Monthly Archives: September 2014

Ebola

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I think that a big part of looking up is noticing what is going on in our world. Since I am very interested in all things medical, the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo has recently caught my eye. It is terrible to think that there are so many affected by this strange disease that are not able to be treated. The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is said to be an epidemic. To clear things up between unfamiliar terms, an outbreak describes the sudden rise in the incidence of a disease, while an epidemic is the occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area over a particular period of time (Dictionary.com ladies and gents).  The recent Ebola epidemic in West Africa is the first in history.

The host of Ebola is currently unknown, but scientists think that bats have a lot to do with it. It can be spread through bodily fluids. This explains the case of the American man from Massachusetts who was recently treated and released from an Omaha hospital, after obtaining the disease in Africa while working to deliver babies in Liberia.  Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pain, weakness, severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained hemorrhage. I think one of the worst parts is that symptoms could appear from 2 to 21 days after getting the virus. This means it is very possible for a person to have the disease without knowing it, and it is said that early recognition is really important for treatment. Unfortunately, treatment isn’t an option to many people in the midst of the outbreak in West Africa. It is said that over 1.4 million people could be affected by Ebola by mid-January. Hopefully, this horrifying number will never become a reality.

I cannot imagine being sick, and not being able to go to the doctor to be treated. I guess that just shows how blessed I am. We all need to send prayers to those struggling with disease, that they may conquer it and be healed. We also need to pray for the doctors and scientists working against this horrible epidemic. If we are really looking up, though, we will see that Ebola is only one of the many diseases that our fellow humans are suffering through. It is a sad sight, but we need to be aware so that we can take action and hopefully be able to make a difference.

If you are interested in learning more about Ebola, or want to keep up with the epidemic, check out the link below, where I received most of my information.

CDC- Ebola

The World

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Since I have yet to disclose very much information about myself, I think that today is the perfect day to share a little more. I have been continuing to look up, but today in the car (as I looked ahead… at the road) I was thinking about a variety of things that lead to my thoughts about the future. You see, in Spanish class, we have pen pals from Argentina that we are going to be corresponding with. We write to them in Spanish, and they write to us in English. My pen pal has yet to reply. Though I am trying to be patient, I am chomping at the bit to see a letter from her in my inbox!

What does this have to do with my future, you might ask? Well, let me explain. One of my passions is learning about other cultures as well as other languages. The fact that I am going to talk with this girl from a country far from my own is so cool! Being able to speak Spanish is one of my life goals, and in college I plan to major or minor on the subject.  I just find the idea of speaking with someone in a language foreign to my own so incredibly intriguing.

This being said, studying abroad in college is definitely on my to-do list. I am almost positive that, a year from now, I will be attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Other than being home to the mighty Huskers, this school just has it all. While visiting the university over the summer, I found that UNL has an excellent pre-health program. I am looking to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant, so this initially caught my eye. However, I could go on and on about becoming a PA, so I will leave that for another time. On top of the pre-health program, the Spanish department at UNL is awesome, and there are numerous study abroad options that I will hopefully get the opportunity to partake in.

The beautiful picture featured above as my header just sets me off into a multitude of daydreams about seeing the world. I love Nebraska, and more than likely it will always be my home, but I can’t wait for the day when I can look up and see the Eiffel tower standing tall before me. I can’t wait until I can look up and see Big Ben housed snugly in Elizabeth tower. I can’t wait to walk through the colorful streets of Barcelona, Spain and look up at the beautiful architecture. I can’t wait to look up and see the world.

Blessings

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The intense rain that chased off any form of outdoor practice this afternoon caused me to to recall the lyrics of one of my favorite songs. Music, after all, is another one of my many passions, and the words in the song, “Blessings”, by Laura Story have always spoken to me. In the beginning of the song, it talks about all of the things that we ask God for: blessings, peace, comfort for family, protection while we sleep, for God to ease our suffering, etc. When we pray for these things, I think that a lot of the time we just expect them to be answered, or we look for an answer that is as plain as day, but I don’t think thats what happens most of the time. The chorus of the song suggests:

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Now, trailing back to today, the rain was definitely a blessing… I mean, I do enjoy golf practice, but I am swamped with things to do. Whether it be calculus homework, practicing for all-state chorus, studying for the ACT, or even writing this blog, it’s safe to say that I needed time tonight to get some things done! So the rain today was such a blessing for me! However, this song presents a deeper meaning too. Sometimes I think we are too caught up with the world to realize all of the numerous blessings around us. I think that God has a plan for us, and every single thing, no matter how big or small, happens for a reason. The blessings we ask for might not come in the forms we expect them to, but we just need to take a look up and see all the Lord’s mercies that he is displaying before us.

I drove home from school in rain that was coming down so hard that I couldn’t see. Looking out my window now, I see sunshine and astonishing clouds. It makes me smile.

I’ve attached a link for the song “Blessings”. I hope you get a chance to take a listen, and I hope you have a phenomenal day.

Blessings by Laura Story