With that title description that could only mean one thing....CPE! Clinical Pastoral Education. Yup, I started this week with a little anxiety, some worry and anxiousness only to end up at the morgue twice this week! Seriously, this CPE thing is going to be a little tougher than I thought!
I am doing my CPE at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. Their policy includes, among a bizillion other policies, that all deceased must be escorted to their morgue by a member of the Chaplain staff. This is going to be a little tough for me, as up until this week, I had never been in a morgue before. I was pretty creeped out at first. The second time we went in there, the pathologist who performs the autopsies was there and invited everyone into the room where they do them. I just stood by the wall and waited for my classmates. I guess my comfortableness will come with time.
So lots of training this week and LOTS of walking. I spent 2 days in new employee orientation. Some of the material had nothing to do with my department, but I sat through it all. By Tuesday orientation and power point presentation number #???, I decided to start working on writing my sermon. (I have to preach tomorrow in church). Wednesday and Thursday were days to get to know my classmates and procedure stuff specific for our office. Friday we set our on call schedule for the entire summer. Looks like I'll be staying just 2 nights at the hospital this summer....not too bad. We also broadcast everyday 15 minutes little sermonettes from our chapel. I'll be leading a few of those plus leading chapel at least once this summer. The schedule setting took us a while, but we managed to get through it. Had to go pick up some new tennis shoes today, as my feet and knees have been taking a SERIOUS beating with all the walking involved. I will have my floor assignments on Monday. I have to pick where I'd like to be...leaning towards just general pediatrics, as I thing all the bloody stuff will be in the ICU units and trauma. But something tells me that when I AM on call, all bets are off! I will probably need to get over my queasiness about seeing bloody stuff.
So Gary and I are continuing to chat online every night. It's still difficult not being a little closer to each other, but we have planned to get together soon. I can't wait! I miss him so much. We're continuing to get to know each other every time we talk. I try to mention to him something new that he doesn't know about me and we've just starting using these conversation starter cards. That's been fun! As we share I am reminded how much we have in common and how glad I am that he is a part of my life.
I have to redo one of my final papers from Spring semester. NOT happy about that, but I do have a few more weeks to get it done. That is on my agenda next weekend! I was quite frustrated about having to redo it, but I also just want it done. I know I passed all the rest of my classes this past semester. I'm looking forward to being back at school this Fall. I also have my endorsement paper to write by the end of this summer. My endorsement interview will be in October. This is the interview that is made up of someone from my home Synod, some peers, adviser and professors. They will decide if I am ready to go on internship my third year. Again, something I have to wait for an assignment for next Spring. I'm just hoping to remain fairly close to Gary, but we'll see since I cannot restrict.
Well....lots of drama going on at my church. My friend Keith, who helped form our Praise Team decided to leave...NOT a huge shock, but I hope he is happy. I've been so proud of the youth who have remained part of the band. They have done remarkably and contrary to what Keith believes, the church and the praise band will survive without him.
I am missing seeing my fellow seminarians. They have become such a big part of my life now that its like they are family. I've been following come of their CPE stuff on Facebook...some of it is quite humorous! But I still miss them.
So I think that is all for now. Another CPE update next week...as then I will be on my own..scary thought. God bless to all reading!
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