When
I was in Swaziland in 2004, I met beautiful children who have changed my life
for the better...Here's a glimpse into
this story:
Within the first week of arriving in Swaziland
in southern Africa, I met a lady who changed my life.I share with you a story from my journal:
September 2004: It is transitioning into the
season of spring in Swaziland.My team
leaders walked to the fruit market to gather fruit for the arrival of our
team.They noticed a lady standing
between two fruit stands purchasing fruit for children who come to her house
for a meal and informal lessons.She
invited my team to 'come and see.'So,
we loaded up a van and headed 3 miles uphill on a path orphans and vulnerable
children take every day to a small shelter made from tree bark and
aluminum.This single mother of three
tries to keep the children as long as she can each day, knowing that many of
them go home to some horrible situations when they leave each afternoon.
We
heard the longing in the lady's voice for help to care for the little ones who
walked daily to her home. When we saw the innocent spirit of the children, we
wanted to do something to relieve the stress of the mother and care for the
children.During the first few months,
we taught the children as they circled around me on the ground and found ways
to purchase food when there was none.Knowing that these children needed an accredited education, I worked
alongside a team member to raise funds for twenty-two students to attend a
recognized school.With the help of the United
Methodist Temple in Port Arthur, TX, students at Port Neches Middle School, as
well as many friends and family, we met our goal to send the children to
school!!In order to ease the children's
transition from learning at the care center to a school environment, I worked
within the school to teach and tutor the children.Currently, the care center in Mhylanya serves
at least seventy-five children and functions as an informal school for both children
and adults, a tutoring center, and a feeding center with a small orchard.
So... here's the "Alternative Christmas Idea" -
these same children still need funding for school.The majority of the children are currently in
grade 5 and 6!!The headmaster works
with them to keep them on level; she is a huge blessing.She works really hard around the clock to
care for all of her students and has wonderful teachers who help her.She, along with other teachers, has taken in
orphans themselves. So... my goal is to
raise funds for 22 students this Christmas!!Because of the exchange rate, each child's tuition is $100.They are also in need of uniforms, which is
$50.Please pray about sponsoring a child -
knowing that 100% of your money will go directly to the school to pay for the
tuition and uniforms.If you can only
feel led to pay for the tuition, please only pay for tuition!My team member, who has been in it since the
beginning, is still living in Swaziland.If you write a check to me, I will put it in her account, and she will
take it to the bank to pay for each child's school fees and make sure that they
get uniforms!!
Well, I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I sent out an update... I'm reading and reading and reading withe writing papers thrown in! I'm definitely enjoying this semester; I'm taking Christian Theology and Methodism and then two of my favorites: Mission and Evangelism, along with Children Experiencing Death and Suffering. My head has been filled with information, but then I know so little... :)
And MATTHEW... We've been extremely blessed by so many friends. From cards to meals, I thank our Lord and Savior for all the continued encouragement as Matthew perseveres through the healing process. Matthew continues to be do a little more each and every day... Last night, we cooked chicken tenders (like my brother Will taught me how), with buttered sweet peas and potatoes. It was a great dinner and so much fun to be able to do a little more together. On Saturday, we were able to go a housewarming party for some friends in divinity school; although we didn't stay too long, we had fun vising. Thank you for your continued prayers... and his prayers continue to remain a bit the same:
1. Please give thanks to God for the many blessings!!
2. Please pray for the numbness in his right leg to heal.
3. Please pray that Matthew doesn't get discouraged - it takes time to heal...
It feels like a year ago that Matthew was undergoing surgery... but we are only 9 days post-op. Matthew has come a long way... he's walking and moving! He's walked outside a couple time for a few minutes. Because of God's beautiful grace, Matthew is doing well. I asked him yesterday what he wanted me to ask all of God's prayer warriors for... here are his request:
1. Please tell them to give thanks to God!!
2. Ask them to pray for feeling to enter back into my left leg.
(He says he cannot describe the feeling of numbness, but I don't think it's a pleasant feeling to say the least.)
