is very nice from the African perspective, even though most of us Americans would consider it less than ideal.  There are many things we can respect and learn from this way of life.
I love when a country thrives because the majority of people love Jesus and therefore respect their government's authority.  Ethiopians are proud.  Kenyans are too.  I am proud, to have a wonderful home on the Earth and a greater one for beyond this life.