Week 3: Hawaii

Week 3

I actually got this one done on time! I seriously just need to take the time and write at the end of my day, instead of lolly gagging and procrastinating until the last minute. ENJOY!

Monday- Wednesday:

I sat on the beach, ate, and worked these three days. Nothing too exciting for you but for me, 2/3 shifts were busy! My first night I just had two very sick patients and then my third night, my admit was crashing from 1-6am. Nothing like adrenaline to keep you up for the hours you want to be sleeping!

Thursday:

After working three shifts in a row, I was dead. I just hung around my studio until I went to mass with the Bishop of Honolulu presiding. A few weeks ago I saw this mass in the Church bulletin so I decided to sign up. Tomorrow is the March For Life, so this was a vigil mass for the Pro Life movement. I know the main focus is to abolish abortion because if you do not respect life at the beginning how will our country ever respect life in general. The bishop’s homily will not be something I will forget. He spoke with no fear of repercussions and called everyone out on what truly being “pro life” meant. He made comparisons of what today people deem as right and wrong because of circumstances. Murder is considered wrong, until it’s a criminal that “deserves it”. Suicide is a travesty but euthanasia is a blessing. Killing a child is only wrong when the child is outside of the womb. We don’t get to make the decision on who lives and who dies, God does. His homily really hit home what being prolife is all about. I am going to share with you the comments he made in regards to women and abortion and some of you reading this may really not agree with it, or deny it all together. I think it is a powerful image that needs to be shared with people who are prolife and prochoice alike. He was speaking of women empowerment and them breaking the glass ceiling and then he said this: When did it become right for women to break this glass ceiling with a dead baby? My jaw literally dropped. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for women to break down barriers in the work place but that’s not a price that should not be paid. I loved how his homily was unapologetically honest. A baby or any human for that matter is never a mistake so we, as a culture need to start changing our attitude.

We need more Catholic priests and just Catholics in general to be more vocal on what we believe. Society tells me I’m closed minded and need to get with the changing of the times. It tells me my beliefs and morals are outdated and old fashioned. For years I was scared to actually let my faith show. People knew I was a devout Catholic but in conversation I shared very little in fear of judgement. Falling in love with God and His Church has made me more vocal in what I believe. I am not afraid to share my God moments or take a stance in a conversation. Some people may leave me but those who stay, even if they don’t agree, are the kind of people I want to have around me. One of the best things I’ve heard related to that is “Run as fast as you can towards God and after a while look back and see who is still beside you.” It doesn’t mean they have to be at the same point in their faith journey but they are supporting you in yours. For instance, this blog is not about my journey alone as a traveling nurse. It is my journey with God down the path He has for me. I take pit stops and try shortcuts but I always find my way back to Him. I literally could talk about stuff like this for hours but I’ll save that for a different day.

Friday:

Last night I set me alarm to wake up and do the Lanakai pill box hike for sunrise. When my alarm went off I snoozed it and said “Maybe some other time God. I’m tired.” He gave me three minutes of extra “sleep” and then got me out of bed. Sometimes I feel like God calls me to do something and He will let me say no, but this time He didn’t. This time He got me out of bed and across the island. I am sure glad I actually listened to Him. Watching the sun break over the horizon was something else. It was a little hazy where the ocean met the sky but that just added to its beauty. Behind me some people in the air force were holding up a flag and a woman was reinlisting for her last four years. She was crying, her friends were crying, and coincidentally at that moment something got caught in my eye and I started tearing up. I then just sat there after most people left and drank my coffee. There was a lady and her mom and so after taking their picture she started up a conversation. She was a 28yr old travel nurse. She talked me into getting scuba certified., so now another thing to do on my Hawaii bucket list! We also exchanged contact information so I’ll have another girl friend to do fun things with. After hiking I went and got an acai smoothie bowl and then sat on the beach. I was blessed to be able to catch my grandma on the phone and catch up. We both miss our weekly dates but we understand that God is bringing me closer to Him with each passing moment. Our conversation ended too soon but I promised I would skype into taco night on Monday.

I met up with Skye, a friend I met at Koko head and we went on a hike to Maunawili falls. I kept having to remind myself I was in an actual jungle, not just the one at the zoo. It looked so fake! We had to cross the steam a few times and climb up rocks and roots to get to the waterfall. I sadly didn’t bring a swim suit but that didn’t stop us. You could even jump off the waterfall to the pool below. Then you could climb past the waterfall and there was another tucked away and more secluded. This will definitely be a place I am going to visit multiple times. Due to circumstances we couldn’t go there until later so I made sure to bring a flashlight. It was an adventure going back in the dark. Thankfully she had been on the trail a few times so she knew the way. There was a couple at the waterfall that we were talking to that headed back a little before us. As we were climbing some stirs I was surprised we didn’t catch up with them. At the top of the hill I looked back and saw their lights. I started waving mine so they could find their way back to the trail. We all ended walking back together after they caught up. That will be a fun story to tell their friends when they get back to LA. Skye and I talked about how it was nice to just have girl time. She works with all guys and I make friends easier with guys so we both want girl time. I am glad I found a girl friend that is willing to do outdoors things.

Saturday

I have to work tonight so Joseph, Devita and I are going on a walk to the lighthouse. This trail is all paved so its perfect for her stroller. His dog, Groot, also got to come along. There were countless quick rain showers that were followed by rainbows: full rainbows, double rainbows, faint and vibrant rainbows, all different kinds. Just another reminder of God’s love and promises. There was a family that was taking pictures so I asked if they wanted me to take one of their whole group. I started going up to people and asking if they wanted a picture, not because I need them to take one for me after, but because I know the value of the capture of a moment. I always think of my mom that took us everywhere and never got pictures with us. She was busy taking pictures of us or us with other people, but never with her. She gave me countless memories but she was always the one behind the camera. I love what she did for us but I wish there was more “proof” of it. I challenge you, that the next time you see people taking a selfie together, or a group splitting up so that multiple pictures could be captured, stop and offer to take one. They may not remember your face but they will have that picture forever. It doesn’t matter if it was good or not, they got something they normally wouldn’t have. I got a picture of Joseph and Devita before the rainbow disappeared because being a single dad, he doesn’t have the opportunity to get a lot of pictures of them together.

After our walk I went to Koko head because it was the end of the week and I hadn’t done it yet. I don’t remember if I mentioned or not but I’m going to do those stairs once a week for the workout. This time I didn’t almost die! I also am going to time myself to see how good I get at it. This week it took 25:48. Another rainbow greeted me at the top! Well the fun of today is over because I have to work tonight.

Brought my nana along with her ascot

Sunday

Even though I have to work tonight I decided to do a short hike and spend a few hours outside. I went back to the lighthouse but instead of going up to see the view I went down to Alan Davis beach. It’s a secluded beach with rocks you can jump off of. There were people but a lot less than those at popular beaches. I also did a few solo photo shoots with the help of the rocks and a self timer. It was worth waking up a little early to get a good few hours in the sun before work. The water also calls me, so I guess Hawaii is my kind of place. I also realized something when I was talking to God on the rocks. For years I let Jesus carry me, because I couldn’t stand on my own. He then put me down and walked slowly beside me, at my pace, making sure that when I stumbled He was right there beside me. Now He’s in front of me challenging me to keep up and catch Him. He knows the needs of our hearts and will always be there for us, whether we call upon him or not. I’m so blessed to have an ever changing relationship with Him, where He gives me countless opportunities to know, love and serve Him better. Now it is time to go serve His sick ones. See you next week!