3. and for minimum pain and extra energy...
*and anything else God lays on their heart.
I want to post a picture of his back... Matthew will look at it and say:
"Isn't it amazing how God put me back together?"
I think this x-ray shows how God has placed him back together through the hands of his people. Dr. Lim said that he had a millimeter one either side of the screw before he would hit nerves. I stand in aww of how present God was during Matthew's 8-9 hours surgery. God was there each and every moment. Being far from home, God placed in the hands of a caring surgeon, one who even called Matthew at home to check on him. And more importantly, God took Matthew in His hands and continues to care for him each and every day.
We continue to pray that God touches Matthew's back and fuses all the bones in the correct location.
Thank you for your continued prayers through this process.
Matthew is doing well. On Saturday, he was able to stand for 1.5 minutes! On Sunday, he walked to the door and back with assistance. And today, physical therapy walked with him around the nurses station. Every time Dr. Lim comes, he tells Matthew how well he is doing. Matthew got his IV drip and catheter removed; he still has the IV, where he gets morphine through a syringe. We got X-rays and a CT Scan of his back - which was painful, but the doctor said it looks good. He will be wearing a bone stimulator for two hours everyday for six months... this device should help grow bones and solidify the fusion. So things are looking up...
On another note, the pain medication he is receiving is giving him severe headaches and sweats. Which leads to Matthew making the decision on which symptoms to endure... the side effects or the pain in the back. Matthew tries so hard to stay upbeat, but it is hard. There is a long road to recovery. As I was at church on Sunday, I felt God telling us to celebrate each progress. Standing!! Praise God! Walking with assistance!! Praise God!
Prayer Request:
- for Matthew to not discouraged
- for strength and guidance for all involved
- for reduced pain throughout Matthew's body - I know that God is the greatest Healer and can provide relief better than any medicine on the market
- for me - I started classes back today, so I ask that you will pray that I will have a healthy balance in caring for Matthew and discipline in school work
Thanks for the prayers!! God answered! According to the doctor,
Matthew's surgery went exactly as planned. Screws and rods are now in his
back from L3 to S1 to Pelvis... they were able to do a little decompression in
S1 but not any in L5, where a lot of compression is. Matthew is awake, but
he is still in a lot of pain and has numbness in his leg. He will get fitted
for a brace, and prayerfully walk a few steps tomorrow before laying
back down. One day at a time...
Just wanted to let all of you know:
Well, here is an offer for FREE CHOCOLATE... put your information in and they
will send you a coupon for free chocolate. I have gotten about 4 already...
just wanted to pass on to you a little chocolate blessing (maybe you are already signed up
for it.)
Sign up for FREE Chocolate Barevery Friday!!! (until 9/25/09) - I've gotten four
coupons already...
Matthew has been in recovery since 5:30. The doctor came to talk to us around 5:45pm. They said the surgery was successful; he was able to complete everything he said. Thank you so much for your prayers today!!
I saw him in recovery. He was asking me to take a picture (b/c his face was swollen from laying on his front for 8 hours), for a chick-fil-a sandwich, and to brush his teeth. When I saw him later tonight, he didn't remember any of that... but I was able to tell him "Good Night!" He learned about the surgery, but he asks for prayers for his left leg b/c it is completely numb. As of when I left, he was in pain but was able to get some morphine. Please continue to pray for his pain and a quick recovery.
Thank you again for being prayer warriors; God has been good today!!
Well, the surgery has been extended... At 2:30 (6 hours into surgery minus the prep time), Dr. Lim sent someone out to tell us that it is going well but will be a few more hours. Thank you for your continued prayers.
For patience - As I was praying earlier, I imagined God's hands over the doctors. And the thought that came: God took time to knit us together, and when things aren't quite right, we need to have patience to be knit back together. God is in control, but sometimes it is hard to wait...
For the doctor to remain focused
For the team to remain assertive
For everything to be knit perfectly back together :)
More time is a sign that Dr. Lim is taking his time... Matthew is his only case, so I thank the Lord for a doctor who cares a lot about his patients.
