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Instant Job
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 Arriving
at Loma Linda with a few cents to our name, a loaned diesel truck full of
our belongings and the dreams of youth, Ron applied for a job and was
pleased at the response. He was given a nursing job in the area of his
interest which was cardiac Intensive care. The attitude of the staff was
so pleasant. It was that of a desire to grant the nurse what ever area of
learning interested them. This was refreshing after some of our
experiences. I was also offered a job but wanted to settle into a home
first and then get to work. I needed more than a week. I do not like
moves. There are too many books we drag around with us. |
 Later
when I was looking at the different money offers for nurses, I saw that I
could make double the money if I hired out in nurse registries and worked
neonatal intensive care units. That is what I enjoyed. So I started
to make the necessary arrangements and a strong impression came on me that
I had not asked God what He wanted. I prayed about the plans and felt
strongly I must apply at Loma Linda for a job. I argued with God. I should
not have done that.
The strong impression continued. Then I promised God I would go but I knew they would require I start on night shift and I do not function well at all if I work nights. Also I would never have time to see my husband. I figured I could at least ask, and then my obligation would be done and I could go get the high paying job I wanted. I wanted many dollars quickly so I could get ready for medical school entrance fees. |
| I
entered the Loma Linda University hospital recruitment office and spoke
about my need for work as an RN. RN is the title for Registered Nurse. I
was asked my area of interest and then was informed there was work
available there on the night shift. I thanked her, and started to leave as
I mumbled, well, I must have misunderstood God this time. She looked
surprised. She asked me to repeat what I said. Then I told her about my
impression, how I prayed, and how I could not work nights. She left the
room for a minute and came back in with a surprised look. She said she had
just gotten a phone call which informed her of the need of a nurse on day
shift in pediatrics, would I take it? When I told her yes, she had the
paper work ready. |
 Then
she told me she had seen the slide presentation of my student missionary
nurse report and and been thrilled at my stories of work in Mexico.
I had not told of my experiences in California. She had seen these during
a visit in Oregon. She heard of my success experiences in treating tetanus.
She had heard how I started a nursery and taught nurses. She heard how I
prayed for God to teach me how to care for premature babies the doctors
would leave with me. Doctors expected them to die. No one knew what to do.
Some even chose our hospital for they heard I was there. It was God who
gave me the wisdom. It was nothing I had on my own!
The recruiter said they needed praying nurses in their hospital and wanted me desperately to work there. They were thrilled to have me. WOW! I determined to serve God wherever He needed me. Little did I know how jealous other nurses would be that I had special treatment. They did not like my starting out on day shift when they had to work up from nights for that position. They often assigned me the diarrhea room and other most disgusting assignments so I would give up and leave. There were many unkind things they did to make me miserable, but I kept a loving smile on my face and a little song in my heart. I knew I was right where God wanted me. |
  Every
day I learned valuable knowledge for my future work in medicine. Later I
studied in the masters level Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program at Loma
Linda which required pediatric experience. Since God had put me working in
their pediatric unit, this qualified me for the schooling I needed. God
knew ahead of time and had placed me on that unit for experience. Also the
knowledge learned helped me to diagnose and cope my own child's absorption
problem 17 years later. |
 Best
of all I learned to trust God for direction in my life. He knows the
future and what I will need. He knows the best preparation for the work He
has lined up for me. He answers prayer about our work experiences. I
thought money was the most important consideration at that point. He saw
many other things I could learn and He provided the money when it was
needed. |
  He
sees everything from beginning to end. But, like the
porcupine, I only see the tree I am climbing. I have to trust His
eyes for they see better than mine what is ahead in life for me. |
While
our goal was medical school, we moved into the Loma Linda area to work as
nurses, praying for an opening for the schooling we wanted.