Address correction

Address correction: my new address is 2708 Martin Drive, Apt 3068, Bedford, TX 76021

A Mercy Ships plug...

“Around the world today, billions of people live in fear and desperation, with impure water, inadequate food, and little or no access to health care. Behind every statistic is a person waiting for hope and healing….”

Friends, I am so excited to share with you what God is calling me towards this next year! As many of you already know, I’ll be serving as a pediatric postoperative nurse with Mercy Ships. What exactly is Mercy Ships, you may say…I’m so glad you asked!

Mercy Ships is a medical mission that operates hospital ships to bring healing and hope to the poor of developing nations. Although I will be part of their mission in a surgical capacity, they also are active in training local professionals, in community development, and sharing the love of Christ in very practical and palpable ways.

“More than 1,600 short-term volunteers serve with Mercy Ships each year.”

In 2010, I will be just one of these 1,600 working with Mercy Ships to serve the needy in developing countries around the world. In January, I will be sailing with the Africa Mercy to Togo, West Africa, where medical volunteers from over 40 nations will join us in reaching out to these desperately needy people with God’s love and healing. I’ll be keeping updated information and pictures right here on my blog!

I invite you to prayerfully consider joining me in serving these people, whether through prayer, financial support, or volunteering your time and talent. To find out more information on volunteering, please check out www.mercyships.org. I’ll also continue to post more specific prayer requests on my blog site.

The monetary total needed for my involvement in this ministry is approximately $6000. If you would like to financially partner with me in this, you can send checks to Mercy Ships, ATTN: Donor Services, PO Box 2020, Garden Valley, Texas 75771. Please do not put my name on these checks, but you can attach a slip with my name and ACCT#2699. If you would prefer to send a check to me directly, my address is 2708 Martin Drive, Apt 3064, Bedford, TX 76021 up until January 1. You can make these payable to Laura Coles, with Mercy Ships in the comment line. Unfortunately this is not tax-deductible presently; please contact me by email if that is a problem.

Blessings on you all!

In Him,

Laura Coles

Texas: friendly and warm, in more ways than one!

So about two weeks ago I finally arrived in Texas - tired, disoriented, and very, very warm. I had found out my official assignment state and hospital just over a week before, and was looking forward to unpacking my very full car.

My poor car-plant was excited to arrive in Texas too. It was looking droopy and rather wilted from the last few days of driving...and the last few months of living on the garment hook in my car. I crossed the AK-TX border around 2 am and thought it very...flat. I was also pretty excited to drive fast. I moved into my apartment that morning, and met a nice guy from the apartment below mine (who offered to help me carry my stuff!). I never thought of New Yorkers as impolite or unfriendly, but from day 1 Texans have definitely taken the prize for friendliness and chivalry.

I started work that Monday and was enthused to...sit in classes for two weeks! I got lost in the ED the second day after my tour, and just kind of wandered around thinking 67 beds is a HUGE ED...will I get lost every day that I work here? Then I found myself again. Although still a busy ED, Texas Health Harris HEB struck me as pretty laid back and genuinely cheerful.

Saturday I'll start working the floor...finally! This will be the day after the entire hospital switches to computerized charting. Fun fun! On a side note, I'm looking for a church with weeknight services...pray that I find an awesome one!

Pictures to come...plus stories from the last few months in New Hampshire and the North Country!

Come adventure with me!

So for about the last year, God has been subtly telling me that it was time to leave Binghamton. Although I prayed for clarity and guidance, I kept getting the same answer: Leave Binghamton, and go to the place that I have prepared for you.

"OK God", I said, "what place would that be?" I was hoping for a lightening bolt, a whisper, any indication at all! Still I received no clear guidance. This summer, I finally took a step of faith towards a few open doors, and I'm excited to see where this is leading! I welcome you, friends, to follow along with my adventures as God leads me to...somewhere! Lord willing I'll be updating at least weekly if not more, from Texas on and through Spain and Togo.

To those of you supporting me in love and friendship, in prayer, and/or with funds for next year as I fly off to Africa...thank you, thank you, thank you. Know that I value each of you and I'm praying for you in return.