Well, the ten days have passed since my last blog. Matthew and I got to take a "secret mission" for our one year anniversary. Every morning, Matthew gave me an envelope explaining what the day entailed. The first night we stayed in Richmond, VA at a Bed & Breakfast and then toured a few sites in the city. What a beautiful town! We stayed a night in La Plata, Maryland before heading to Baltimore for an Orioles' game! And then spend our one year anniversary in our nation's capitol - Washington, D.C.! I'm so thankful for this was a special get-a-way before Matthew's surgery and classes begin.
So... today came! After a short sleep, Matthew, his parents, and I woke up at 4:15 to get to the hospital by 6am. Matthew was admitted, and I got to go to pre-op with him. The nurses were very nice. Electrodes were attached to his head to measure his nerve activity during surgery. The IV got started. Dr. Lim came to check on us and make sure Matthew was doing well. So... now, we wait - the surgery should be complete by 3pm... and Dr. Lim will come to talk to us afterwards, and then we should be able to see him by 4:30pm...
Matthew is in good hands with the doctor and nurses, but more importantly Matthew is in the Hands of the Ultimate Physician - who loves and takes care of us!! Thank you for your continued prayers today... (it'll be a long day)
Sending our love to all of you from North Carolina...
Thank
you for being faithful supporters and prayer warriors through my journey around
the world.Currently, I am a Chaplain at
Camp Chestnut Ridge as my Duke Divinity Internship.I have been there since the end of May, and I
love it.If things go as planned, I will
continue to work at the camp through the academic school year.
Well,
I wanted to write a blog to fill you in on a little bit happening in my life...
and more importantly ask for your prayers...
In
February, my husband Matthew's back began hurting. He continued to endure
the pain, but in May - he made the decision to quit his job. He was
working at Durham Family Practice, where he was working in the office.
Part of his job consisted of reaching filing charts, where he was on his feet
bending up and down. There were days where he would wake up and his
legs would be numb. So, we decided that he needed to take a break from
working.
In
May, we went met with a spine specialist at UNC and went through MRI and
X-Rays. It turns out that his surgery in 1999, where a doctor from
Houston fused his S1 and L5 together either never fully fused or the fusion has
come apart. His L5 has shifted completely off the S1; therefore, there is
really nothing there to carry the weight of his back. The doctor shared
with us that it is a miracle he is even walking... telling us that the MRI was
"impressive." (Now, impressive isn't exactly the word you want to a
doctor to describe your back with.)
After
praying together, we've decided that surgery is the best option to provide
relief. We've been praying for ultimate healing without surgery, and I
ask you to join this prayer with me. But we know God's will over
Matthew's life will prevail; and if surgery is part of it, God's glory will
shine down on earth, and we will continue to praise God!
There
are days that Matthew just wants to curl up on the bed, because his pain is
very intense. He dreams of the day that he can return to playing tennis
and going bowling. He would love to go backpacking...but right now, we need
to pray for Matthew's healing.
The
surgery is scheduled for August 20th... ten days from today. The
doctor cleared his schedule for the day to take care of Matthew. If the
surgery goes as planned, the surgery will last between 6-7 hours, and he will
be in the hospital for 4-5 days. This surgery will consist of placing
screws in the L3,L4, L5, and S1 - as well as screws/rods in the
pelvis. If the doctor decides the risk aren't too high, he might
decompress to allow the nerves to have more room. Since this is the
second surgery, the risk are greater than before...
As
for me, I have never walked through a surgery and extent in the hospital with
anyone this close to me. I can't do this
alone, so I'm asking you for your prayers.As I step back, I see God providing for us in so many ways...I'll have to
do a blog on God's provision - God is the Ultimate Provider! I'm thankful
that I serve the Ultimate Physician, the Ultimate Care-giver, the Ultimate!!I'm so thankful to have God walking with us
each and every step...and carrying us on days we can't carry ourselves.Thanks for your to prayers for peace over all
involved, for God's hands to be the hands of the surgical team, and God's will
to be done.